Let me just be a Kid

Mom left her job to focus on me. She wanted to give me the best food, education, and activities. How sweet….!!

I turned six, and one day at my friend’s birthday party, I heard the mom talking :-

Renu Aunty said, “My son is learning football, playing the keyboard, and taking abacus and painting classes. I am busy all the time.”

Is she complaining or bragging?

Neetu Aunty further added, “True, my daughter is also going for swimming, dancing, tennis, and karate classes. And I manage everything – home, family, kids, and their classes. I always tell my husband that I need a break, an expensive holiday”.

Ritu Aunty said, “We deserve an expensive gift every month or maybe every day, ha..ha….”

Mom suddenly felt she wasn’t doing enough. She asked them, “Which is the best place to learn all these different activities?”

At first, the ladies impressed Mom with endless data on different hobby classes and then took Mom’s phone number to send more information on hobby classes plus their daily life updates – pictures of parties, dinners, and all in different dresses. It seems that they never wear the same dress twice. 

Mom panicked. Only God can save Dad.  She convinced Dad to enroll me in various hobby classes. He has no other choice; after all, it is a matter of their only child.

The next evening, Mom took me to the coaching center. There were many activities – cricket, basketball, tennis, karate, badminton, football, etc. Mom also noticed some young kids in every class who were more advanced. I could see big expectations in her eyes. She turned to me and said, “See how well these kids are playing.” What was I supposed to say?

Mom made me join the cricket class, without knowing or asking my interest. She thinks I am too young to know my likes and dislikes. And she is right. I have to try many things to discover my real interest.  

But what is this? She made me join keyboard and singing classes too (I hate Renu Aunty). I guess mom wants to keep herself occupied so that she can also brag at some birthday party saying, “Oh, I am busy too.”

At first, cricket class was fun. But after a few days, I told mom, “I don’t want to go anymore. I don’t get the chance to either bowl or bat. I just stand in the field for an hour”.

The next day, Mom and the coach had a long argument, which obviously Mom won. But I lost interest. I made all possible excuses to miss my classes. Finally, mom gave up, but not in the way you think – she made me join badminton classes instead!

A few days later, I said, “I don’t want to go to badminton class, lots of warm-up exercises and running and I don’t like doing it”.

Mom said, “You must give it a try, at least for a month. It often takes some time to get settled down”.

She had a point. I continued half-heartedly. Singing class is very boring, mom expects me to sing like Sonu Nigam within three months.  

After a dragging month, I told mom, “I don’t want to go to badminton classes anymore.”

Mom asked, “Why?”

I said, “I don’t like it?”

Mom, “Why?”

(Do adults have enough reasons for all their likes and dislikes?)

Frustrated mom, “You are wasting my time and money.”

(I wish someone could remind her that I am only 6 years old)

But she wouldn’t give up easily. She made me join other activities -after a few classes, I rejected them all.

Finally, I like playing football. Mom was relieved. Now, she also started enjoying bragging to the other ladies, which had some side effects. The ladies convinced mom that children should be equally good at academics. As a result, mom enrolled me in abacus classes too.

Now I go to football classes, which I enjoy. Keyboard and singing, I hate it. About abacus class, I don’t know what to say…

Mom is exhausted from running around all day – managing the home, Dad, cooking, and my classes. She is more tired, anxious, and complaining. Due to this, we all have no peace at home.

Six months later, it was time for my school exam. Mom discontinued all my extra circular activities, which was good, but I really wanted to go for football classes. The coach told Mom that continuity was very important, but she was influenced by those wicked ladies, who liked to talk big about their children scoring good marks at school. Mom made me sit in front of the books and expected me to make no mistakes.

Oh God, it is my own mistake to ask you for educated parents!

Case 2

At the birthday party, mom heard the ladies talk about their opinions on different hobby classes. She gathered some necessary information and gave it thought for a week. After trying different activities, we settled for football classes. The ladies tried convincing her to enroll me in more, but she stayed firm – one class at a time was enough.

Life became simple. Mom took me to football classes every day at 4.30 pm. We are back by 6 pm. Then the whole family sat together and enjoyed snacks.  At 7 PM, I study for an hour. I enjoyed that too because mom says, “An activity we enjoy gives us more energy instead of making us tired”. After every football class, I feel the same. My mom is so intelligent.

She also made sure that I played outside with my colony friends. I love that the most. Mom never burdened herself or me with too many activities. After five years of football coaching, I became good at the sport. My studies also improved. Teachers were proud of me.

One day, I told mom, “I want to learn the guitar and singing”. Mom smiled. This time, I was choosing my own interest. Dad took the responsibility of picking me up and dropping me at class. Thank God for giving me such parents.

Extra circular activities are not simply pastimes or a status symbol. They bring good health, happiness, and focus in a natural way. It is like natural meditation for children.