5-y-o takes on grown man’s job

With a pair of kid's water boots on his feet and a shovel in his hands, five-year-old Nicolai Richards goes about loading a wheelbarrow with sand, like a seasoned professional.

His father, Devon, watches him like a protective hawk to ensure he does not hurt himself while performing the manly task. He said that Nicolai has been emulating him since he was three years old.

"If I am working, he wants to do the same thing," he told THE STAR when the news team visited his community of Brandon Hill, Clarendon, recently.

The senior Richards said that his five-year-old son has a keen interest in agriculture.

"He asked for his water boots, he wanted a goat and I bought him one and he actually takes care of it," he proudly shared.

Nicolai's mother, Nickesha Gordon Richards, said he shows little interest in watching television. Instead, he spends time farming pumpkins and other crops, just like his father.

"His father is a good role model, I want him to copy him. You want your child to have a bond with his father and I want him to grow up to be the best man he can be," she said.

As for Devon, it is important that fathers find ways to bond with their children. He is close to his two sons, Nicolai and Devonte.

"I encourage all Jamaican fathers to spend time with their kids and not be just a sperm donors. From they are small you can bond with them ... if their mommy is sleeping you can make them breakfast," he said.