For years, Getray Vugutsa believed she was doing everything right as a mother. Her children had food on the table, attended school, and were growing up in a loving home. Like many parents, she measured good parenting by her ability to provide for their physical needs.
What she did not realize was that the way she disciplined her children was shaping how they experienced love, trust, and security.
“I thought I was doing well because my child had food, went to school, and was growing up. What I did not know was that how I was correcting my child was planting seeds of fear rather than understanding,” Getray recalls.
Today, the 32-year-old mother of two, faith leader, and community role model from Muluhyia B Village in Ebusiralo Sub-location is helping other families discover that positive parenting can transform not only children but entire households.
Looking Beyond Basic Needs
Like many caregivers, Getray and her husband, Charles Amboko, worked hard to provide the essentials for their family. Their eldest child, now seven years old, was healthy and attending school, while their younger child was growing up in a caring home.
Yet despite meeting these basic needs, Getray had not fully understood the importance of responsive caregiving during a child’s early years. She believed that strict punishment was the best way to raise disciplined and respectful children.
Over time, however, fear began replacing understanding. Without intending to, she created emotional distance between herself and her children—a challenge that many parents experience but rarely recognize.
A New Journey Through Moments That Matter
Everything began to change when the Moments That Matter (MTM) programme reached her family.
Through regular home visits, caregiver group sessions, and learning gatherings, ADS Western’s trained Early Childhood Development (ECD) Promoter, John Osome, introduced the family to practical approaches that support children’s emotional, social, and cognitive development.
Rather than criticizing existing parenting practices, the programme walked alongside caregivers, equipping them with knowledge, encouragement, and practical skills to create nurturing home environments.
The family learned about:
- Positive parenting and responsive caregiving
- Discipline without harsh punishment
- Learning through play
- Child nutrition and early brain development
- Shared parenting and gender roles
- Creating safe and nurturing homes
For Getray, whose life is grounded in faith and community service, these lessons strengthened values she already cherished—love, patience, compassion, and intentional parenting.
Small Changes, Big Impact
One of the biggest transformations was in how discipline was handled at home.
Instead of reacting with harsh punishment, Getray now takes time to explain, listen, and guide her children with patience. Clear and loving boundaries have replaced fear, helping her children understand right from wrong while feeling secure, respected, and valued.
“Discipline is not about breaking a child’s spirit. It is about building their character. I understand that now, and it has changed everything in how my children see my husband and me, and how they see themselves,” she says.
The family’s approach to nutrition has also improved. A thriving kitchen garden now supplies a variety of vegetables that support healthy growth and brain development while reducing household food expenses.
Parenting has equally become a shared responsibility. Both Getray and Charles actively participate in raising their children, creating a stable and supportive environment where every child has the opportunity to thrive.
Becoming a Model Family
Today, Getray’s household reflects the vision of the Moments That Matter programme—a home where children are growing in confidence, curiosity, good health, and strong character.
Their home has become a practical learning space for other parents in Muluhyia B Village who want to strengthen their parenting skills. Supported by ongoing mentorship from the ECD promoter, the family continues to model responsive caregiving and encourage others to embrace positive parenting.
What began as one family’s willingness to learn is now inspiring conversations about nurturing care across the community.
Why Positive Parenting Matters
Every child deserves more than survival. Children need environments where they feel safe, loved, heard, and encouraged to learn and grow.
Through the Moments That Matter programme, ADS Western is equipping caregivers with the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills they need to provide nurturing care during the critical early years of a child’s life.
Getray’s story reminds us that meaningful transformation does not always begin in crisis. Sometimes it begins with a parent who is willing to learn, a trusted community facilitator who walks alongside families, and a programme that believes every caregiver has the potential to raise thriving children.
As more families embrace positive parenting, communities are raising a generation of children who are healthier, more confident, emotionally secure, and better prepared to build a brighter future.
