QUADRUPLE TROUBLE
DITSILE QUADS DOING WELL AT TWO YEARS OF AGE They were adored by the nation following their birth
Abaleng Jaiden, Amagolo Jordan, Anele Jaisen and Atlegang Joe Ditsile are as busy as any two-yearold can be. Born on May 20 in 2019 at the Gaborone Private Hospital, the Ditsile boys are quads, and they recently celebrated this 24-month milestone. To say that their parents, mother Keneilwe Ditsile and father Otsile Kgafela are busy is an understatement.
This is compounded by the fact that besides these four energetic and mischievous boys, there are three older siblings aged 15, 9, and 6, and they also happen to be boys.
When The Midweek Sun wrote about the quads in 2019, they had just been born at 37 weeks, and their weights at the time ranged between 1960 and 2690 grams. Two years on, this publication again paid a courtesy call to the parents this past weekend, on the occasion of the celebration of Fathers Day, where Keneilwe and Otsile had plenty to say about the quads.
As would be expected, it emerges that life with four small boys is not a walk in the park. Add to that the fact that only one of the parents is employed, which has come with some attendant challenges. It is not an easy life - the parents’ dream of giving all of these children a decent life but find themselves swamped into the cumulative demands of providing for their everyday needs.
In this household in Broadhurst, Gaborone, Mom is surrounded by an all-boys squad. It is so exhilarating how the quads have turned up. Atlegang, the fourth, is the private one, we are told. He is the one who has been first to achieve almost all of his milestones. This Atlegang dude is actually that surprise baby who was only discovered late in pregnancy. Staying true to that element, he remains private to this day.
Mom tells us that right now he is turning out to be a chatterbox, but he is doing it privately, and does not want to let anyone in on the secret. He is even the one who is rallying his brothers to call daddy Oats or Otsile. The jolly young man is also the mischievous one, and often gets the others to follow suit.
As for bedtime, the doting parents have figured out a way to put them to bed at night or during their two day naps.
Abaleng usually is the first to sleep, followed by Amagolo, Anele and with Atlegang coming last. Bedtime is usually between1830 and 1900hrs, and the parents say they are proud to have since mastered the art of getting them to sleep all at around the same time despite their distinct characters and energy levels.
A week day in their household begins at 0400hrs, with Mom waking up to start prepping the school going children, and also getting ready to leave for work. Daddy remains unemployed at the moment, which means that he often stays behind to do his part in assisting the nannies with the daily care of the boys.
Easygoing, and hardly sick, the boys are as fit as a fiddle. Quite interestingly, two of the quads are southpaws (left-handed), and the other two are righties.
With the boys at a stage where they are experimenting and continuously learning new things, it is a household that is not easy to run as the boys would be running halterskelter, screaming and making demands for equal attention.
In addition, the quartet of these naughty boys has somehow learnt to influence one another into misbehaving and they have grown to even form two factions in the house. Abaleng, the big cheerleader, and Anele are in one team.
Amagolo and Atlegang are in the other team. Try doing something to one member of the team, and his team mate will come running to his peer’s defense.
As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, the parents are very strict when it comes to protecting the handful four. Mummy and Daddy do not allow visitors to walk through their doors just to ensure the boys are protected from possible infections. The parents have also taken to orientating and teaching the older boys best practices of taking care of themselves, and their little brothers.
But mom Keneilwe is a remarkably strong woman. Her faith, she says, takes her through the day. She also says that she counts on the support of her dearest man to pull through the day.
“Getting to where we are today has not been easy especially with Covid-19,” she explains. She notes that if she had her way, she would work from home in order to take care of her children full time. Making it through the day, she explains, is all thanks to Daddy who is always eager and ready to lend a helping hand.
Over and above running a household with the babies, they also have to give time and attention to the older boys, and assist them with homework. Then there is also the important part of both parents taking time out for themselves to reflect on their day and just enjoying each other’s company.
“Even with everything happening in the house, I have to give attention to my partner, and make sure that I still respect him as the head of the house, and give him the attention that he deserves,” explains Ditsile.
She says that their house is running as smooth as it is because of the commitment and dedication of her partner. “I manage to do everything because of him, and his support. He is hands on, a loving father, and the best partner that any woman can desire. He is also a great mentor to our boys,” she says.