What it means to be a mother. Happy mothers day!

My ten year old (soon to be eleven, she never fails to remind me) daughter made this for me, this morning. It was as delicious  as it looks! I feel like a bloated whale right now, as I type this, as I gobbled it all up.

"Mummy, Happy mothers day. Today you aren't entering the kitchen. I will do everything for you," she said.

Satish and she headed off to the kitchen, while I sat and wrote my fourth book. (wrote one thousand six hundred words while they conjured up the breakfast). I couldn't have asked for a better start for the day!

If you had told me though sixteen years ago that I will give up my corporate career to be a stay-at-home mom I'd have scoffed at you. At that time I was working in the corporate sector. I had just been offered a wonderful opportunity at another multinational.There was nothing more I wanted than to have a high-flying career, become a CEO perhaps and truly rise to the top-level management in the corporate world.

But when I gave birth to a squealing, quivering 3.25 kg bundle who looked at me with button eyes that shone with curiosity and inquisitiveness, something in my DNA got altered forever. All I wanted to do was cuddle this baby and be with him forever. The tenderness he evoked in me, the sheer vulnerability I was experiencing, the feeling of awesomeness that overtook everything else and the terrifying realization that I am now responsible for another life took me by complete surprise. If you are a parent, you will know exactly what i am talking about. That moment when you first hold your new born baby in your hands is truly something that cannot be captured in words. I swore to God, I would do anything to protect this child.

I couldn't imagine leaving him in anybody else's care. So I didn't. I stayed at home, I bathed him, I read to him, I took him everywhere I went and I was so happy.  Not a moment passed without him by my side.

We had always wanted two children and  when  we were blessed with a daughter three and a half years later, our joy knew no bounds.

If you ask them today what they remember most about their early childhood, they will probably tell you it is the amount of books I  have read them (Thousands! I have a collection of more than 2000 children's books and an equal number of adults books too :))  and the amount of  art activities I did with them. I threw myself  with all I had, into my role as a mother. I read up a lot, I researched a lot, I did a course too as  I wanted to be the best parent that I can be.


Today my fourteen year old is taller than me. He discusses everything with me including drugs, sex, values, what teens think, what he believes in, what he wants. He tells me about his friends, girl-friends, teachers, school. I am grateful I have made the cut for the 'teenage cool' (Oh i work so hard at it!) and happy to be included in his world. He is growing up so fast, yet in many ways he is still the baby I used to carry around.

My daughter thinks I am the most beautiful woman in the world. She adores me in a way only daughters can worship their mothers. She hears me talking to publishers, to newspaper journos, to numerous other people. She watches me speak at my events  and then she says her eyes shining "Oh mummy--you spoke so awesome. You are so cool mummy and I am proud of you!".

I truly do not know if I have succeeded as a parent or not, but all I know is that I did my best. I was there for them when they neeeded me. I still am.

I think in the end, that is all that matters.
 The fact that you did your very best.

This mothers day, I am thankful to be a mom.
I wish all your mothers and I wish you (if you are a mother yourself) a very happy mother's day.

Celebrate the bond. No matter what kind of a mother you have had, it's the most selfless love you will ever come across.
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