Consider Yourself Lucky

           It is so hard to understand children nowadays. One incident from my vacation hit me. We were having breakfast then, when one of my cousins (got lots of them), my 10 year old cousin considered to be the oldest of them left her plate 2 or 3 spoonfuls of food. I and her mother asked her to get back and finish her food. Gentle at first, then as minutes passed by, the tone of our voices hit the limit. Unfortunately, we ended up "fighting" resulting for her to threw her food. I was so pissed off that time so I came up scolding her. Regarding children begging for food, children scavenging for food or worst children dying from hunger. From behind, my youngest sister said, "consider yourself lucky". 

             From that time onwards, that word "consider yourself lucky" was reused and abused. Every move of our younger cousins are being scrutinized. When they're so picky on their clothes....consider yourself lucky for you have something to keep you warm and lots also to wear on different occasions, some have none. When they refused what was served on the table....consider yourself lucky for you're eating three meals a day and with snacks in between even, unlike others who are malnourished, worst-dying from hunger. When they don't want to sleep early...consider yourself lucky for you are having enough rest. When they preferred computer games rather than scanning their notes...consider yourself lucky for you were given the opportunity to study; some children have to work, they have no time to scan their notes. When they reason out....consider yourself lucky for you have an adult to supervise you; some have no parents to guide them. When they are so hardheaded on their parents....consider yourself lucky that you have them. When they ill wishes upon the star....consider yourself lucky that they still love you. Literally, every action they've done has a corresponding consider yourself lucky that...that...that...

               Now I was wondering, are they really lucky? I think saying consider yourself lucky is just another way of saying "do this, do that." I'm pretty sure every parent or guardian wants their children to take the right path. Also, they claim that they are doing the right thing. It's what's best for them they say. Well, nothing to disagree with it. Who wants their children to be a sociopath anyway?

               Children are not small adults. They perceive, understand and rationalize things differently. So maybe we should consider to let our children be children. Allow them to be careless, for in that way, they will learn to be careful; to scream, for them to learn the beauty of silence; to play unlimited, for them to value time; to mess themselves in order for them to appreciate cleanliness or tidiness , to fight with the elders once in a while to recognize respect; to break the rules to earn responsibility; to stumble simply to  acknowledge failure then success; to be hurt, to cherish love and most of all to be alone, to recognize the presence of God. Although it may not be the way you wanted it, allow them to discover themselves, in that sense, you discover them also.

              As they enjoy their childhood, don't forget to be their parents or guardian. Be there to guide, to encourage, to lift their spirits, to boost their self-esteem, to protect, to teach and to nurture them.

              But of course the last choice is still for you to make. Happy parenting!