Often, children might indulge in some mischief and then completely forget about it, unmindful, in their innocence, of the impact of their acts on the adults around them. When parents stumble upon such acts later on, some laugh it off sportingly, while a few wait to settle scores with their wards, carrying revenge too far in their minds. Two real-life incidents remain etched in my mind. I would like to share them, this Children’s Day.

Tantrums on whose part?

The place was a posh house in a city of the US. Aditya, a seven-year-old boy, threw tantrums to such an extent that his dad lost his patience and thrashed him. Aditya did not cry. He shied away from his mother who attempted to cajole him, went to his room and dialled the police, without realising what he was doing. The father was arrested for child abuse and let off with a severe reprimand. The parents did not counsel Aditya who soon forgot the storm that he had created.

Two years later, the family visited India on vacation. After collecting the baggage at Chennai airport, the dad did something incredible. He slapped Aditya with all his might, all the while saying “Now, call the police and complain of child abuse, if you can.” Little Aditya was completely dazed. Tears started flowing down his cheeks in a torrent and he felt as if the whole world had cheated him…..

A RECORD GOOF-UP

This was a family living in India, comprising the parents and their eight-year-old son Rakesh who was brilliant in studies but full of pranks. It was the time when cassette tape recorders had hit the market. The father brought home a new tape recorder and proudly displayed its various features to his wife.

The inquisitive Rakesh keenly watched his dad in action. Later, as father and mother were engrossed in a serious family discussion, Rakesh meddled with the tape recorder and accidentally activated the ‘record’ function.

After six months, the dad carried the player to his brother’s house in a neighbouring state, to flaunt the gadget. He switched it on. What came on was a conversation in which Rakesh’s father talked ill of his younger brother while his wife ridiculed the attitude of his brother’s wife. Sparks flew between the brothers. The elder one guessed that his son Rakesh must have recorded the private conversation. Embarrassed, he headed back home.

Rakesh returned from school that evening. Thrilled on seeing his dad back in the house, he ran to his ‘papa’. But ‘papa’ was in no mood to embrace his son. With all the energy that he could muster, he smacked Rakesh on the back of the head. Rakesh never recovered from the horrific blow.

Parents need to discipline their children, for sure, but with love and patience. Recall that touching poem ‘Toys’ by Coventry Patmore ? The poet concludes that when we (implying, adults) lie at last in a trance, God would feel sorry for all our childishness. What can one talk of the childishness of children!

(The author works as AGM, Powertech Engineering LLC, Muscat. Views are personal, names in the article have been changed)

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