I used this in an article in 1984 which appeared in the

supplement of Indian Express called Youth Express titled

'Stop trying to bring up children in Procrustean beds'. He
is one of my favourite author.

Though all the statements in that para are undoubtedly

true, on hindsight I realise that parents too come in various
forms, fixations and fancy dreams.

All may not be intelligent enough to make informed

decisions.

Unfortunately, in human species, in general, compared to

other species, the child takes a longer time to survive on
its own, much less live comfortably. This makes parents to
presume that children are incapable of making their own
choices and least till well into their teenage years.

That being said, however, without exception all parents

have a common weakness or strength, namely, emotional
affections and attachments towards their children which
intensifies into blind over protection, love, concern, care
etc. Indeed too many layers of comfort cushions that
children don't feel the need to push them aside and Wade
through life on their own.
Hence , parents, in most cases, prioritise the safety,
security of the health of the children followed by forcing
children to pursue social pressure driven esteem building
activities perceived as the best.

Only the ultimate outcome of the children as they mature

may indicate whether the things imparted by parents were
good, useful, important or bad, negative and damaging
etc.

Many other aspects of life ( the details are too many) take
a back seat.

Besides, parenting and treating children varies

from.society to society, culture to culture and family to
family.

There has not been enough serious research on the

growth and gifts of orphans and how they manage to live.

As JK says, every human being has an inward flowering (

whether one believes in a Soul or not) and to a great
extent beyond taking care of their health in their formative
years freedom is vital for this inward flowering to take
place. In case, if parents feel that this freedom is taking a
dangerous path , then , they can jump in and try to rectify
the problem before it becomes too bad.

https://contentwriteups.blogspot.com/2019/02/parenting-
has-no-prescriptions.html?m=0

https://contentwriteups.blogspot.com/2015/10/living-
growing-up-and-settling-down.html?m=0