YOUNG MINDS 08
Fighting Fire with
Icecream!
As much as we
find change to be liberating in terms of its novelty, there is no denying the
fact that we all need a constant factor in our lives that will never change, which
acts as a secure foundation from which we can explore newness. The very first
objects that we came to know as a secure base are our parents. It was while
sitting on Mum’s lap as a 2 year old did you first get the nerve to pull the
hair of the nice unsuspecting lady sitting next you on the bus. Many kids always manage to catch a fleeting look of their dad’s face
before turning a corner and going into their classrooms at school. We have always
needed the assurance that there is a capable adult who’s got our back so that
we are safe to explore new environments and accumulate rich experiences in our
lives.
This
quintessential bond between a child and his parents suddenly morphs into a battle
as the child comes to sprout the 10th tooth. Suddenly the same
adults whom we adored and admired become a source of embarrassment. The
same father whose strength we showed off to our primary school friends is now
“that man” who refuses to understand why you need a mobile phone as a reward
for completing your 9th standard examinations without incident. WE get tired of sentences that begin with “When I was your age....” and THEY get
burnt out from hearing “I hate you!” and “Why wasn’t I born in the neighbour’s
house?!”
It is not easy
to pinpoint and say which among these parties is right. We all have our reasons
for feeling the way we do and saying the things we say. Do you sense a “But”
coming? You won’t be disappointed. BUT don’t we all deserve a time-out from
these accusations and challenges that fly to and fro and instead just smother
our Mums with a hug and put a temporary stop to the arguments in favour of an
ice cream break? It is not as hard as it sounds. In fact, you will be very
surprised at how tension diffuses like vapour and how great it feels to give
your overworked parent and yourself a break and just chill out talking about
inconsequential things.
Many parents may feel left out of their child’s life as
they grow up. Talking to them about your friends, funny incidents at school,
movies, books and other stuff that you would usually discuss with your friends
can get them to look at you as a companion or a friend rather than just a child
who should be spoken down to.
Having a
heart-to-heart talk in which you extract a promise from your parent that they
will not react with anger or annoyance and that they will let you speak
your part without interrupting can help understand the other’s perspective and
rediscover the simple joys of each other’s company. It takes anywhere between
just a little effort and enormous grunting effort for different people to
listen to their parents’ side of the story. Once both sides have had their say,
it is a matter of mutually respectful negotiations and eventual resolution of
disagreement.
It is very
important to have a light side to your relationship with your parents. Among
school and work pressures, chores, homework, friends, partying, achieving and
breathing we tend to make those relationships that give us the greatest joy and
security a painful ordeal. So this New Year, take your parents out for a movie,
spring a spontaneous game of caroms or basketball on them, break the monotony of
surly looks and sulky expressions and have a wonderful time with the beautiful
lady and gentleman whom you grew up thinking were the best parents in the whole
world.
SANGEETHA MADHU & JYOTHI RAVICHANDRAN,
THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS- SCHOOL EDITION
