ABC

When my son was young, both of us used to play around a lot. He was very well behaved, and basically a happy child. I was fun loving. So we could get along very well with each other. We had fun and even though we lived a very frugal life, there was no dearth of happiness.   

Many a times, when my child used to ask for things, I had to refuse buying them as there was not enough money to get it.  

My son had just joined school, and was learning the ABCs. He was studious by nature and could pick up the lessons easily.

He would sing the rhymes and tell me the lessons he had learnt and I used to tape them. I still have those tapes, and the sweet voice of the child is still capable of bringing a smile on my face each time I hear them.

My son was logical even when he was a child, and I could convince him about our affordability of things. He used to be convinced and patiently wait for months before I could have enough money to get him what he wanted. He never complained about the period of waiting.   

But one day, he was irritated about some minor issue and I had to raise my voice to get him to behave. Losing my cool, is something I rarely do and I was feeling sorry for the poor child.

I wanted to apologize and told him, “Sorry my dear. Do not be angry with dad. I will get you some chocolates. “

My child was still angry with me. He said, “ No need, I will get them myself.”  

This was getting to be interesting.

I asked him, with a smile “Tell me, how do you plan to get the chocolates by yourself?”

He replied in all seriousness, “ I will study ABC, grow up and get the chocolates by myself.” Without his knowledge, he was very emphatic about the important role education had to play in buying material things.

I was happy, that the message had sunk into him, that, education and purchasing power go hand in hand. 

Today he is well educated, and is working.

So, when he gave me his first treat, with his first salary, I asked him jovially, “ So you have studied your ABC and are giving me your first treat?

He smiled, his eyes lighting up with memory of the childhood incident, and said, “ Yes, what chocolate do you want to have?”