Actor Kajol recently opened up about her experience with motherhood and how her children have taught her surprising life lessons in unexpected moments. Speaking to Bollywood Bubble, she shared how arguments with her kids, especially around food, turned into moments of personal growth and introspection. “Let me tell you, most of the fights between me and my kids have happened at the dining table,” she said. Reflecting on one such disagreement with her daughter Nysa, Kajol shared, “So many times there have been instances where, you know, sometimes I look back and especially when it comes to food… At one point, I realised, Nysa looked at me and said, ‘Mom, just relax. I know what I’m doing, and I’ll eat when I’m hungry.’ And I looked at her and thought, yes, she will eat when she’s hungry. She’s lived in a boarding school, gone to London. And she’s still alive and doing fine. She’s happy, she’s thriving, so clearly, she’s done something right.” Kajol also admitted how her children challenged her views and changed her in ways she hadn’t expected. “I’m a very opinionated person… and to change my opinion, you would need to debate with me and convince me that what you’re saying and thinking is right. I think the real surprise came when my children could do that to me without saying too much… just one line or one look. I don’t believe I’m being arrogant when I say I’m a good mother. But yes, to be a better person, sometimes I have become a better person because my children have taught me how to be better.” Why do so many parent-child power struggles happen around food and mealtime, and how can parents manage these conflicts? Sonal Khangarot, licensed rehabilitation counsellor and psychotherapist, The Answer Room, says, “Dinner is usually the one time families pause everything, to come together. That pause makes the table a space loaded with expectations. For parents, feeding is an act of love. For children, it can feel like pressure or control. So when a child refuses to eat or insists on choices, it’s rarely just about hunger; it’s about asserting autonomy.” She continues, “As a therapist, I often suggest shifting the focus from ‘how much’ or ‘what’ a child eats to ‘how’ the meal feels. Create rituals around food, laying the table together, and sharing a high and low of the day. Offer choices within the structure. When mealtimes are safe and flexible, the power struggle fades, and connection takes centre stage - exactly what we’re all craving.” What does it take for a parent to learn from their child genuinely? For a parent to genuinely learn from their child, Khangarot notes, it takes humility, curiosity, and a willingness to let go of the idea that age equals authority. As children grow into young adults, they begin forming identities, opinions, and values of their own - and this can challenge long-held parental beliefs. But it’s also an invitation to grow together. When parents practise real listening, not just hearing, but receiving and responding with presence, they create space for honesty and connection. “Psychology defines listening as an active process of absorbing and making meaning of what’s being said. Receptive listening, especially, allows children to feel seen rather than corrected. This shift - from parenting as instructing to parenting as relating - helps the relationship evolve. It nurtures mutual respect and creates an environment where both parent and child can continue learning from one another, strengthening their bond through the transitions of life,” says the expert.
