A Message For My Dear Daughter.....

There are people who put their dreams in a little box and say, ‘Yes, I’ve got dreams, of course I’ve got dreams.”Then they put the box away and bring it out once in a while to look in it, and yep, they’re still there. These are great dreams, but they never even got out of the box. It takes an uncommon amount of guts to put your dreams on the line, to hold them up and say, “How good or bad am I?”- Erma Louise Bombeck

My daughter began her final exams for class XI yesterday and she begins her new session for class XII on the 15th of March. My Gosh! Last year of her school!! I just can't believe it one more year before she flies the coop. But I wonder why they are starting the classes for 12th standard so early this year? Are all the extra classes really needed? Do we really need to pressurize our kids so much? As it is, all I have seen her do throughout the past year is study for one test after another. Where is the time for kids  to look around, take a pause and enjoy life's small moments. I know all about how it is important to toil hard right now, to enjoy the fruits of labor later on in life but on the other hand is this time in her life ever going to come back? I feel so sad that somewhere along the lines, our children have just forgotten to enjoy their childhood. Even the school vacations are marred by loads of holiday homework and meaningless  projects (which I believe is more a task for the parents than the children learning anything from them), where is the time to go out and play. "Time management", "Anxiety", "Stress-counselling" we never heard of these words during our times. 

 I have happy memories of school. We played, enjoyed and studied along the way somehow managing to find a balance between everything - maybe we were not ambitious enough or our educators and parents were not concerned about our bright futures. Today, right from a very young age, children are put under the pressure to perform, pressurized to excel in whatever they do, whether it be academic or any other chosen field. High aspirations of both the parents and the children have taken the enjoyment out of even simple pleasurable activities like dancing, singing, painting. They are relentlessly made to work towards achieving, stooped by the burden of extra coaching classes, after-school activities and tuitions. There are very few teachers who actually realize that every child's potential is different and it is unfair to evaluate all the children by the same perimeters. Truly, is academic excellence the only hallmark of a good student?  In pushing the child to excel in every step of their life, are we forgetting to make them into better human beings?

It is important to teach our kids that life is not a race, so slow down, savor the small moments in life, learn that time is not just a commodity to be spent but also a blessing to be enjoyed. 

So, as my daughter steps into a big momentous year of her life (atleast she thinks it to be so), I  want to say to her :-

Don't be afraid to spread your wings and fly!! Follow your passions as nothing will give you more pleasure and satisfaction in life than doing something that gives you happiness. Have the courage to live your dream!! The unknown of following your dream may spark a little fear, but it is okay. Even if you do not succeed at first, you will be joyous knowing the fact that at least you tried and gave it your best shot. Take a break from your busy life, look back and relive the moments that gave you most happiness. Always lend a supporting hand to help others who are not as fortunate as you. Another thing that I have always believed in is, "Don't be afraid of standing up for yourself or speaking your mind. It doesn't really matter what others might think. Your true friends as it is will accept you for what you are. If you think what you are doing is right, stand by it!!"
And of course as parents, needless to say, we will always be there for you, our love and support in whatever path you chose to tread in life. 
You are really precious to us. Nothing compares to the joy and happiness that you spread in our lives.
 I know you were feeling so bad that this is going to be your last year of school and that you don't want to grow up so soon but don't worry, the best is yet to come!!

You will always be our "Little Princess"

P.S - This was meant to be a small note in the beginning, but I got so carried away while writing it that it turned to be a full fledged post. Typical parents - just can't stop moralizing!! 

Guess my cake post has to wait now.