Self Realization

                                                    April – Adolescent- Gross Body

After the initial teething troubles during the play school and kinder garden years, you slowly realized that your caring parents have chosen to make something good out of you. As wet clay you are their favorite plaything and they along with your teachers and peers want to mold you lovingly.

It was homework, games, giggles, tantrums, chastisement followed by kisses and caresses, monthly tests, exams, grades, parent teacher meetings, and regular appraisal of your all round performances.

Slowly and steadily you grew up and reach the age of twelve.

Overnight changes happened in you, both physical and otherwise. And you were not alone. Your classmates too began experiencing the same. Some grew hair above their lips, some began talking in a hoarse voice, the girls in you class looked at you strangely, and you started gaining in height.

On the subtle side, you were naturally aware of the change in the atmosphere. Those kids from the opposite sex who you wrestled, and quarreled with on a regular basis, suddenly looked strangely attractive. Some wise guys in your class began talking big.

And to cap it all, invariably all of you in the class went into uncontrollable giggling sprees at each and every silly matter, word or expression.

Your parents, and seniors noticed this but kept to themselves. They had gone through this before and now they realized how childish it all seemed now when they saw you behaving like a kid wearing his father’s shoes or her mother’s perfume.

When you asked your mother if you could use her lipstick, she chided you gently and said that children should not wear it. But when at night you remembered a ghost story that your class mate told you in “Avid Detail” and ran to Momma, she hugged you, listened to you poker faced and then asked you

“Are you a child to believe all this?”

Chaos…you don’t know who is more confused- you or your parents.

Are you a child or not?

Has your mother suddenly stopped loving you?

Would it be better to spend all your time with your classmates who see your side of the picture better?

How can your parents be so indifferent to your feelings?

The truth is that your parents are more protective towards you now than they were a month ago. You have started growing and you need the right combination of cuddling and chiding to guide you at this juncture.

ÝOU ARE AN ADOLESCENT.  

Now recall those you know who have remained in this state perpetually.

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