Out of all the hi-fi, over–hyped, glamorized, overpaid and stereotyped careers that make news today, peppered with extensive media attention such as red carpet awards, talk shows, exclusive interviews and photo shoots, the single most important and pivotal occupation a person – especially a woman – can have, is that of being a parent.
It is this behind–the–scenes, get–down–and–dirty, round–the–clock job that very few people can do well, and majority of those who do, receive little credit for that. Parenting is the most exhausting, fulfilling, demanding and satisfying role, responsibility and full–time job anyone can ever have. Whoever has become a parent would testify to its heady highs and, sadly, sometimes mortifying lows. The moment one sets eyes and holds in one’s arms a new life – a gift from Allah that is sent so miraculously, after months of waiting and anticipation – one changes forever. The joy one feels has no bounds. This new ‘baby’ life gives rise to new adjustments in all existing relationships, which change in order to accommodate the new arrival. As many people will tell you, they also change once they have a baby.
However, after a few years pass, there are some typical statements that parents of any age can be heard making: “Kids nowadays are so ungrateful…,” “In our time, we were much more disciplined and obedient…,” “We never shouted at our parents the way kids answer us back nowadays….,” and so on. I have hardly come across a parent who openly admits to having made a parenting mistake, e.g. saying something like, “Had I not been lax about my daily prayers when my children were young, perhaps they too, would be more regular in their prayers today,” or “I should not have scolded my daughter in front of her friends. I think she deserves an apology.”