Quality Time With the Children

by Vaman Acharya
(Bengaluru, Karntaka, India)

Sarita, it is already 6 pm and you are lying

on the bed. Please get up and be ready. There
is no point in making further delay to attend
first birth day party of my close friends son,
said Mahesh to his wife.

Mahesh, I'm not well. You may attend the

party, replied Sarita.

What is the problem?

Your friend is more important to you than

your wife.

Tell me Sarita, what happened to you,

today? Mahesh was curious.

You always make promises and then forget

about them. Sarita took few moments to
reply.

I dont remember the promise.

If you dont remember, leave me alone, said

his wife.

Their twelve year old daughter Bhama was

with her two friends and listening to her
parents conversation. She had invited her
friends to spend some time with her. Bhama
was upset for the disturbance created by her
parents. All these girls were residing in the
Pragathi colony, Pavanpur town.

Dad, what is this? I feel too bad that both of

you are in a conversation as if one is a culprit
and another is the cause for it. Why this
misunderstanding? Please cancel your
programme and spend some time with us.
Bhama was serious.

Bhama was a pretty, lovable daughter to her

parents. She was a cute and sharp minded
girl. She never put unreasonable demands to
her parents. It was a surprise for them to hear
such a remark from their daughter.

Bhama, I am extremely sorry. My intention is

not to hurt your feelings. You know our nature.
The purpose of our conversation is to create
humorous situation, said her mom.

Sarita is right to defend herself. I too express

sorry for what has happened. Bhama, tell me
what do you want from us? asked Mahesh
with much concern.

Mahesh was a Branch Manager of a local

bank. His wife Sarita was a teacher in the
local High school. After coming over from their
offices, they used to enter into a
conversation, which others feel as a fighting
between them. But in reality, it was not a
dispute or difference of opinion.

Bhama wanted to spend some time along with

her parents in the company of her friends. All
these girls were studying in 5th standard in
Model Higher Primary School, Pavanpur. Her
mom had suggested to play Antakshari. Dad's
suggestion was to cut humorous jokes one by
one.

Bhama and her friends did not agree to these

activities.

Bhama, do you want to spend some quality

time? asked her father.

"Quality time? what is it?" asked Bhama with

great interest.

He smiled. Quality time does not always

mean spending lot of time together; it means,
according to me, spending time that means
something purposeful. Take for instance, at
the meal time just ask the children in brief
about their activities in the school. If the
vacation is coming shortly, plan for a trip to a
place of attraction. Apart from these, read
good books, draw a colour picture of your
choice, play market place (bank), neatly dress
up, put a talent show, puzzle, questions on
general knowledge, go for walk n talk, teach
how to cook, go to park for picnic, visit
temples, visit grand parents and play hide
and seek etc.

What about hobbies and sports?" asked

Bhamas friend Vinuta.

Yes! The activities I mentioned are hobbies

and sports. These are the most important part
of the quality time. We have to encourage our
children for such activities, said Mahesh
gazing at Vinuta.

Who received the first Dada Saheb Phalke

Award? asked Navya, Bhamas another
friend, who was listening the discussion with
great interest.

There was a silence for some time. Nobody

was in a position to answer.
Vinuta raised her hand to reply, with
excitement.

If you know, please answer," said Sarita.

Devika Rani was the first recipient of the

prestigious award. She was a cine actress of
yester years.

Whose maximum songs (both film and non-

film) recorded in India? asked Bhama.

Mahesh wanted to answer this question.

Lata Mangeshkar has so far sung more than
thirty thousand solo, duet and chorus in 20
Indian languages, said Mahesh.

Sarita wanted to say something about quality

time. She said, Mahesh has already given
you an exhaustive list and I would like to add
few more. Waking up early in the morning is
good for the children and gets ample time.
You can interact with the friends on new
subjects like current affairs, latest
development in science and technology. It
would boost the knowledge of children. Let
the child choose the quality time not the
elders. Spending quality time will pave the
way for childs development and bright
future.

Mahesh appreciated his wife with a secret

smile.

In spite of our busy schedule, spare some

time with the children. It strengthens bonds
between the parents and children. Turn off
television and stop attending to phone calls,
when busy with the children, added Mahesh.

Bhama and her friends were happy to spend

quality time for about one hour with the
elders. Both the girls expressed thanks to
Bhama and her parents.

Before returning home, Vinuta and Navya

invited Bhama to visit their homes on next
convenient day to continue about quality
time.