Relax with a book and learn the art of being patient as a bonus!

If your child is a reader, he or she knows that feeling of satisfaction after having read a good book. A good book may take days to finish but the satisfaction at the end of it is worth the wait. Such an important feeling to aspire to have especially in today's world where instant gratification and faster results has become somewhat a norm.

Recently, there was a water crisis in our apartment. A water pipe was broken and needed immediate repair. Water supply to all apartments were cut off for about 3-4 hours. Of course there was no prior announcement since it was an emergency. Had they been able to foresee the emergency, they could have given advance notice.

Hell broke lose on the messaging groups. Updates about the repair process in progress were ignored. The messaging group became a platform for people to vent out their frustration. "We are stranded in our own homes with no water! What a situation!"

Was the plumbing team having fun cutting off water supply and allowing people to vent out their dire frustration? Or were they trying to identify the cause of the problem and figure a good solution to solve the problem?

Thinking in those lines, would take effort but not to rant.

True, it was very hard without water. Washing hands for one was difficult. Using the toilet was challenging. True! Thankfully we have the privacy of the toilet to use, even though there was no water. Well that's one way to look at it.

What's the connection between water crisis and reading a book for pleasure?

Bizarre connection indeed. :) Take any good book that is a gripping read. It could be a thriller or a realistic fiction either in the adult section or the children's literature section. No matter what, you need to wait patiently to know what happens in the end. You learn from different people's stories that things pan out in a particular way because that's how they were meant to be. There is little you can do about certain unexpected situations that come your way, over which you have little control. The book's characters give you a third person perspective of some of the most unimaginable situations and a chance to see them navigate through them. Inspite of ourselves, these stories stay deeply ingrained in our psyches. They play a significant role in giving us the patience and courage if need to be navigate a difficult situation in our lives. Even more important, books teach us the importance of empathy, giving thought to what the people trying to help are going through rather than pressurize them to work faster because we don't have the luxury of water.

While some chose to rant, a few others thought through alternative solutions to cope with the crisis. Uncertainty loomed about when the problem would get solved. A time was given but it got extended by another hour. The phones rang at the facilities office. Operators tirelessly yet politely repeated the same information often listening to rebuke for no fault of theirs. Children must have been a witness to this situation. They must have been third parties having the observation status. Can they think critically or blindly believe that what the adults chose to do was right?

Reading and discussion fictional or possible real life stories enable children to think of the same situation from different perspectives.

When the children at the Young Readers' Club read about Parker in Gordon Korman's book, Unteachables, they showed empathy to this character when they understood fully how difficult it was for him to read. They understood his struggle. They wanted to know how someone like him could be helped. They didn't look down upon him or laugh at him.

Similarly, when they read the picture book about Ambedkar, The Boy Who Asked Why? they gained a good understanding to be discriminated against in school. Discussions based on the book led to the realization that what happened was unfair.

Books give a platform for such discussions in a detached way. They pave the way for keen observation, critical thinking and development of empathy, something we need a lot in this world.

Want to raise a child who is good, caring and smart? Read a lot yourself. Remember you are being observed.