The Reasons Why...

I was scrolling through my timeline when the following post came by;

My mind immediately screamed, "TOTALLY TRUE! TOTALLY AGREE!"

Because many of us who have now become parents were raised by parents and families and were involved in an environment that did not prioritize at all and even tended to ignore feelings. Expressing disappointment, sadness, anger, self-doubt, and so on is considered excessive and strange. In fact, feelings are something that is experienced and felt naturally and just comes according to conditions and situations.

The reason why I provide more books about recognizing emotions and feelings for children, rather than general knowledge books such as science and mathematics is because I was in that phase; ignoring my own feelings just to not be told differently. This made me apathetic and cold, taking everything related to feelings for granted.

That's why apart from providing books with religious nuances to my children, I also facilitate books that discuss feelings and emotions. Because I want my child to grow up to be someone who is independent and prioritizes her own good, who understands herself, who is done with herself, and becomes an individual who has principles and is able to make decisions about important choices in her life. So that in the future, she can also respect other people's positions, not become someone who underestimates and excludes other people, does not consider other people's feelings important, does not empathize, selfish, has difficulty placing herself so that she becomes a hated individual.

I want my child to be a good friend in the future. Maybe even the best friend anyone can get. She is able to delve into even hidden emotions and deepest desires, she is asked for advice and visited as a listener. Who is not easy to judge and give judgments arbitrarily. I would tell her, that whatever she feels is valid and she is safe to express what is in her heart without fear of hurting and being hurt by whatever comes after.

This journey is still very long. However, the determination and mission to build a generation that is literate and intelligent in feelings and humanity must start from an early age. Trying as hard as possible to be close to perfection and idealism is an obligation as a parent. That's a form of responsibility. I hope that, in the future, my children can take various forms and spread across the face of the earth as the best version of themselves and everything this ummah needs.