Largely parenting has been misunderstood as providing for children. Giving them “good education”, cell phones, latest gadgets, branded stuff, luxuries etc. at the cost of self. In today’s world where both parents are working and guilty of not spending enough time with kids, they shower kids with gifts, grand birthday parties and are ready to comply with their demands and fantasies. Whatever they missed in their childhood they do not want their kids to miss.
In all this melee the core purpose of parenting is lost. We need to equip children with life skills and value systems to face the world when we are no longer around.
This time around in the background of a pandemic and resultant lock-down when parents and children are staring at each other and the reality of life, it’s time for a paradigm shift in the way we deal with them. Face hardships together as a family. Share the household chores, share worries if there are financial and other troubles. Include them in every decision and challenge.
Guide them patiently in housekeeping, cooking, organizing, hosting, washing, cleaning, and buying groceries. Discuss what life is all about with them. Don’t shy away from discussing sex, relationships, marriage, career, children with them.
It is only from parents they will imbibe values such as honesty, service, sharing, love, hard work, respect, gratitude, loyalty, fairness and responsibility.
Talk to them about all these, prepare them to become independent as soon as possible. Careers are built over the years, do not fret over their grades and ranks and initial failures.
Thanks for the suggestions
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