The Times of India

I fly business class, my children travel in economy: Why Farah Khan practices this travel rule and 4 parenting lessons modern parents can learn from her

Every parent wants to give their child a better life than they had. But where do you draw the line between providing comfort and raising children who take that comfort for granted? Filmmaker and choreographer Farah Khan believes the answer lies in teaching children the value of privilege early. Speaking candidly on comedian Bharti Singh's podcast, Farah shared the parenting philosophy she follows with her 3 kids.The conversation began when Bharti asked Farah what family holidays are like with three children, especially on long flights. Farah's answer surprised her. They sit at the back... in economy, Farah said, I fly business class, the children travel in economy.The reason, however, had nothing to do with saving money. It was about raising grounded children. Here are four parenting lessons that stand out from Farah Khan's refreshingly practical approach.Teach children that luxury is earned, not expectedFor Farah, travelling in business class isn't something her children automatically get simply because they are her children. Explaining her thinking, she said, What have they done to sit in business class? What have they done to deserve it?She added with a little humour, If I start putting them in first class or business class from now itself, then later in life I'm going to be in trouble.It's a simple lesson, but an important one. When children learn that every privilege has value, they are more likely to appreciate it instead of expecting it.Remind children that being privileged doesn't mean being spoiltOne moment from the conversation perfectly summed up Farah's parenting style. She revealed that her son once told her, I think I am spoilt. Instead of agreeing, Farah corrected him. No, you're not spoilt. You are privileged. Then she explained the difference. We struggled so much so that you could go to a good school in an AC car and study in classrooms that are also air-conditioned, said Farah.That distinction matters. Farah doesn't want her children to feel guilty about having a comfortable life. She wants them to understand that those comforts came from years of hard work and sacrifice. Gratitude, not guilt, is the lesson.Children don't need luxury to have a good timeMany parents worry that if children don't get the est of everything, they'll complain. Farah says that's rarely been the case. Talking about long flights, she laughed and said, All three of them sit with their headphones on and watch movies or TV during the flight.When they were much younger, she occasionally kept them with her. Once in a while I've taken them with me, especially when they were quite young so that I could keep an eye on them. But that phase passed. For many years now, they have been travelling in economy.The point is that children adapt surprisingly well. More often than not, they're excited about the holiday itself, not whether they're sitting in economy or business class.Let your children know what it took to build the life they haveFarah also spoke honestly about how different her own childhood was from the one her children are growing up in. Today they go to school in an AC car. We can't send them by BEST buses in Mumbai anymore. Those were different times when we travelled that way, and it was safer too.She doesn't pretend life has always been easy. Instead, she reminds her children that the comforts they enjoy today are the result of years of struggle. We struggled so much so that you could have this life.It's a conversation many parents shy away from, but it can be one of the most valuable. When children understand the story behind what they have, they're often more likely to respect it.Farah Khan's parenting philosophy isn't really about business class and economy class. In an age where it's easy to give children everything, Farah's approach is a gentle reminder that one of the greatest gifts parents can give isn't luxury, it's perspective.