R Madhavan recently recalled living in a small town of Canada for studies with serious drug and teenage pregnancy issues. The family he stayed with, however, guided their children well, and Madhavan says the parenting lessons he learned from them helped him raise his son, Vedaant.
Lessons from the family he stayed with
In conversation with Radhika Gupta on the YouTube channel 100 Year Life Project by ACKO, Madhavan said, “I had the privilege of studying abroad and I lived in a town in Canada, which was pretty wild for those times. Teenage pregnancy was rampant over there. Drugs and alcohol was a part of that town. I found one family that I stayed with, their children, absolutely normal as can be. Very well brought up. Not into any of these issues.”
The advice he used for Vedaant
Elaborating further, he added, “She gave me an advice which I followed to the heart and it really worked for my son,” he said and added, “She said, ‘don’t give your child free time’. She said, ‘indulge him or her in whatever they want to do, as long as they are doing it with passion, the interest will change. Their level of commitment will change. But make sure that they don’t have free time until they’re 15-16 years old. Make sure that they go from one activity to the other.”Madhavan also stated that activities for kids should be fun, not feel like chores. Their day should be full so they don’t have time to focus on things they shouldn’t at that age.
Vedaant’s swimming journey
Meanwhile, his 20-year-old son, Vedaant, has been a competitive swimmer since childhood. He has won medals for India at events like the Commonwealth Youth Games, Malaysian Open, and Thailand Open. During COVID, Madhavan moved to the UAE to ensure Vedaant’s training continued without interruption.
About the Author
