Regel je Shit!! The literal translation is " Manage your Shit"
This is not the ideal way to begin a blog post, I know.
But I think you will love it at the end.
I mean, the title.
😀
A few days back, there were two identical letters from the local municipality in our letterbox. One was addressed to me, the other to A-junior.
My letter said something like this, 'Dear mother of A-junior, your son is going to become 18 soon so he needs to take care of some things himself from now on"
A-juniors letter said, ' Dear A-junior, you are going to become 18 soon, you need to take care of some things yourself from now on..."
...and with the letter, there was this leaflet (picture below) which said,
Regel je Shit!! [Translated: Manage your Shit!!]
Inside the leaflet, there was a list of things for his information, now that he will become 18 soon. Things like income tax, study loans, housing, health insurance,......he is literally being asked to be aware of these things from now on because these are HIS shit!..
Regel je Shit!!
I was impressed.
....this is how you are expected and made to "grow up" in this part of the world.
I was also smiling when I read the letter...only the Dutch can be so blunt and direct in saying this...in this way. Hats off!
Such an important message of life at the threshold of adulthood. Responsibility needs to be weaved into life from early days!! - a very important step in the development of a person's character.
You are almost an adult now, so regel je shit!
Haha, Loved it!!
I have not grown up in this way. Situation, times, culture etc was different. But I have started appreciating this so much as my son grows up.
Make your kids work for money as they grow up......let them know what 'earning' means.
Here, kids start doing part-time jobs from the age of 14-15. A-junior started with magazine-newspaper delivery when he was 14, moved on to Pizza delivery at 16, currently working in a supermarket chain loading and arranging shelves.
This gives them their pocket money but more importantly, builds up their personality in so many different ways.
I can proudly say his atitude towards money and few other things changed totally.
There is pride (it is HIS money).
There is responsibility (he CHOOSES how to spend it or not to).
There is planning (he PRIORITIZES his 'needs').
There is empathy (he SUPPORTS 'Cheerful child foundation' with HIS money. Of course I suggested him to do so, but still.....).
There is the intention of changing jobs (continuously looking for BETTER opportunities)
....and and and of course there is grumbling and moaning about the boss as well, before he leaves for his job. (haha, welcome to the club😀😀)
- a fantastic overall development package.
I wish I had started working at 15.😀
Speaking of parenting, growing up, memories, etc.....Today I feel like sharing "Neem-Begun". Dont worry, I will not share the "recipe".
😋
It was never my favourite when I was young. I ate it only because of "the eyes".
One look and everything on the plate used to vanish down my oesophagus, ignoring the tortured screams of the taste buds.
Now I love it!! (you can call it age, wisdom, ...whatever....)
This plant was a gift from AS during the early days of Covid.
A-senior smiled and asked, "Holland a Neem gach?" [a Neem plant in Holland?].
The plant grew at its own pace, one tiny leaf unfurling at a time, under constant critical monitoring by A- senior. His work-from-home-chair was nearest to the plant, so he was able to notice every micron of the plant's growth.
Inspite of its visible increase in size, everytime AS visited us, his question would be...."ki gach dili, ektuo barche na!" (what a plant, it is not growing at all)😝
Few days ago, we took out some of the leaves, fried them with eggplant and ate a plateful of rice.
Brought back zillions of memories.......childhood, 'the eyes', A-senior,........
Part of life as I take one step forward every day.😍
Universal applicability of the words "Regel je shit", but still A Gift of Life.
