Dear Son/Daughter
Now that you are growing and in the sweet teens I just wish to talk to you through some experiences of the past. When I was of your age I too was exactly like you full of life, happy social and enjoying life with a beautiful company of friends. My parents on the other hand were like us serious, lecturing and telling me to focus on studies. I did not understand their point and called it unnecessary nagging and may be…may be, you also feel that way.
It’s funny that once I was also your age and then things were also same in some respect while there was naturally a great difference too.
DIFFERENCE WAS OF THE TIME
It’s a gap of say more than three decades.
THINGS YOU HAVE:
1. BETTER FACILITIES
2. TECHNOLOGY
3. MORE OPEN ENVIRONMENT INFLUENCED BY WESTERN CULTURE
4, MORE CHOICE TO MINGLE WITH DIFFERENT GROUPS
5. MORE GAMES TO ENJOY
6. BETTER LEARNING FACILITY
THINGS I HAD OR RATHER WE.
1. GOOD EDUCATION
2. SPORTS ACTIVITIES RESTRICTED TO SCHOOL
3. LIBRARIES
4. THEATRE FOR MOVIES
5. SOCIAL GROUP RESTRICTED TO SCHOOL BOUNDARIES
6. TAPE RECORDERS FOR MUSIC
IT’S GOOD TO SEE THAT YOU ARE GETTING MUCH MORE THAN US AS THE WORLD’S EXPANDING THROUGH GLOBAL INTEREST. WE WERE RESTRICTED TO SCHOOL AND COLLEGE.
But son there is one thing that we and you share and so will the coming generation. To create the resource to continue existing in the best way is what we required and so will you. This necessity cannot be fulfilled even by the richest of the rich. This one requirement desires a lot during the initial teenage stage of our life and this demands a lot of us so that we are able to live properly and help our family live properly.
I know it’s a parents’ duty to supply all security of life to his children but will it not be considered as making a child handicap if we furnish everything throughout your life. So I feel it is necessary for each one of us to recognize our talents and work on them simultaneous to enjoyment. We all deserve recreation, social bonding and fun but not at the cost of our future. If a child can work on both the aspects of work (focus on studies) and entertainment then I feel he will never need to cheat others or himself and will definitely be successful in life. Success and happiness are two things you must desire and for that we need to put concentrated effort on studies, study and enjoy do not just enjoy is all I can suggest to all kids.
I am your mother, the one who has formed you in me, the giver of this beautiful life to you, how can I not be a friend? Share your happiness and fear and sadness with me. I would love to extend a bond of friendship to you as you grow and make friends in the world.
Welcome home for all homely experiences make a person fit to survive in the world. There is no other beautiful bond than that which starts at home cos’ family members are the ones who can always be yours truly loving, forgiving and uplifting. Try it out whenever you need
Love you
very well written Savita, and thought provoking too..its a dilemma that we all face even as parents- where do we overstep the boundary between providing security and comforts to our children, and smothering them with too much so that they become handicapped. it was such a lovely way to extend the bond of friendship.
ReplyDeleteappreciate your writing always, savita.