The other day, while scrolling through the endless labyrinth of Instagram reels (yes, I too fall prey to the black hole of 15-second wisdom and dancing cats), I stumbled upon something that made me spit out my chai.
A mom asks her kid, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
The little one beams and says, “I’ll wake up, do cleaning, wash utensils, cook food, do pooja, watch TV, apply face cream, and go to the temple.”
I laughed. Then paused. And then stared at my screen like it just slapped me with a wet sponge of reality.
This kid didn’t say they want to be a doctor or a pilot or a crocodile dentist (you know, the usual). Nope. The child simply wanted to grow up and replay their mother’s life like a rerun of Saath Nibhaana Saathiya.
And honestly? That’s the power of parenting right there. Like it or not, our kids are tiny, nosy CCTV cameras watching our every move — minus the privacy laws. They don’t always listen to what we say, but oh honey, they are absorbing everything we do.
So if we’re waking up every day, dragging ourselves like zombies powered by leftover sambhar, grumbling through chores, and dreaming of escape while scrolling memes in the bathroom — guess what dream we’re accidentally planting?
Now before you throw your belan at me, listen. This isn’t about mom-shaming or dad-bashing. This is a loud, sassy wake-up call in a sequinned nightgown.
Your kids don’t need you to be Elon Musk in a saree or Oprah with a duster. But they do need to see you chasing something — joy, purpose, passion, even if it’s just trying a new recipe without burning the kitchen. They need to see you as someone who believes in possibility, not just as a martyr to routine.
Because when your child says, “I want to be like you,” it should make you proud, not panicked.
So here’s a thought: Don’t just ask your child, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Ask yourself first. And then be it. Or at least try. Dance class at 40? Do it. Write that book? Start. Dream of a food truck named Tandoori Tales? Park it in your imagination, and then maybe on the road.
Let your kids see that being an adult isn’t about sacrifice—it’s about choice. Let them grow up believing that face cream is great, but so is confidence, curiosity, and not waiting until retirement to live a little.
Dear parents, your kids will become you — whether you like it or not.
So maybe it’s time to become someone you’d be proud to raise.
Now go. Clean that mirror. The one your kid is watching you through.