48
Generation Gap
were now grown up and going to college, he could not trust them.
So I told him that he should go to their college and follow them
around, but how long could he keep this up. I told him he was
foolish in not knowing whom he should trust and whom he should
not. Instead he should explain to his daughters that they come
from a respectable family and that it was their duty to uphold the
reputation of the entire family. Parents should caution their children
this way, and after that, whatever happens is correct. They should
not be suspicious. So many people harbor suspicions. Those who
have more worldly awareness have more suspicions. But where
will such suspicion lead them?
Therefore, whatever suspicions arise in your mind, you
should eradicate them immediately. You suspect your daughters
even when they go out to have simple fun. Do these suspicions
allow you to be happy?
(P.250)
Do not let suspicions take hold of you even when your
daughter comes home late at night. It will be to your advantage to
destroy your suspicions. What is the use of such unfounded mental
anguish? Nothing can change in just one lifetime. Do not hurt your
daughters and sons unnecessarily. Just tell them directly that they
should not come home too late because it is not right for young
adults of a respectable family to stay out too late. You should talk
with them calmly and explain things to them, but you should not
have suspicions about who they might be seeing or what they
might be doing. If your daughter comes home late again, then
again you should caution her in the same way. If you throw her
out of the house, there is no telling where she will go. What will
you achieve from this? Instead it is to your advantage to resort to
a solution that is least destructive. And that is why I have told
everyone that even if their daughters come home late, they should
let them come in. Some parents are so strict that they will not let