Grandmothers doubled up as baby sitters and chaperons

Olden days were the golden days when grandmothers played an important role in the life of the child. With the vast and varied amount of knowledge at their fingertips they could solve practically any problem and the kids loved to be in the company of the grand old lady of the family. They looked up to her for a solution when they failed to convince their parents about their needs. These could be anything from skipping classes for a day because of rains or permission to go to a friend’s house to play.

The best part of having a grandmother around was to listen to the huge volume of stories she had in her stock. It appeared to be a never ending one that could keep the kids enthralled for hours. The variety ranged from stories of princes and princesses and giants and evil characters. The people in her stories were endowed with super powers and could fight off any threat.
With the gradual disappearing of grandmothers from their lives, children now lap up the stories of olden-day grandmothers that have been wonderfully woven into huge novels like those starring Harry Potter. And, of course, those innumerable cartoon characters like Chhota Bheem.
Grandmothers who used to double up as babysitters as well as chaperons no longer exists. They have been banished from the scene and the really tiny tots who need lullabies to fall asleep, are at a disadvantage. The bedtime stories of grandmothers are also things of the past.
And for the growing up girls, the grandmother was one who could be trusted to keep secrets and advise on tricky situations related to growing up.
The mothers are too preoccupied with their own activities and the babies have to learn to fend for themselves or depend upon the father to rock them to sleep. (to be continued …)

A few more must reads -
Revolution in the skies - Airbus flies electric plane E-Fan across the English Channel

CBSE to check cheating in AIPMT exams – examinees can wear only T-shirt and jeans

Nine-year-old boy of Philippines studies in the light from a McDonald’s restaurant

Drone hovering over TISS campus in Mumbai sets off alarms

Typhoon Chan-hom strikes eastern coast of China with wind speeds of 173-Kmph


Boko Haram going the way of ISIS – releases first beheading video

US drone strike has killed top ISIS leaders in Pakistan and Afghanistan?

Parents of 14-year-old girl arrested for forcing her to live in the woods for eating Pop-Tart


Where are the stamp collectors and pen friends?

Religion on Indian television