The dictionary defines frustration as “the feeling of being upset or annoyed as a result of being unable to change or achieve something.” I remember many years ago when I wrote the West African Certificate Examination (WAEC), which would enable me to leave the secondary school level and enroll into a higher institution of learning in Nigeria.

The examination council withheld my result. That of my classmate and close friend was released, but he failed woefully. It was a very frustrating experience for him and he wept uncontrollably. I tried to console him, telling him that we have another chance to re-write the examination and move ahead with our academic destinies. I went ahead to enroll again for the examination and did very well. But my friend never re-wrote and went through life in frustration. He lived a low-income level life till he died.

Children are a very good example of people that are not good at all at handling frustration. They throw tantrums when they cannot get what they want. Some even shout at their parents or slap them. Parents should not tolerate such at all from any child. They must be taught how to handle feelings of frustration at an early age.

Apparently, Prophet Eli’s children in 1Samuel 2:12-17 were not taught by their parents how to handle feelings of frustration when the food is not immediately ready or any other thing. They never learnt patience or self-control. They must have their way all the time. And so when they were grown men, even as priests in the house of God, they would take the meat that people offered as sacrifices to God (as the practice was in the Old Testament) by force. They could never patiently wait to follow the order of getting the meat across to them. 

Train your children step by step on how to have self-control whenever they need anything and to learn to take “No” for an answer when daddy or mummy says that they cannot have whatever they may be asking for. Teach them very early in life to overcome the natural tendency in children to be easily frustrated. With such training, when they encounter problems at school, at home or elsewhere, they will have the strength not to be frustrated. Train them in fortitude! 

Merriam Webster defines fortitude as “strength of mind that enables a person to encounter danger or bear pain or adversity with courage.” As such, they would grow up strong and resilient to face life’s problems without falling apart. Love you!