’It is easier to build a child than to repair an adult’
Ask a parent or a teacher about essential qualities they yearn for in their children and students. Ask a parent or a teacher about their dreams for their children when they grow up. I am sure they would all have a comprehensive list as we all want honest, talented, loving, successful, happy, disciplined, empathetic, responsible, joyous and motivated children and adults. Looking at the daily struggles of parents and teachers in the modern age may be it’s time to stop and think and rethink on our approach towards nurturing our children. Being the eternal optimists we often think and hear – ‘everything will be fine as and when my child grows up’. For sure. God willing it will be. Does that qualify us to evade from our responsibility? Do we realize the early years are ripe to either make the self or break the self of an adult. Top CBSE schools focus on implementing life-skills based curriculum and motivate students to be equipped with all necessary life-skills to be future ready.
Frederick Douglass said, ‘It is easier to build a child than to repair an adult’. Incisive and profound to its core. Nothing can better sum up the colossal responsibility of parents and teachers in building up a child that grows up into an adult who doesn’t need repair. Only if we are not engaged in repair work can we be involved in the process of constant growth and development for an enriching life. Good schools in Gurugram are engaged in activities that enhances teacher-student-parent Connect through active participation in self development and empowerment programs.
Childhood is all about experiences, however if not taken care the tender, easily impressionable innocence can get coloured with complexes. As a result, later the adult gets busy fighting the complexes gained as a child with little or no time to enjoy the blessings of life.
As primary care givers we wish to bless our children with the best of everything. We need to realize that one of the most important life-skills that we need to equip our children with is – ‘Self Love’. The skill to pay attention to the precious ‘Self’. This statement however comes with a disclaimer that self-love doesn’t mean being selfish, ego centric, self-centered, self-obsessed, uncaring or unkind. ‘Self-Love’, simply means loving oneself too. Accepting, admiring and respecting self while we do the same for others. Self-love has the capacity to transform our genetics, reshuffle and redesign our patterns of behavior. It is therapeutic in nature.
Indeed love is a joyous experience. We often try to love or seek love but we miss out on a love that’s unconditional i.e. ‘self-love’. It not only enriches but prepares to face the challenges be it any with aplomb. It expands our understanding of the universe and improves self-awareness. It works as self-regulator and enables us to make wise decisions. The idea of self-love is not to become selfish but to broaden your own perspective and worldview where you are able to be good and incorporate all. ‘Be the change you wish to see’ again reinforces the significance of self. It is time we understood that self-love, introspection are not the tools of the old but are instrumental virtues to be taught and learned very early in life. As they set the soil for other human values to germinate and prosper. Fundamental gifts like self-worth, Positive self-image, self-respect, self-esteem can be bestowed upon our children by us. Enriched and empowered by a positive self-worth our children will reach their full potential. Oozing with love and worthiness they shall spread the same and make our world a better place to be in.
Let us brace ourselves to shoulder this herculean responsibility as parents and teachers. Let us fill their lives with the light that is boundless. Let us lay the founding stone of incredible beings. Let us remember, the TIME to do this is NOW.