It makes Parenting very challenging and probably, time has come to understand why one needs a family.

Yesterday we went to gave an exam - ya we !! He went inside and appeared the exam and I was giving the exam outside. He had been preparing for this specific exam for a little more than three weeks, giving all sorts of mocks, putting maximum effort and we were giving all the support (physical, financial and most importantly mental) that was needed - every day I would share some moral story with him to cool down because I could feel he was like, in a pressure cooker of expectations and unless prevented, it could bubble over at any moment.

And I am very sure, I am not alone. Because as per latest studies, mental health problems in Gen Z (18–24) are reported at a whopping 33% - one in three, which used to be 25% five years back in the year 2000. This killer trend is steadily rising, silently over the past two decades - they are always near the border of getting depressed - this chronic anxiety lingering over their head most of the time. As parent, we are their best bet to counsel and help them sail through these difficult times - when they are constantly striving to prove their competency, which does not come free - it comes with insurmountable amount of anxiety and fear of judgment because of uncertainty holding them down - at times they quickly change their mind. We have to act like a Clinical Psychologist every now and then - better than an actual one, because of our availability 24/7.

As you can see, many parents like me were waiting outside in the scorching heat, as the center was in this busy spot located on the highway. Interestingly the trend in parents keeping higher expectations is going down dramatically - the kids are super charged themselves setting their bar very high and most parents can see it - it's very important to teach them to deal with failure. They have every information at their finger tips, accessible in seconds - they think AI can solve all the problems of world.

Really ? Can AI help buy happiness ? Sleep ? No Kid - Mindful living can only help with that. Happiness comes from within - but not only you have to cultivate it but also you have to be very careful to preserve it all the time, consistently - safeguarding it from your aspirations. Your generation will live a chaotic life because of having too much choice in chasing your dreams. The more you try to maximize your potential to achieve your goals, it will heighten your anxiety unless your goal is fixed, which rarely happens.

And even at times, you may not meet your expectation, how do you deal with that ? You need to learn to be happy with Plan B, or Plan C or whatever - Acceptance is the key. No one is trying to dissuade you from your goal, but in that process don't forget to live your life.

To share a good news with my hive family, the boy has passed his 12th board exam with a flying 91.4%, results of which came today. He did not do well in the JEE Mains exam this year, but WE are very happy with how he has come through all this - you got one more year at Father's Mess - you will always remember these moments. Be a good man - that's all we want.

He has one more achievement but he is still not sure, if he should pursue that or not, more to come on that....

Shot with SONY α6400 with 18-135 mm Zoom Lens.

This post is in response to the MINDFUL MONDAY prompt of this week.

copyrights @sanjeevm - content created uniquely with passion for #HIVE platform — NOT posted anywhere else! #HIVE is my only social diary - my blog is my life.

AI free content - do not lose your natural intelligence.

Don't have a hive account ? Then you are missing the fun on one of the most decentralized blockchains - created and run by community, free from any centralized entities. Create your account using my referral and you will have my support for good and genuine AI free content.