Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Bitter Sweet Parenthood

Being a good Parent is a tough task. If you want your kid to be live life full of life, you have to put sanskars in to him. He is going to do things you taught him for major part of his life, so it is matter of utmost importance.
Here are the things I try to teach my kids -
1) Self Improvement and Only self improvement - The only comparison they have to make it is between yesterday and today of one's own self. Be it games or studies, just improve yourself.
2) To Give - At times, I give the food from their share to poor and needy children. I also ask them to feed animals like dogs. This sanskar will go a long way to show them that life is a reflection, more you give more you get. Only the form will change.
3) Audio Visuals - Watch good movies with them - Karate Kid (Your focus needs more focus), Iqbal (commitment), Avataar (Love), ChandraGupta Maurya(many aspects of life), BolBhachan (laughter is the best medicine), Chak de India(love your country), Life of Pie(difficulties make you strong and they end eventually). This is one of the easy, impactful ways of teaching them.
4) Discipline - Give them Military training when it comes to discipline. They may not like it when you do it, but they will love you for life. Do not be emotional with them, make them tough but tough like coconut. They should be strong and be able to lead from the front. Only strong can lead and we need leaders for sure.
5) What you eat is what you become - I have created this infamous saying that "If you eat lays, you will become a bag a full of air and less substance". Tell them difference between fresh food and stale food. Give them fresh fruits and not soft drinks. The society is such that every parent is giving in to the demands of the child because it is "easy". But be tough, deny them these things. At times, let them have it and tell them it is bad but you can have it this time ;).
6) True sense of freedom and not illusion - People have this general illusion that freedom is to be able to eat, drink, do anything at any time otherwise they are taking away their child hood. It is not that way. Teach them that real freedom means be able to choose good things for themselves and not compromise by having what they get "easily". For example - Bread is easy to get but roti takes time and effort to create. Roti as everyone knows is more beneficial for health. 
7) Take them to the market - Teach them to shop for vegetables, fruits and so on (does not matter girl or a boy). 
8) Unlock the door - Teach them to lock and unlock the door, Teach them what is passbook, chequebook, bank balance, ATM, ATM Pin, Cell Phone (prepaid and post paid). Every parents are so proud that my kid can now recognize all gestures of iPAD so well, teach them how to unlock a door, it will help them in practical life. 
9) Make him a Player - Teach him team spirit. Play with him, appreciate his talent. Teach him cycling, Skating, Swimming at early age. Make him fear less in true sense of the world. 
10) Love them - Love in not sense of being emotional. Giving to their cries is not love. Love is to share, cook, play, music, hugs, blessings, hair cuts, long drives, camp fires, good night and a good morning.
11) Friends are forever - Teach them importance of having good friends. Their lives are going to be shaped by the circle of friends they form. Tell him to make friends who put smile on his face, or the ones who smile when he meets them. 
Schools will only teach the syllabus, you as parent are responsible to educate them for "life".

2 comments:

NIRAV said...

Kudos, Himanshu.
A true insight of how to nurture your kids. I tell you it requires lot of discipline & it start from self & then one can instill into their kids.
Good Start to New Year!!!!!
Nirav

Renuka said...

Very well said Himanshu!

Have a great year ahead :)

Regards,
Renuka