The story starts off with Siddhartha confronting his father about becoming a Samana. Now this goes against his father’s beliefs and saying something like this can be a big risk. Most families practice one religion and worship one or many gods. Together, as a family they practice the same religion. For a child to come out to their parents saying they disagree with the beliefs, or find themselves fitting in with something other than the religion they are, can cause a huge argument throughout the family. Many parents and families will disown their children or think of their actions as very sinful. Which they have every right to think like that. But to cause hatred upon your own child for what they believe in and their own opinions sounds very wrong. 

No matter what your child chooses to do, you should always support them. I think Siddhartha’s father handled the situation very well. He accepted that he had his own ideas and wanted to make a life for his own and let him go. You can’t make your kid be whatever you want. You can’t change their ideas to believe what you want and what you think is right. Siddhartha’s father understood that he had his own ideas and had his own path set for his life. Yeah he was a little upset he didn’t want to follow in his fathers footsteps, but he still accepted the fact that his son had different ideas. He let his son go, he let him venture out into the world to carve his own path. 

There is a huge world, with endless possibilities, and many many things still unknown. There is a galaxy filled with stars, comets, asteroids, planets, and many many more things. There are oceans that haven’t been explored yet and land with ancient articles left over. The last thing a parent should be worrying about is what their child’s opinions and beliefs are. Parents who do practice a religion daily and sow their worship to a god(s) may see this as disrespectful and sinful. Which is totally understandable because that is their opinion. But to disown your kid or see them as a failure, is evil as a parent. Be like Siddhartha’s dad and accept the things you can’t change. Be ok with the fact that your kid isn’t going to be exactly what you pictured. And if you are ‘that’ kid, do what you want, believe whatever you want to believe.