It was time for the children to leave for home. A mother, who had come to pick up her daughter, came to me with her daughter and asked, "What makes you work with children, what makes you 'tick' with them". I was about to say my standard answer, "Because I love them". However, suddenly the child tugged at her mother's dress and said, "Mamma lets go". The lady turned to her child and in a curt voice reprimanded her, "can't you see I am talking to Uncle, how many times have I told you not to interrupt when I am talking to elders. Bad manners"
It was at that very moment that I realised that it was not 'love' that made us work with children, but it was RESPECT . If I was in the mother's place I would have responded with, "Yes, dear, you must be hungry, I will hurry up with uncle" or something similar.
I would have respected the child's needs.
Just as, I would like others to respect my needs.
(As posted on Jagriti59th batch Whatsapp group)