Dear Parents,
As the holiday season wraps around us like a warm shawl, I find myself thinking of you—not just as the Principal of your child’s school, but as someone who, like you, knows the exhaustion of endless “five more minutes” at bedtime, the chaos of half-eaten tiffins, and the overwhelming love that swells when you watch your child sleep.
We teach values at school, but we know—deep in our hearts—that the real lessons happen in your home. In the way your child automatically touches their grandparents’ feet, in the “Thank you” they say without prompting, in the way they share their last bite of chocolate with their sibling. These aren’t just manners—they’re fragments of your soul, reflected in them.
Yes, we’ve sent some holiday (activity) worksheets—but what I really hope you’ll do is this: Let them be little. Let the homework wait while you sit together and peel oranges, laughing at the juice that dribbles down their chin. Let the bedtimes stretch a little as you tell them stories of your own childhood—of Diwali fireworks that lit up the entire neighborhood, of the taste of your mother’s “gajar ka halwa” and the mangoes you stole from the neighbour’s garden.
Here’s how our Tatva 11 values might look in your home this holiday along with our kids-
Being Obedient – “Let’s wake up early tomorrow and watch the sunrise together, just us.”
Being Cooperative – “The kitchen is messy after cooking? Chalo, let’s clean it together—you wipe, I’ll sweep.”
Being Responsible – “Forgot to water the plants? No problem, beta. Let’s do it now—and you can tell me why the neem tree is so special.”
Being Simple – “Look how happy the stray puppy gets with just one roti. Should we feed him every day?”
Being Patriotic – “Let’s light a diya tonight and pray for our soldiers who stand guard to protect us.”
Being Respectful – “Even if we’re angry, we’ll never say ‘tum’ to each other in anger. We’re family.”
Being Acceptive – “You spilled the dahi? It’s okay. Even I drop things sometimes. Let’s clean it up.”
Being Patient – “You can’t tie your shoelaces yet? Arrey, no hurry. Here, let me hold your hands while you try again.”
Being Honest – “You broke it? I’m glad you told me. Now let’s fix it together.”
Being Courteous – “See how hard our didis work? Let’s give them a bottle of cold water today.”
Being Helpful – “Dadi’s knees are paining. Can you help her walk to the temple?”
One day, they’ll forget the worksheets. But they’ll never forget:
The sound of your laughter when they tried to mimic your accent
The way you hugged them after they failed at something
The pride in your eyes when they did something ordinary—but with kindness
This holiday, I beseech you: Put down your phone. Hold them a little longer. Whisper, “You’re my best gift.” Because long after the marks and grades fade, this is what they’ll carry—the memory of your love, as steady as a diya’s flame in the dark.
With hands folded in gratitude for the silent superheroes—the parents who are writing India’s future, one bedtime story at a time…let us make the global citizens together. I am sure you are with me!
