This Independence Day, A Mother Wants Freedom

Freedom has different meanings for each individual. When a mother wants freedom, it is not about her financial independence or freedom from her responsibilities. Freedom for a mother is to be free from the worry of safety and security for her child and ensure the world is a better place for them. Many things happen around me daily, which scare me and somewhere or the other, it affects my parenting.

The news of a 5-year-old girl being sexually assaulted by a sweeper in her school is horrifying beyond limits. I remember as a child, the school was considered as the safest place by our parents. Even the most reputed schools are not safe anymore. Where are we heading as a society? It is not about education or upbringing; it is about the mindset of the people in our country.

You may like to read, Why Are the Number of Rapes Increasing In Our Society

India is celebrating the 73^rd Independence Day this year, and we might have become an economically developed economy, but safety and freedom for girls and boys is a big issue today. It is a disgrace. It is shameful. When I look at my 3-year-old Little Miss A, I am scared as a mother. Where am I bringing her up and what world are we going to leave her in. As a mother, I want freedom from many things for myself and for my daughter which will ensure her safety and a comfortable future.

Freedom from Worrying for Safety

It is not that other social issues, do not affect me but two things that particularly upset me are child sexual abuse and domestic violence.  Freedom for girls needs national attention. When we were young, our elders would say it is a matter of education. I am sorry to say but this is not the case at all. Most of the educated and respectable families today face this issue. A school, a park or even a house is not safe for our kids today. This month the Parliament has passed the POSCO Bill which will give a death penalty for child abuse. This will definitely scare the culprits but unless we take charge nothing will happen. We must teach our kids some basics to keep them safe. Sometimes teaching a small child might be a challenge and something which we are not comfortable about, but it is the need of the hour.

I want a safe world for my daughter so that I am free from worrying about her safety and can concentrate on her future.

(You might want to read Is Education the Solution to Our Problems)

Freedom to Speak Up

We want our kids to learn to speak up and stand for themselves. We have to set an example and ensure we are their safe place to come and tell us anything. Yesterday, my mom told me about a student in her class who watched some inappropriate content and now was scared to tell her parents. She was falling sick and not eating. I know we need to discipline, but let them come to you and tell you the smallest of things and we have to talk with them and not to them. Listening to them is more important than talking to them.

When we give them the confidence to speak up, they will learn to stand up against something wrong that happens to them and they will know there are two people who will always be there for them. A mother wants the freedom to speak up without being scared is essential.

Freedom to Not Being Judged

Half the issues in our society go unreported as we have a problem with what the society will say. A man beats his wife black and blue, but we tell her not to get into the nuisance of a court case and move on. Why do you want to spoil your life? I am sorry but she will live with this scar all her life. Punish that man who thought he owned that woman to do this to her. Teach him a lesson so that he or anyone who knows him thinks twice from being disrespectful to a woman. Yes, in this process you will need to relive those moments or face that man again and I completely understand it will not be easy for you, but think about your daughter, your child, the society and speak up and act. Teaching these men is something we women will have to do. The judiciary can only help.

I want freedom from the scare of constantly being judged and be able to do what makes me happy and what will ensure a better future for the next generation.

Freedom to Be What We Want to

What we wear and what we do should not affect our safety or of our kids. A few days back, there was an article in the paper, where the residents and guards of gated communities were disrespectful to women who worked till late. Seriously? Firstly, it is no one’s business what time is she coming back home. and secondly, how can you pass a judgment on her character, based on the time she comes back home. Let the woman wear whatever she wants and do not judge her. I would like to teach my daughter to wear what she is comfortable with, but when she grows up and the society judges her, I do not know what relevance my upbringing will have. A mother wants freedom for her child to live the way they want to.

I want the freedom to be able to do what I want to and teach the same to my daughter.

Freedom from Religion Bias and Intolerance

It amazes me how intolerant our society has become. Why can we not celebrate all festivals and respect all cultures and religions? Why are we judgmental about an individual if he is not from our religion? We need to accept each other’s differences and live together. We can only teach her children when we practice it our self. This is one thing I am extremely proud of my parents and they have taught me this too. Till date, never have I heard my parents passing judgment on any individual who is not from our religion. Some of the closest relationships we have back home are with people who belong to another community. I wish I can teach Little Miss A the same too.

I want freedom from the thought also that people are different because they are not from our religion. Let us celebrate our differences

(You might want to read, We have Failed as A Nation)

We work hard day and night to ensure a comfortable future for our children. Financially I am sure we all will be able to achieve our goals. But what about the society and the world we will leave them in. They are not safe for her. Sexual misconduct is a problem when they are small and when they grow up, domestic violence will be something they will need to handle. I hope and pray we all can stand together and eradicate these social issues and ensure a safer world for our kids. A mother wants freedom from an unsafe place for her child.

We Owe it Our Children to Secure their Future

The blog is a part of the #WeeklyBlogHop hosted by Alpana of www.mothersgurukul.com and Neha of www.growingwithnemit.com. I would like to thank Kinshoo of www.momlearningwithbaby.com  for introducing me to this blog hop and would further like to introduce Varsha of www.vrag.in to share her take on the prompt.