With work from home the current norm, my daily interactions with my 5-year old daughter have been taking me through the learning curve again. And as I have been observing her and other children, whom she plays with, for the past 5 months, my appreciation for how our childhood shapes us has gone up multifold.

It wasn’t that I was unaware or dismissive of this thought. I always have been cognizant of my upbringing and what it taught me. However, I always thought about it from a parent’s perspective and how it’s them who play an important role in the child’s growth.

No doubt, that’s true. Parents, teachers, and other elders definitely have an important part in the child’s play. But what I have been amazed at is how children themselves play a role in their growth and development.

Watching my daughter in action from close quarters continuously, has been a revelation. The way she processes all the new information thrown at her, the way she connects the dots, and the way she takes it upon herself to learn and grow – it’s she who is in the driving seat. We are just the co-pilot, providing navigational support.

For instance, these days when she wants to do something and knows that we may ask her not to, she will come and ask me or my wife exactly when we are busy with our work day and knows we have to agree to her demand. That’s like “I’m giving you an offer you can’t refuse”, aka Godfather style. Quite a useful trait to analyse the situation and get your way through.

Or when she negotiates with us, almost bargaining for certain allowances. She uses all the tricks Chanakya talked about – Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed; without even knowing what it is. Battle hardened to take on the world through whatever hustle is needed.

Or the way she shows love and concern every time there is a loud sound from the kitchen or any other place in the house, asking if we are all well. Empathy and care, which most of us pay only lip service to.

All of these moments are great fun – to watch her in action, taking control of her own life and what she wants or considers important. And are a great learning – all of it done with ease, without a care about what others will think about or worry about what will the future behold.

She does get upset at times if things don’t go her way, but then that’s human nature. Otherwise, it’s a free wheeling life. Where she only lives in the present. Doesn’t get bothered about the future. Or tensed about the present. And most importantly, moves on almost instantaneously. And I am sure this is true with all children.

Perhaps that’s why Children are often seen as God, transcending the mortal thought process we grown-ups come to possess and be inhibited by.

Hopefully, we get the powers to be a child again…