Think of when we had all the time at our disposal – or so we felt. As kids, all we had to do was mind our business, do our homework, be nice to fellow kids, play, eat, and be mischievous! We didn’t prioritize sleep and half the things dear to us as adults!

We wore innocence that smelled better than the expensive perfumes we wear today. We carried our smiles that looked more admirable than all the branded clothes we could afford today. We greeted everyone wholeheartedly, which felt warmer than the fake likes and comments we shared on social media today. There were fewer mediums of communication but better social lives. There were more family dinners, peace of mind, and a better lifestyle back then! As time passed, so did most of the good things we enjoyed as kids! Today, we have kids of our own, and we wonder whether or not we will be able to give the same childhood we once lived to the next generation. Impossible as it may sound, it is quite possible with the memories you hold as an adult.

As responsible adults and caring parents, we should spend time with our children and help them understand that the world is not fast-paced. We can all slow down and give importance to creating healthier memories. The childhood of a child depends on what the parents have to contribute. We did not watch too many movies back then. Not many virtual friends. We played in the dirt and got wet on the beach. We wrote our homework down and needed to type on our notepads. We had real-time friends who we did not have to Facetime.

We visited grandparents during vacations. We ate traditional cooking from our Ammachis (Grandma) and Appachans (Grandpa) back then. We celebrated festivals at home. We need help finding families that cook an entire Onam Sadhya (feast) today! Thanks to all the overpriced “Mallu” restaurants that offer Onam Sadhyas today! The same goes for any festival, for that matter. Not many families decorate their homes from Christmas – it was a yearly ritual to do so during the season. Not only are kids missing out on the fun aspect of all this, but they are losing out on understanding and accepting the core and heart of such occasions. Onam is not just for the lavish feast that is served. Christmas is not simply about gifts, the tree, and the décor. The deeper meaning of such rituals is lost today. Children don’t know how traditions were made. And they will never know if we do not teach or show it to them.

We must explore horizons when it comes to raising kids. We must go beyond the possible to get that interest back and do something better than being busy with our day-to-day lives. We must dig a little deeper to go back in time for the sake of our children – to give them the little joys of life that we perhaps once lived.

We must be mindful of how and what we teach our kids. Yes, we have a more leisurely life today, but what are our kids losing out on? That personal touch? Those traditions that crafted our personalities for the better? Think about a world so cold that you know little about different cultures and ethnicities. All we have to do is take a moment and go back in time – not just for our kids, but for ourselves too. We must give our childhood back to ourselves to give our kids what they deserve. We know what we must do to preserve the essence of our families and ancestors who once lived. All we have to do is celebrate life and perhaps make everything a big deal! And when our kids grow up, they will make it a big deal, too.

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