दिल की कलम से —

सत्य घटना पर आधारित ( based on a true incident)

IF I COULD CHANGE THAT ONE RULE 😒
Dr Rupali Karwa Choudhary

It was a very busy 🤦day. Hussshhh!🙆 I finished my OPD as early as I could 🤭because I had to attend the PTM (Parent-Teacher Meeting) at 😌Maya’s (my daughter-namechanged) school. But I was already late😑, and Pune’s heavy traffic delayed me even further😐. Struggling as much as I could, I finally reached her 🤗school.

When I arrived, only two or three parents were left😔, and I was the second last one. I noticed a beautiful🤩 girl standing beside me, crying 😭. At first, I thought🤔 the teacher might have scolded her, but soon I realized it was her parents who were being scolded by the teacher🙄 — and what I heard 😱next made everyone emotional.

The teacher was saying, “Ma’am, it’s really good that both of you came. In fact, I was planning😡 to invite you to discuss your daughter. I’ve been observing her 😯for the past two years, and I’ve always felt that most of the time she seems depressed😥. Even during school breaks, when all the children are busy playing, she just wants me to notice👋 her.”

Then, the teacher shared something that left everyone speechless 😶. “A few days ago,” she said, “during the language exam, one of the essay topics was ‘If I Could Change That One Rule🧐.’ And your daughter wrote that she wished there were a rule that allowed her to have at least one meal a day together with her parents😢. She explained that both her mother and father are working, with long hours☹️ — her mother comes home very late, and her father is rarely around. Although, she is cared for by her nanny, she desperately wants to spend quality time with her parents🙁.”

It was a difficult topic for a 4th-standard child😇, while the other two essay options were much easier. Yet , she chose this one — and it touched everyone’s hearts.

I truly want to thank Maya’s teacher for being so compassionate toward her students🫡. I hope 🙂the girl’s parents will remember this incident and be more mindful while handling their delicate child.

I have wanted to write about this for many days, and I finally got the chance because of this true incident😊.
Being a psychiatrist, I come across many such 😔cases every day in our OPD. What I have learned through my practice is that an unhealthy😫 home atmosphere — in the form of marital disharmony, frequent quarrels, divorces, single parenting, ego clashes, financial issues, addictions, or extramarital affairs — severely affects a child’s mental health.

I completely respect women’s empowerment 💪in today’s era, but because of the busy schedules of both parents, a child’s psychological well-being is often compromised. We now see 13–14-year-old boys and girls affected by issues such as poor academic performance, absenteeism, substance abuse (alcohol, drugs, weed, hallucinogens, LSD), multiple relationships, anxiety, depression, suicidal thoughts, and even attempts.

While everyone today is chasing money, prestige, and position, it’s equally important to balance those ambitions🙌. Remember — it’s your child’s fundamental right🤝 to receive your time and attention. Believe me, it truly matters. Your love and presence can bring a powerful, positive impact on their overall development☺️.

Dr Rupali Karwa Choudhary
Psychiatrist, Pune

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