IMPORTANT LESSON FROM COVID-19 PANDEMIC

From Sampath’s Desk:

 

FOR HEADS OF FAMILIES WHO HAD MISSED THE BUS EARLIER!

 

Conscience speaks in introspection!

 

In the country-wide ‘Janata Curfew’ (public lockdown) clamped beginning 22.3.2020 in our battle against the COVID-19 pandemic, discerning minds should have seen a ‘God-send’ golden opportunity to be with the family and loved ones for months together at home, even though one would not have even dreamt of confining himself to home for such a long time. Whether one liked it or not, all were confined to their homes. Bidding a temporary and unusual goodbye to our otherwise machine-like busy-bee life to protect ourselves from the pandemic, everyone had to stay at home with most of the usual human activities including crowding and free movement of people coming to a grinding halt. Could anyone have foreseen the grim situation we had to face – deserted roads and streets, railway stations and tracks, hotels, restaurants, cinema halls, malls, amusement spots, etc?

 

Now let the heads of families introspect. For years you were always on your toes, making at times, only whistle-stop visits to your own sweet home. In mornings, you would venture out when your wards were fast asleep to return home close to midnight at times, again to see your loved ones in the same posture. It used to be a race against time. Always 'work, work and work', as a workaholic!

 

Gentlemen, did you ever give at least a remote thought and realize how your spouse daily sweated it out to take care of the home, children, and all your requirements spinning like a robot? Did you ever recognize at least now how much you missed the company of your near and dear ones all these days, all in the name of work?

 

How many times you would have said a strict ‘No’ to your tiny tots when they asked you to come and play with them? How many times you would have dodged to take them to a nearby park, play-ground or any other amusement spot - nearby or far-off? Did you at least take them to the terrace of your own house as insisted by them? How many times you would have disappointed and frustrated them by not turning up at the right time and at the proposed/designated places to entertain them? For how many days the members of your family would have missed your precious company on birthdays and other important days? How many times you dined with your children in the past? Even when they tried to interact with you over the dining table, how many times you would have outshouted to silence them? Did you ever try to know how it would have upset them psychologically, and on how many occasions?

  

Did you ever repent much less realize that? Even though you couldn’t go out for any purpose, wasn’t it time for you to closely remain with your children, and mingle and play with them as their peers as every child would expect? That would certainly make a sea of positive difference and a salubrious impact on them! Did you do that at least during the lockdown period?

 

How dare you thought that your wards were ordinary mortals as though you were an extraordinary immortal? Didn’t you underestimate your children thinking that they were not worth your indulgence?  Every child is a gift of God, an asset to parents, society, and the country at large, a scientist in the offing, and a future genius! If tomorrow when he/she grows up into a master or expert, remember he/she would not find time to talk with you. It is not retaliation but something in the nature of – as you sow, so you reap. Isn’t it? So, build the bond strongly. Now it is apt time having been imparted an important lesson of nurturing a close relationship with your offspring.  Don’t even allow your daily siesta to separate you from them.

 

For those who completely ignored their family and children at the prime times and missed the bus of life bliss in their company, with efflux of time, the only option would then be ‘baby-sitting’ with your grandchildren after years – an opportunity that may or may not come to you to re-live your past life with the grandchildren which you missed badly in the past with your own children at their tender age. But with aging and some medical conditions setting in, though the heart may desire, the body may not cooperate. Isn’t it?

 

Past is past. The clock cannot be put back. Past cannot be reconstructed or re-enacted now. Did you ever take it seriously not to skip or miss to interact with your own kids at their tender age – eye to eye, face to face, hand to hand, shoulder to shoulder, and heart to heart? If not, start doing it at least from now onwards. Introspect and make amends for the rest of your life!

  

R.SAMPATH