PARALLEL PARENTING PATTERNS

It seems to me that people are angrier, and more volatile, prone to the side of aggression, more than I remember. We are of the times, where all the social media outlets, and also the mainstream media continuously highlight the virtues of moderation (in all areas of life) and showcase many avenues of getting the guidance one may need when feeling like fury is bubbling.

- By Dinesh Chandrasena

With amazing professionals giving free advice on handling many of the situations that we face, why, pray tell are so many around us on the verge of blowing a fuse.

I grew up when any issues we had we tried to discuss with our parents, and trusted that their 'know how' would give us the solutions. Now the advice may not have been what we wanted to hear, but at least we knew they had our best interests at heart. On the flip side, so many young people today have all the trappings of “success” (or at least success in their gram page views/likes ratio), but very little connection to their own parents and immediate families. What has brought about this unhealthy shift?

I may be of a by-gone era, but I do admit that my “by-gone” is not in the time of the plesiosaurs (despite physically sometimes feeling like I am from the Jurassic period!), I am baffled by the obvious and seemingly widening disconnect between parents and their children. Many of the said parents are around my age, and being a parent to my doggies, I, in every way possible (well known to my family and few friends), have prioritized my doggie's well-being as my responsibility. From my non-existent social calendar, to travel, from my work schedule, to accepting additional projects, I know that having them in my care means that I have to look after their interests (health etc.) to my utmost capabilities. Many around me think I should be institutionalized for the amount of love and care I give them, but I have never shirked my duties, not in any areas of my life.