Today, I’m sharing a story that’s meant more for us as parents than for our little ones. Lately, I’ve found myself struggling with my daughter’s discipline—no matter what I try, her behavior seems to spiral out of control. This challenge made me pause and wonder: Are we expecting too much? Or could it be that we are setting the wrong example? How can we ask our children to embrace discipline when sometimes—even as grown-ups—we struggle to stick to our own rules?
This thought led me back to a powerful incident from the life of Mahatma Gandhi, a man whose principles continue to inspire millions around the world. His story reminds us that discipline isn’t just about rules; it’s about understanding, patience, and leading by example.
The Sugar and the Sage: A Lesson in “Being the Change”
On a sweltering afternoon in 1930s India, a weary mother journeyed miles with her young son to seek guidance from Gandhi. Her plea was simple: “Tell my boy to stop eating sugar. He respects you.”
Gandhi looked thoughtfully at her and replied, “Come back in four weeks.”
Baffled yet determined, the mother returned a month later. This time, Gandhi knelt to meet the child’s eyes and said, “Sugar harms the body. You must stop eating it.” The child, captivated by his hero’s words, agreed without hesitation. Confused, the mother asked, “Why wait four weeks? ”
Gandhi smiled warmly and explained, “Four weeks ago, I was eating sugar myself. How could I ask him to quit what I hadn’t?”
This story isn’t just about sugar—it’s about discipline as a practice of integrity . Gandhi knew that rules lose their power when leaders don’t follow them. As he once said, “Discipline is the bridge between goals and accomplishment”.
Discipline Begins in the Mirror
This story made me self-introspect. Gandhi’s power wasn’t in his words but in his alignment—he refused to preach what he wouldn’t practice. How often do we demand punctuality from kids while we’re late ourselves? Or preach screen-time limits but scroll endlessly? Like Gandhi, we must first embody the discipline we wish to see. When we “walk our talk,” we become the “sage” in our children’s lives, guiding not through lectures but through example.
Gandhi’s lesson matters for today’s parents, Discipline isn’t about control; it’s about cultivating self-mastery for ourselves and our kids. As parents, we often default to transactional discipline (“Do this because I said so”) rather than practicing transformational discipline. Gandhi’s lesson flips the script: Children don’t follow instructions—they mirror behaviours.
The Uncomfortable Truth I’m Now Facing
My daughter’s “volatility” isn’t rebellion—it’s a mirror. When I:
- React impulsively to her tantrums, I teach emotional reactivity.
- Bend rules for convenience, I signal that commitments are negotiable.
- Criticize my body or habits, I model self-doubt over self-discipline.
Gandhi’s life whispers a challenge: Want your child to change? Start with your own contradictions.
