
Fortune News | Apr 09,2022
May 6 , 2023
By Kidist Yidnekachew ( Kidist Yidnekachew has degrees in psychology and journalism and communications. She can be reached at kidyyidnekachew@gmail.com. )
I recently watched a video of a mother and her young daughter travelling by air. The lady nicely asked a man seated next to them by the window to switch seats with her daughter right before landing. She explained that watching the plane land calms her.
Some people would gladly switch their seats with the girl because it does not seem like giving up a lot while others might have done it for it is attributed to benevolence.
However, the man declined the request saying although he was capable, he wanted the girl to learn a valuable lesson- she cannot always get her way.
I thought it was an unpleasant reply at first but it was a worthwhile lesson.
We are taught to sacrifice our needs for others. There are times when a person is morally required to give up seats on public transport for the disabled, pregnant women, the elderly and the sick. This has led some to expect the same courtesy from everyone and take it personally when they do not comply.
It is impossible to constantly influence the outcome of situations in the world we live in. Similarly, it is selfish and absurd to expect people to adjust their routines to fit the needs of others.
It was a valuable lesson for the mother as well. There are parents on the other extreme that go above and beyond to provide their children with what they want.
There is an inspiring thread on Quora where people reflected on killing someone with kindness.
A woman talks about how she was a helicopter mom to her son. She considered him a miracle child after several miscarriages. He was homeschooled, pampered with money and had his own car. She found friends for him and played matchmaker for dates, basically executing everything. But at the age of 20, he ended up taking his own life.
She believes over-parenting might have led to his suicide.
Sometimes parents even with the best intention at heart contribute to the suffering of their children. Living in a bubble cultivates entitlement to special treatment. It makes the child extra sensitive to their surrounding and tends to experience major setbacks at the smallest obstacle they face.
Children should be exposed to both the good and the bad, lest they grow up weak and easily entrapped in life's mishaps. Putting a stop to their unreasonable demands and being firm on the decision is necessary.
Parents should let their children practice independence especially when playing and interacting with others. There will be times when they have to interfere but not always. Teaching them personal responsibility such as cleaning up after themselves could guide them to be independent.
Parents should not expect royal treatment for their kids from society since they are only special to them. It also makes it easier for kids to get along with others when they are treated impartially.
I find it a good rule to follow that children are no longer special the minute they leave home.
PUBLISHED ON
May 06,2023 [ VOL
24 , NO
1201]
Fortune News | Apr 09,2022
Viewpoints | Apr 22,2023
Radar | Oct 02,2021
Fortune News | Jan 15,2022
Fortune News | Feb 04,2023
Verbatim | May 15,2021
Fortune News | Apr 26,2019
Radar | Feb 11,2023
Featured | Jan 05,2019
Commentaries | Jan 05,2019
Photo Gallery | 69006 Views | May 06,2019
Photo Gallery | 60842 Views | Apr 26,2019
Fortune News | 52823 Views | Jul 18,2020
Fortune News | 52584 Views | Sep 01,2021
Dec 24 , 2022
Biniam Mikru heads the department of cabinet affairs under Mayor Adanech Abiebie. But...
Jul 2 , 2022 . By RUTH TAYE
On a rainy afternoon last week, a coffee processing facility in the capital's Akaki-Qality District was abuzz with activ...
Nov 27 , 2021
Against my will, I have witnessed the most terrible defeat of reason and the most sa...
Nov 13 , 2021
Plans and reality do not always gel. They rarely do in a fast-moving world. Every act...
May 27 , 2023
Tauted as a somnolent giant, Ethiopia's financial scene now stirs, roused by favourab...
May 20 , 2023
The pungent irony wafting from Pretoria last week was hard to miss. Cyril Ramaphosa,...
May 13 , 2023
In March this year, Kamala Harris, the United States Vice President, visited Ghana, T...
May 6 , 2023
The history of the Ethiopian labour movement dates back to the 1940s, marked by perio...
May 27 , 2023
In a triumph over the trials of the pandemic, a rising tide of construction costs and inflation, Zemen Bank has opened a stunning 32-storey...
May 27 , 2023 . By BERSABEH GEBRE
Meqelle is in an animated bid to reclaim control of the management of companies under the Endowment Fund...
May 27 , 2023 . By BERSABEH GEBRE
Officials at the Addis Abeba City Administration have recently changed the title transfer fees following...
May 27 , 2023 . By MUNIR SHEMSU
The absence of technological equipment to control the contraband trade near national borders and low-qual...