Sudha Murthy is considered a living guidebook
When the discussion is around parenting and parental values, Sudha Murthy's anecdotes and examples always fit. An educator, author and philanthropist Sudha Murthy is revered for her parenting lessons.
Her opinion on parenting is so simple and easily understood that people consider her a living guidebook. Mother to two Murthy has lots of valuable parenting lessons and tips which she shares with her audiences time and again. Her talks on parentings are massively read and shared among parents and youngsters as well.
On money...
To those living under a rock, Sudha Murthy is the wife of Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy.
Her views on money and its importance is way different than how people see her. Despite affluency, which means overindulgence in luxury items to many, Murthy has always talked about the right way of spending money.
Contrary to what people think of her, she has always spoken about teaching her kids the value of money and why one should try to spend it in the correct manner.
The birthday story...
During a school function, Sudha Murthy had narrated an interesting story about her son. The story amazed the audience and till date has remained one of the most popular stories for parents.
Her son, Rohan Narayana Murthy, who was a young school going kid at that time, came to her and asked her to throw a lavish birthday party. "He wanted a big party," she said.
It was then Murthy suggested her son to have a small party and give the money that could have been used for a big party, to their family driver so that his kids can have education.
"My son was reluctant at first," she remembers. However, he later agreed for a small party.
A party that could have cost Rs 50,000 was managed with 5,000 rupees and rest of the money was used for a genuine cause.
How did this lesson help her son...
This parenting lesson stayed with her son. Few years later, Murthy got to know what she had sowed in a reluctant child has reaped differently in a matured adult.
Years later, on his birthday her son gave her his scholarship money and asked her to give it to the families of soldiers who had lost their lives in the 2001 Parliament attack in India.
Helping kids understand the value of money is something every parent should do. Kids should not be allowed to grow selfish over money and should never be blinded by it.
Why should you teach kids about money?
Money is a very confusing element. It confuses adults, too. On one hand it can blind a person with arrogance and greed and on the other hand it can make a person bitter about those who have it more than him.
Many times it has been seen that kids tend to recognise the monetary barrier between them and their friends who might not be having as much money as their parents have. If not checked on time, these behaviours might remain with the child forever.
It is therefore essential to check these things in the kid and make sure your child has the right knowledge about money.
Money does not make someone extraordinary
Another golden piece of advice from Murthy's guidebook is that money does not make someone extraordinary.
Having or not having money is not something one should be concerned about.
What should matter more for an individual is the human values like empathy, kindness, value towards other human beings, standing next to others without having any discrimination.
Other parenting advices from Sudha Murthy
Apart from these Murthy also believes in giving kids a free hand while growing up, so that they know what they want to be. She does not believe in imposing things on kids.
She advises parents to talk to their kids on a daily basis as much as possible. In order to get closer to a child, you need to understand the world from their point of view, she suggests.