Our country has a population of around 1.3 billion, which is exceptionally huge. As a result, opportunities are less or, rather, due to the general fashion of requirements, expectations, and desires. All the factors are relevant in the current scenario prevailing.
Due to all these factors collectively, our society has become highly competitive in all the term’s dimensions and from lower to higher levels. Parenting involves bringing up and nourishing children from childhood until they meet success in their lives. Children now deal with lots of challenges because parents desire that their children do well and grab top ranks in schools, colleges, competitive exam and even further.
In fact, these challenges vary in two inherent aspects. Firstly, the challenges come when the parents have a particular wish or desire for their child to fulfil. But children, however, do not want to take up those desires for their own pursuit. And if they do, they do so half-heartedly in most cases.
Secondly, the challenges are brought up when children want to pursue a particular passion which their parents do not want them to take up. Or rather, they possess neither the resources nor the conducive environment to let their children pursue their dreams. Right?
These above-mentioned aspects eventually lead to unwanted issues between parents and children in the phase of parenting. The extent and intensity of these depend on the needs and desires of the general competition in society. For instance, in the IIT-JEE examinations, both aspects are being proved.
As a result, persuasions and compulsions come between parents and their children. This many times goes otherwise. Sometimes parents take offensive actions and sometimes their children do so. Isn’t it avoidable?
We have seen in the last couple of years, as competitiveness in society has further increased due to the advent of social media, many young students have reached the extent of bringing in the wrong companionship, leaving home or even attempting or committing suicide. Naturally or morally, the ultimate responsibility lies with the parents. This being willingly or unwillingly doesn’t matter. And this very responsibility is in itself the ultimate challenge.
Therefore, parenting undoubtedly is a well of never-ending challenges, only furthered by high competitiveness in society. But it can be made easy. Hence, to let that happen, there should be the right understanding, decisions and methods on the parents’ part. These include:
Understanding the child’s desires, inclinations and interests. When and if they find out what they look for, they should then decide (though on an experimental basis initially).
Parents should stop having unnecessary expectations from their children as far as their ability and capacity are concerned. Apparently, this set of expectations create meaningless burdens on parents and the children as well. For instance, compelling them to achieve 90% marks or beyond is not right, knowing that they are more interested in sports or dance. This tendency leaves psychological impacts on children.
Lastly, the parents should invest their energy and efforts to teach the children the determination, love, and respect for what they do or want to do, discipline, courage, and right techniques to consciously choose between right and wrong. These will definitely help in easing down the burden of challenges the parent find themselves in.
Thus, it is even likely that the population will increase in the upcoming years resulting in more burden on resources and demands for jobs. The first thing in this situation is the right parenting that will prepare children for their challenges.