When I had dysphagia and I just could not gulp pills

When I was a child, I had an issue called dysphagia. It means an issue generally swallowing, but I had a problem swallowing medicines. In my experience the more you run away from a matter, the more it comes down on you. So, I suffered from malaria (as a kid), and that too not once or twice, but multiple times while we stayed in Lagos. 

If I must associate certain keywords with our stay in Nigeria, it would be, a doll-like duplex house, tall banana trees, armed robbers, Ilupeju, Indian Language School (and my amazing friends) and malaria. For some strange reason, I suffered recurrent malaria. I had to repeatedly take quinine pills; god knows for many months. It may seem as if I am making a big deal for taking those innocent quinine capsules, but you must ask my mom and dad of the herculean task that it was. 

Some of the ways that this dysphagia kid tried:

• Guzzling down an entire bottle of water only to have the capsule sitting in my mouth
• In the most delicate manner, my mother opened the capsule and emptied the most bitter powder and mixed it with honey. I would still puke.
• My dad pushed it in my mouth, put water and kept my mouth shut till I swallowed it
• My mom fried bread and dipped it in sugar syrup as a post pill reward (she made a whole lot of other goodies as well) but the pill just would not go past my mouth 

Post our stint in Africa and years later, I had to take a zillion medicines and had no option but to learn the art. After all these years, I still have an issue swallowing gigantic pills. I do not have as much of a dysphagia trouble anymore. 

With this memory, I realized that a child may not retain every memory of their parents. Memories that are forever are times when folks (like mine) make sincere and serious efforts, take so much pain, and do everything in their power to support the craziness of their moppet.  

I saw ‘The Social Dilemma’ and here is why am worried

I watched ‘The Social Dilemma’ recently and I started thinking of something really concerning. It does not say anything that I don't know already. I mean I really wish I had access to those advanced AI algorithms to create engaging content for people. But that is not it. I am more worried about how children, in the current and future times, identify or will identify their self with their social standing.

Not to deny that it matters to us as well. That gratification and pump to the dopamine every time our friends like and comment on our picture. And we wait to take that perfect picture. We only celebrate pretty faces, promotions, that 'A' grade, and the near perfect event in our life.

But thanks to a childhood that had more real interactions and mortal connections that we have a stronger sense of self. Our confidence is not destabilized if a picture does not get a like or gets a negative comment. We can discern ‘the social’ us as extended entertainment and not an extended version of ourselves.  

I do not want to sound like a person saying things were better in my time. Things are constantly evolving (read getting more tech driven), and we are as much part of that evolution because it offers speed and convenience which are addictive. 

Shreya and Shivansh are at an age when they really like to play games on the gadgets (which I allow weekly). In some years, they will probably want to be on Instagram and twitter because their friends are. How will I ensure that their confidence is unaffected with or without their social presence? How will I help them understand that their online stance is not who they are? How will I explain that it is not ok to share everything online as our privacy is constantly exposed? How will I convince them that they don't have to be perfect to be liked but being real is far more important?