Children....
I was just ruminating after looking at some albums from my schooling days in India..sad as it may sound, I don't have too many fond memories to speak of, after so many years of schooling. I was never really big on the social circle, so I don't have too many friends from those days as well.

Maybe part of it was my fault...but I find upon ruminating, that most of it was the fault of insensitivity in people, who only want to be around super-successful, over-achievers. No one really cares much for the underdog. As adults we learn to swallow the bitter pill of reality with the attitude of the cynic. But the worst affected are little children.

Now I've always had a thing for children...most children that is. I just don't like those kids who grow up too fast and lose their innocence very young, even 3-4 year olds. Shall not pay too much importance to these ill-fated examples, whose domineering, over-ambitious parents make them way too practical and gain-conscious far too early in life.

Lets talk about kids who suffer from poverty, kids who are stamped as mentally challenged and hence considered doomed for life, kids stained by the acts of cheap perverts, shy children who suffocate under the weight of their pushy parents and their overwhelming expectations, kids who just want to be kids but are moulded into becoming something they were never meant to be as kids.

It's a modern day reality. Most children are packed off to play school when they should remain within the security of the home. Perhaps folks these days can't wait for their little ones to grow up and when they do, you have those sentimental yet senile sounding 'he grew up so fast'...like please, excuse any trace of rudeness, but the attitude of parents is quintessential in shaping a child. Yes, luck plays a part in where we reach as adults, but the background of a man reflects on his or her person for the rest of his or her life and traces of a ruined childhood are indelible scars that remain with a person throughout life and in extreme cases rub off on future generations as well.

I am not a parent and will not be becoming one anytime soon, but as someone who has worked closely with kids, I can say that there is no perfect formula. But a dash of faith and tons of love, care, time and patience are the must-haves to avoid the little souls from getting crushed under the pressures of life upon this planet, that is increasingly have little breathing space for tiny souls who simply want to play with their toys, watch cartoons, eat good food and sleep...peacefully.