In her message, Mrs. Kagame reflects on the joys and challenges of parenting. She warns against the harm of labels and societal pressures, urging parents to guide children with love and discipline while communities create supportive environments for growth and learning.

The First Lady begins by describing the instinctive bond between parents and children:

“How precious is the child. The infant that clutches your finger in their little fist, almost as an instinctive desire to cling to life.”

She notes that parenting is rarely about perfection, but about wholehearted love and guidance, even when it is difficult.

Mrs. Kagame cautions against the damaging habit of labeling children, which can limit their potential:

“Introvert. Difficult. Average. Exceptional…labels soothe adults, especially parents and teachers, but they wound children.”

She highlights the role of society in raising children:

“We love to say it takes a village to raise a child. But what sort of village are we today? Is it one that shelters children, or one that casts them away when they do not fit the script?”

True growth happens when children are given the chance to experiment, make mistakes, and develop resilience:

“Children must only be compared with their own best selves…they must learn resilience, through encouragement, motivation, and faith in their potential and good intentions.”

She reminds young people that personal responsibility is an essential part of life:

“If parents could do it all, to guarantee your wellness, they certainly would. But personal responsibility is, trust me, an unavoidable part of life.”

Closing her reflections, Mrs. Kagame frames parenting as both a personal and national journey:

“If we aspire to a generation capable of carrying the weight of a difficult world while still daring to reimagine it, then our task is simple yet profound: nurture resilience, not anxiety; curiosity, not conformity; humanity, not performance.”

She encourages families to embrace the adventure of parenting fully, reminding them that raising children is not only a family duty but a way to safeguard the future of the nation.