High ambition of parents: What could be done?

Few days back one of my patients  called me. Without revealing much I would only say that he is a young boy preparing for some entrance exams. He actually came to me for eye check up for several times as his ocular problem needed regular review and I came to know much about him and his family.. But that day he called me not for his eye complaints, but to prescribe him a sleeping tablet and that too over phone.. At first he told me that he needs it for one of his friends.. But I am that much intelligent to understand his intention. After some persuasion he informed me that he has already spent a number of sleepless nights due to heavy tension. His parents are expecting too much and he thinks he won't be able to fulfill "their" dreams.. He was not up for some drastic steps, he just needed some good sleep.. Obviously I denied to prescribe.. I could do nothing much, but assured him that everything will be fine some day, volunteered to talk to his parents if needed once I am back to Guwahati.. and advised him quite sympathetically to consult someone else for the time being...  Taking sleeping tablets under medical supervision is not at all an issue to mention, anybody, even I may need it sometime.. But in this case, the cause is different!!

What I am trying to highlight is the expectation of our parents.. I'm not telling about everybody.. But some parents are there who just try to fulfill all their unfulfilled dreams through their children, which may be even far far more than the capacity of their kids.. After a while some of these parents return to reality which is truly good, but some others never try to realize the mental turmoil these kids go through.. Yeah, its true that sometimes we fail to understand our caliber.. Its our parents and teachers who can actually guide us in these turning points of our life to make us capable to understand our dream, aim and capacity.. But putting the kids under too much pressure and not knowing how to mentally support them when they are in need is more than enough needed reasonings to blame these parents..

Sometimes some of the kids are seen to misuse the facilities provided by their trusting parents, but its an another issue and we'll discuss it later.. Anyway there is increasing trends of psychiatric problems in today's teens due to highly competitive scenario... And if even the parents or guardians fail to support them in a positive way when they are in real distress, they may loose trust in everything..

Encourage your kids that they would do better even if they fail to accomplish something when you notice them trying their level best.. There are lots of scopes in life.. One closes and another one opens.. Provide proper guidance on your own or by somebody else.. But definitely with utmost mental support and then... Everybody will be more than happy!!!