Hey there, fellow parents! Capt Venkat here, Laksh’s dad, with a confession and a revelation that might just change how you deal with your kid.
Picture this: My prized Sony Alpha digital SLR camera, sitting on the table. Laksh, eyes wide with curiosity, casually reaches for it. My instinct? “Don’t touch that!” But this time, something made me pause.
You see, I’ve always said I want Laksh to be an independent learner. To figure things out on his own. To troubleshoot and problem-solve. But in that moment, I realized I’d been saying one thing and doing another.
So, I took a deep breath and said, “Go ahead, check it out.”
What followed was both terrifying and amazing. Laksh pressed every button. He turned dials I didn’t even know existed. He accidentally changed the language to Korean at one point! There were moments I had to sit on my hands to stop myself from grabbing the camera back.
But here’s the thing – with each “mistake,” Laksh learned something new. He figured out how to undo changes, how different settings affected the images, how to navigate complex menus. Yes, it took time. Yes, there were moments I worried he’d break something. But watching him explore, experiment, and learn was… well, it was priceless.
This wasn’t just about the camera. It was about letting go of my need for control. About being patient while Laksh took the scenic route to understanding. About trusting him with something valuable and seeing him rise to the occasion.
Over the next few weeks, Laksh’s confidence grew. Not just with the camera, but with other challenges too. He became more willing to tackle difficult homework problems on his own. He started troubleshooting issues with his tablet without immediately calling for help.
Here’s what I learned from this experience:
- Our kids are more capable than we give them credit for.
- Learning isn’t always neat and tidy – sometimes it’s messy and nerve-wracking (for us parents).
- Patience isn’t just a virtue, it’s a necessity. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither is a child’s skill set.
- When we step back, we allow our kids to step up.
- The risk of a broken gadget is worth the reward of a child who’s not afraid to explore and learn.
So, parents, the next time your child reaches for something you’d rather they didn’t touch, take a deep breath. Ask yourself: what’s the worst that could happen? And more importantly, what amazing things might happen if you say “yes” instead of “no”?
Sure, Laksh ended up taking some great photos and uploading them to Unsplash. But the real win? It’s the confidence he gained, the problem-solving skills he developed, and the knowledge that his parents trust him to learn and grow.
Here is his Unsplash handle: https://unsplash.com/@projectsbylaksh
What about you? Have you had any moments where letting go led to unexpected growth? Share your stories!
Until next time, here’s to raising curious, confident, and capable kids – even if it means a few more grey hairs for us!
Capt Venkat
P.S. That camera? It survived. And so did I. Turns out, we’re both more resilient than I thought!
