(c )Healbyourself
When your teenager ventures into the “AM NOT” zone-
On the evening of 13th November , my teenager barged into the room and announced, “Ma! I am grown up now !” While thinking of a thousand scenarios that he could imply, I asked him ,” Why ? What made you think so ?”
He explained ,” While the younger kids have a fun filled day planned for them at school tomorrow – we have class tests. Since the School does not include us for the Children’s Day Celebration, it is clear that I am no longer a child.”
At that exact moment an SMS popped up on my phone. It was from a leading Garment brand -“Come lets celebrate the innocence and purity of the children. Avail a discount for your young ones. Happy Children’s Day”. My child is also innocent and pure but the clothes from the kids section don’t fit him. He won’t get any discounts as we buy “S” from Men section for him.
He was worried about having to take tests, and I was worried about missing out on the discounts.
For a parent, their offspring will always be their child, irrespective of what the outer world observes them as.
My teenager is in the “AM NOT” zone. I AM NOT a child anymore, but I AM NOT a grown up either. The word “Not” brings in a negative tinge to an otherwise very positive development.
My role, as a parent, is to ensure that this “AM NOT” doesn’t become a seed for negativity. Rather, my son should feel that he is progressing, developing and growing up every day – be it a Children’s day or just “today” .
