I frequently used to say to my
kid, “Be a good boy”, “Behave yourself beta”. I was conscious and was very
careful with the words and tone. Being a sensible parent never compared my
child with other kids. One day I and my son went to supermarket and he wanted
to buy something. And with lots of love
(like a good mother) going on my
knees holding his both hands I said, “No beta not now. Be a good boy.” He kept
looking at me and ultimately asked me, “Mamma how to be a good boy? How this
good boy does looks like??? What do you mean by behave???”
This was shocking for me. So many
years I am using this term and this poor guy doesn’t even know the meaning of
this. . Then I explained this phrase in minimum 7 to 8 lines and then he smiled,
gave me hifi and said, “So this means I am good boy, right mamma??” I hugged
him and said, “Yes beta…You are...”
Most of the times parents take kids for
granted. They think that kids understand their terminologies completely. Forget
terminologies they don’t even understand simple words.
This incident happened in the era
of no social networking. Today one thumb
up articulates everything but still comment makes us happy. This is our world -
An adult’s world. How many times it happens in day that when child asks
something and the response is in single word?? Eg. yes, no, lets c, humm, ok,
wait or good beta or just a nod . The world of technology we are forgetting to
converse. Only saying good or only thumb up doesn’t satisfy the need of
appreciation of a child. If you want that our kids to develop good behaviour
then when they exhibits it they need an appreciation with our enthusiasm and
extra expression. Social networking sites have also come up with various facial
expressions as it added up when a person writes comments.
Let’s stop using phones, ipads,
and head phones while talking to kids. Work can wait but childhood cannot.
Technology has option of pause unfortunately it is not applicable on human
beings. Let’s have conversation with
kids. These little conversations become memories for lifetime. Let’s relearn an
art of conversation. Else the day is not far when our kids want to laugh they
will just say: D. Human beings control technology lets not allow technology to
control us.
