Don’t Make Your Parents Proud

( Storytime )

“Make your parents proud, baby boy!” — The simple photo caption that stuck in my mind the whole day.

A couple of days ago, I was browsing through my social media, and incidentally, one of my old friends posted an update about the birth of their second baby. Oh, what a cute little boy, indeed! He got the best bright smile with the eyes of an angel. Like everyone else, I was excited and happy about the news. I mean, who wouldn’t, right? Babies always bring so much joy. They light up our day with their innocence and wonder.

However, one thing suddenly held my excitement. It was the photo caption. The typical advice parents give to children. A phrase passed on from generation to generation that we accept as valid without fully understanding its context.

I read the caption three times. My instinct kept telling me something was off on that line.

Wrong Advice: Make your parents proud.

Think about the phrase for a minute. — “Make your parents proud.” It does not make sense. In fact, it is absolutely wrong to say it to children. Let me tell you why.

Your children are not born:

To be an extension of yourself.
To fulfill the goals you were not able to accomplish.
To provide you with the life you didn’t have.
To be your image-building front to the world.
To save you from misery by being your emotional support.

Children are NOT responsible for making YOU proud of them. They are NOT born for that but for themselves and their contribution to society.

Children are here to build their lives, to discover themselves, and what they can bring to the world. Their main job is to live for their life purpose. Not to make YOU proud.

Right Advice: Make yourself proud.

“DON’T make your parents proud. Make yourself proud instead.” — Now, that’s the right advice. But before you crucify me for saying this, hear me out.

I am not against children achieving goals, exploring the world, making a name, and being successful in their fields of interest. I fully support children who offer their achievements, hard work, and passion to their parents. I commend it for being an act of gratitude and honor. But that’s just it. And should only be it.

Children, live for yourself. You have your journey to cruise on. Discover life. Discover you. Embrace yourself. Don’t be someone else. Truth is, you are here on a mission. Find out what your divine mission is. Don’t ever waste your life not knowing it. Learn to live your purpose to the world so that at the end of your journey, you can say, “I’ve done a great job!”.

Make YOURSELF proud.

Advice for PARENTS

“Make YOUR CHILDREN PROUD of YOU.” — As parents, this is your job. In everything you say, think and do, your goal is to make sure your children feel proud to call you their parent. And why, you ask?

Because when you make your children proud, they become inspired to be like you, the person who embodies purpose. Children hold on to the light you carry because it guides them to their life purpose. When they use that light, they fulfill their divine mission. And when they do, you then also become proud of them for the person they become.

| Image by Singkham on Pexels |