Episode 2.04: The Kids Are Gonna be Alright, with Ashraf Ali
Desi households are often strict, with many rules and restrictions. Parents have high expectations for their kids, as our culture is particularly competitive. Family obligation and loyalty is enforced while boundaries are blurred. Self sacrifice, obedience, and upholding a legacy are paramount. All of these reservations impede a child's ability for self expression and the discover of identity. In this episode, Ashraf, a community organizer in NYC, and I discuss how bad practices in adult versus child relationships can lead to difficulties in identity, confidence, and self discipline. We discuss what it looks like when adults do children's emotional "heavy lifting" for them and how it impedes on a child's natural development through the stages of emotional crises. We discuss the importance of cultivating free thought within children and giving them the tools that set them up for self exploration.
Listen here.
Sources/Further Reading:
Parker, C. B., & Parker, C. B. (2014, May 20). 'Tiger moms' vs. Western-style mothers? Stanford researchers find different but equally effective styles.
Mcleod, S. Erik Erikson's Stages of Psychosocial Development
Frances McLelland Institute Children, Youth, and Families. Cultural Differences in Parenting Practices: What Asian American Families Can Teach Us
Surita Jassal. Parent-Adolescent Relations Within the South Asian Community