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| Home is Key Question 7 |
Isn’t caring for one’s own child a higher order of caring than caring for the abandoned child? |
We consider caring for the family to be so natural that we take it for granted. In reality this is an expression of our inadequate response to the calling of our conscience. Yet, we proceed from that incomplete emotional experience to glorify the act of caring for the street child. Little do we realise that the value assigned to such caring essentially springs from the extremely uncaring act of abandonment that precedes it. We have earlier recognised that our sense of caring is initially constrained by the extent of conscious care we received as children from our parents. Consequentially, caring for our own children is necessarily closer to our conscience. This not only enables us to be more sensitive to their needs but also awakens in us a greater sense of guilt if we are not. When we do come to terms with the limitations of the care we received as children, we realise a higher order of caring as parents. Isn’t this in fact the essence of Mother Teresa’s message: Don’t just raise children, raise your caring for them and then there won’t be a need to ignore, neglect or abandon them! It has been an exciting revelation for Alacrity that by encouraging its managers to realise the value of higher order caring for their own children, it is possible to ennoble the role of the home-maker and discover that human development truly begins at home. Realising the key role the home plays in human development, Alacrity works sensitively, purposefully and productively to keep the family together - the Alacrity way. If you would like to share with us your views and experience on this subject or just tell us you are interested, concerned, excited or plain surprised, you could write to us at Post Bag No.8578 (H-7), Chennai 600 017, India or email us at alacrity@webindia.com. We will share with you, both the exhilarating and disappointing moments of our own efforts so far. And maybe continue the process of building successful homes together with you. |