Finding a good balance between being tough and being fun is one of the most difficult aspects of being a parent. You want your children to grow up to be healthy and successful in all aspects of their lives, right? Their emotional world is included in this.
In an Instagram post by The Better India, Tata group's executive Siddharth Sharma shared some parenting insights.
"I normally don’t post personal news but am making an exception this time to celebrate our younger son’s graduation from Harvard College with a cum laude in Mathematics & Computer Science. His twin is graduating from Ashoka University & heading off to Sciences Po, France’s premier University, for his Master’s," he said.
“Our eldest did his Master’s from Cambridge & is on to his Doctorate at Oxford. All of them together have brought us the biggest joys of life, infinitely more than any accomplishments of ours,” he adds further.
So let’s look at whatever it is worth, to all those who are bringing up their children right now:
Give them time and love
Spending quality time with your children does not have to be a major undertaking; it can be as simple as setting aside a few minutes each day to be alone with them. Mr. Sharma advises parents to give their children the time and love they need. “There is nothing that children want more than your time & love. That cannot be outsourced- you have to make sure that both of you, or at least one of you, is always available with them to spend quality moments. Even if you are the PM, as Jacinda Ardern said yesterday at the Harvard Commencement, you can still take time off for your kids,” he shares.
Set an example
The more good deeds you practice in front of your children, the more they'll notice and start to mirror those same moves.
Advising parents, Mr Sharma says, “Don’t forget that children are extremely perceptive. They soak up the atmosphere and the habits of their parents imperceptibly but surely. Make sure, therefore, that you set the right example in terms of values, ethics & integrity. Walk the talk !”
Teach them the value of money
Money lessons have other advantages besides teaching children the fundamentals of economics. Young people who learn to budget wisely and delay gratification develop patience and planning skills in other areas of their lives. He said “Irrespective of howsoever much you may have, make them appreciate the value of money and human dignity & labor. If they don’t value human effort and what it takes to put food on the table, they won’t ever value anything else in life.”
Respect Women
Gender stereotypes are all around us. Kids live in a digital age full of negative messages around gender norms. He shared, “most importantly, teach them respect for women and how they enrich our lives. As they grow older, talk to them about the importance of consent and respecting a woman’s choices. That will make them into fine, rounded individuals who will be an asset to society.”
Don’t fight in front of kids –
Children need to feel loved, secure and comfortable to express themselves fully. If children see parents constantly fighting and arguing at home, it creates a sensation of panic within the child. These feelings of vulnerability and insecurity can shape a child’s personality and last a lifetime. He explained, “handle differences between you & your spouse separately, never in front of your children. They should always see their parents as a united, indivisible whole. Don’t try and score brownie points in front of your kids vis-a-vis your spouse or partner.”
