Today, it’s my son’s 9th Birthday. And it’s 9 long years I am a father and it seems very short though. I remember the day when the nurse from Woodland Hospital stroke my 2 min newborn son on his reddish cheek and he cried out with a cracking sound, I immediately questioned why she did this? She explained it’s their routine job to show family members that the newborn is fine and it’s all for good. I felt the pain when he cried for that pinch.

And for the first time in life, I have experienced how it feels like to be a father. Often one incident with my boy comes too frequent and boggles me and that makes me think that too much patenting is not necessary; over-influencing a kid actually may damage his own growth. Not too long ago, when he was close to 7 years old and we were in the US that time and my son used to go to school there and one of his very best friend, little short-tempered, the way kids generally are pushed him to little hard and he fell down on street and got a 3 to 4-inch deep scratch. His friend did the same before as well, but that time it was really harsh. In the night, after diner when he was suffering in pain, my wife advised him why he didn’t fight and push back him on the street. I stumbled on what he said –

“I could have done the same Mama, but what’s the point? If I do so he will fall down and have the scratch and he will equally feel the same pain. I know how it feels. Then why should I do this to my best friend? I will try to make him understand not to do this anymore and eventually he will get it”.

We didn’t talk any further on the subject. But that day he earned all my respect. I couldn’t remember he got hurt again or not, maybe but not that severe. From that day onward we do not push much on what to do in what situation, especially this kind of situation, and let me handle of his own mostly and support him like a friend.

So, even I am a father I do not do parenting too much and started to believe that it’s not necessary. Nature has a lot to offer and human instinct knows its own what’s the best and time teaches a lot. As a father, I try to offer my friendship and only the things that are very essential.

With time thing changes, he has grown up another 2 years now, he is now 9. I saw him standing for school bus queue in 2nd or 3rd position and higher grade kids go ahead those are behind him in the queue and let him on-board later on to the bus. He didn’t have any fixed seats on the bus. Now I see it does not happen that much, he learned to fight and get in where he supposed to and he has got his fixed seat. What I love and enjoy is to see his growing up time. It’s an amazing feeling raising a kid. As days are passing by, he will be a teenager soon. All these involve emotions that bring joy, love, and pain altogether – happiness accompanied with wet eyes. Like me, all your parents already know how it feels, and even if you are not a parent yet, you can relate when you think of your own parents.

Happy Birthday Rhij. I love you son.