The Moment I Understand My Child

It was a quiet evening. I was tired after a long day, and my son Aarav was sitting in his room, not talking much. Lately, I had noticed he was becoming more silent. I thought he was just being lazy or stubborn.

That day, I asked him, “Why don’t you talk to me like before?”
He didn’t answer. He just looked down.

I felt a little angry. “You are always on your own. You don’t listen!” I said.

Suddenly, Aarav spoke softly, “You are always busy. You don’t listen to me either.”

His words shocked me. I stayed quiet.

He slowly showed me his notebook. Inside, there were drawings—some happy, but many sad. One drawing showed a small boy standing alone while everyone else was busy.

My heart felt heavy. I realized that while I was working hard for him, I was not giving him my time. He didn’t need expensive things. He just needed me.

I sat beside him and hugged him. “I’m sorry,” I said gently.

That night, we talked for a long time. I listened to his stories, his worries, and his dreams.

That was the moment I truly understood my child better—not through words, but through his silence.



                                                                                                           ~Rabiah Pathan