MUSINGS: How to spoil your child : 10 commandments

By Thomas Kannamala

IN the early hours of May 19, 2024 a teenager-driven super luxury Porsche car rammed a motorcycle, killing two 24-year-old software engineers.

Both – Anish Awadhya and Ashwini Koshta – from Madhya Pradesh, were working in Pune.

The 17-year-old driver, the son of a super-rich local realtor, was under the influence of liquor, according to Yerwada Police investigating the case.

As a news reporter with considerable exposure to similar situations, I know that now there would be concerted attempts to vilify the victims, argue that the car was driven by someone else, the motorcycle was not roadworthy, the riders were rash and negligent and so on.

The purpose of this write-up is to invite the attention of readers once again to the article `How to spoil your child' that I published 20 years ago when the teenage driver was not even born. 

Kochi (Sept 10, 2024) Now for the sixth time, I'm publishing this article. A serving young woman IAS Officer was discharged (not dismissed as she was not yet confirmed in service) on charges of entering the civil service using fake caste and disability certificates.

Had it not been for her `uncivil’ manners and conduct, her fraud would never have come to light. Perhaps, an audit of the recent recruits to various Administrative Services would be appropriate to detect how many fake coins are among them, happily operating the levers of power.

This list of 10 commandments is thought to have been prepared over 70 years ago by a police captain dealing with juvenile delinquency and made available through the Houston Police Department.

1. Begin at infancy to give the child everything he wants. In this way, he will grow up to believe the world owes him a living.

2. When he picks up bad language, laugh. This will make him think he’s cute.

3. Never give him any spiritual training. Wait until he is 21 and then let him `decide for himself’.

4. Avoid using the word `wrong’. It may develop a guilt feeling. This will condition him to believe later, when he is arrested for stealing a car, that society is against him and he is being persecuted.

5. Pick up everything he leaves lying around: books, shoes and clothes. Do everything for him so that he will be well experienced in throwing all responsibility on others.

6. Let him read any printed matter (and watch visuals too now) he can get his hands on. Be careful that his silverware and drinking glasses are sterilized, but let his mind feast on garbage.

7. Quarrel frequently in the presence of your child. In this way, they will not be too shocked when the home is broken up later.

8. Give a child all the spending money he wants. Never let him earn his own. Why should he have things as tough as you had them?

9. Satisfy every craving for food, drink and comfort. See that every sensual desire is gratified. Denial may lead to harmful frustration.

10. Take your child’s side against neighbours, teachers and policemen. They are prejudiced against your child. When he gets into real trouble, apologize for yourself, saying “I never could do anything with him”. Prepare for a life of grief. You will be likely to have it.