Sun was going down and we were unwilling to go back to home,
after all it was summer vacation and I was at my grandmother’s place, miles
away from crowd of city. Finally the call came, my grandfather was calling us
to come back. While returning we saw some parrots flying around the banyan
tree, it seemed unusual, so we decided to go there. There was a baby parrot
down near the roots of tree. We became very excited and took it to our home. To
keep him alive my granny took so many efforts, fed him milk using cotton, kept
him warm, the entire concentration was on him after all he was a family member
now.
Time passed, we grew older and so did our mitthu (my parrot).
We kept him in cage, no don’t get it wrong, we never wanted to captivate him,
this was done just to protect him from cats. One morning when granny woke up,
and went to feed him as daily routine she saw him missing from the cage. She
searched for him and he was found in our courtyard. He didn’t fly, he never
learnt how to fly. He never had a free childhood, he was never guided by his
parents, and his childhood went in cage. Although we taught him how to talk but
never taught him how to fly, how to explore the sky, because we were unable to.
The same thing will happen if we keep the childhood caged.
It is like a bird which must be left free, free to laugh, free to enjoy, free
to explore, the only thing its needs a little guidance, Just like bird who needs
guidance to learn flying. Birds never tell their children the limit then why
us. Childhood is like flowing water, let it flow, if you will try to make it
stagnant for sure it will lose its purity, its speed, and in long run
everything. It will be better to go with the flow, you may learn many new things.
The only thing you need is to tell the flowing water (your child) is how to tackle
obstacles which come in between without losing his faith. You guide him with
your experience and in return he will show you a new world which he has in his
heart. Let him dream, answer all his questions no matter how silly they are. Give
him opportunity to do what he wishes to, be with him as a guide but never say “no,
you can’t you are too young to do this”.
Let me narrate you a small story again. While trying to make
first cup of tea in my life, I burnt my hand. I was in class 4 then. When my
mother returned from office I was very terrified that she will scold me for
going in kitchen in her absence but somehow I grabbed courage and went to her
and told her everything. The reply which I got made me strong. “Beta hands getting burnt is a part of
cooking, don’t worry about that. It is good that you tried. Come with me I will
show you how to make tea properly.” If she wouldn’t have supported me then,
I would never have learnt how to cook.
The only thing which I would like to say is be your child’s
friend, he will open up to you and will share his feelings. If you try to
instruct him or order him he will never open up to you. If you want the flow to
go smooth without obstacles be its supporter. Let childhood be free.
Don’t build dams, let the river flow.
Let the breeze of childhood blow.
Move along with its pace.
It will bring smile on your face.
Let him grow with freedom of mind.
Don’t be strict be a little kind.
Childhood has its own grace.
Let him grow slow,childhood is not a race
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