Recently, I had been thinking about stereotypes and discrimination and whatnot. Then I realized that there is one more new stereotype that people (mostly adults) have made : 'Children can't do it'.
Why can't they? Who said kids can't do certain things? Is there some neurological problem with kids' brains?
Not that I or any of my family members has ever heard of any and my family is full of doctors.
I realized this at my birthday party. When I saw my mom giving away unnecessary gifts to our younger siblings, I felt angry. I was like, Why are they getting more gifts and not us (me and my friends)?
I asked mom and she said, Because they'll start crying and irritating if they don't feel special.
I thought that why is getting gifts a sign of uniqueness? And why only for children? And exactly how does an adult know that children will start crying? Can they predict the future or something??
All these questions poked their way inside my mind, trying to convince me that only the adults were doing this.
But no.
I remembered that, only two days earlier, I had done that same thing. I was playing with my friends and younger sister. It was a ball game, which required high jumping and strength. I was the one who told my friends that she would not be able to do it, as she was a child.
Most probably 3/4th of the world thinks the same thing and does what I did. What my mom did. What adults do. We just say that 'Bachche nahi kar payenge'. But, may I ask all the people of India, 'Kyu nahi kar payenge? Is there a proper reason? Do you guys have any reason?'
So guys, please understand, children are not as stupid and irritating as we think they are. We just don't give our thoughts a break and kids a chance.
~ Anoushka Sabnis
