My surroundings have changed. Parenting in 2014

My surroundings have changed 

I have not changed as an individual in the last almost four decades that I have seen & the at least the last 35 years that I can distinctly remember.

But something has changed drastically in my surroundings! The change is probably not affecting me, but will affect the children that are growing in this society. The change is the death of innocence – the death of the small happiness’s of life.

When we were growing up (most of us) we had books to read, comics to enjoy & exchange with our friends, the evening radio music was a family affair!

Days were spent in regular schools with not so fancy friends; our teachers were more of a Guruji than a fancy dashing personality, the Master ji of whom we were scared. Parents could walk-in to the school up-to the class & meet the class teacher to get a feedback!  Things were probably in control for them.

We had enough time in the evenings to play with our friends, catch up on cricket, football or just carom! The lazier ones like me were busy buying / borrowing / exchanging comics & other books. We had time to gaze at the stars in the night or play antakshari, ludo, snakes & ladders. Listen to some music on a record player, a radio playing in the background was a perfect setting for the evening dinner. When Dad was a person whom we did not want to antagonise & ensured that he never heard of any mischief that we did. At times our mother did not know which house or where we were playing – it was safe to go out to play. Getting 60% marks was decent enough. Not many chased the 98%.

Dad made us read “The Statesman” newspaper at times or “hear” news on BBC / Akashvai,  every word said by Mark Tully was heard by one & all. The voice of Ameen Sayani  on Binaca geetmala would mesmerize all of us. The black & white programmes on DD were a delight to watch. A movie outing once a week or once in a few weeks was a WOW thing!

Mother  ensured that we wrote letters to our uncles & aunts – some good letter writing skills were developed thanks to her !

Summer vacations were spent with either of the grand parent’s or Uncle’s place! The more innovative ones & who could not go out of their place identified a mango orchard nearby where stealing mangoes was a fun thing! Or just jumping into a pond of muddy water J. The occasional train journeys were a family fun affair.

That was then – Welcome back to 2014…

Reading the newspaper today is painful, leaving your kid unattended for 15 minutes is not safe, letting them hear music is so unpredictable, the access to information is so much that we have now got to block the access at times.

Television is upsetting, news is scary, music is horrible, movies have no sense, gadgets that we do not need make our lives more miserable- yes technology has changed everything. 

Comics ? not seen any kid asking for them, books who has the time, yoga class, music class, karate class, dance class, homework, TV to watch ahh so much to do & so less time.

Parents presuming that ayahs & nanny will help them in parenting kids:  We see every second day what happens when you leave the kid with a stranger. We work for 12-14 hours a day, ignoring family & kids. Is it all worth the compromise?

I am changing my life to make it more suitable to my family , I might fail in my attempt to get back sanity in our lives but at least I will be happy that I tried.