Five things we need to unlearn as parents

As a parent, I have often found myself lecturing my kid for no reason. I think we take it to be a package deal that comes with parenthood to keep reminding them of dos and don’ts, rights and wrongs, morals and ethics, so on and so forth. Poor kids!

Well, this is just one amongst the long list of terrible things that many of us are guilty of including being over-protective all the time or burdening them with too much academics. Honestly, these are the things that we parents need to unlearn immediately. Because only then, we’ll be able to make space for a new kind of learning, a new understanding of the dynamics of the parent-child relationship that’s much more than what we know of it.

So here are five things we need to unlearn as parents that can help us have a new insight into the beautiful world of kids around us.

Rule-book: There are no manuals- be it parenting or childhood. They are just experiences. We all learn by living it not by reading from some rule-book. So nurture your relationship with your kid not on the basis of how it “should” be but how it is.
Failure is bad: Failure isn’t the end of the world. Don’t let your anxieties over-power your kids. Fear of failure hampers creativity and has an adverse effect on a child’s physical and mental development.
Technology is the culprit: This seems to be the fad these days with the parents to blame everything on the technology. Technology is a necessary evil of this generation and it’s foolish to think that you can do away with it. Instead, find a way to limit its intake. Plan weekend getaways, go for a treasure hunt and you won’t find gadgets ruling your kid’s mind again.
Academic success is what matters: We all want to see our kids successful but success isn’t limited to academics. Your definition of success could be different from your child’s. Do give it an ear.
Life would be happy, if only we were richer, skinnier, fairer, etc etc. This list goes on and on. Happiness has no terms and conditions. So, don’t postpone it for any excuse.
Live it, explore it and be it!