He is a little boy. I remember my first meeting with him. He was visiting my home along with his grandparents. He was very young just under 2 years, I think. Since there was a language barrier between us, I spoke to him in the language that all children understand – candies, cookies and chocolates. Happily, he grabbed a few, flashing a quick smile while scampering off to play with my sons. The big brothers took him to play on the swings in the park. The child was petrified of Coco, my Labrador, so we had to keep the dog locked away. Else, he is a fearless child.
Even back then, he was a child who was constantly doing something. Picking toys, throwing them, picking things and breaking them. He did not listen to his grandma’s entreaties and threats. He ran amok in the house while we tried to rescue the stuff lying around. It was as if a low-intensity hurricane was unleashed on the house. I am normally very patient and understanding even of unruly kids, but this child was quite something. Yes, we were on tenterhooks till he left. His grandparents profusely apologized for the stuff he had still managed to break.
Next visit was a few months later, again to my home, and his behavior was quite the same. And, then I met him a few days back. This time we were visiting his grandparents’ home. He is almost 4 years old now. He has picked up a smattering of Hindi and English now. His behavior is still the same. He does not sit quietly in one place even for a minute. He hits out at you easily. He hits everyone. And, he is averse to touch. Most kids like being picked up or held, but he wiggles out of your reach.
He will snatch your stuff especially tablets. He may even throw your phone down. You have to be really vigilant around him. He did enjoy playing with my elder sons, but he hated it if they tried to hug him. His grandparents again felt embarrassed at his behavior. The child is a nuisance to be around. You have to be on guard always around him because he will just throw things down or injure himself. He also does not listen to anything you say. His grandma was dealing with him very patiently though she was really stressed.
You must be wondering about his parents. Yes, they are alive and well, but they have dumped their child on their old parents. This is because the wife finds it very hard to look after the boy since he was born. Well, the child did not drop out of the heaven,and they should have pondered that before giving birth to him. They are so callous and uncaring that they only take the child home once in a week and barely for an hour or so. It is really tragic that people have kids but don’t want to look after them. I can see that this rejection is scarring the child as is apparent in his dysfunctional behavior.
Irony of ironies, the parents have another child, a younger daughter, who lives with them. Every time I meet this little boy, I am exasperated at his behavior yet feel really sorry for his circumstances.
What do you think? Is every child with abnormal behavior actually crying for help, and why do people have children if they have to abandon them in this manner?
Pic courtesy: Serge Bertasius Photography at Freedigitalphotos.net
Rachna says 
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