Nairobi Mums

For me, there is nothing as fascinating as a Nairobi mum.  The kind of mum I have seen roaming the streets of Nairobi and some in other towns as well. The kind of mum that I admire and wish that I would grow up to be them. Maybe not the whole bit, but just the right bit to make me stand out like them. I know by now you are wondering what I am talking about, who are these Nairobi mums. Let me paint a picture for you. 

On Friday, I was on my way to Mlolongo inside a noisy matatu with music blaring. There was a small girl seated on the right side behind me, next to the window. The mum occupied the seat behind me.  I noticed the small girl, since she was busy asking the person beside me to open up the window. This January weather gonna kill people. Anyways, while we were just leaving town, the mum mentioned to her caller that she is gonna be there in 20 minutes. I got curious since I could see traffic building up and Mlolongo is way more than 20 minutes away. I let it slide and became engrossed in my book. Later on, her phone kept on buzzing. ‘nimefika, hakuna traffic leo’,…sio mbali I will be there In a few….yes…so, are we guys buying wine and whiskey? ….sawa, I will buy at the supermarket…..nimefika.’ the whole conversation just made me curious. It is Friday at 12 noon and some mum is going to buy some booze with the daughter. I cannot help but imagine how the afternoon is going to be.

A young mama leaves her house somewhere not near Mombasa road and goes to her pals’/sister’s/brother’s/parents’ house to have a small party or get together. Since she is an okay mum, she tags along her daughter, probably four or five years old. She dresses her daughter in an amazing outfit. She does not fail to pull up the best outfit for herself. She looks like a middle-class parent. She has a good source of income, her nails are well manicured, her hairstyle is neat and stunning, and she has a beautiful body like someone who takes proper care of themselves. She dons it all with make-up, adequate make-up, and a pair of stylish sunglasses. She does not look like someone who is stressed up by anything. She has her life in order. If there is a man in her life, she might be happy with him. Either she avoids dramas or she keeps it in check. Although she does not have a ring on her finger.

She is going to have fun with her friends/family while her daughter is with her. She is not afraid of being who she is while raising her daughter plus being responsible. The daughter will play with kids of the other parents who are present and later on, they will go home. She is going to change her into her pajamas and kiss her goodnight. That is only my version of what I think is going to happen, which I think is the correct version.

But that’s not my final version of a Nairobi mum. A Nairobi mum will wake up early and take care of their daughters and sons. They will dress them in those tu cute Justin Timberlake outfits and roam the streets of Nairobi. They will walk into malls together and buy them a milkshake. They are the ones who will start make you crave for a daughter or a son. She will always be stunning, even at times you wonder if they are really parents. They will spoil their kids occasionally but they will always give you a perfect image. I don’t know if it is all an illusion, but a Nairobi mum is a mum I would one day like to become. They are just the aaaws pictures that I love seeing when passing outside Mr. Price on a Sunday and Saturday afternoons.

Happy New Year Folks!