A child is a genuine test for his/her parents. The mind of a child is wholly empty when it just gets into the phase of consciousness. It is like fertile land. Whatever seed you want to crop into it, you would eventually achieve that by the time it passes. By then, we come to know, whether it bears fruit or thorn.

In such patriarchal societies like ours, it is not surprising to see and pity that parents impose their desired fields or professions on their children to be adopted.

It is a desperate need of the hour; parents now have to leave their stubbornness and acknowledge that the advancement of this already fast-growing world cannot be ignored at all. Let your children decide what they want. This would however give them space and a sense of emancipation.

Last but not least, give them quality time and answer their “whys”.

MOHAMMAD ASLAM,

Karachi.