Shackling or setting free?

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.(Excerpt from Khalil Gibran’s poem)

In this imperfect world, people try to ‘find perfection’. Though, no one is perfect here! We all try to learn from our mistakes. As humans we have various kinds of attachments and relationships, as we live in a community and are constantly trying to fit in.

But, there are some connections that are for life and can be quite cumbersome if not handled with care. One such relationship is of a child and parent.

Have you ever thought about the balance in the relationship of a parent and child? It is something that may not go with the flow. It also won’t always go as planned. So, what will you do then? Ask yourself this question. Are you ready for this complex, baffling yet gratifying ride?

Parents and children are connected since the time of conception and the mother more as she nurtures an ‘individual’ in the womb. Parenting is a responsibility of both partners. Whereas, children are children, they learn more by watching rather than listening. Just remember, you are the important factor in your child’s life but not the only one. Friends, teachers, environment, experience etc., are the factors which provide them with a wide view of life.

When a person comes to this world, they come with the attachments and path of life’s longing. Every person has their own destiny. You can protect them from failure or mistakes. However, you cannot make them escape their share of obstacles or adventures.

Being a parent you must understand that you are the first role model for them. For instance, nowadays every kid loves to use mobile phones or any gadgets, but as we all know; it can harm their eyesight as well as their potential and growth.

Here, what do we do? We either ask or yell at the child to not touch the phone and after asking or ordering them, adults start using it themselves, without a second thought.

Basically, your words and actions don’t go together. Now, what the child will learn or inherit? The thing a parent asks them to do or do what the parent does? Before telling your child make sure you are doing the same you wanted for your child. They are in this world for their own destiny, will it be okay if you tell them the life you wanted when you were a child is the only life or let them create their own? Are your dreams are the only dreams a child has to follow while sacrificing their own? In a dilemma right?

These are just few things you and I are talking about but there are many more. Tiny little things can make difference. It can also change your and a child’s perspective of seeing the world because some steps are more than just a step.

To be continued...

- Krupa Shah