TEENAGE, A TIGHTROPE WALK

 

“Adolescence is not about letting go

It is about hanging on during a very

Bumpy ride”

Have you ever wondered what it is to be an educationist? It is not how it is perceived from outside. It is the responsibility of thousands of lives!

Life in school is a joy ride most of the time. Seeing children everyday itself is heartwarming. Interacting with them is a pleasure. The mind is always filled with progressive thoughts of taking them all to the next level, giving them new experiences, exposing them to wider knowledge, training them for greater achievements, cultivating in them values, developing a powerful mind and everything that will help them to climb the ladder of success, while being rooted to their culture and ethos.

Every day passes away like a song that one can relive and cherish. But. sometimes, out of the blue, we are jerked by some incidents. Especially the issues of teenagers. This is an age that either makes you or breaks you. What is unfortunate is, some are unable to pause and think. They are unable to see what is coming. They just get carried away by their feelings, not waiting to even think. The rush of adrenalin and dopamine is overwhelming, and they fail to apply the brakes. Life is on uncontrolled acceleration, and they don’t see the speed breakers ahead. This period of their life becomes like go carting, driving in a mad rush, banging here and there.

The same children who were once close to their parents, start distancing themselves as they feel that parents are giving unnecessary and unsolicited advice. The hormones in their body overtakes their attachment and makes them behave in a way that is very unpleasant. Children wish to enjoy unrestricted freedom, not realizing that it is disciplined freedom that will give them all the joy.

This is the age when children become rebellious, they want to try the untried, they push the boundaries, they explore the secrets of life unknown to them till then, they experience the so-called thrills, throwing caution to the wind, like the bullet train, they are in a hurry to do too many things at one go, not realizing that they are treading on a dangerous path that can even destroy their life. They relate more with friends and move away from their parents. They feel that whatever they are doing is right and are not willing to see reason. 

                                        “Every day, in a hundred small

                                            Ways, our children ask

                                               Do you see me?

                                              Do you hear me?

                                                   Do I matter?”

If parents can invest quality time in building a beautiful relationship with their children in their growing up years, the bond between them can save the child, as it has, in many families. It is only when the parents are deeply immersed in their own issues and challenges and forget to forge a bond with children, that life jolts them from their complacency, when children are neck deep in trouble.

This is a wake-up call to all parents to be with children right through, so that, together we can have beautiful moments as a family to cherish, rather than be awakened one day to a horrifying truth of teenage children messing up their life. Take one step forward and hand-hold your child, never to forsake them, by  giving them the confidence that you will be their friend for life!

#Thoughtfulthursdays #nsn #nsnschool #mentoring #parenting