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I sometimes ponder our self-proclaimed and absolute assertion of superiority over animals.

There is no other basis for this reflection other than the apparent foresight and detailed care exhibited by animals in planning around their immortality, and with respect to their young; a trait that is conspicuously absent in most of us.

Despite their seeming indifference and lack of awareness, animals show remarkable tenacity in preparing their offspring, at a very early stage, for the harsh realities of the wild. On this disparity between human and animals, I tend to find us the inferior breed.

With an acute awareness of the dangers and unpredictability of their environment, most if not all animals, limit their existence to the present and inculcate this in their young, thereby preparing them for adult life. In every labor of love performed for their offspring, they manage to wangle in a lesson or two to better prepare them for an environment that does not favor the weak.

Sea lions will release live fish in front of their offspring and encourage them to grab the prey before it can escape. Before long these young animals become quite adept at fishing and by the time the parents are gone, through accidents or by instinct, the offspring are more than capable of fending for themselves.

Similarly, a mother deer teaches her fawn to fear predators by demonstrating fear at the approach of one; her young one sees her reaction and learns what should be avoided. The mother does this because of her appreciation of the fact that she will not always be around to see to the needs of her young, and hence strives to prepare it for survival in a future where she plays no part.

Generally, all animals operate around this singular credence: It is never too early to learn' and this instinct has made survival possible for most in an environment where killing for food is the order of the day.

In the same vein, our world can be likened to this environment, with human beings inhabiting it. Although we do not subscribe to murder, there are several other factors that at best, make survival a Herculean task for the ill-prepared. In this case, the greatest favor parents can do their children is to provide them an enabling environment during their lifetime, with the only ingredient being quality education, either provided for as needed, or tied in trusts.

This gives children a chance to establish distinct identities for themselves and the freedom to become whatever he/she pleases, being solely responsible for every decision made. With no inheritance to fall back on, these children seldom make the wrong choices.

While parents are expected to show their children love and care, crossing the line to the subject of inheritance seems to me an over-indulgence, as their recipients more often than not squander it with little or no regard for how it was acquired.

Although a substantial percentage of such cases might not be intentional, it is largely due to the inheritance being a steady fixture throughout the growing-up years of such children, and a belief of having something to fall back on', if all else fails; and never having bothered to make anything of themselves, they have no idea how to manage or build up on assets when they eventually come into the inheritance.

Learn more about this author, Habeebat Oyedokun.
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