Rear Them Right!

Dear God

Picture this:

Beta flying kiss do aunty ko.

In a birthday party of about 50 people, the proud mother was asking her child to demonstrate the ‘flying kiss’ which she found cute! Let me be frank with You, there was nothing cute about it. It is intrusive to say the best. Not to mention it puts unnecessary pressure on the child. Your child is not a toy guys. Occasionally showcasing their talent in appropriate platforms is OK but forcing them to express affection to people they hardly know is downright improper. With so many child molesters lurking around, the least we can do is not encourage behavior the child fails to understand.

Having said this, I was reminded of the various talent shows and the children gyrating to songs like Jalebi Bai or Chikni Chameli. These ‘mini adults’ and their patrons fail to realize they are just children. Even after the age of 18, we were forbidden to behave in a certain way. These children are doing so much at such tender age. Not to mention the long rehearsals and the kind of hard work they have to do. Studies and a sense of normalcy have taken a back seat. Having achieved a celebrity status, it will be really hard for these children to go back to their normal lives.

We cannot deny that giving a platform to under-privileged or differently-abled children is a good way to uplift their moral as well as upgrade their socio-economic status. But for the sake of a few talented children, we are forcing those with normal abilities to push themselves.  If we are subjecting our children to this public eye, we should also back them up with the notion that ‘They don’t have to be super children for us to appreciate them. A normal, healthy, well mannered kid is equally important for us as a talented one.’ A whole life lies ahead of them to join the rat race. Why the rush? Why the urgency? Why the pressure? Let us just let them be. For me as a mother, I would be happy for my child playing with his/her friends in the park. Rather than see them pushing their limits in the spotlight.