Hello Hives,
When I was growing up in a Yoruba home, there were so many things I believed without questioning them. Whatever my parents, grandparents, or older siblings said automatically became the truth. As a child, you don't really stop to ask, "Is this actually possible?" You simply believe it because you can't dare to question what the adult said.
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But now that I'm older, I sometimes think back to those moments and laugh. Some of the things we were told were funny, while others were clever ways of keeping children out of trouble.
One that really stayed with me was the warning never to swallow fruit seeds. I remember being told that if I swallowed an orange or watermelon seed, it would grow into a tree inside my stomach. I took that seriously. Anytime I was eating fruit, I carefully removed every seed because I didn't want branches growing inside me. Looking back now, it sounds hilarious, but it felt completely real back then.
Another one I grew up hearing was that whistling at night would attract evil spirits. I loved whistling during the day, but once evening came, I would not dare try it. It was not until I became an adult that I realized there was no evidence for it. I guess it was just one of those stories used to keep children quiet at night.
I also believed that sweeping the house after dark would bring poverty. That rule was taken seriously in many homes. As I grew older, I discovered there was probably a practical reason behind it. Years ago, when electricity was not common, sweeping in the dark could easily mean throwing away coins, jewelry, or other small valuables without noticing.
Then there was the one about someone stepping over you while you were lying down. We were told that you would stop growing unless the person stepped back over you. I can't count how many times I begged someone to come back and "reverse it" because I didn't want to end up short.
Even though I now know these stories were not literally true, I don't see them as pointless lies. Many of them were creative ways our parents and grandparents taught us discipline, respect, and caution. Instead of giving long lectures, they simply told stories that were memorable enough for every child to obey.
Thinking about these childhood beliefs always brings a smile to my face. They remind me of a time when life was simple, our imagination was endless, and every word from an elder sounded like unquestionable truth.
I'm sure I'm not the only one with stories like these. What was something you completely believed as a child, only to discover later that it was not true? I'd love to read your memories in the comments.
This is my entry for LOH #300
Thanks for Reading
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