Friday, February 20, 2015

Role reversal..


Today is United Nations World Day of Social Justice, and over one thousand bloggers worldwide will join their voices to speak through their blogs about compassion. I am one of them. Let’s flood the blogosphere with compassion, kindness, non-judgement and good! Please use hashtag #1000Speak to help spread the word.


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Parents are supposed to be role models for their kids, but often kids teach us some valuable lessons too! I attended a parent-teacher interaction at my elder’s one school. His exams had got over and the discussion would be about the child’s performance and other things. When my turn came, I introduced myself and the teacher’s eyes kind of lit up when I mentioned my child’s name.

“Oh, so you are S’s mom? I have been waiting to meet you”, she said.

My son is hardly the mischief monger types and the expression on the teacher’s face clearly was happy, so there was no reason to be concerned!

“You have an adorable child,” she said. “And I must complement you on bringing him up so well.”

Felt good to hear, but I didn’t think I had done something extraordinary. Perhaps she was trying to be pleasant, I thought as I thanked her.

“No, I mean it,” she said, as if she had read my mind, “It is rare to see such compassion at this age.”

Now, I wanted to know what she was talking about! But I didn’t have to ask.

“I have a differently-abled boy ‘A’ in class”, she said. “He sometimes tends to get violent, throw things around and create quite a racket. Sometimes it gets difficult to contain him. No one in class wanted to sit next to ‘A’. Every time I put someone next to him, a parent would come requesting that their child not be made to sit next to the boy. It was almost as if they thought his problem was contagious.
 It was quite a dilemma for me, because making ‘A’ sit alone, would make him feel alienated and I didn’t want that to happen. That is when your son stepped in. He volunteered to sit next to ‘A’. I saw him help ‘A’ with little things, like turning to the correct page while reading, helping him to work out a difficult sum, or sharing lunch with him.  He even spoke to the class one day, explaining how things are already so difficult for ‘A’ and asking them to stop making fun of the poor boy. The bouts of temper and his tantrums have gradually come down and if he listens to anyone in class, it is your son! I am so proud of him.”

I did not know what to say. But I felt incredibly proud of my boy too! He had just taught me a lesson in compassion!

Compassion. Isn’t that such an important value? When we stop making negative judgment about people we encounter. When we look for good in everyone we meet. When we know that everyone’s journey is different and we must learn to respect their journey. When we realise that we know nothing about the battles they fight. When we know that life cannot be too kind or too fair to everyone, and hence taking time to be kind and courteous to all we meet. When we wish to see that people around us do not suffer.

More than anything, being compassionate is a statement of love. 

Pure unadulterated love.  

 Thank you my little one for one of life’s greatest lessons!


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Read many more stories of compassion via a linky at Roshni's blog and at #1000Speak.


16 comments:

  1. This is so heartwarming and beautiful! It is wonderful that lil S is so thoughtful and compassionate at this age! Way to go and may his tribe increase! ♥

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  2. Inspiring work of your little son. Lovely to read such act from young soul and hope he will be great man one day~

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  3. Our children continue to amaze and humble us by their compassion, understanding and empathy as they grow up. And yes, we feel immensely proud of them when they do. Could so identify with it.

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  4. God bless your son! What a wonderful attitude at such a young age. He is going to grow up to be a fine person!

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  5. Reading this post made my day, Titli! Truly. Children can be our best teachers in life especially when it comes to things like love, kindness and compassion. Thank you for sharing this heart-warming story of one such teacher :)

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  6. That such a sweet story! Bless your son! You must be such a proud mum! Hugs to him! :)

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  7. THe little one has given us a valuable lesson .. LISTEN to others

    children teach us a lot we just need to keep our eyes open

    Bikram's

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  8. Hi Shubhangi,

    You must be proud on your son and yeah you're right sometimes kids actually teach us valuable lessons .I am a teacher too and I learn lot of things from them on daily basis i can say.Nice post.Thanks for sharing.

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  9. Hi Shubhangi,

    You must be proud on your son and yeah you're right sometimes kids actually teach us valuable lessons .I am a teacher too and I learn lot of things from them on daily basis i can say.Nice post.Thanks for sharing.

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  10. Your son is indeed a compassionate person! We need more like him in this world!! <3

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  11. You have every reason to be proud, Titli. Give your son a hug for me!

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  12. Kudos to the little boy!! Titli the atmosphere in the house contributes a lot to a child's behaviour.I congratulate you for the up bringing of the child.

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  13. So much learning from you for so many people :D ..

    Definitely a pure unadulterated Love :)

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  14. U know Shubhangi, am not surprised by this act of his. I would like to connect this to one of your earlier post, wherein the "husband" appreciates his "wife" for inculcating the good values to the kids and in good upbringing of the kids. I believe you were that "wife" and you have inculcated good values and kindness in him, above all, to empathize with others, as a reason, he has grown up to be a good human being. He is able to connect with what you have taught him and he is actually practicing the same. Srikanth would grow more broad, post reading this blog post of yours. He would be a proud dad am sure. Hugs and love to ur son.

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  15. Hi Shubhangi,

    What a proud mom you must be :)

    Yes, being compassionate is a statement of love, and your son proved it. It's not easy to do so much at that young an age, yet he made full efforts and went way out to help another. It just goes to show his compassion and giving nature.

    Thanks for sharing this with us. Happy weekend :)

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  16. Hi Shubhangi

    It is great to learn you joined forces to celebrate the global day for social justice as in most parts of the world it still needs more attention to bring social justice across the board.

    Thanks a lot for sharing this post on one of the important topics.

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At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person..deep gratitude for those who have lighted the flame within me!! your comments will be appreciated..

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