Scene 1: I am at a conference with theme of "excellence 101" and the panel discussion starts. One of the senior executive states to him excellence means creative dissatisfaction. He goes on to talk about how Indian parents specially in urban areas are obsessed about their child scoring full marks in maths! He says the urge for excellence probably starts there.
Scene 2: I am going by auto to my kids' school to collect their final result. The auto driver sees other autos with school kids, he asks me if the school is still open. I tell him it's the 'result day' and he has an advice for me. "Whatever is the result, please do not scold your kids. Now-a-days even good students fail!!." I actually did not say anything negative to my kids after the results. I think I will remember this auto guy for a long time!
Scene 3: I am watching a TV serial based on real events that shows how parental pressure on a child participating in a reality dance show led to her nervous breakdown. It also advised parents not to thrust their dreams or ambitions on their kids.
Now questions in mind relating all of these events and many more together. All of us mothers and fathers n uncles n aunts and grandparents take pride in bragging about our kids being all-rounders, isn't it? How much should we push our children into excelling in everything.
I have read about Chinese parenting concept of tiger mothers who believe in being less appreciative, but more vigilant about what their child does at every step, and pushing them to do better (including rewriting funeral speeches till perfection).
I have read about more liberal western culture where children get ample choices right from early childhood, more focus is making them independent, letting them choose what they wish to do and so on.
And I have heard Indian parenting being called as helicopter parenting. We are hovering over our children all the time :)
This is what I think as of now, there is no right way, no single method of parenting that's the best. Because after all it's about dealing with human beings. Known for our unpredictable behavior, unique thinking powers !
The only thing we can pursue with our kids is probably that they aspire to become good human beings when they grow up, thinking of doing things better today than yesterday. That's what will probably bring that urge to excel some day?
Scene 2: I am going by auto to my kids' school to collect their final result. The auto driver sees other autos with school kids, he asks me if the school is still open. I tell him it's the 'result day' and he has an advice for me. "Whatever is the result, please do not scold your kids. Now-a-days even good students fail!!." I actually did not say anything negative to my kids after the results. I think I will remember this auto guy for a long time!
Scene 3: I am watching a TV serial based on real events that shows how parental pressure on a child participating in a reality dance show led to her nervous breakdown. It also advised parents not to thrust their dreams or ambitions on their kids.
Now questions in mind relating all of these events and many more together. All of us mothers and fathers n uncles n aunts and grandparents take pride in bragging about our kids being all-rounders, isn't it? How much should we push our children into excelling in everything.
I have read about Chinese parenting concept of tiger mothers who believe in being less appreciative, but more vigilant about what their child does at every step, and pushing them to do better (including rewriting funeral speeches till perfection).
I have read about more liberal western culture where children get ample choices right from early childhood, more focus is making them independent, letting them choose what they wish to do and so on.
And I have heard Indian parenting being called as helicopter parenting. We are hovering over our children all the time :)
This is what I think as of now, there is no right way, no single method of parenting that's the best. Because after all it's about dealing with human beings. Known for our unpredictable behavior, unique thinking powers !
The only thing we can pursue with our kids is probably that they aspire to become good human beings when they grow up, thinking of doing things better today than yesterday. That's what will probably bring that urge to excel some day?
No comments:
Post a Comment