Animals Vs Parents

The simple conversation that started with a simile pushed me into deep thoughts and emotional dialogue with my inner-self. We were at the Mysore Zoo when I was holding my 4-year-old son, Prithvi's hands and explaining everything while observing and enjoying his enthusiasm. The walk led us to the fence inside which a lion and lioness were yawning lazily. The lion slowly stood up, jumped out of the inner fence and strolled along the outer ring. The lioness moved on a parallel note inside the inner fence. This seemed to exemplify the ancient saying that a wife should follow the husband as the meaning follows a word.

Just to invoke some thought, I praised the friendship between the male and female counterparts. Prithvi promptly responds saying that they are friends like mom and dad. Quickly, I questioned him whether they resemble his parents (me and my husband). Without putting much thought into my query, he adds that the animals are much better than his parents because neither do the lion and lioness quarrel with each other nor do they punish or shout at their kids for the mistakes. I was awe-stuck.......couldn't pick up myself for quite some time............I was ashamed by his perception towards me and amazed by his reasoning abilities, at the same time. My eyes welled up with tears of mixed emotions..........proud that he is my boy......he is fearless to speak his mind and utter the truth!!

Am I really that bad????? Is my behavior hurting him so much??? Is he putting up with so much torture???? A 4-year old cannot lie.........he doesn't manipulate.........is ignorant of the concept of cheating..........so, he is speaking the truth???!! I had to accept it. It is now my responsibility to change his perspective and make him believe that his parents are better than the beasts.

Lessons of life need not be learnt from the scholars, Vedas, gurus or books with thousands of quotes or snippets.........they come in small packets called kids.........endear and treasure them!!