Moodubelle: Seminar on Adolescent-Parents Relationship evokes good response
By Commodore Jerome Castelino
Pics by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network
Moodubelle, 19 March 2013: One of the major problems facing society in modern age is lack of healthy relationship between adolescent children and their parents. Realizing this problem and its adverse effects on the community in particular and society in general, a seminar on adolescent-parents relationship was organized at the parish level in St. Lawrence Parish Hall on Sunday, March 17, 2013 from 9am to 12.30pm which evoked good response from both adolescent children and their parents. Nearly 300, both adolescents and parents participated in the seminar.
An eminent educationist and Director of Glowin Star Integrated School, Ambalpady, Udupi , Dr. Thomas Quadros and Mrs. Theresa D’Almeida an eminent counselor from Moodubelle Parish were the resource persons.
After registration and breakfast, prior to the seminar, a prayer song compiled by Fr. Paul Sequeira that was appropriate for the occasion was sung by himself along with the members of the parish choir.
Rev. Fr. Joswey Fernandes, parish priest in his welcome address emphasized the importance of the seminar and welcomed the resource persons and the participants in the seminar.
Commodore Jerome Castelino introduced both the resource persons and said that their knowledge and experience in this field would benefit the participants.
In his address, Dr. Thomas Quadros compared the human brain to a computer and said that the brain has unlimited capacity to absorb, register and retain memory which is like the software of a most powerful computer. He further said that whatever the children observe and experience, especially during the early age till they reach the adolescent age are deeply engraved in the subconscious mind and remains there forever. Therefore, the parents have to be very responsible in their conduct, behaviour, speech and actions. He also said that the social environment in which the children are brought up also plays an important role in shaping their personalities.
Dr. Thomas emphasized on the need for the parents to have a proper understanding of their adolescent children. He said that as children grow up, physical, psychological and emotional changes take place among the growing children. At this crucial stage the parents should handle their children with utmost care, sensitivity, compassion and love and at the same time they should manifest certain degree of firmness without succumbing to the undue demands and emotional blackmail by their adolescent children.
Speaking to the adolescents, Dr. Thomas Quadros said that every adolescent must have goals and work towards achieving these goals by hard work, dedication and perseverance. He also advised the adolescents to choose their friends selectively who have similar goals and aspirations.
Mrs. Theresa D’Almeida emphasized on the role of mothers in bringing up children right from their infancy. She further said that in addition to the responsibility as the mother she has to take up the role of the father as many men have to be away from the home much of the times to earn livelihood for the family. She further brought home the need for spiritual education in order to imbibe right kind of values in adolescents.
Stressing on the need to have closer relations with their adolescent children, Mrs. Theresa called upon the parents to spend quality time with their children so as to foster emotional bond between them. The mother should see to it that the children pay more attention to physical cleanliness and neatness of their dress. She also emphasized on the fact that every child needs minimum eight hours of sleep. Speaking further, Mrs. Theresa said that every family should develop a habit of praying together and having at least their dinner along with all the family members.
Before concluding her address, Mrs. Theresa pointed out the benefits of continuing education in the same institution and urged the parents of the students who have appeared for the second PU arts and commerce examinations to patronize the newly established St. Lawrence Degree College by enrolling their children in the college which has all facilities including well experienced and dedicated lecturers.
Prior to the conclusion of the seminar, the resource persons were presented mementos. Thereafter, the Vice President of Parish Pastoral Council, Alphonse K. Alva proposed the vote of thanks following which Fr. Paul Sequeira summarized the proceedings of the seminar and called upon both the adolescents and their parents to take advantage of the inputs by the learned and experienced resource persons. Fr. Lancy Saldanha compeered the programme.