Child, no more!

Being a parent isn't easy. We are expected to know a lot...a lot more than our children do, anyway. Because we're older and supposedly, wiser too. Our experiences have taught us a lot over the years and we expect to be able to pass on this knowledge to our children...so that we can guard them, protect them, shield them from 'bad' things happening to them. Often, it doesn't pass on as knowledge but more as instruction. There is a subtle difference between the two - only one lets them learn for themselves.

But why should it be that way? Do age and experience mean so much that we feel many times, beyond a doubt, that we know everything? Can we not let our children make mistakes and figure out things for themselves? OK, maybe not all the time...like if they wanted to lie down in the middle of the road to find out the probability of getting hit by a car, we can stop them and say, "No...don't do that" and secretly think to ourselves, "We know...we almost tried it too but were stopped just in time!"

At what point do we learn that our children are children no more but adults (little adults, even!) who are capable of making a choice for themselves whether right or wrong? If there are no guarantees in life anyway, then what makes us so sure that what we know is the only truth? What makes us so sure that staying within the boundaries that have been drawn for us will result in positives...for them?

What makes us so sure that letting them take the path less trodden may not be the best thing they've ever done?

The Wall

There it was...a high steep wall with holds all over the place but it didn't seem easy at all. Many seemed within her grasp and yet, she couldn't get a hold of them that easily. Not one to give up, she braved it and carried on upwards, trying all the while not to keep looking down below. But it was incredibly hard. Looking back, looking down...it was impossible not to do that. She faltered but kept going.

It took awhile...and she almost reached the top...just a few holds away and suddenly, her hand slipped! She was holding on with just one hand. She knew that she couldn't let go...that wasn't an option. To go back to where she started seemed impossible! Not after all that effort, all that it took to get her to where she was...she couldn't let that happen! And yet, the surge that she needed to haul herself back up seemed a little too hard. Stuck at that spot, her body started to ache. She wished someone would just pull her up and yet, she wanted to make it on her own. 

And then, she closed her eyes and saw a familiar face...or was it faces? Smiling at her almost as if to say, "It is hard but not that bad. And you don't have to do it all alone". 

She took a deep breath and grabbed on to the nearest hold. It took all of her strength and all of her toughness...but she held on. And she reached out and pulled herself into a more stable position. But it wasn't over...the hardest bit was yet to come. Everyone had told her that the last step was the toughest. It nearly took your life out...but it was well worth it. 

She felt like the only way she could do it was if she almost let go of both hands and leapt to the last hold...holding nothing back. And she did just that...and made it! Just about. But it was good enough! She got to the top, not in a fancy way...but good enough. 

That's all mattered. Good enough.

Preview to the future?

The three of them sat next to each other...two tubs of popcorn between them. And a bottle of water. One of them looked to her right and said, "Look at them....that's how we will be many years down the road". Another said, "Yes, I was just thinking about that". And the third one said, "Yeah but we won't be in saris". And all three smiled, happy and secure about their friendship.

The three of them sat next to each other...two tubs of popcorn between them. And a bottle of water. One of them looked to her left and said, "Look at them...that's how we were many years ago". Another said, "Yes, I was just thinking about that". And the third one said, "Yeah but we weren't in jeans". And all three smiled, happy and secure about their friendship.

We go through so much in life. There are times when we need friends more than we may be willing to admit. There are times when they make so much sense...so much that we may sometimes not want to see it.  There are times when all we need is a hug, a cup of tea, a chat or a drive.

There are times when we feel that some friendships are forever - be it jeans, sari, make-up, long hair, short hair, mismatched clothes, out-of-fashion chappals or everything else in between.