Changing dynamics between mother and child

Even if one looks closely enough, it’s hard to explain the way a parent’s, especially a mother’s, relationship has changed with his or her children over the years. With social structures altering rapidly, families are not the way they used to be before.

Actor/comedienne/corporate trainer, Ruby Chakravarty believes that parents today are much more directly involved in their children’s lives. The bond was prevalent even over the previous generations, but she she feels that a parent was never as closely in tune with their child’s present as they are now. “The times call for it,” she says, adding, “In pre-school or schools, a parent is asked to get directly involved in their child’s life; we are given no choice.” 

Rubi believes that the change was neither for the better nor worse but merely necessary. And, although she shared a very different relation with her parents, she says it was pretty perfect in itself. She feels that as the children grow up, a parent needs to back off and give his or her child a lot of trust and respect. “They are not my Barbies and Kens and I cannot deceive myself of being supermom any longer! There is a point where just letting go helps foster a much better relation with your child.”

Entrepreneur Laila Baker also falls under the belief that, in today’s world, the parent-child relation has greatly advanced. “Children today are inclined towards sharing much more with their parents than I could ever imagine telling mine,” she says. When asked the reason for the above Laila said that these days children are forced to take decisions at a younger age and they need someone to go back home to and seek guidance.

Contrary to Rubi, Laila detests the strict, restrictive environment in which she was raised and definitely believes that the change today is for the better. “As the children grow up it is necessary to involve them in the decisions we, as parents, make. It is this mutual communication that lays the foundation for a strong relation with a growing child.”

The queries are endless but most parents would agree with Rubi when she says, “No happiness overcomes the joy of bearing and raising my children. They were and will always be the greatest wonders of the world to me.”