As the lights went out for the month of Ramadan this year and the dawn of a new Eid broke, there emerged a sense of renewed excitement and expectation within the residents across the land.
Eid means a lot of things to a lot of people. And this year is no different. Among the elders, there is hopeful anticipation in view of the positive actions the government has been recently taking toward the welfare of its people. The steps taken so far by King Abdullah and his government in this respect have given many a people a reason to celebrate.
In years gone by a significant segment of the Eid holidays was apportioned to a gathering of the family at the patriarch’s place of dwelling. Preparations were made early in the day, children dressed in their new clothes and shoes, and the entire family then descended upon the residence of their elders.
To keep things simple, plans were loosely made a day or so before to distribute and coordinate the task of feeding the whole gang. Everyone contributed to lessen the load on the hosts. During the visit, greetings and simple gifts were exchanged while family bonds were revived. The children would play or scrap together, and family ties would be renewed. Afterward, family members would gradually disperse to continue their visits to other extended members of the family.
As we moved ever so slowly toward the modern world, certain aspects of Eid have begun to ever so slowly change. Visiting has been modified or curtailed. Some family members choose to take flights to foreign destinations to avoid such gatherings.
Children have taken it as a matter of fact that gifts are in order, and some very expensive ones at that. While it is an opportunity to indulge one’s loved young ones during these festive times, we must caution ourselves against excesses. Showering teenagers with Gucci and Porches may momentarily endear your loved ones to you, but only until the glitter of those material objects remains.
It is left to us as parents and guardians to steer our children toward the noble path of self-dependency and not through the excesses that we have begun to demonstrate in recent times. If a child is given everything he or she wants during their early years and without really making any effort, what can we expect them to look forward to during their adult years? Overgrown kids with no sense of responsibility except for a deep and shallow desire for bigger and better Bulgaris and Ferraris?
There are a growing number of young adults in our society today that are pitifully incompetent in facing up to the responsibilities of adulthood. You see them everywhere. And a major portion of the problems lies in the manner parents have spoiled their children by satisfying their every want during their growing years.
I urge parents to consider that it is the mettle you build in your offspring and not the material you shower them with today that will take him or her through a successful adulthood. Eid greetings to all, and without excesses please.
