Letter to my son, Shivansh

Dear Shivansh,

You are by far the cutest and most adorable person that humankind has ever seen. If Shreya brings us a smile, you give us reasons to laugh. You have the brightest and most brilliant smile. As much as you look like your dad, I wish you are a noble soul like him and more.

What people mistake as an easy-going attitude is actually your dad's ability to absorb all worries, especially of the people he loves. Learn to be jovial, at all times, laugh often, celebrate everything small and appreciate the simple things. Trust me, it will help you through the tallest difficulties and more importantly gives immense strength to the people around you.

I want you to become a person who knows the difference between ego and self-respect. If you can keep your ego aside and be selfless, you can have meaningful relations and real friendships. But in being so, don’t forget that it is important to know when and how to say ‘no’.

I want you to learn to do every chore independently without thinking you're not meant to do it. I want you to respect every person, irrespective of who they are, and the ones who teach you something right, more. I want you to be inquisitive and have the passion to explore, who knows one day you can uncover what you're meant to do. I want you to have the wisdom to understand your limits and never mistake them as your limitations. Be unafraid to try new things and have the zing to keep trying lest you fail.

I never want you to feel superior for who you are or where you come from and never ever feel inferior for what you may not have. I wish you oodles of confidence to be a go-getter.

The problem most of the parents have is that they expect their children to seek them just as they did as kids. My wish, Shivansh, is that may you grow so sensible and mature that you never have to seek your dad or me. And if you ever do, remember that we are always there for you.

And please keep smiling. It is now the reason we wake up every morning.

Committed to you for life,
Your mum



 

Letter to my daughter, Shreya

Chanda Kochhar did it, then it was Narayana Murthy. They gave me some inspiration and here is my letter to my daughter, Shreya.

Dear Shreya,

Long before you came into my life, I had longed for a daughter. You are my dream come true. Of course, our man Shivansh is the cutest and dearest bonus. I always wanted to raise a woman who is strong, courageous and independent. My mother has imbibed whatever courage I have today and she taught me about hope and not giving in. She taught me not to exhibit one’s fears or tears and be bold to face challenges head on. She taught me the importance of being independent and to have a mind of your own and I want to pass on all that to you and more. I do not wish that you become like me coz I am confident that you will be way better.

You are just three months (and a few days) but seems like I have known you forever. At that small an age, you don’t know but you have immense power. Your smile melts both your dad and I in ways we have never known before (dear Shivansh, your smile is as powerful and I promise I’ll cover that in another letter). Your tiny hands and feet are the most wondrous creation ever crafted by God. Every time you goo goo gaa gaa, we fall in love with you more than ever before.

People guess that you look like someone and then someone else in the family but honestly, I don’t care. And I want you to know that whoever you look like, you are and will be my strength and pride. I want you to know that your looks don’t matter but the person who you become does. I want you to understand the power of simplicity in all aspects. I shall leave no effort to make you an extremely strong person who is not terrified of anything whatsoever. I want you not to blindly follow our beliefs or that of anyone else but question everything. I want you to think intelligently, make decisions independently and have the wisdom to decide the wrong from right. I want you to be extremely confident and mature but not vain or self-obsessed. I want you to have the courage to slam any person who does wrong or tries to impose their ideas upon you.

I named you Shreya as I believe (much before you were born) that you will be tremendously talented. I pray that God gives me the sense to recognize that talent in you and be able to nurture it. I want you to know Shreya that it is your talent that can take you places and no other person or luck. Never blame people for your circumstances but have the courage to take onus of your actions. Never forget to be grateful to whoever teaches you a lesson. Never be afraid of any hardships and, at all times, have the fearlessness to face them alone and be aware that I am always there for you.

I know that this letter has many ‘I wants’ from mommy but I do hope that you have the prudence to decide and become the best of what your dad and I want and wish, and be much more. It is inadequate to say that I love you since what I feel for you is way stronger.

Committed to you for life,

Your mum

We have an eccentric mom

A debut blog of Shreya and Shivansh 

We have an eccentric mom. Not that at almost two months we have seen many moms to compare and conclude that but her behaviour is defintely not normal. We mean who stares at sleeping people and that too for hours. Being concerned is one thing but to just keep staring while we try to dream of the little world we've seen so far. It totally is not cool mom...makes us uncomfortable.

You take shots of our hands, feet, cheek, ear and here we thought you had some photographic aesthetics. We fear the day you will be taking shots of our poop, talking of which reminds us please stop discussing our poop with the docs...it's totally embarrassing.

And yes, stop googling about every little problem that you think we might have.

And then the other day you were howling while we were getting the vaccination. You know we panicked all the more to see you like that...this was just our first and there will be, not that you don't know, many more to come. 

We know that look when someone else tries to handle us (which you actually think is mishandling) and you totally conceal your anger with a forced smile. Chill and a get a life. Do your Starbucks and movies with pops and trust us we will be fine.

While we waited inside you, you promised that you will be the coolest mom and now you show little signs of it. It's a total breach of contract and we can't even go back inside now.

We hope you do understand that we will have our  wings sooner than you like and we will fly...and we don't want to do that always thinking of a leaving an anxious mother behind. 

Mom, you can do better than this.

The overnight mom

Isn't it obvious? Obvious that my blogger instinct peaks on becoming a mommy.

But it's strange that I didn't become a mom during the 9 months I carried my babies. I was only too relieved to have become pregnant and gotten rid of the self inflicted burden that I carried for so many years. Neither did I become a mom the first time I saw the babies, which apparently was lying in the OT getting myself stitched up. I spent the first night getting painkiller shots, trying to sleep and wondering how long my incision was. My babies stayed in the nursery that night.

The next morning they arrived with their angelic faces and so did a string of visitors. They slept through most of the day and allowed me to nurse my growing pain and inability to walk. But what followed at night...was totally unexpected. The babies cried and howled and I had no clue how to calm them. I felt responsible and extremely responsible...I was desperate to take care of their needs. It was then that a realization came...Sumit and I had made a commitment without even knowing we did. A commitment to our babies and that too for a lifetime.

When they grow up, I don't want them to be burdened thinking of the sacrifices I made or that I had been a cook, maid, driver, and what not for them. Why blame them for a choice I made and which they didn't ask for?

I'd like them to know how I became the overnight mom. I want them to know that I never believed in love at first sight...still don't.  But they defintely made me believe in love at first night.

To bare and what to bare - The social media dilemma

Social Media is confusing.

No seriously.

Even for an aspiring social media analyst like me.

Trust me, the writing below is not a sarcastic bantering of some people but a genuine confusion.

Like I don't understand why do people, when wishing birthday or anniversary to a friend, have to post picture of themselves with that friend? Is it a loud cry of association proof?

Why do people have to post gush, mush, dush messages for ma, pa, hubby (I hate the term), sister, brother...basically people who live under the same roof? Is the intention to let the larger humanity know?

How can people post pictures in the same pose everyday? The pose being sideways, one leg up (like doggie peeing), and the famous pout? Is it to prove their proficiency in that pose?

Why have people made status updates a regular outpour of their emotions? Like promotions (dude, humility) or someone in their family being hospitalized (I think the person needs you more than Facebook!).

It's a free world and I am no expert on preaching online social boundaries. But I guess some common sense never hurt anyone.

Reminiscing Maggi

After the whole world has exhausted the RIPs, memories and comeback rumors of it, I don't know what prompts me to write about it. But I dare not question the creative streak that is such an infrequent visitor.

Maggi evokes so many memories. As a child, a sincere thanks to my mom, I was often known to have the most interesting lunches. From idlis, macaroni to sandwiches, I had it all. And of course there were the lucky days of Maggi. There was such immense joy on days that you found the cold blob of dry noodles waiting to be slurped away with everyone around salivating for the snaky wonder. And the unbearable pain of parting when a classmate asked for a noodle or two.

And as though that wasn't enough, the greatest adventure for my cousins and I was to cook the 2-minutes wonder together. Of course, it never took 2 minutes and left a kitchen so messy that definitely wouldn't take 2 minutes to be normal. But we discovered new recipes like butter Maggi and tel wali Maggi together and raced towards licking the plate clean (only if schools had a scoring system for that I wish).

Somewhere along my teens, I discovered the addictive taste of raw Maggi. Every time I needed to make a packet and a half of Maggi as half of it just vanished - you know where. Till I consumed the last packet of Maggi ever, I loved the raw version as much as the cooked one. I even got my cousin to try it who was scared to have a stomach ache after it but nevertheless couldn't resist.

Sounds clichéd but Maggi was the only thing I could cook (if it qualifies as cooking) unless cooking became a necessity.

It made the perfect dhaba dinner on the cold and wintry outings with Sumit when you didn't know whether the smoke from the mouth came from the hot Maggi or the chill.

Whenever it plans to be back, I wish it can evoke the same trust and memories as I've had and am sure most of us live with. 

Believe

I learnt the most amazing word after watching 'The Polar Express' (yes I recently saw the 2004 animated movie) - believe. Why, as we grow, do we doubt and mistrust so much?

In case you haven't seen the motion picture or don't remember it, its about this boy who doesn't believe that Santa is for real. There comes the 'The Polar Express' to take him to the North Pole, elves and Santa on Christmas eve (I wish I could board the express). And begins his journey of fun and adventure with the friends he makes on the train. As he reaches the North Pole, neither does he hear the Bell from Santa's sleigh nor does he see Santa as he still doesn't believe them to be real. But as he believes them to be real, he sees them all. Santa asks him the present he'd like for Christmas and he asks for the Bell. The movie ends with the boy saying that as long as we truly believe, we can hear the Bell.

Though we're far from Christmas, if Santa was to ask me the present I'd like for Christmas, I'd choose to be always super positive and never stop believing. Life can be so simple if we can always think like children. So, close your eyes and believe.