Hi friends!
Today's blog is about Indian children between the ages of 10 to 30 yrs. & their parents.
We Indian parents give our optimum in bringing up our children to grow up to be good human beings, with good character, sanskars, education. We protect them from pitfalls, from getting hurt.
We go out of our way & put in great effort so that they get the best opportunities, the best in advice & guidance. After putting in our best efforts, we sit back and watch proudly from the sidelines as they flower into individuals with their own distinctive characteristics. We still hang around in the sidelines to give them a helping hand if they trip and to cushion them if they fall. We make ourselves available to them always, despite our hectic schedules, to guide them with advice in case they are confused, hurt, down in the dumps due to failure. Our unflinching support is something which they can always count on & which is taken for granted. Because, you see, we are Indian parents. Even a 60 yr. old son will turn to his 85 yr. old father for advice and get some pearls of wisdom. Because we are Indian.
Much as our Americanised Indian urban youth shout from the rooftops about wanting 'space' freedom, independence from their parents, what they are not aware of is that their core is still Indian. They want their 'space' within the home but become home-sick & lonely the minute they go to live in a hostel or shared residence. They miss sharing the day's events, the banter, the leg-pulling, the camaraderie, the conversations about this & that & nothing in particular. They miss the comfort of the family. They miss home food. They get cranky because they have to take care of their clothes - throwing them into the washing machine, putting them out to dry, folding them, giving them to the dhobi, checking whether he has returned all the clothes & that some are not exchanged inadvertently with the sweaty bloke in "B" wing, paying him.... They resent that they have to take care of a regular stock of groceries, fruits etc. They find it irritating to have to remember to take care of timely payment of bills, rent, maid's salary, income tax returns, banking transactions.... to remember to change the bed sheet. They find it demeaning when they have to keep the trash basket outside the door for the sweeper to collect, to wash their own toilets & bathrooms ( I am supposed to do this?).
Because, you see, they are Indian children.
Now an American child would take all these chores in his/her stride because he/she does not have a sense of entitlement where his/her parents are concerned. He is taught to respect his parents 'space', that they have a life, a career & interests independent of him/her which they would not want to sacrifice for their kids, that they would not want to take care of their kids & their problems forever - only up to 18 yrs. of age. He/she knows that he has to contribute to housework & daily chores as much as his parents. He equips himself with skills required for leading an independent life. He earns pocket money by baby-sitting, distributing newspapers, working at the gas station/bakery....instead of demanding money from his parents. He is clear about what he wants to do with his life, the career he would like to have, where & how to apply. He is prepared to make mistakes on the way & be responsible for his actions & to stand up, dust himself off & continue with life. Because, you see, he/she is an American child, used to sleeping alone in his crib, in a separate room, from the day he came into this world. His parents did'nt come awake every time he moved his head or limb or had nightmares or wet his bed/nappy. You see they were not around to cushion him. Because, you see, he always had his own 'space.'
Each culture is different - none the better than the other. Growing up in one kind of atmosphere & trying to emulate the other, is like putting a circular box in a square hole. there will always be some vacuum.
So take away the best from every culture but do'nt forget your roots. Do not try to mold yourself into something which leaves you neither here nor there. Remember that the 'copy' can never be as good as the original & will always be called a fake. Adapt where you have to but be an Indian at heart.
Because our India is the bestest!!
Today's blog is about Indian children between the ages of 10 to 30 yrs. & their parents.
We Indian parents give our optimum in bringing up our children to grow up to be good human beings, with good character, sanskars, education. We protect them from pitfalls, from getting hurt.
We go out of our way & put in great effort so that they get the best opportunities, the best in advice & guidance. After putting in our best efforts, we sit back and watch proudly from the sidelines as they flower into individuals with their own distinctive characteristics. We still hang around in the sidelines to give them a helping hand if they trip and to cushion them if they fall. We make ourselves available to them always, despite our hectic schedules, to guide them with advice in case they are confused, hurt, down in the dumps due to failure. Our unflinching support is something which they can always count on & which is taken for granted. Because, you see, we are Indian parents. Even a 60 yr. old son will turn to his 85 yr. old father for advice and get some pearls of wisdom. Because we are Indian.
Much as our Americanised Indian urban youth shout from the rooftops about wanting 'space' freedom, independence from their parents, what they are not aware of is that their core is still Indian. They want their 'space' within the home but become home-sick & lonely the minute they go to live in a hostel or shared residence. They miss sharing the day's events, the banter, the leg-pulling, the camaraderie, the conversations about this & that & nothing in particular. They miss the comfort of the family. They miss home food. They get cranky because they have to take care of their clothes - throwing them into the washing machine, putting them out to dry, folding them, giving them to the dhobi, checking whether he has returned all the clothes & that some are not exchanged inadvertently with the sweaty bloke in "B" wing, paying him.... They resent that they have to take care of a regular stock of groceries, fruits etc. They find it irritating to have to remember to take care of timely payment of bills, rent, maid's salary, income tax returns, banking transactions.... to remember to change the bed sheet. They find it demeaning when they have to keep the trash basket outside the door for the sweeper to collect, to wash their own toilets & bathrooms ( I am supposed to do this?).
Because, you see, they are Indian children.
Now an American child would take all these chores in his/her stride because he/she does not have a sense of entitlement where his/her parents are concerned. He is taught to respect his parents 'space', that they have a life, a career & interests independent of him/her which they would not want to sacrifice for their kids, that they would not want to take care of their kids & their problems forever - only up to 18 yrs. of age. He/she knows that he has to contribute to housework & daily chores as much as his parents. He equips himself with skills required for leading an independent life. He earns pocket money by baby-sitting, distributing newspapers, working at the gas station/bakery....instead of demanding money from his parents. He is clear about what he wants to do with his life, the career he would like to have, where & how to apply. He is prepared to make mistakes on the way & be responsible for his actions & to stand up, dust himself off & continue with life. Because, you see, he/she is an American child, used to sleeping alone in his crib, in a separate room, from the day he came into this world. His parents did'nt come awake every time he moved his head or limb or had nightmares or wet his bed/nappy. You see they were not around to cushion him. Because, you see, he always had his own 'space.'
Each culture is different - none the better than the other. Growing up in one kind of atmosphere & trying to emulate the other, is like putting a circular box in a square hole. there will always be some vacuum.
So take away the best from every culture but do'nt forget your roots. Do not try to mold yourself into something which leaves you neither here nor there. Remember that the 'copy' can never be as good as the original & will always be called a fake. Adapt where you have to but be an Indian at heart.
Because our India is the bestest!!
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