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Debate: Grievances of adolescence
“Hi Dad! How was the day at office?” said 16-year-old Ali. “Hmmm it went as usual.” said his father.
“Want to have some tea?” asked Ali.
“I’m surprised, son. You are acting quite weird today. Do you want something? Don’t tell me you are running out of money.”
“No Dad,’ answered Ali.
“Then?” Asked his father
After a short pause Ali said, “Dad, don’t you think I’m a grown-up now. I should have my own car. All my friends have their own cars.”
“Son, you’ll always be a kid for us and talking about a car, don’t you think your demands are growing by the day. Don’t forget that I gave you a cell phone on your birthday. And even if I do allow you to drive your very own car, you are not legally permitted to do so. You don’t have a license yet,” said his father, delivering the same lecture as usual.
“Dad who cares about license? Who checks it anyway,” said Ali.
“How shameful Ali. If we don’t care for the rules and regulations of our country then who will?” Asked his Dad.
“Huh, Dad, just tell me whether you are going to buy me a car or not?” Ali said in a rude tone.
“I’ll get you a car but not until you are mature enough. That’s it. Now I don’t want to hear anything on this topic.”
And with this, Ali’s father went into his room and Ali went into his, slamming the door loudly.
Ali was a teenager and did not know what was right or wrong.
This is a very common story and is the usual case in most households.
Today’s generation wants to be independent before time. They want all the luxuries of life. They want a cell phone, their own car, branded clothes and loads more. They think that if they don’t possess all of these accessories they will be left out. They want to look mature just at the age of 10 or 12. Have you ever thought why kids behave this way? Have these luxuries made them irresponsible and rude or is there any other reason for this?
Well, luxuries do play a major role. But the other main factor that wrecks a child’s character is the society. Yes, it is the society which plays an important role in polishing ones personality. This society includes every one from a mother to a stranger.
Parents are fed up with their children’s strange behaviour as seen in Ali’s case, and become helpless and hopeless. But at most times, these parents are more or less responsible for their child’s misbehaviour, specially mothers. Because they are the ones who spend a lot of time with their kids.
However, sometimes parents are not wholly and solely responsible for their child’s mind set. In such cases, friends and other people who become part of a person’s life, influence a child’s character greatly. It is a known fact that our friends influence us the most.
Sometimes a person has to change himself in order to belong to a specific social circle. He has to polish himself in such a way that he would look good in front of his friends. In doing so, he forgets the difference between right and wrong. To him, everything is right if it’s right with his friends and everything is wrong if his friends think so. People who change themselves instead of changing others, who turn right to wrong and wrong to right, lack confidence. They should be bold and mature enough to know and acknowledge the difference between right and wrong. And this step starts from one’s family. Parents are responsible in making a child bold to fight through all the challenges that life has to offer. It would not be wrong to say:
“It is not the greatness of our troubles, but the littleness of our faith that makes us complain.”
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