Parenting has been advocated as one of the key roles in child growth and development. Parents are supposed to guide, discipline, and support their children. They occupy a central place in the child growth and development process, whether it be physical, emotional, or intellectual. Nevertheless, the big question still remains: Are parents always right? While parents really do make many decisions that are well-intended and with love and protection in mind, they are not always in the best interest of their children. Well-settled traditions and societal expectations, as well as personal biases, at times influence parental decisions that create much conflict or unintended harm. This becomes important in third-world countries like Bangladesh, where social norms and cultural traditions dictate parenting styles.
This means many parents believe that they make a proper decision by their experience and upbringing; however, each new generation has new problems, so they need fresh views. All this may cause a deterring effect on the development of the person and reduce the opportunity for the children, as their aspirations could be different from those their parents had imagined. Pressuring them into the mold of societal standards places children in an awkward position whereby they have to struggle to balance their ambitions with the expectations imposed on them.
The generation gap between parents and children only leads to misunderstandings, fights, and hurts. In this age, where technological changes and globalization have deeply influenced young minds, parents' traditional perspectives are seen as outdated or restrictive. In the increased exposure to global cultures, new career choices, and changing social norms, there is a greater need for adjustment in child-rearing methods by parents. Failure to do so by parents may create a gap that weakens family relationships and creates emotional distance between them.
Besides, family breakdown caused by extramarital relations or divorce may bring about lifetime psychological trauma in children and affect their future goals, mental health, and relationships. Divorce or marital conflict carries with it a certain stigma, especially in conservative societies like Bangladesh, and is bound to increase the emotional agony of the children in the middle. This may create insecurities, anxiety, and identity problems that may spill over into his or her academic performance and relations at large. Children with a tempestuous familial environment will hence have problems in trusting others, commitment phobia, and so forth, which in later adulthood would be unable to experience a healthy companionship.
The challenge of decision-making by the parents, change of generations, and dynamics indeed demand ponderation and equilibrium. Parents should never forget that as children grow older, their needs also change along with their styles-the parents' ability to mold has to give way but without compromising on the core values of love and character.
In most third world countries, parents hardly acknowledge the presence of mental health disorders, tagging it as mood swings or lack of faith in a supreme being. This makes the child never seek professional help, exacerbating the condition. While guidance by the parents is essential, the decisions need to be more participatory with the children rather than being guided by dictations of cultural expectations or personal biases.
Besides, family breakdown caused by extramarital relations or divorce
may bring about lifetime psychological trauma in children and affect
their future goals, mental health, and relationships.
Communication Barriers: This then creates a wide gap in communication because parents and children may fail to understand each other due to disparities in languages, expression of emotions, and priorities. Parents' reluctance to communicate on specific sensitive issues like relationships, mental health, or aspirations leads to confusion and secrecy.
Counseling and Psychological Guidance: Facilities of professional counseling to such kids afflicted with disputes at family levels may strengthen their coping ability. Open Communications: Parents to have open and reassuring communications with the children; no feeling of guilt and responsibility for the separation should be reflected. Financial and Legal Reforms: Strengthening the rule of law for single parents and their children after divorce will avoid economic adversities. Encouraging Co-parenting: Parents, in cases of divorce, must work together and provide stability to the children rather than create conflicts that further traumatize the children.
While all parents mean the best for their children, not all are always right. Societal expectations, generational gap, and a conservative mindset usually lead to confrontations that affect a child's growth and development. This growing generation gap promotes misunderstandings, making it necessary for the parents and children to share and understand each other openly.
Moreover, the impacts of extramarital relationships and divorce on children are disastrous, as it affects their emotional states, academic performance, and future relationships. These challenges are further exacerbated by societal stigmas associated with broken families in Bangladesh, and there is an urgent need for support systems that can help alleviate the effects of family breakdowns through necessary legal, financial, and emotional support.
Ultimately, well-rounded children in third-world countries need to be the balance of parental wisdom and changing needs of the younger generation along with emotional security and stability within family life.
The writer is an Online Editor, Daily Business Mirror
