Bringing up Children

Can you painstakingly – or pleasurably – read through 6 episodes of Star Wars to understand what it is all about. Follow the series to the fullest extent and riveting on the plot and plethora of characters. Cheer aloud when the protagonist Han Solo (read Harrison Ford) enters the screen, even when the total audience is silent. All this and more only to make sure that you give adequate company to your child, who is in his prime teens (read nineteen) and that he doesn’t experience the slightest of depression of solitude while growing up.

Can you dance with a grown up child, matching every move of his or at times do better than him on a Dance Central (gaming console Xbox). Yes, you can and will, when you are very keen to keep him happy. You may go yet farther to play and lose games – well, deliberately for some time, then really finding difficult to keep pace with your child as he gains skills. Yet feel glad about losing but take pride that the child has grown big enough to outsmart you in your own pet games.

Can you relentlessly hold on to your nerves – when what is going on is against your long trained regimen and discipline. Yet tolerate to the extent of going almost crazy, yet cuddle the child who doesn’t even attempt for a try of what you believe in as your legacy. Yes you can. Only when you realize that the one in front of you is neither your shadow, not your mirror-image. Just happens to carry some strands of your chromosomes as inheritance. But not cloned to bear all the good, bad and ugly characteristics of yours.

Can you read and memorize songs and lyrics as fondly as your offspring. Sing along and aloud with the same zeal and continue to appreciate it without faltering but truly start loving it. Purpose to begin this is to see him happier, but in the process, connecting the dots with your missing MTV youth. Yell, crib or cry as the song takes you on, pretend to enjoy just to give him company. Then slowly and steadily begin to enjoy thoroughly and see happiness in the other.

Believe me when I say, a mother alone does all of these and much more. Only to make good for time and care that goes missing for a father, who is far-engaged in asset-creation (or maintenance) than the more important familial events. Only to engage the child and provide right perspectives of life. Only to ensure that the child does the right acts at his milestone moments in life. Cheers to all those mothers who serve and sacrifice their pleasures and passion for that of their children. Toiling days and nights to teach themselves the nuances of a generation that is far apart, separated by at least two decades. Cheers to them for their spirited learning, sharing and caring with the beloved ones.

Hail motherhood, says a father.