THE GREATEST GIFT YOU CAN GIVE YOUR CHILD

 



“The greatest gift you can give your child is

not material possession; it’s the gift of discipline.”

Unknown

 

I have been teaching teenaged students for decades. Broadly speaking, I get to see two kinds of parents of these young students of mine…

The first kind - I would say, the majority - shield their young ones fiercely… They defend their young ones’ behaviour and actions, even when correction is required. These parents are touchy, overprotective about their young children.

The second kind - I would say, the minority – don’t shield their young ones where correction is required. They are firm when it comes to discipline. For, they know the old truth: The best time to shape a tree is when it is a sapling… Once hardened, it is impossible to shape the tree.

One of these mothers, who firmly believes in shaping her teenager before he gets ‘hardened’, has been very, very consistent in her approach… She knows her only son like the back of her hand. She knows when he comes out with lame excuses, or useless justifications to cover his mistakes and flaws… She is the one who tells me, time and time again: “Sir, be strict with him”… “Sir, he is giving an excuse”… “Sir, don’t allow him to attend online, even it means missing a class”…

This morning, the boy was expected to attend an offline class at 8. In our group (in which, this boy, his parents and I are members), the  boy wrote, “Sir, can you send me the online link… It’s raining and there is waterlogging outside my society.”

I  wrote back, “No. Attend offline at 5 p.m.”

“Thank you Sir, for being firm with him… There is no waterlogging anywhere. I have already reached my school (She is a teacher in a reputed school).




At 5 p.m., this evening, two things can happen: The boy may attend, or skip. “It’s okay Sir, let him miss, if that’s what he chooses to. But, I want my son to know what is right and what is wrong… What helps him to become a confident man tomorrow and what doesn’t.” The mother added this further in the group…

Has the son read it?

Oh yes, he has.




Spare the rod and spoil the child. The rod, here, simply means firmness… The parents’ and teachers’ love and care in action.

 

GERALD D’CUNHA

 

Pic’s: Pixabay

Video: AmenClinics

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