Have you ever noticed that time seems to pass more slowly when you are waiting for something? On the other hand, if you distract yourself with other engaging activities, time goes by quickly.

For example, if you're in a waiting room for a doctor, the wait will seem shorter if you check your phone or read a magazine, rather than just waiting for your name being called.

This proverb was attributed by Benjamin Franklin to Poor Richard's Almanac, however it doesn't actually appear there. Instead, Franklin used it in an essay on animal magnetism in 1785.

Habari zenu wapenzi wa lugha na hekima! Karibuni tena katika kipindi chetu cha leo cha Methali! Methali ya leo ni “Mtoto akilia wembe, mpe.” Je, unaijua? Kwa walezi wengi, inaweza kuonewa… kali sana, au sivyo? Ina maana gani kwako? Je, unakubaliana nayo? Tushirikiane mawazo. 

Mtoto akitaka wembe, basi mpe ili aelewe kwanini alionywa dhidi ya kucheza nao. Methali hii inaonyesha umuhimu wa kuwapa watu nafasi za kujifunza kutokana na uzoefu wao wenyewe, hata kama wanaweza kuumiwa (kidogo). Vilevile, hata ukikataa kumpa, labda hatatiii na atacheza nao ukiwa nje. Methali hii inaweza kutumika pia kama onyo kwa mtu anayepuuza ushauri au kusisitiza njia yake. Ingawa ni muhimu kusikiliza ushauri na maonyo kutoka kwa wengine, wakati mwingine tunahitaji kuona matokeo ya vitendo vyetu wenyewe ili kuelewa madhara yake. 

Katika eneo la malezi, methali hii inafundisha kanuni ya Natural Consequences (Adhabu Halisi au Adhabu ya Asili). Adhabu ya asili ni matokeo yatakayokuja kwa sababu ya tabia ya mtoto mwenyewe. Tofauti na adhabu ya kutolewa au adhabu ya viboko, adhabu ya asili hujitokeza bila mlezi kujiingilia. Kwa mfano, fikiria kama mwanako amesahau daftari yake nyumbani. Ungefanyaje? Wazazi wengine wanajibu “Singefanya chochote, maana atahitaji kueleza kwa mwalimu wake.” Wengine wanasema “Ningekimbia shuleni ili kumletea daftari, halafu jioni ningempa adhabu.” Ipi bora?  Jibuni hapo chini… 

Sawa tumekubaliana mtoto akilia wembe, mpe. Lakini… fikiria kama mtoto analia kitu cha hatari zaidi— je utakubali? Yesu aliwauliza wazazi: “Mtoto akiomba samaki, je, atampa nyoka?” Akilia nyoka, utampa? Wembe unaweza kusababisha jeraha ndogo, lakini si hatari sana kama nyoka mwenye sumu. 

Wewe kama mzazi, utakubali kiasi gani cha hatari ili ajifunze mwenyewe? Kama anaomba kuacha masomo ili kucheza michezo za simu sikuzote? Kama anaomba kumwoa/kumwolewa na mtu ambaye haumwamini katika umri mdogo? Yaani pia kuna maamuzi muhimu ambayo watoto hawako tayari kujifanyia. 

Je wewe kama mzazi unawezaje kuamua au kutambua kama unapaswa kumwokoa / kumlinda mwanako, ama kama unapaswa kumwachia afunzwe na ulimwengu? Wazazi na walezi wote tunaomba maoni yenu!

Elimu: Watu hukumbuka walichojifunza kwa vitendo kuliko walichoambiwa kwa maneno. Utafute nafasi za kutekeleza kile unachojifunza.

Malezi: Mpe mtoto uhuru na nafasi za kujifunza kupitia uzoefu. Usimtatulie kila jambo, na usiogope anapofeli, kama hakuna hatari wala madhara ya muda mrefu, maana kufeli ni nafasi ya kujifunza kwake.

Kusikiliza: Ukipuuza maonyo na shauri, usishangaye kuona madhara yaliyotabiriwa.

Tofautisha na linganisha matunda na pipi. Matunda yameiva, yana ladha halisi, yamejaa virutubisho na vitamini -- kweli yanajiuza yenyewe.

Kwa upande mwingine, mfuko wa pipi unalia “nisikilize!”, kwa rangi kali, na kauli mbiu zinazolipuka *BOOM*! Lakini chini au nyuma ya kinachong'aa, tunajua kwa kkweli pipi ni sukari tupu tu yenye rangi na ladha bandia ya matunda.

Kama nyani, binadamu hupenda matunda kwa sababu yanatupatia nishati pamoja na lishe na virutubisho. Pipi hutoa nishati bila lishe halisi (Kalori tupu). Pipi huiga tunda. Usidanganywe!

Kizuri hakihitaji kutangazwa, maana ubora hujieleza yenyewe. Kama wachumi wasemavyo, “demand” inazidi “supply”. Matangazo yanaweza kutuahidi furaha, uzuri, upendo, mali au heshima. Lakini jiulize, je, inawezekana kwa kweli? Coca-Cola sio dawa ya upendo.

Methali hii inatukumbusha thamani ya ubora wa kweli kuliko muonekeano maridadi. Methali hii hutumika wakati msemaji ana mashaka juu ya mtu anayejisifu au kujivunia kupita kiasi.

Tuwe kama kikapu cha matunda: mwazi na mwema. Sifa hizi zitawavuta wengine kwako — angalau wao wanaoelewa kwamba “Chema chajiuza, kibaya chajitembeza!”

Methali zinazohusiana:
Vingaravyo vyote si dhahabu

Don’t judge ya book by it’s cover
Usihukumu kitabu kwa kava yake (muonekeno)

Appearances are deceptive
Maonekano hudanganya
 
高嶺の花
Hana yori dango
Chakula [ni bora] kuliko maua

Meaning it's better to be satisfied with what you have, rather than risking it for a chance at a larger reward.

This proverb turns out to be very old indeed. It comes from an ancient book called "The Story of Ahikar" also known as the "Proverbs of Ahiqar." 

The Story of Ahikar (page 110)
The book tells the story of an advisor to the ancient Assyrian and Egyptian rulers. It was probably written about 600 BCE, with the earliest surviving fragments dating to about 500 CE. 

Similar proverbs from around the world...
French:

Japanese

Italian

And one more for fun...

Do you think this proverb is good advice? When is it better to go with a sure thing now or take a chance and search for something better?