Raising kids the way we were raised? Or raising kids for the future of tomorrow? A quirky conundrum every set of parent faces.
How about choosing a middle ground – being the eyes, ears for your kid but letting them think and speak for themselves. Let them be on their own, judge for themselves and even commit their own mistakes. As long as they don’t hurt themselves badly, I think we all owe ourselves the lessons we (l)earn!
Father, mother.
Mom, dad.
Amma, Appa.
These are all terms referring to a role of a caregiver to their offspring. Then does it matter whether it’s a male or female caregiver who rocks the cradle?
In fact a balanced, well thought of and meaningful partnership results in a rounded kid as both parents bring their experiences, knowledge and wisdom to the child. Societal norms may shape this but normalising raising one’s offspring is a family and human issue. After all it takes a village to raise a kid.
Is it best to guide your children every step of the way? Make sure they are perfectly dolled up for all spheres of life? Is it a parenting failure if the kid doesn’t excel in either academics, sports or fine arts? How much pressure is too much pressure?
Or are you a lazy, chilled out parent who let’s the kid be? One who isn’t worried about grades and excellence but rather focused on the learning experience? Isn’t this a cover for your inadequacy to multi-task?
All these myriad questions come to every first time parent as the child starts schooling. Till then it’s you and your kid but now it’s a bunch of other kids and their parents too! Comparisions and contrasts are but natural. Making you wonder if your parenting style is too lenient or too strict!
And there is no golden answer. It’s what fits your family, your circumstances, your equation with your partner and so on. So stay on the course you’ve chosen, just keep your eyes and ears peeled for learning what’s happening in your kid’s world! 😇
Are they society’s guilt traps to hold one back? Are they at times meaningless, irrational & outdated? Are you stuck following them with your head stuck in sand?
Tradition & rituals without context and meaning may seem like a headless chicken. Rather than giving you wings, they tie you back from making that flight. Try asking around and the elders are likely to snub you off or not be able to provide an explanation.
So are you trapped for life, being a blind follower? How about trying to unearth the history, the reasoning the logic and then give it your own spin. Choose the relevant ones and take them ahead, tweaking for today’s world Make them memorable, joyous and create bonds for life with your loved ones. In short, traditions could be your present, as long as you learn to enjoy them, your own way 😁
It matters as not everyone likes to work hard. Not everyone likes to slog themselves for long hours. Not everyone loves the idea of being a disciplined, routine driven person.
Bringing in gamification breaks the monotony of the daily timetable, allows flexibility with fun, lets break free from them vs us and brings people to do things together. It helps build a team, at work, at home, as a family, as a couple too.
Gamification allows you to stay in the moment, be focused and try to learn. It ensures that you may still enjoy the process as much as the outcome. Try to use it in your next task and let the fun begin!
Who doesn’t want to be remembered forever? Who wouldn’t like that his/her interactions be the fondest memory of as many people as could be? In short how you make people feel would make you last for an eternity, in their memories, as part of their lives.
Fill others with kindness, warmth and compassion. Fill yourself with moments to decompress from daily stressors. Stay light hearted. Be in love; with a purpose, with yourself.
Eating wisely, eat clean and listen to your body. It’s the best inner compass for your health and morality. Stay nimble and keep moving.
Belong; find your tribe, your community. A healthy social circle which keeps you going and which you keep going to. Invest time in family by creating rituals which create lasting bonds.
Catchy title but does that even exist? Not the word of course but the ideology. In today’s hyper competitive world with global aspirations and shrinking humanity can the beta generation even afford to be free from pressure?
Maybe yes. If they are bought up minus the burden of their parents aspirations. Maybe yes if they are free from the traditional norms society has set to define success, achievements and accomplishments. Maybe yes if they find their own definition of work and play.
Maybe yes if they create more than consume. Maybe yes if they free play more than attending scheduled classes. Maybe yes if we mentor them more than we coach them. Maybe yes if we let them be the kids they are meant to be ❤️
So the kid comes back from school and is recollecting his day over meal. When I asked about the highlight of the school today, he mentioned fellow classmates getting trophies and certificates for great performances in sports.
He ended it by saying why don’t I get such trophies. And it left me a bit surprised that a 7 year old is defining his sense of achievement openly. Happy I was to hear him understand and appreciate someone’s achievements and wish to emulate the same. At the same time sad I was that the kid felt small about himself.
So I reminded him of his acts of kindness from a day before. He was on his best behavior leading a younger kid – hosting, engaging and trying to connect with him. To me his being kind, social and adjusting is the biggest trophy any parent can ever get.
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