Welcome to the world sweetie!

Often, the first birthday of a child is a grand celebration with decorations, different types of cuisine, new clothes and expensive return gifts. But the child has no idea what was happening around him. Oh baby, playing with the cutlery!

There are two practical situations from the eyes of a child:

Case 1

Mom leaves her job and her key focus is me. She wants to give the best food, education, and everything. How sweet….!!

I turned six, and one day at my friend’s birthday party.

Renu Aunty said, “My son is doing well at football, playing the keyboard, and taking abacus and painting classes. I am busy all the time.”

Is she complaining or bragging?

Neetu aunty further added, “True, my daughter is also going for swimming, dancing, tennis, and karate classes. And I manage everything – home, family, kids, and their classes. That makes me tired. I always tell my husband that I need a break, an expensive holiday”.

Shivani Aunty said, “We deserve an expensive gift every month or maybe every day, ha..ha….”

The ladies made my mom feel as if she was alone on this planet with me.

Mom asked, “Which is the best place to learn all these different activities?”

At first, the ladies impressed mom with endless data on different hobby classes and then took mom’s phone number to send more information on hobby classes plus their daily life updates – pictures of parties, dinners, and all in different dresses. It seems that they never wear the same dress twice. 

Mom is in a panic now. Only God can save dad.  She convinced papa to enroll me in various hobby classes. He has no other choice; after all, it is a matter of their only child.

The next evening, mom took me to the coaching center. There were many activities – cricket, basketball, tennis, karate, badminton, football, etc. Mom also noticed some young kids in every class who were more advanced. I could see big expectations in her eyes. She turned to me and said, “See how well these kids are playing.” What was I supposed to say?

Mom made me join the cricket class, without knowing or asking my interest. She thinks I am too young to know my likes and dislikes. And she is right. I have to try many things to discover my real interest.  

But what is this? She made me join keyboard and singing classes too (I hate Renu Aunty). I guess mom wants to keep herself occupied so that she can also brag at some birthday party saying “Oh I am busy too.”

The first day of the cricket class was exciting, but after a few days, I said to mom, “I do not want to learn cricket. I am the youngest one in my class and don’t get the chance to either bowl or bat. They make me stand in the field for hours”.

The next day, mom and the coach had a long argument which obviously Mom won. Anyhow, I lost my interest in the game. I made all possible excuses to miss my classes. Finally, mom gave up, but not in the way you think – she made me join badminton classes instead!

A few days later, I said, “I don’t want to go to badminton class, lots of warm-up exercises and running and I don’t like doing it”.

Mom said, “You must give it a try, at least for a month. It often takes some time to get settled down”.

She had a point. I continued half-heartedly. Singing class is very boring, mom expects me to sing like Sonu Nigam within three months.  

After a dragging month, I told mom, “I don’t want to go to badminton classes anymore.”

Mom asked, “Why?”

I said, “I don’t like it?”

Mom, “Why?”

(Do adults have enough reasons for all their likes and dislikes?)

Frustrated mom, “You are wasting my time and money”

(I wish someone could remind her that I am only 6 years old)

But she wouldn’t give up easily. She made me join other activities -after a few classes, I rejected them all.

Finally, I liked playing football. Mom was relieved. Now she also started enjoying bragging to the other ladies, which had some side effects. The ladies convinced mom that children should be equally good at academics. As a result, mom enrolled me in abacus classes too.

Now I go for football classes, which I enjoy. Keyboard and singing, I hate it; about abacus class, I don’t know what to say…

Mom is running round the clock – managing home, papa, cooking, and my classes. She is more tired, anxious, and complaining. Due to this, we all have no peace at home.

Six months later, it was time for my school exam. Mom discontinued all my extra circular activities, which was good, but I really wanted to go for football classes. The coach also told Mom that continuity was very important.

Again, she was influenced by those wicked ladies, who liked to talk big about their children scoring good marks at school. Mom made me sit in front of the books and expected me to make no mistakes.

Oh God, it is my own mistake to ask you for educated parents!

Case 2

Mom at the birthday party, she heard all the ladies and their opinions on different hobby classes. She gathered some necessary information and gave it thought for a week.

After the same process of trying various activities, mom and I settled for football classes. The ladies tried to provoke mom to make me join other hobby classes besides football classes, but mom knows that one class at a time is best for me.

Life is easy. Mom takes me to football classes every day at 4.30 pm. We are back by 6 pm. After that, the whole family sits together and enjoys snacks.  At 7 pm I study for an hour. I enjoy that too because mom says, “An activity we enjoy gives us more energy instead of making us tired”. After every football class, I feel the same. My mom is so intelligent.

She makes sure I go out and play with my colony friends. I enjoy that the most. I love mom for not burdening me and herself with too many activities.

After five continuous years of coaching, I am good at football as well as academics. All the teachers are proud of me.

Now I want to learn the guitar and singing. Mom is happy to know my other interests. Papa took the responsibility for picking me up and dropping me. Thank God for giving me such parents.

Extra circular activities are not simply pastimes or a status symbol. They bring good health, happiness, and focus in a natural way. It is like natural meditation for children.