Many of the struggles people carry into adulthood do not begin in adulthood at all. Fear of failure, an unhealthy relationship with money, constant comparison and the pressure to meet others' expectations often have much deeper roots. Entrepreneur and content creator Ankur Warikoo recently reflected on this idea in a social media post, where he shared seven parenting habits he believes have unintentionally shaped generations of Indian children.

Warikoo made it clear that his observations were not meant to blame parents. Instead, he said they were intended to help both parents and children better understand how certain behaviours can influence an individual's life.

Constant comparison

Warikoo argued that many Indian children grow up being compared with classmates, siblings or relatives in the hope that it will motivate them to perform better.

Instead, he believes this often creates the feeling that nothing is ever good enough because there will always be someone doing better. Over time, comparison can replace confidence with self-doubt.

Curiosity gets discouraged

According to Warikoo, children are naturally curious, but repeated dismissal of their questions can make them feel unintelligent.

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Rather than encouraging exploration, many children learn to memorise answers instead of asking questions. He believes this gradually weakens curiosity, one of the most valuable skills for lifelong learning.

Society's opinion comes first

Warikoo also highlighted how many important life decisions are influenced by concerns about "what people will say." From careers and clothing choices to marriage and lifestyle decisions, he believes children are often taught to prioritise society's expectations over their own aspirations.

Mental health remains a difficult conversation

Reflecting on earlier generations, Warikoo acknowledged that conversations around mental health were uncommon.

He said many parents grew up believing emotional struggles had to be endured quietly because survival was the priority. Today's generation, he added, is only now beginning to unlearn that silence and embrace healing.

Money was rarely discussed

Warikoo believes one of the biggest gaps in many households is the lack of financial education. Without conversations about earning, saving or investing, many adults develop a complicated relationship with money and only begin learning essential financial skills much later in life.

Carrying parents' dreams

Another point Warikoo raised was the burden of expectations.

He suggested that many children feel responsible for fulfilling dreams their parents could not achieve. Even when those expectations are never spoken aloud, children often pursue success out of gratitude rather than personal ambition.

As adults, many eventually begin asking themselves whether the goals they are chasing truly belong to them.

Fear of failure

Warikoo also reflected on how failure is handled during childhood. He said children are often blamed for mistakes or told failures happened because of someone else. As a result, many grow up fearing failure instead of seeing it as an opportunity to learn and improve.

According to him, this mindset can discourage experimentation, risk-taking and personal growth later in life.

A message for both parents and children

Warikoo emphasised that his observations should not be viewed as criticism of parents. He acknowledged that previous generations faced difficult circumstances where survival and financial stability came before personal growth.


He noted that parents did the best they could with the options available to them and ultimately wanted the same things for their children that children want for themselves.

For children, Warikoo encouraged understanding why parents behave the way they do and appreciating the challenges they faced. For parents, he urged recognising that there is more than one path to success and trusting children to experiment, make mistakes and discover their own way forward.