Top News

Modern parenting has reached a stage where the rush of deadlines, commutes and constant hustle has quietly created a strange new reality in many homes. Kids today often spend so much time with their nannies that the emotional bond meant for parents slowly starts shifting toward caretakers. What used to be an occasional helping hand has, in many families, turned into the child’s primary source of comfort, something most parents don’t realise until someone points it out bluntly. And that “someone,” this time, is actor Sudhanshu Pandey.

Speaking on the Dad-Sense Podcast with Subhasis Mishra, Sudhanshu opened up about what he sees around him almost every day in modern, high-rise living. He described scenes any people have observed but rarely talk about, toddlers clinging to caretakers, running into their arms when scared, and looking to them for the kind of emotional reassurance that should ideally come from parents. He admitted the sight is “very stressful”.

Sudhanshu said, “In my own building, if there are 100 kids, I would see 95 with the maids and the servants. I feel very sad because the child is hugging the maid. If they get scared, they run to the maid because that’s who they have. And it is strange that the parents don’t realise this. You’re missing out, your child is missing out, and you’re just letting it go.”

He went on to explain how this emotional disconnect ends up shaping the child’s behaviour in the long run. Because kids crave affection and validation, they start finding comfort in quick digital escapes. As he put it, “They find escapes without realising into all these social media platforms and this and that. And then they start depending on that for validation.”

Sudhanshu didn’t mince words when talking about the long-term impact. His warning was sharp:
“You are making them fall into the darkest hole possible, a place they might not recover from.”

His words hit home for many because they capture an uncomfortable truth about urban parenting today. Parents aren’t choosing work over children intentionally but long hours and fast-paced lifestyles make emotional presence harder than ever. In that gap, domestic staff naturally become the ones children cling to.

Interestingly, Sudhanshu’s comments come soon after a viral clip featuring spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj, where he urged parents to honestly evaluate how much time they actually spend with their kids. During the discussion, a father expressed his worry, saying, “We have a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, and since we are unable to give enough time to her upbringing, there is a constant worry, especially in the new job.”

In response, Premanand Maharaj gently reminded parents that emotional time is far more valuable than financial security at a child’s young age. He encouraged them to focus on offering affection, guidance and presence, the things no caregiver can replace.

Together, both voices - one from spiritual guidance and one from lived urban experience, highlight a growing concern: children don’t just need physical care. They need emotional roots, and those can come only from parents who show up for them.