It is interesting how parents teach kids to hate and despise anything that hurts them rather than reason out that this too is a part of life.
While I waited for by delayed flight back home, I saw a child -two or three years old, whose legs got stuck in the chair. The kid was shocked and screeched aloud. The parents released the kid from where he was stuck. Immediately the mother mockingly hit the chair for hurting her child. This miraculously stopped the the kid from crying
Here is what I think happened here:
– The kid personified the chair that entangled his legs.
– The parents knew that it wasn’t pain that the kid was howling from, but just shock.
– The parent beat the chair, and the kid calmed down.
– The kid slapped the chair a couple of times as well. End of story!
Was it an act of doing anything, something to distract the kid from howling? Am sure my folks did the same.
I know it’s a random incident, but I know so many of my friends who are new-age parents who put in real thought in every act, every word they utter in the presence of their kids. All this to shape the kid’s personality.
Thinking back now, it seems like I grew up rather carefree. My parents sent me to a decent school, ensured I got through 10th grade. They followed on and off up till I finished my graduation. They didn’t try to mould me so much, or did they in an indiscreet manner like the chair beating parents?
Today at 30 – I realise I am domesticated. I have a will of my own but I know I am considerate to my family and friends. I do things I like to do. If I am not doing something worthwhile, I believe I haven’t worked hard enough at it, though sometimes I might blame my parents for it, for the sake of it.
Aaah… there! Maybe I blame for the sake of it it is because the chair was blamed when I was monkeying around in public, instead of behaving myself!
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Swapna Perikal is a full-time employee in a media company. Putting pen to paper always makes her happy. She loves out-door adventures, travelling and always ‘finding something beautiful within life, no matter how slight.’ She blogs at http://tastingitlivingit.blogspot.in/