LAUGH HOUR-HUMOUR

1. We often leave our kids to stay with our parents. While it's not a bad idea, prolonged stays can pose issues. Take, for instance, a child who got so accustomed to calling their grandma "Granny" that when visiting their own mother, they accidentally referred to her as "Granny" too. She laughed it off, but now the child insists on calling her mother "Granny" or "Gogo" (grandmother).

2. People tend to comment on couples they deem mismatched, pointing out the contrast between a beautiful lady, whom they liken to a flower, and her partner, described as being like a beast or a stone. But why does it matter? Perhaps these individuals complement each other in ways unseen by others when they are alone.

3. Some people are naturally funny. Their mere presence brings joy, without even uttering a word. Such individuals have a gift for brightening your day, reminding us of the diversity that makes each of us unique.

4. Mobile phones keep us perpetually occupied. Just when you seek some rest, an incoming call disrupts your peace. The creators of smartphones, perhaps recognizing this, designed them to be ever-engaging. You find yourself constantly checking for messages or making calls, unwittingly spending the whole day glued to your device, even as you read this joke.

5. I enjoy spending time with my Indian friends, like Mujahir, Muhammad, Ahmed, and Karim. Their distinctive way of speaking, accompanied by their characteristic headshakes, never fails to amuse me. Their accents and cultural nuances add sweetness to our interactions, like sugar enhancing the flavor of tea.

6. My female friends always bring laughter into my life. Nafe once confessed she dropped out of primary school due to her habit of smoking weed and causing disruptions in class. Now, she regrets her choices, especially since she hoped to marry a white man. However, her shyness around white men makes it challenging. Martha, on the other hand, often advises me not to let guys take advantage of my beauty, jokingly adding that she does the same to get what she wants.

7. The names we give our children have become too commonplace. It's time for a change. Let's inject creativity into our naming conventions. Imagine a child named Karonga Phiri, Nsanje Kamanga, Balaka Jana, Mwanza Chikopa, Ndirande Soko, Bangwe moto or Mzimba Banda. Let's revolutionize the way we name our children. Picture primary school pupils introducing themselves as Lunzu Nsapato, Mulanje Phiri, Zomba Mpunga or Malawi Madando. It's a shift in mindset that can redefine identity and pride in our heritage.