In the current times, we as individuals, are busy building an impressive career, upgrading our skills, trying to create a pile of savings, and uplifting our strata in the society. To simplify, we are trying to make the most out of every second.
The need to effectively, efficaciously utilizing our time, guides our actions and words. Our professional ambitions are elephantine and patience- infantile.
Well, this realization comes to me as I am running pillar to post, to achieve something in my professional sphere. Being a mom of two with a household to run (which consumes a significant share of the day), even after putting in a whooping 8-12 hours a day at workplace, I feel inadequate, at loss of time and guilt myself for not being able to still do enough!!
I am, currently, on a study leave for my upcoming university examinations. I am getting to spend more time at home with my kids, even if I may not be there mentally present always, I am there!! I see myself a lot more calmer. This leaves me acknowledging how a little more time changes me as a mother. The clock ticks are a tad bit quieter in my head.
On a usual day, we would wake-up, do our morning routine (with or without time for exercise), and wake the kids just in time to get them ready for school, to reach in time at school and workplace, squeeze in time for a quick hurried breakfast in the car and a squashed in lunch in between the meetings or appointments. Kids being taken for their evening play with a caretaker who have their own challenges and priorities. Leaving as fast as we can to reach home to be with the kids, and ensure that they eat their one meal together with us and snug them to bed to make them rise in time for school the next day. We are literally, talking clocks and ticking bombs. Deviations get us stuck.
Our kids are impatient, because we don't have time. They are intolerant, because we don't have the bandwidth to wrap up or correct after them in case of mistakes. It is us they are mirroring and learning from.
Achieving more is always a desire which drives growth - of us as individuals and of the society as a whole. But, at what cost?
What is the next generation learning from us? They will normalize this and they will choose to not speak because we don't have time to talk, to share, to teach, to learn from each other.
Our dependency on machines for everything is increasing exponentially at the cost of the humane, benevolent, curious side of ours. We are not helping our kids with their questions, how do we expect them to help others! We are not sharing ourselves with our kids, how do they learn to share anything!!
The mental diseases are way more prevalent - not only because of awareness and openness to talk about it, but also because of the shattering framework of the strongest unit - the family.
If comparing ourselves with our peers and seniors was not enough (thanks to the social media), now, we also have to compete with the robots. In all these advancements, one thing is being strongly affected and neglected...The upbringing of kids. The fabric of their mental development is being weaved with the most weak threads, which are themselves worn out, ready to break at the slightest pressure.
What are we heading towards?
An earth ready for a physical apocalypse due to the exploitation of resources
AND
Our society ready for a mental apocalypse due to the disrespect for family time.
