Grooming problems!?
Life has always its measure of surprises. The 'grooming' in the title is about how we groom our kids.
An usual night to me means ,a story for my 6 & 9 year old sons & then with lights off we discuss what was interesting that day. These are moments I enjoy the most.Innocent questions & imaginative answers, it's the best part of a parent child relationship. But the other night, my 9 year old stumped me & made me think twice on how I'm grooming him!
As usual the conversation was about his school & suddenly he asked me, "Amma what if I become will you be proud of me?" Wanting to be an open minded parent I replied,"Anything that you want to do or like to do I would be happy!"
He insisted" No, tell me ,like what?"
A little thought & I said, "Maybe a newsreporter, a newsreader, a cameraman, a journalist, a photographer, an actor,a RJ,DJ,VJ etc..."I thought i had given him enough choices. But then he wanted more. I said ," Ok then a doctor, an engineer, a lawyer,a teacher, a banker & listed out the conventional professions.
At that point, he told me," No amma, I know what I want to become." "Ok what?" i asked. " My GK teacher told me today that our president Dr.A.P.J.Abdul Kalam was not a politician before he became the president of India, but a scientist. I want to be a scientist & become the President of India." His reply shocked me.
Not for anything else but then, as a parent I had not even given him politics as a career option.I do complain like the rest of us that our leaders are not good . But then how many of us actually groom our kids to be leaders of our country. We do not even consider politics as a serious career option.
Does the fault lay with us then?
posted by Unknown @ 5:13 AM
21 Comments:
well wasnt this highlighted in mudalvan as well.we all like whining about the morality and venality of our politicians yet none of us wants to become one.then why should we complain at all?
So true. Never once have I thought of politician as a career. U must have had a shock of ur life when u heard that.
When I was a child I used to think I'd become a doctor, then rock star, then wife and mum, then Kindy teacher :) It changed all the time...my mum/dad never told me what I should be...in the end I became an IT professional...totally different to what I thought I'd be :)
Politics is somethin I dun like but it there's a desire for that then let him follow it...after all we need GOOD leaders to this world and ur child may be the kind we need...
Keshi.
The other way of looking at it!! If we had majority of our leaders to be as exemplary as Dr. Kalam, we would start considering Politics as a serious Career option. :-)
Know what !!
Things are changing. My ex roomi who is an IITan aspires to become the PM of the country.
"Does the fault lay with us then?" -- Yes and No... Yes, because we don't encourage them to do it and good leaders are always good for the country. No, because we feel politics is corrupt/bad, and that will spoil you sooner or if not give life-scares often.
So it more question wanting to have a "better" (better again is debatable) life just for ourselves (don't choose politics) or for the country (so become a politician). And these are choices the Kid should make when he/she becomes sufficiently knowledgebale and should not be imposed upon by parents.
And needless to mention, APJ Kalam is an inspiration to so many kids but he is still not in the main-stream politics.
Politics is a nice career option...I'm gonna enter politics and I have decided on the road map too..
Once I hit my late 40's....and when ma kids gonna accept the fact that Im bizarre and its dangerous for them to stay me at home, I'm going seriously take politics as my sole career.
Btw, I can cook up good speech and make people listen to me without a single yaawwnn (alright, make it 5 yawns max, not more than that)
Hey Uma!
I'm not sure if Chiraag would become the President of India, but then his reply was something that
set me thinking !
Thanx for your wishes Gangadhar!Very sweet of you. I haven't seen Yuva! But then Logical Chiraag sure is!!
So true Paurna, maybe as today's parent I need to seriously think of my country too, don't I?
Welcome Thanu,More than a shock, it was sure was an eyeopener of a reply!
Hey Keshi,
I was only wondering, if i am going the right way.As a parent,ur kid looks up to u for guidance initially, though later other factors influence his decisions.
Good Barani, which means by the time my son grows older, he would be having good examples to follow. BTW all the best to your friend who wants to be PM!
Well Said Karthik!Very true!
You have all the makings of a politician already arz000n.
U are imaginative,creative,have a
good sense of humour(very important to be able to digest criticism) and r able to express well! All the best for a great career!
politics as an option...yeh..:-)
come way may, u(as in adults) cant think like a child and a child cannot think like an adult..
The kid obviously is gonna change it the next time his teacher talks abt some one else..:-)
prolly, u shud just be happy at ur kids ability to surprise u :-)
Amazing thought, Rashmi... would have never crossed my mind! :)
Amazing gen-z representative!
never thought abt.. mebbe when I have kids.. i shall guide them to follow 'intelligent' politicians like Bush..
hey posting after a long time wellcome back... how was ur new year celeb...
yep u should guide him but never force them to be what u want them to be...
Keshi.
hey..how lucky you are!. Give him the best you can...who knows?!
Hey Rashmi...
Quite an interesting post there.. :)
I wudnt blame u and say that the fault lies in u or me or us... Coz as a parent, u want the best for ur child... and when i become a parent, I'm sure I too wud hesistate .. :)
After all we should groom our children to have a clean good life ! and politics just doesnt hv those qualities.
Cheers!
mm.. interesting... Our pres and PM are 'unique' politicians in that politics was never their priority until very late in their career, after a huge success in their respective fields. It would be an interesting idea to cultivate that into our young minds.. I sincerely wish a long life for both of them, so that they can be good examples for this generation and the next.
ur son said it the exact way people pursue politics as their carrer opton...
to be a politician is not a direct thing to achieve...
see the DU elections... u will come at same conclusion...
politics runs more in blood... so many a times its family business...
u will be surprised to know this many people at IITs consider politics as their final landmark... and to acheive that they think of various routes...
Rajya Sabha serves the purpose for having people from all walks of life to participate in governance...
hi maam
It was a nice post. You hit the bullseye. Especially in south India, we are too much obsessed with grooming our kids to become software enggineers or doctors.
I am surprised to read that atleast those first options you gave were something offbeat like an RJ or an actor. That itself is a big thing.
I do feel, parents can motivate their kids to join politics.
And yes, someday i hope to be the president of our country! Raisina hill might just be the place for me....just like your kid said.
Happy NEW YEAR!
i really appreciate the fact that you are being so open with Chirag. You want him to take up what HE likes and his PASSION.
I just wish all parents start thinking in your direction, instead of simply loading them with schoolbags, formulae, tutions and monotonous careers.
Regards
sRi
did you know? for the first time ever in india, there's a political party being launched by a group of IIT-ians from the US.
They have come to India with a plan and they have a national party. They would be contesting soon for elections.
so, i guess parents will start thinking soon (if not now)
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