The world is filled with people (read loved ones) who want to give their opinions for anything and everything happening in our lives. But there is one category of people who WANT OUR OPINIONS & SUGGESTIONS! They plead for answers, question innocently, and if you make sense to them, they are intent on listening to you. Well, I am sure you would have guessed it by now – they are none other than kids!

The moment we become parents, we want to give everything to our kids. Things, which we missed when we were kids, luxuries that we couldn’t enjoy; places where we couldn’t go; allowing them freedom which we always wished for; and so on. That’s great parenting, isn’t it?

That’s great thinking, I must say. But there is a fine line! A fine line between guiding them and allowing them to explore. In wanting to give them everything we have, we end up doing things that ideally they must be doing by themselves or we keep giving them instructions of do’s and don’ts. As parents, our intentions are never in doubt. But in doing so, we are killing their creativity and their natural expressions. We might sub consciously be suppressing their development and bloom.

Our four year old twins – Anay and Aavya got miniatures of Captain America and Iron Man. They have played a lot with them and made loads of stories. Of late, they got tilted into becoming Ram, Laxman, Sita etc. (after seeing Ramayana during lockdown) and now into Krishna, Balram, Radha etc.

The other day, they got some wet tissues and abro tape to me. They were asking me to do a few things with it. I kept doing all that they were asking me to do. I did not stop them, guide them or ridicule them. I was just being a catalyst. To me surprise, they had turned Captain America and Iron Man into Krishna and Balram. I was stunned and thrilled at the same time. I would have never thought of something like this. But their creativity was on a different level altogether.

Had I interefered, maybe Iron Man would have remained Iron Man and Captain America would have remained Captain America. I would have missed getting this pleasant shock! The pride on their faces after everyone at home appreciated them was a sight to see. It was a precious moment!

We often attempt to channelize kids into something, which they might not be meant for. Again – our intentions are never questioned. But the actions are to be thought of. Before doing anything to them or for them, we must ask – “If I don’t help them, will they lose anything? Will something untoward happen?” If the answer is NO, I think we should allow the kids to just do!

More often than not, they will leave you spell bound. They will go beyond our expectations and do better than we would have thought. As a parent, I think the best you can do is – TO BE A CATALYST in your child’s life!

I know you would have got things for your kids this Diwali. But if you can add this into your parenting – of being a CATALYST, I think that is the biggest gift they could have ever got!

 HAPPY DIWALI!