“Most of the obsessive parents know who they are and are generally proud of the fact. Most of the non-obsessive parents know who the obsessive are, and tend to snicker at them.” Steven D. Levitt in Freakonomics

After a long gap I completed reading a book, “ Freakonomics’”. Towards the end of his book he touches on the topic of “obsessive parenting”.

I was pretty much interested in this topic as I could relate with similar sights around me. Primarily, I don’t like too much unwarranted attention going to the kids and I belong to the class who quite thinks that kids will grow up fine minus all these pampering.

Looking back on the older generation, it was norm to have five or more siblings and there was less kind of this obsessive trend. Too many kids around, too many to tend them and with no fancy diapers and lotions life went smooth for kids and parents.

Today its the day of scented nappies and high-tech rocker seats. Nuclear family parents ‘ve little time and less of family support to look for. Naturally the kids get all the attention and young parents see the entire world through them.

It doesn’t take much to see such young couples . As for me, I feel sorry for the little world they choose to live in and how they negate others feelings for their little ones.

Quote from Kahlil Gibran about Childern

Your Children are not Your Children

They are the sons and daughters of life’s longing for itself.
They come through you but not from you,
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,
For they have their own thoughts.
You may house their bodies but not their souls,
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.