Jugaad is a classic Indian favorite. Loosely translated it means a quick fix or an innovative workaround to use the resources available. You may have come across ingenious tales of jugaad in your daily lives. But this jugaad in daily lives could give rise to a ‘chalta hai’ approach when some people take it too far just like the man in the video below driving his family nuts:
In parenting, one has to often think on their feet and come with quick solutions. But in the longer term only well-planned strategies work. I remember that my younger son went through a particularly harrowing phase when he was at his tantrumy best. He just did not seem to outgrow his terrible 3s. I remember he was about 5 when we had gone to nearby superstore. At the checkout counter, he started pestering me to buy candy and I refused.
Then he threw the mother of all tantrums that shook my insides. He sprawled on the floor kicking and screaming, crying in the harshest possible manner. He was the spoiled brat we all hate in family dramas. His brother and I did not try to reason, cajole or placate him or worst of all buy him the offending stuff because he was creating a scene in public. I calmly picked the bags, left him on the floor where he was howling and walked out the exit. I wasn’t calm inside but I sure as hell portrayed that image. Inside, I somehow managed to dwell deep into my reserves of patience. I wanted to yell but I knew that getting the negative attention that he desired then would make him rigid in his ways.
I am sure it took him a couple of minutes to realize that no one was coming to give in to him. As quickly as his fountain of tears started, it stopped. He got up and came out of the store where his brother and I were standing, ignoring him. He tried to come and chat when I asked him sternly to get in the car. His demeanour reminded me of bheegi billi at that moment! Quietly, he got in the car while his brother and I chatted doing our best to show him that he had suddenly turned invisible. Many hours later, I spoke to him about the incident explaining how ridiculous his behaviour was and he should know by now that mommy will never give in to that kind of blackmail.
It took a couple of more such outbursts that played out similarly for him to finally realize that this tactic really wasn’t working. Lo and behold, his tantrums stopped. Yes, I suffered in the short term. It was difficult and a jugaad solution of giving in would have worked but I didn’t want him to grow up to be a demanding, insouciant brat.
Yes, this approach was explained to me by a child counselor. I had approached one when his behaviour had begun to disturb me.
So yes, when it comes to the larger picture, behavioural issues or just about inculcating core values, there is no cutting corners or taking shortcuts. Good sound planning and execution works best most often for parenting too just like in life.
I am glad that Exide Life Insurance as a brand is putting its might behind #NoMoreShortCuts in life. Imagine if we tried jugaad solutions for important issues like Insurance, Investment, Personal Finance and so on. It is most likely to lead us and our family into trouble. Avoid workarounds and plan wisely for your long-term financial wellbeing with Exide Life.
What do you think about jugaad? Do you have any such non-jugaad tales to share with me?
Rachna says 
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