When I visited the main post office in Lagos, Nigeria (February 2024), I had a beautiful, spontaneous conversation with the staff. They told me how central it is in their culture to seek advice from elders. One of them, the head of the philately department, had visited his nearly 90-year-old father in the hospital that very morning to ask for advice — and said his father still knew exactly what to do. Another mentioned how his son had just called after school to ask something.

Others joined in, nodding: children must ask their parents, and if the parents don’t know, they will ask their parents. Big decisions — like marriage — are never made without approval. “No way,” they said. “Not even possible.”

I asked them where this confidence comes from — the belief that parents always know best, even in a fast-changing world. They laughed, and one admitted he had asked his son for help with his phone earlier that morning. But otherwise? “They always ask us. That’s how it’s meant to be.”

Then they asked about my family. I smiled and told them how, just the day before, my daughter had called me to talk through a problem she was dealing with. Later, she messaged:

“Mom, it’s always so good to talk to you. Every time I explain something, I already know the answer by the time I finish.” 😊

It made me smile. I trust her to make her own choices — even when it comes to something as big as choosing a partner. Unless her life was in danger, I wouldn’t interfere. She’s her own person. And honestly, if someone’s in love, they won’t hear reason anyway. So I just try to be there.

We love and value each other deeply — and maybe that’s the best kind of advice.

List the people you admire and look to for advice…

Dailyprompt 1928