As a parent, the only thing you want is a life of happiness and respect for your children. I am no different as a father. I happily dedicated my whole life to give my daughters the best I could. Best schools, best vacations, best colleges!
I loved the fact that my daughters made me so proud at every phase. How they turned into these responsible, successful, loving and caring humans is quite beautiful.
While I am a proud father, I was heartbroken when my loving and caring daughter didn’t get the respect that she deserved; when she didn’t get the love that she hoped for; when she was refused to be treated as human. All because she was married into a family, that doesn’t understand that daughters are humans too!
After struggling for 3 years, when my daughter called me and told me that she wants to come home, I didn’t ask her why? I just said:
“Beta, this is your home and you can come any day. You don’t need to take permission from anyone – not even your parents!”
Now, as my daughter and her husband are sorting things out, I have some questions for my son-in-law and his family. These are the questions I think probably every parent, whose daughter has been insulted, shamed & disrespected in her marriage, would have!
Dear Daughters’ In-laws,
You happily took away our daughter and promised us that you will give her the best life that you could! You promised us that our daughters will be your daughters. If that’s true, then is this how you treat your daughters?
Do you shame your daughters for being independent, self-loving women? Do you shame them for being educated and successful? Do you shame them for standing against society and not following regressive traditions? Do you insult them for standing up for themselves?
Do you treat them like educated maids who are supposed to keep your family happy even if no one cares about her happiness? Do you taunt your daughters for not being sanskaari enough just because they have to work late hours?
Do you blame them for your son’s mistakes? Do you make endless attempts to shatter their souls, their dreams; their confidence? Do you curse them for expecting love and respect?
We would also want to know: While you want our daughters to forget their parents, why do you want your sons to remain sons and not become husbands? While you want our daughters to be there for you and your family, why there is hardly anyone for her?
Why? Why would you do so?
While you give sermons to our daughters on how to be a good daughter-in-law, why you don’t give any to your sons on how to be a good son-in-law or a good husband?
Your double standards are beyond our understanding. We wonder, have you ever considered that we love our daughters just the same way you love your sons. Gone are the days, when parents of daughters used to let them suffer in their marriage. We want to let you know that our daughters are not a burden. If you can’t love them, please don’t get your son married. Let our daughters live peacefully and happily!
Another thought you may want to consider is that no parent can always stay with their kids. Don’t you sons deserve the happiness to be loved by women?
It’s high time that you understand that as parents, we need to keep our insecurities aside and marry our kids. We don’t need to ruin someone else’s life just to please our shallow egos. Sooner you understand this, sooner we will create a world where our kids could be happily married and lead a fulfilled life!
