When You Teach Unknowingly

Today was a regular day as it normally turns out to be. I got up at 0630am and made breakfast for my kid; we had it and revised his daily studies and shlokas. I asked him what he would like to do for the day and shared my schedule as well. He was very excited and wanted to play wrestling with me. He wins always, as he is very much stronger because he finishes his breakfast on time and has it all by himself. He is turning 4 this month.

We finished our breakfast and after some warm-up activities, we started playing. It is always fun when you play with kids. And it even becomes amazing when they win and gives you a burst of huge laughter and ear to ear smile. With our daily schedule and some changes in it I always share some learning from all the activities that we do together. Some life lessons, some basic hygiene tips, some personal safety rules, etc, but all come as fun and learn. Hence, everything seems to be easy. After being a father, I also realized that we have to be a role model to our kids, that is the reason I adapted to some changes consciously and some were unknowingly accepted by me. Even I did not realize that when my certain habits changed and my priority got shifted to him, and I never considered him to be a secondary part. Rather he became my motivation for all the activities I do. He gives a very basic understanding to look at things and trust me, life becomes simpler.

One day I was working on some content development and missed some points while noting them down. I was about to get panic for this when my kid said, without even looking at me, “its ok Baba, start again and don’t miss it this time. You can do it. I trust you.” I was completely surprised to see his reaction and composure while I was about to lose it all. I don’t know when I or any of my family members told him this, but he knew that this comment is a perfect fit for this situation and without even a second thought he used it with unwavering confidence. This is just one example of how he is helping me grow and handle things around me. A list of such incidences is unending and is continuously developing and updating every day.

But today was even more surprising for me. As mentioned earlier we started playing and were having fun. Like every day, I was holding him down like a demon and he was trying to escape from me. While being there in my arms he is blessed by God and he gets superpower and then he wins the game. But today there was a twist, I gave him a choice, I said as a demon, I will eat you and your friends. Now, what will you do? His answer was, “you should not do not that, rather help everyone and be a good boy.” As always I was surprised by this answer but today I decided to stretch it a bit and gave him one more option. I said, today you have to choose either I’ll eat you or your friends. And you have to decide whom should I eat? I promise the other would be spared. Without even taking a pause, he asked, “Promise?” I said, “Yes”. In the very next moment, he said, “Then eat me and let my friends go.”

I never thought he would say this, not in the age he is into. I never thought he would surprise me with this reply. I always wanted him to be like this but didn’t know he is already taking his lessons knowingly and unknowingly. His reply again emphasized on the thought of being a role model to your kids. I m a firm believer in this thought, that kids always observe and replicate our behavior. And my kid has proved it right. I m sharing this story just to give a line of thought to all the parents, be a role model and ensure that our kids are getting good role models around them because we also don’t know what impact we are creating when you teach unknowingly.

Keep Learning, Keep Growing.

(Note – This para is from my upcoming book.)