Former Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh recently opened up about fatherhood, his childhood and how his relationship with his father, Yograj Singh, shaped the man he is today. Now a father to son Orion and daughter Aura, Yuvraj is clear about what he does not want to carry forward. "With my father, it was always about cricket. I don't want to be a coach to my kids, I want to be a dad," he said.
Growing up under the stern guidance of Yograj, himself a former cricketer, was often intense. "He was harsh at times, but it was also his dream that I live his dream, which I understood," Yuvraj shared. That pressure helped him break into the national team at 18, but he wants something very different for his children. The Indian Express asked Neha Cadabam, Senior Psychologist and Executive Director at Cadabam's Hospitals, what his shift means and how parents can avoid repeating the pattern.
Building an identity beyond achievement
"Children who grow up in highly goal-driven environments often internalise performance as the primary route to approval and self-worth," Neha Cadabam told indianexpress.com. "This can blur the line between who they are and what they achieve. As adults, developing a distinct identity may involve unlearning these early associations and exploring personal interests outside the realm of achievement."
That process, she explained, is often supported through self-reflection, therapy, or exposure to broader definitions of success that include emotional intelligence, relationships, creativity or community. It also helps to find safe spaces where vulnerability and curiosity are encouraged rather than measured outcomes.
What Yuvraj's shift signifies
The change represents a meaningful evolution in how many second-generation parents are reimagining parenting. "For individuals like Yuvraj Singh, who were raised in high-pressure, performance-oriented homes, the decision to separate coaching from parenting reflects a deeper desire for emotional closeness, unconditional acceptance, and relational presence," she said.
Psychologically, it signals healing and conscious parenting: a move away from transactional dynamics ("you perform, I love") toward connection-driven ones ("I love you, period"). Nurturing a child's sense of safety and emotional confidence is just as valuable as preparing them for success.
Supporting ambition without projection
"One healthy way is to stay curious about the child's emerging interests, even when they diverge from the parent's own dreams," she advised. That means asking "What lights you up?" rather than "What will make you successful?" Parents can act as facilitators rather than directors, providing tools, exposure and emotional support while leaving room for the child to choose their own path.
"Practicing reflective parenting helps too: when a parent feels triggered or overly invested in a child's outcome, it's useful to ask, 'Is this about them, or about something unresolved in me?' Therapy or parent coaching can provide support in unpacking those patterns," she concluded.
Support at Cadabam's Hospitals
Breaking a pattern you grew up with takes awareness and support. Cadabam's Hospitals offers family therapy and child and adolescent mental health care that help parents separate their own unresolved hopes from their child's needs. If you would like help getting there, our team is here for you.