Virat’s dad..!

If Virat Kohli’s father had looked down from the skies and seen his son hammering the Australians into pulp, he would have been a content man, and a proud father. Virat’s father Prem Kohli, a criminal lawyer died when Virat was eighteen, but not before investing his time and money on his son’s cricketing abilities. When the boy was nine, the West Delhi Cricket academy was created and Virat was taken there by his father. In the ninth grade his father shifted him to an even better school, where cricket was even more professional, all the time believing, his son had great abilities with the bat and ball.
On Sunday, if he had been alive, a proud Prem Kohli, would have felt he had done the right thing, in believing in his son.
How many of we father’s believe in our children? How many of us guide our children into professions we thought were good for them, but which they never wanted to get into?
I remember when my daughter was in college, she came to my room, and asked whether she could change from her science stream to arts. “But you want to be a veterinary doctor?” I said disappointed, “How can you become a vet if you study arts?” “Dad!” she said, “You want me to be a vet, not me! I want to be a psychologist!”
I allowed her to change her course, and in the process, she lost a year. Today, she is quite a successful psychologist, having finished her studies in Seattle, but how wrong I had been in guiding her into science, when her heart and talents were in another field.
Many of we parents do this. Last week at a lunch I heard a mother literally weeping as she spoke of her daughter who was a dentist but who hated being one. “She curses me, every time she pulls a tooth!” she said. “I didn’t know I was ruining her life!”
Like Prem Kohli, Virat’s father, we need to watch our children, spend time noting their aptitude and talents, and encourage them to grow further. We need to build on what we see. If your child has the gift of writing, encourage him or her, like my dad and mom did. If they are good at dancing, allow them to make a career of it.
India is not going to forget Sunday’s game where we chased Australia, where Virat Kohli literally one handedly defeated a mighty team. But even as you smile thinking of the victory, think deeply whether like Virat’s father Prem, you are investing time in knowing what your child is good at?
    
    bobsbanter@gmail.com  

Virat’s dad..!

If Virat Kohlis father had looked down from the skies and seen his son hammering the Australians into pulp, he would have been a content man, and a proud father. Virats father Prem Kohli, a criminal lawyer died when Virat was eighteen, but not before investing his time and money on his sons cricketing abilities. When the boy was nine, the West Delhi Cricket academy was created and Virat was taken there by his father. In the ninth grade his father shifted him to an even better school, where cricket was even more professional, all the time believing, his son had great abilities with the bat and ball. On Sunday, if he had been alive, a proud Prem Kohli, would have felt he had done the right thing, in believing in his son. How many of we fathers believe in our children? How many of us guide our children into professions we thought were good for them, but which they never wanted to get into? I remember when my daughter was in college, she came to my room, and asked whether she could change from her science stream to arts. But you want to be a veterinary doctor? I said disappointed, How can you become a vet if you study arts? Dad! she said, You want me to be a vet, not me! I want to be a psychologist! I allowed her to change her course, and in the process, she lost a year. Today, she is quite a successful psychologist, having finished her studies in Seattle, but how wrong I had been in guiding her into science, when her heart and talents were in another field. Many of we parents do this. Last week at a lunch I heard a mother literally weeping as she spoke of her daughter who was a dentist but who hated being one. She curses me, every time she pulls a tooth! she said. I didnt know I was ruining her life! Like Prem Kohli, Virats father, we need to watch our children, spend time noting their aptitude and talents, and encourage them to grow further. We need to build on what we see. If your child has the gift of writing, encourage him or her, like my dad and mom did. If they are good at dancing, allow them to make a career of it. India is not going to forget Sundays game where we chased Australia, where Virat Kohli literally one handedly defeated a mighty team. But even as you smile thinking of the victory, think deeply whether like Virats father Prem, you are investing time in knowing what your child is good at? bobsbanter@gmail.com