Parenting - A Continuous Phenomenon

On way to his Robotics class, Mrunmay and I were waiting on a signal to turn green. And as usual, there were several vehicles breaking the signal and rushing ahead. This 12 yo had this question, again - "Baba, why are these people breaking the signal?"

Most of the time, I have answered - "I don't know. They shouldn't".

But today was different. I answered - "Maybe their parents didn't teach them to follow the civic rules.."

I have been raised by parents who inculcated the habit of following the civic rules along with making me understand the "why" part of it. Even today, I don't jump the signals, I don't park in the no-parking zone, I do not enter from the wrong side. From day 1 of my car driving, I have been wearing the seat belt and from day 1 of my two-wheeler driving, I have been wearing a helmet. This was long before both these rules came into existence. 

And Mrunmay has seen me doing it all along. Even he doesn't sit in the front seat without wearing the seat belt; he insists on wearing his helmet when on a two-wheeler. 

All these things went through my mind as I answered that question and realized that - once again - parenting is a continuous phenomenon. One needs to keep doing the right thing - always. Your kid is going to pick it up from you, you need to ensure he doesn't get a chance to pick wrong things.

As a father, I am also learning a lot. Making mistake, apologizing, correcting - all happening constantly. I am sincerely hoping I reach a point where my son would feel the same way as I feel about my parents!