Sai, Protect your children – Teach your child to tell you whom they met, what they did all day

Sairam friends,

I regret to write this article in StarSai but reality is we are living in a very bad world. This morning one of my friend at work was saying he feels too bad that innocent children are being abused physically. ( Don’t want to use the other word). There are millions of good men who really feel frustrated when they hear or read such news about child abuse. My friend asked me “What are we doing? Why these men are so bad?.

That’s when felt its important to write a article as a prayer to bless our children.

Everyone around me at work place knows I love Sai but i keep StarSai as a treasure and believe who ever Sai chooses will come on their own and I must not tell them about it. You see, StarSai is Sai’s temple. He brings people whom he loves most and others probably are busy with their life. Even yesterday my friends asked me to join them for a movie on May 1st as its holiday. I remained calm and smiled as I had plans to do something for Sai. They said “Yov, nee summa kovila dhaana irupa. Vaaya enga kooda, Summa Booku padikirenu solaadha”. ( You simply sit in temple, instead come with us. Don’t tell us, I am going to read some books…he he). I said OK because I realized they want me to be happy. So now a days, am trying not to be too sad.

This is what I wish to express about how we can protect our children from Child Abuse. I am not a expert in guiding. So you can give your own tips as comments.

In western countries, Children are taught to be careful even when their close relatives and their own parents touch them in wrong way. They are asked to be aware of what’s right and what’s wrong touch. Children are asked to tell their parents or teachers when they face any abuse. Although such regulations brings problems to few Indian parents who bring up their children abroad, It does help to protect the child from strangers.

Sometimes such bought up makes the children sound too rude. Infact in 2007, When one of my cousin was getting married, her cousin had come from U.S. She must be too little around 10 – 12 years old. So i gently touched her shoulder affectionately while we were shopping. I felt she was behaving too uncomfortable but i thought she’s just feeling shy. Then my cousin told me

“She’s taught in school not to allow men to touch”.

The good part about such education is that the girl knows to be safe from strangers but the worst part is that some children tend to be too rude to every one.

At least this is a girl from U.S

I come across some parents in India teach such things to their children. The problem is, in India, we usually have habit of considering even a 14 year old as a child and touch them affectionately. These children might behave rude or harsh to us due to their parents instructions. Anyway, there are some advantages in it too.

India being highly populated country with millions of families leading a very unsecured life, their Children has more chances of abuse. There are families who just don’t bother whom their children talk to all day or what they experienced. Parents take pride in saying my 3 year old has ID in Facebook. ( Adhu ketucha? – Did that child ask you to make Id in a social network site?)

You can’t be doubtful when your child grows up and behave as if you keep track of everything they do. You must watch your children, the way they don’t get irritated with you. So it all starts from how you bring them up right from childhood.

1. Teach your child to tell you whom they met, what they spoke everyday.

2. Teach your child to tell you if someone touches them with wrong intention. You don’t have to be specific but as world is getting worse, its better make sure they know to tell you all that happened the day.

3. Do not trust anyone – Be it close relatives, baby sitters, close friends or neighbors or even friends of your children. Your child is your responsibility all your life.

4.Teach them to remember your Name, Phone number, Address if the kid is too little.

5. As your child grows, give them freedom to go out but make sure they share all that’s happening in their life with you. They can’t tell everything. The point is, When they face any problem, they must immediately tell you and not their friends.

Child abuse is reality in India but trust me, we come across very little news of the majority of abuses. Many parents might never come to know their own children is being abused regularly. It creates a very bad psychological pain as the child grows older.

The above information suits both girl and boy children because child abuse happens to both.

I usually have habit of touching kids head with my palm softly when I see cute kids in Temple. Once, I touched a kids head with my palm and said “Saaii Ramm”, She moved away immediately and told me ” My mom asked me not to allow anyone to touch me”.

I understood her but this is what I don’t want this article to result in. Don’t try to guard your children and make them behave rude to elders. Its OK not to teach them such things if they can’t understand. As parents, you know your child’s requirements and their weakness. So based on that, help them safe guard themselves in the society.

Just because I wrote this way, Don’t be harsh to close relatives or friends who carry your child in arms or show their affection to your child. It has got something “Indian” to do with it and a part of our culture. Just keep everything in Mind and react only when you get doubt. That’s it.

Sai, Protect your Children:

There are so many incidents during Saibaba’s life time where he has saved children from falling down, getting hurt and even Sai appeared in real in a house as a fakir to show a child who might have other wise burnt in an fire accident.  The famous of all Sai leela, where sai protected children is the black Smith’s child story..

Baba’s All-pervasiveness and Mercy

In the year 1910 A.D., Baba was sitting near the Dhuni on Diwali and warming Himself. He was pushing fire-wood into the Dhuni ( sacred fire), which was brightly burning. A little later, instead of pushing logs of woods, Baba pushed His arm into the Dhuni; the arm was scorched and burnt immediately.

This was noticed by the servant Madhava, and also by Madhavrao Deshpande (Shama). They at once ran to Baba and Madhavarao clasped Baba by His waist from behind and dragged Him forcible back ward and asked,

“Deva, for what have You done this?”

Then Baba came to His senses and replied,

“The wife of a blacksmith at some distant place, was working the bellows of a furnace;her husband called her. Forgetting that her child was on her waist, she ran hastily and the child slipped into the furnace. I immediately thrust My hand into the furnace and saved the child. I do not mind My arm being burnt, but I am glad that the life of the child is saved.”

Fire is just an example in this leela. Sai safeguards your children from various dangers and evil people. So keep loving Sai.

Do not force Sai devotion in your children but if it happens naturally, encourage them to be devoted to Sai.

Sai will always keep your children Safe.

This article is dedicated to children around the world who face any kind of sufferings. Let’s pray Shirdi Sai baba to protect them and rescue them from evil minded people.

I wrote this article when my Mother had severe stomach ache all night. Baba, please heal my Amma.

Aum Sri Sai Ram

With Love on Sai Children,

C.Venkatraman

Little Servant of Shirdi Sai baba

30/4/2013