INGENUITY OF TODAY'S KIDS !!!

 

In today’s world where technology and information are at our fingertips, children often seem to possess an uncanny ability to outsmart the adults around them. Recently I had a conversation with my friend Daya who was concerned about his teenage son. Like many of my friends, he was navigating the tumultuous waters if parenting during the teenage years, a time when kids often believe they know everything and parents appear to be blissfully out of touch. Daya expressed his worries, feeling clueless about how to connect with his son. I reassured him by reminding him that our own parents likely felt the same way about us, and that parenting is an evolving journey filled with learning from our mistakes.

Interestingly, Daya’s concerns did not stop with his teenage son. He also mentioned his daughter, a precocious four-year-old who frequently leaves her parents speechless. The latest episode occurred during a parent teacher meeting (PTM) where the teacher expressed her concern that Daya’s daughter had addressed her by name instead of the more conventional “Miss”. Daya and his wife Viji pressed her for an explanation. The response from their daughter was nothing short of hilarious and enlightening. She explained that she had chosen to sit in her seat and not wander around as she usually did. After finishing her assigned work, she started calling for her teacher’s attention. However, the teacher did not respond despite her calling continuously. So, she simply called by her name to get her to look up, as that was her name. She insisted she listened to her parents advise and merely called her teacher by name to gain her attention.

Hearing this Daya was rendered speechless, while I erupted into laughter. I couldn’t help but think how grateful I was not to be present during that conversation; cos likely I would have ended up in soup with the teacher for laughing loudly in such a situation.

What struck me most about the incident was the remarkable thinking and innocence displayed by the four year. She navigated a social situation with a level of intelligence that many adults might find themselves lacking. This anecdote serves as a reminder of the creative problem-solving abilities inherent in children. They often operate outside the confines of adult logic, approaching situations with a fresh perspective unburdened by society norms or expectations.

In the grand scheme of parenting, such moments highlight a broader truth: today’s kids are not just smart – they’re resourceful and innovative. They teach us often in several humorous ways that there is no standard manual for parenting. Each child is unique and their responses to the world around them can offer valuable lessons for us all. As parents navigate the challenges of raising children in this fast phase world, perhaps the best approach is to embrace the unpredictability and enjoy the ride, learning from them along the way.