Amidst the various family problems like lagging prices, stressful work hours, long-lasting queues, lies the most important problem i.e, rising miscommunication and misunderstanding between parents and their children. This scenario not only includes the modern age families but also the old age families. If we look into the relationship of old age parents and their children, the problem comes in when the children face the stress of fulfilling the needs of their own family and leading to less attention and care towards their own parents. Sometimes, these circumstances result in a worse situation where the parents are sent to the ‘Old-Age’ homes. There they reside either living a miserable or a contentful life. In the modern age, usually, the parents are caught up in one or the other job which leads to less conversation and interaction with their children followed by enhancement of the gap between the two. Gradually, the children also start hesitating to share anything with their parents.
But, this is not a relationship to be welcomed or appreciated. Parents after bringing up their children through several difficulties and problems expect some respect, time and care in return. When this doesn’t turn out, they break down emotionally and mentally. To understand the importance of these feelings, let’s go back to the times of Lord Ganesha, who has set an exceptional example of how to treat your parents and pay homage to them.
Taittiriya Upanishad – “Maatru Devo Bhava Pitru Devo Bhava Aachaarya Devo Bhava Atithi Devo Bhava”
Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati had two children: Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya. Both were considered very smart, intelligent and brave. Once sage Narada, known for his witty and mischievous nature visited Mount Kailash to receive blessings from Lord Shiva. There he presented a mango to Shiva saying ‘it is a very special mango and sweeter than the nectar of the Gods’. So, Shiva and Parvati decided to share between them but Narada interrupted and said its value will be lost if shared, so it could only be eaten by a single person. Both of them refused to have it. On seeing the mango, Kartikeya and Ganesha both asked Parvati to give it to them, leading to a quarrel between them. Narada soon suggested a solution to end this brawl. He said whosoever will first turn up finishing three rounds of the world will get the mango. Kartikeya with his vehicle – the peacock immediately went to complete the rounds. Ganesha realized that he won’t be able to win this race as his vehicle – the rat is not as fast as that of peacock. So, an idea struck him and he decided to complete his rounds by circling around his parents because for Ganesha his world was his parents. Thus, he won the race and the mango.
We can clearly observe that parents are not just an another individual but equivalent to the world for a child. Nowadays, everyone has their own priorities and often the place of the parents comes at the end leading to a conversion from joint to a neutral family. But, this is affirmed that no one else can replicate the place of parents. It is the duty of the children whether from modern or old age to fulfil their parent’s needs amongst all the needs they have.