Not a Doctor, Not an Engineer — I Want to Be a Grandfather

A delightful message has been circulating on WhatsApp lately. A child was asked what he wanted to become when he grew up. His answer was surprising:

I don’t want to be a doctor, or an engineer, or an officer, or a minister… I want to be a grandfather!

And he had plenty of reasons for it. According to him, grandfathers wake up when they wish and sleep whenever they like. They can watch TV at any time, they don’t have to go to school, and there’s no homework for them. They even get special privileges on buses and trains. In short, they can do whatever they want!

The tone of the message suggested it was written in a Western context — perhaps America or Europe. But it made me wonder: would a child in India say the same thing? Perhaps a few might — but their reasons would likely be different. After all, children absorb what they see around them. What they watch at home becomes their inner world.

How We Live Shapes How They Think

The way we elders live — our daily routine, our habits, our interactions with others — all leave deep impressions on young minds. Children don’t just learn from textbooks; they learn far more by observing. Our behaviour teaches them more than our words ever can. So if we wish the next generation to grow up disciplined, compassionate, and full of life, we must embody those values ourselves.

Lessons Without Lectures

Old age brings a wonderful opportunity — to teach without teaching. We can pass on values silently through our actions. If we go for a walk every morning, do our exercises regularly, and casually tell our grandchildren that our good health comes from this discipline, we don’t need to preach. They will notice. That quiet example will stay with them forever. They may not imitate it immediately, but one day those seeds will surely sprout.

The Spiritual Touch

When we sit in prayer after our daily routine, the calm atmosphere naturally draws children closer. That is the perfect time to share stories from the Ramayana or the Mahabharata — not as sermons, but as tales of courage, duty, and devotion. Such learning stays longer than any formal lesson, because it’s absorbed through love and presence.

A Window to Knowledge and Curiosity

While reading the morning newspaper, if we discuss a few interesting news items with children, their general awareness grows. We can gently explain that the real world cannot be fully understood through social media alone. Developing the habit of reading sharpens not just knowledge, but also language and thinking — a lesson that will serve them all their life.

The Silent Power of Traditions

When guests visit, calling the children to greet them, to touch their feet and seek blessings — these small gestures slowly become part of their personality. Soon, no one needs to remind them; they do it naturally. That’s what sanskar truly is — not what we tell them, but what they see us doing every day.

The Irreplaceable Role of Grandparents

In today’s fast-paced world, where parents are often busy, grandparents are a child’s calm anchor — full of patience, wisdom, and unconditional love. Their time, their presence, their smile — all create a sense of belonging and emotional security that no gadget can offer.
They are the quiet storytellers, the soft guides, and the most trusted friends.

Perhaps that’s why the child said, “I want to be a grandfather.” He sees in his grandfather the freedom to live, the peace to smile, and the wisdom to love. Becoming a doctor or engineer is admirable — but becoming a grandfather, in spirit and essence, is reaching that stage of life where knowledge, experience, and affection flow together in harmony.

The Heart of the Message

Children become what they see. If they see joy, discipline, peace, and kindness in us, they carry that imprint forever. So if we want the next generation to say, “When I grow up, I want to be like my grandfather,” then we must truly live like the grandfather who inspires — with warmth, with wisdom, and with wonder.