Vajraprasad’s dreams for his teenage daughters are not what you hear very often.
Very simply he stated, “I am keen that my children focus on life skills and not mere curriculum. Professional skills, they will pick up anyway”.
When we asked him, “If the fear of future ever bothered him?”
He replied “My wife and I have been open learners ourselves. We focused on life skills over academics. So, it doesn’t bother me what professions my daughters take up in life. Even if they decide to alter their career plans in the future, I am confident they are capable to navigate their life around their decisions”
He continued, “My first responsibility as a parent is to understand and acknowledge this is their life journey. If they are moving in the wrong direction or failing, I am there.”
And that moved us deeply, it is not often we hear parents be so secure about themselves and more so, their children.
He was also open and honest that choosing an open learning journey for his daughters was far from straightforward. His wife was very skeptical in the beginning and kept questioning each aspect. The girls would think it through and respond to their mother. They had never ending family discussions and continue to do so. These family discussions have helped them see each other’s perspectives, giving a chance for each member to express themselves and arrive at a decision together. Of course, it is not always comfortable but they do help in the long run.
He concluded, saying “Self learning and self awareness are my dreams for my daughters. Rest will follow.”