From a 16 year old parent....


July 12, 1997 - 10.12 pm, Kolkata

After a lot of medical emergencies, a very tiny bundle of joy came into my life and pretty much turned it around yet again.....the first was on Jan 26, 1995, when I embarked on another journey that actually brought about this bundle...but that, another day!

Today is my daughter's day.

As she turns a sweet 16, I look back at the road that has brought me so much love, happiness, joy, fulfillment, focus that no other can come close....

But has it been only that?

No, it has also brought its share of pains, some disappointments, a lot of frustrations and many mistakes on both sides - hers, which are acceptable as she is the child - but mine too, which should also be fine. As I keep saying to all who listen, parenting is a learning curve - a never ending one; a new road altogether for first timers, where there may be signboards easing navigation, but there's no saying when an unexpected twist or turn puts you off track and you need to work really hard to get back on the main road. I had never walked this road before she came into my life and like in learning to swim, whatever they tell you about how easy it should be if you just do the basics right, when you get to the deep end, you do struggle a bit initially, till you figure it out yourself and then onwards it gets pretty much smooth sailing ...till the big wave hits you, but by then, you have learned how to stabilize yourself and keep your head above the water! Parenting is also pretty much the same .....learning at every step of the way and adjusting so that it can be one of the best experiences of your life.

And mine is......definitely!

Like a lot other moms (atleast, I hope, I have company there!) I have lived through ecstatic moments, days of pride and sheer joy along with times when I felt so frustrated that I have torn my hair out and also hers (sorry, baby!!!) but I have learned so much .....that I want to take a moment to say Thank You to my princess. I know they say as a parent, you should teach your kids how to live and walk their journeys ....but I also think one should acknowledge how much we learn from them.

I have learnt - along these years - that while she may be an extension of me and Sudip, she is also a person in her own right, has her own way of looking at things, her own aspirations, her own perspectives ....which may or may not be similar to mine...but that does not make them right or wrong! They are hers. Period.

Through her, I have learnt to be more open.... to different preferences, opinions, ways of expressing, to be more accepting, less judgmental. And while I say this with ease today, the journey here has not been so smooth - I have struggled - big-time, but then I realized, I learned and only then got to where I am today.

By wanting to be with her at every step of her way, I have learned to be more focussed ....on what matters most, on deciding on one's priorities, it has helped me to take a lot of important decisions in my life - none of which I regret today.

Through her, I have learnt never to give up when faced with impossible situations within relationships - to never give up on someone who really matters to you, just keep loving and supporting and things turn around.

By loving her more than any other of my other loves, I have learnt to love unconditionally, to give more and more without necessarily expecting something in return - just for the sheer joy of loving.

So, today I say... Thank You, Titli!

God bless you always .....may you always live with your head held high with dreams and pride, but with your feet grounded in reality and humility.

I am always with you - I will continue to love and learn.....

And Thank You God....for bringing her into our lives!



July 12, 2013  12:21 pm
Dubai

Comments

  1. Tilo12 July 2013 at 02:06

    hi mumma, love you lots :D
    Thank you ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

    ReplyDelete

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