My Mother, Your Mother

Dear Mishi

People say that mothers are incomparable and you shouldn't compare them with anyone. Your friends’ mother might prepare pasta in fancy creamy white sauce while your mother uses gravy from the leftover chicken curry and give it a desi tadka. Some other aunty might be super active on Instagram and slaying it with her posts while your mom might not even have an account on Instagram. (Trust me, you should be happy that she isn’t :P) And today of all days, where everyone is expressing how their moms are superwomen and the amazing role models they have been to them, I do not wish talk about my mother; I want to talk about yours. Because your mother deserves all the love in the world. And I can’t start to describe how proud I am of her.

When I come to visit you in Bangalore, I remember the nights where she gives me the “task” to put you to sleep. And you being the super active kid you are, you would be up till late. So I would keep playing with you and clicking pictures on my phone for social media acceptance. And at that one point when you seem tired, I try to put you to sleep. I would sing songs and tap your back. And at that very moment when the feeling of successfully putting you to sleep tip toes in my mind, you’ll start to cry and your mom would get up from her “sleep” and take you away from me while giving me the Tumse na ho payega look. And the next morning when I get up, she would have already prepared breakfast (Mallus have a heavy breakfast!), packed her lunchbox for office and packed your tiffin for school. She would be at work, but will still keep a tab on what you did during the therapy sessions, what all did you eat and when all did you poop. In between all this as a mother, she also plays the role of a daughter and makes the customary calls to Appapan-Ammama every day. Not to forget managing the household with her income, doing the everyday chores, completing the paperwork and other formalities after Appa’s demise, maintaining a connect with all our relatives and friends, planning for Appapans retirement and 60th birthday and managing your nakhras day in and day out.

And some might say that this is something that every mother does, and they are not wrong. But what makes your mother so special is she is doing it single handedly. Even if I want to be there with her, I am unable to. A part of me is so helpless, but another part of me is so proud of the woman she is. And this is a feeling shared by Appapan-Ammama too. And deep down, there is this faith that the courage and commitment that your mother possesses, will just keep growing. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t have her lows. Amma cries, Amma gets angry, Amma shouts, Amma gets tired. But Amma gets up every morning with a bag on her shoulder, you by her side and a fire in her soul to fight one day at a time. So today, as the world celebrates motherhood, be glad that you have such an amazing person playing this role in your life.

Also, eat your food on time, sleep on time, do not pee on the bed, wear your aid regularly and keep smiling! And dont forget to stay cool like your mama 

;)

Loads of Love
Jenson Mama

PS. Mummy, I love you too! :)