"Can you hear me, Beta?" They didn't say the words out loud. They were typed and sent from the other room as a text. Greetings from the contemporary Indian home, where parents and kids share a single roof but lead entirely different lives. There is a deafening silence despite the buzzing phones and humming fans. We're too preoccupied to notice something valuable falling between the cracks.

The Great Indian Work-Life Imbalance

Middle-class families in India are putting in more effort than ever before. Both parents frequently work full-time due to growing expenses, competitive workplaces, and long office hours. However, "home" is no longer the secure, connected place it once was due to the move to remote and hybrid work models.

According to byeblues, 53% of parents consider themselves more stressed than their parents were back then. Finding a balance between one's personal and professional lives is more important than ever.

Children Know More Than We Think

After dinner, do you recall how our parents sat with us? questioned us about school. narrated tales to us? Nowadays, kids sit beside their parents and browse through their phones as the TV plays in the background. Nobody makes a sound. No one pays attention. Even if the child wants his or her parent to show something, they ignore and keep themselves busy with their work.

Children sense it even if they don't express it. They are aware of when they are being neglected. Once my elder sister's daughter came to me to show me her first drawing with watercolor, I applauded and cheered her up for making more such drawings. She suddenly became sad and said,

I showed this drawing to my dad, but he was on a call. He said, "Very nice," without even looking.

Child psychologists in India are observing an increase in children who exhibit attention-seeking behavior, low self-esteem, and even mild depression, particularly in households where the parents are continuously distracted by their work gadgets.

The Unseen Guilt of Parents

The majority of parents don't intentionally choose screens over their kids. They are overburdened by targets, deadlines, and continual connectivity. Parents bring this stress into their homes because Indian workplaces frequently demand availability around the clock. But parents have to maintain keeping balance between the workspace and at home.

When I talked with my elder sister about her daughter, she became sad and said,

"We try to make time for her, but can't because of the work pressure. My husband has to cover 3 EMIs within October. Sometimes, he is overworked and also gets less sleep. But yes, he is trying his best to give his daughter some time. We are in the same house, but not in the same space".

What Can Be Done?

Finding balance and being present with intention are the answers, not giving up on jobs or discarding the phones. Minor adjustments can have a significant impact. Restoring lost moments can be achieved by scheduling even 30 minutes of tech-free time before bed or during dinner.

Stop typing when your child speaks, look them in the eye, and pay attention. Ask them about their games, friends, or what made them laugh, rather than just their grades, to show that you are genuinely interested. The result? Happier conversations, deeper bonds, and a gentle reminder that attention is love.

Kids will only be young once. Parents must remember to give them the time as they strive to provide them with the best life possible, a quality education, and a brighter future. Our focus. Our presence. Because parents might discover that they are no longer coming to us when they look up from their screens one day.

#IndianFamilies #WorkLifeBalance #Parenting #ModernLife #Culture