A letter to my Mother

Dear Mom,
Today I want to ask you lots of questions. Some have struck me over the years and some are fresh off the oven. But it’s just that time in life, when I need answers! And of the many things I demand from you, this is one of them!

When they say that motherhood is the best phase, is it really true? Is it really all that beautiful a feeling to clutch that little crying, person covered in blood? Is it all that wonderful to give up on your own life all of a sudden? Where did you get so much patience from? No really, where from?

When I insisted on wearing an ugly home frock on my sisters 9th birthday party, how did you resist your urge to not slap me? When I woke up late EVERY morning for school, how did you not throw me out of the house? When I insisted on sleeping late, even on school nights, how did you not trade me for the neighbour’s kids? And when I grew my hair long and you had to braid them every morning before school while we were in a mad rush, didn’t you just want to curse me and go back to bed? And what about all those classes you took me for...music, art, dramatics? Didn’t you feel like giving up on me?
How do you manage to do it?

When our foreign returned baby cousins started calling you Geechu, and the name stuck...you only laughed! Now everyone calls you Geechu! You still laugh

When didi told you she wanted to get married, you reacted like a friend “what? Are you serious?”

When my friends come over and we regale you with our silly stories of petty fights with other friends, you seem to want to listen...off course over a plate of sev puri which make yourself!

How do you do it?

How did you get the infinite wisdom to know what’s right for me, how do you always sniff out the friends who are going to stick around? How do you keep listening to me when I go on about ads and advertising? How do you understand when I want to paint my nails bright blue? How do you forgive me for making a mess, EVERY DAY! How do you stay calm when I come into the house yelling, even though you don’t know what it’s about?

My questions don’t seem to end mom, but I have a few things I must confess.

I’m proud of you and the way you have lived your life. I envy your patience. I wish I looked like you mom, ethereal yet unaware of it. I get jealous when you say ‘the kids’ and you don’t mean didi and me, but your tuition bacchas. Even though I make a fuss about you being on facebook, I love it! I love that you are a cool mom. I love that you rock at scrabble. I love that you sing each song slowly. I love that you sing aloud. I love that you cook so well. I love that you are a great hostess. I love that my friends love you. I love that you love them and you know what; most of all mom...I love you!

And I really don’t know about other women, but God made you to be a mother :)

Happy Mother’s Day