How do you know the difference between a young child using
you for his needs or being innocent in asking for things?
When you give tuition to a young child, once he comes up
& asks for Rs 30 for a party at school. From affluent families that we
belong, where we believe strongly in helping the needy, especially who work for
us, I obliged with the money. Soon thereafter, the student needed money to go
on a school picnic. This time, the amount was close to Rs 600. The amount is
not my area of concern. It really is Mind over Morals. Paying for the picnic
was the least of all I could do for the child, because it was my way of helping
the family. Having said that, was it becoming a routine for the child to request?
Does he think that all his wishes were
to come true, through me…as if he had found his Genie. After speaking with the
mother, I later learnt that she did not give the money in the hands of the
child as she wanted to give it to the teacher herself. That’s fair, I thought. Good
Values.
A few days later, the child says he wants to watch TV in my
house, after his tuition. He wants a Video Game to play with. He wants the same
biscuits that I eat (Ragi biscuits, seriously?) He even complains that his
mother gave him only Rs 10 for his picnic, because of which he could not eat a
desert after lunch. He however, got an ice cream before getting on the bus on
his return.
Again, I say, it’s not a matter of money. Is it a quest for
MORE? It’s more about my mind wanting to
develop the right morals in the young boy. Me giving him tuition helps him get
better marks academically. It helps me become a better educator as well.
How does one say no to a child of 12 years? Your heart wants
to give in, your mind thinks about the morals & money is no where in the
picture. Is the kind deed being taken for granted? Is the good deed going to
cost me? Cost me confusion, over & over, to choose between Mind / Morals…
or Money!
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