http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/apr/16/wildlife-family-lion-king?INTCMP=SRCH
Tony Fitzjohn was a wild explorer who lived at a lion reserve in Kenia when he met his wife Lucy. At the time Fitzjohn was an alcoholic and 22 years Lucy’s senior. Even so, they fell in love and Lucy ‘surprised’ her family by moving in with Fitzjohn who lived under severely primitive circumstances in a rural part of Africa. Their four children were born there. Becoming a father and settling down even amazed Fitzjohn himself, because it was everything he never wanted. Fitzjohn doesn’t want to keep his children isolated, so three of their kids are in boarding school and the family spend their holidays in England. According to Fitzjohn raising children is very similar to raising lion cubs; they both need food, protection and love and, just like lions, children become independent.
I think Tony Fitzjohn is doing the right thing in not keeping his children isolated in rural Africa. Children should experience the ‘real’ world in order to give them a fair chance to decide which way of life they prefer themselves once they are grown up. Since there are no schools near the lion reserve, boarding school is the only possible solution to give his children as much of the normal childhood stuff as possible. I agree there are similarities between raising children and raising lion cubs; the basic needs are the same, but when it comes to bringing up children, it takes more than just food, protection and love.
Tony Fitzjohn was a wild explorer who lived at a lion reserve in Kenia when he met his wife Lucy. At the time Fitzjohn was an alcoholic and 22 years Lucy’s senior. Even so, they fell in love and Lucy ‘surprised’ her family by moving in with Fitzjohn who lived under severely primitive circumstances in a rural part of Africa. Their four children were born there. Becoming a father and settling down even amazed Fitzjohn himself, because it was everything he never wanted. Fitzjohn doesn’t want to keep his children isolated, so three of their kids are in boarding school and the family spend their holidays in England. According to Fitzjohn raising children is very similar to raising lion cubs; they both need food, protection and love and, just like lions, children become independent.
I think Tony Fitzjohn is doing the right thing in not keeping his children isolated in rural Africa. Children should experience the ‘real’ world in order to give them a fair chance to decide which way of life they prefer themselves once they are grown up. Since there are no schools near the lion reserve, boarding school is the only possible solution to give his children as much of the normal childhood stuff as possible. I agree there are similarities between raising children and raising lion cubs; the basic needs are the same, but when it comes to bringing up children, it takes more than just food, protection and love.
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What an extraordinary story. It is something you wouldn't expect in this day and age.
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