The day when even my coffee needs a coffee!

"Friday Friday, Party night, Party night" - After a week of tireless work, we indulge in a Friday night filled with singing, rocking, and devouring chicken feasts, while sipping on refreshing Coke and immersing ourselves in an epic movie marathon. It's the perfect way to recharge and reward ourselves for our top-performing efforts.

But today wasn't the right moment to celebrate the end of the workweek. Just like me, some of us feel a jumble of emotions on Fridays, especially when the pressure of deadlines and responsibilities becomes too much to handle.

For the past month, I had been tirelessly working on a project, which forced me to sacrifice my weekends. The exhaustion had taken its toll, and I woke up that morning wishing I could have slept forever. The feeling was akin to torture, and anxiety began to seep into every crevice of my being.

As I battled my own inner turmoil, I noticed my son pleading with us, "I don't want to go to school." His innocent plea caught my attention and tugged at my heartstrings. In that moment, I realized the impact of my stress was having on him. 

In that moment of realization, my super-parenting instincts kicked in. I decided to turn the situation around and transform it into a positive experience for both my son and myself. So, I gently reminded him of my unwavering commitment to attending school every day, proudly mentioning my perfect 100% attendance record.

Meanwhile, my mindvoice whispered, "Ah, the Oscar-worthy performance of my stomach pain drama, a classic tactic to secure a day off from school." 

But my son, in all seriousness, started pleading with earnestness in his eyes.

To lighten the mood, we made a promise to our son. We would let him go to school for only half a day and skip daycare afterward. His face lit up with joy at the prospect of an unexpected adventure. He agreed, on the condition that we only packed one snack box, instead of the usual two. When it came to daycare, he firmly believed in the mantra of two lunch boxes

With our compromise in place, I dropped him off at school, eagerly awaiting lunchtime when I would pick him up. As the clock ticked away, and when the time finally came, I rushed to pick him from school.

With a beaming smile plastered on his face, he came out of school reveled in the bliss of skipping half a day of daycare. The satisfaction on his face was simply priceless.

My thoughts turned inward. I pondered over the question, "Who can help me free my pressure?" 

Discipline Dilemma : The Parenting Circus

When I reminisce about my childhood, it's hard to forget the strict discipline and physical punishments. As 90s kids, how could we ever forget the memories of our parents employing severe beatings, utilizing a variety of tools like belts, Myir Kothi (a traditional tool to remove entangled hair after hair wash), mashers,  dosa palta, and even a comb that transformed into a weapon of discipline?

Stuides and experts are now against using such approaches and advice shouting or beating children rarely yields positive results and can lead to adverse effects in terms of their behavior or long-term discipline. 

Experts emphasize the importance of open communication and active listening in parenting. However, let's be honest, in today's fast-paced world, do we even have the patience to engage in lengthy conversations with our kids? In my case, after a whopping 60 minutes of trying to communicate calmly, I admit that it's often my final shout that manages to grab my son's attention.

According to studies, shouting at a child for neglecting their homework can lead to a negative attitude towards studying. However, in my amusing observations, whenever I encourage my child with positive words, he magically takes 4 hours and 5 breaks to complete just 1 page of homework.

But when I keep a stick next to him and say the stick will speak if he doesn't finish, he miraculously completes his work in the blink of an eye. Yet, deep down, I can't help but wonder if I'm unintentionally creating an aversion to his studies through this tactic.

Ah, the struggle of parenting! It's like a battle between wanting to discipline my children gently and feeling the frustration  when those attempts don't deliver instant outcomes.

In these exasperating situations, it's hard  to juggle from angry Bhadrakali to calm Zen master.

But let me tell you, from my own experiences, being a cool and composed Dhoni-like parent all the time is quite a challenge. Isn't it? There are moments when shouting becomes inevitable and we're human, after all, and parenting can push us to our limits. 

My friends, is shouting at times okay? Do you find yourself raising your voice at times when dealing with your children?

I'd love to hear your thoughts. Share your inputs in comments. 

Coming back to the topic, As parents, it is our responsibility to raise well-disciplined and emotionally healthy children. While the traditional methods of shouting or beating may seem tempting as quick fixes, they are not productive in their long-term development. It may be challenging at times, but with dedication and perseverance, we can raise responsible and respectful individuals without indulging in harmful disciplinary measures.

One final touch, Children are like tiny explorers in this so called life. They thrive when they have clear boundaries and expectations set by their parents. It's like giving them a treasure map to navigate through their daily adventures. As parents, we should establish crystal-clear rules in a friendly tone.