I am sure you want your children to grow up to be good citizens.

This requires you to be loving and affectionate to them. Especially, during their younger days. Try to spend as much time as you can with your children. Be genuinely concerned about them.

Do not curb their curiosity to know about things. Do not be under the impression that if you put them in the best of schools your job is over. No doubt, this is required, but your care for them during their formative years is very important. I still remember quite vividly a few incidents in my childhood days even today. Especially the way in which my parents were loving towards me.

We should try to set a good example or lead by example. Our children are always watching us and evaluate us based on our behaviour. They look to us for guidance and to share our experiences with them as they grow up. The teens are the most difficult period in their lives and utmost care needs to be given to them during this phase.

As parents, we should treat our teenage children as friends and give them a patient hearing when they come up with difficult questions about life. Please do not shun them, for this is a very crucial stage and we should prove to be as caring as possible then.

Please do not thrust or force your ideas on them. As they grow up, tell them the good and bad, the positive and negative aspects and allow them to decide on their own. Even today, many of us look up to others to decide for us. Very pathetic.

Put pressure on them, but gently and the right amount only. So that they may not break down. Do not be overbearing. As I told you earlier, do not expect them to fulfil your unfulfilled dreams and desires and hence make them a product of your thoughts and wishes.

I am sure most of us come from middle class families. The only thing that we can ensure is to give our children good all round education. This means that we take care of their physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual dimensions. Please do not be under the impression that by giving them a lot of wealth will solve their problem.

Let me reiterate that love and affection is like a boomerang. It will come back to you from your children when you need it most, especially when you are old.

Hence, enough love and affection from us as parents is a must for our children.