Parenting is a journey that we consciously chose to take and with much awareness, we knew it doesn’t come with a manual. With all the suggestions coming in from left and right and the real-life advice from the so-called experienced Dadi’s, Nani’s, mommies and friends out there, we all learn the tricks-of-the-trade on our own as we experience first-hand goosebumps and potholes when we raise our own children day in and day out. With a vision, mission and goal of making a mom’s life easier, we discover our own parenting style and redefine motherhood as per our own norms and convenience. By making adjustments, we design a whole new world to welcome our little one who has now centred our attention leaving aside all the other things we cribbed about. We polish ourselves and try to excel in our motherhood journey.
As a mother, I was as anxious and curious as to other moms. I decided to put my career aside and spend the initial years with my little one as I felt that was my first priority and that it was crucial to be around my child when he needed me the most. I wondered how beautifully other women, rather moms manage to work gracefully managing their child, household chores and their career. However, since I had thoughtfully chosen my path, I did not brood over it too much. From merely feeding to changing diapers and staying awake during sleep hours, I transformed, learnt and evolved as a person. Motherhood has never been easy but it has been a learning experience. A mother is not that hard to find but good mothers are. And that is what I wanted to be too.
I would not like to mention motherhood as a sacrifice. I read somewhere that when we cling to the idea of motherhood as a sacrifice, what we really sacrifice is our sense of self as if it is the price we pay for having children. Motherhood is to be enjoyed. Well, from having stubbed-toes, vegetable painting on my kitchen top, Spilled coffee, sleepless nights, a book half-read, I too stumbled and stood up back again. Of course, it is challenging. I have seen the best and worst versions of myself LOL. But when you see their cute eyes, tiny fingers and toes, we melt. When they reach out to us with open arms, we tenderly lift them up into our arms and that is when our heartbeat calms.
For me, it is never about being a perfect mother but the times I cherish and enjoy with my children. When I have helped them, played with them, cried and laughed with them, these are the beautiful memories to cherish for life. Children are a clean slate and whatever we write on it gets engraved.
24-8-2021
24-8-2021