No Means No!!!
A stand which many of us take when it comes to empowerment and building a sensible society.
When a movie star said it in one of the movies, the country was taken by a storm, on how it is important to respect a No!
My question is how will the next generation know this? What are we doing to ensure that this message is sent forward and inculcated in their minds in the proper way?
Is just teaching them about equality enough? Is tell them to respect all enough? Does it just end at that?
As a parent, when I think about it, various instances flash through my mind where we as adults forget to respect the No of a child.
Situation 1 : In a family gathering, the child is not comfortable being around some person, who is possibly an elder or a family friend, but is still made to be around that person. Not just that but is made to interact, "Say hello, respond to the questions asked" etc... The child says no, but is still made to do it.
Situation 2: The parent is telling the child to do some work. the child is saying No. The parent tells again and the child continues to say No. The parent gets agitated. In certain cases, usually ends up shouting on the child or even hitting in some cases.
Situation 3 : The child wants to select a field of study which he/she loves, the parents don't agree and the child is forced to go in a stream which they are least interested in.
These situations though don't seem to be too out of ordinary in our society, have the ability to create an impact that lasts life long. At instances a child is offered treats for doing things they don't want to. They are scolded on or punished. For a child it is an understanding that saying No is equal to punishment or a way to get more treats.
Instead of reacting or forcing the child to do somethings when they are insisting on not doing them, try to find the reason Why.
I understand, that as they grow up they need to understand the importance of doing things at the times when they need to be done, but as they enter their teenage, this respect becomes of utmost importance. Instead of being the nagging parents, let's give them a space making their own decisions. Let them be free to say NO.
If we as parents respect and accept it Today, we just might make way for a generation for whom No would really mean No.
Let's begin this at our homes. And continue it through actions instead of waiting for another news of an heinous crime to hit the papers and create a temporary wave of unsolicited advice for all the parents around the globe.
A stand which many of us take when it comes to empowerment and building a sensible society.
When a movie star said it in one of the movies, the country was taken by a storm, on how it is important to respect a No!
My question is how will the next generation know this? What are we doing to ensure that this message is sent forward and inculcated in their minds in the proper way?
Is just teaching them about equality enough? Is tell them to respect all enough? Does it just end at that?
As a parent, when I think about it, various instances flash through my mind where we as adults forget to respect the No of a child.
Situation 1 : In a family gathering, the child is not comfortable being around some person, who is possibly an elder or a family friend, but is still made to be around that person. Not just that but is made to interact, "Say hello, respond to the questions asked" etc... The child says no, but is still made to do it.
Situation 2: The parent is telling the child to do some work. the child is saying No. The parent tells again and the child continues to say No. The parent gets agitated. In certain cases, usually ends up shouting on the child or even hitting in some cases.
Situation 3 : The child wants to select a field of study which he/she loves, the parents don't agree and the child is forced to go in a stream which they are least interested in.
These situations though don't seem to be too out of ordinary in our society, have the ability to create an impact that lasts life long. At instances a child is offered treats for doing things they don't want to. They are scolded on or punished. For a child it is an understanding that saying No is equal to punishment or a way to get more treats.
Instead of reacting or forcing the child to do somethings when they are insisting on not doing them, try to find the reason Why.
I understand, that as they grow up they need to understand the importance of doing things at the times when they need to be done, but as they enter their teenage, this respect becomes of utmost importance. Instead of being the nagging parents, let's give them a space making their own decisions. Let them be free to say NO.
If we as parents respect and accept it Today, we just might make way for a generation for whom No would really mean No.
Let's begin this at our homes. And continue it through actions instead of waiting for another news of an heinous crime to hit the papers and create a temporary wave of unsolicited advice for all the parents around the globe.
No comments:
Post a Comment