Monday, July 23, 2012

From me to you, woman to woman

Dear Daughter,

Another birthday, and poof! Like magic, you are nine years old!

No, I will not tell you how fast time has flown by, because you would have heard the same thing from a lot of people lately. You will continue to hear it from all the loved ones who have watched you progress from a bulge in my belly, to a cranky, colicky baby, to a toddler with the curiosity of an award winning archaeologist ...... to now, when you can knock anyone down with a charming smile and those soul warming eyes that you claim are your Dad's (I am quite sure I know who put THAT into your head!!)

How I will always think you are...... yup! Even at 30
You remember the proverb in the English book - 'Do not put all your eggs in one basket'? I think you know what that means.... While I was the one to teach you the meaning of those words, I discover now that I have done exactly the opposite.

You, dear daughter, are the one single basket that has all my 'eggs'. I look at you growing up, and I want to hold on to your baby years. I realize how much I see myself in you. I know I can be a bit over-conscientious with you, but you should know that it is only because I am terrified to see you stumble, lest you get hurt. I know I suffocate you sometimes, with all the rules I impose...

"Do your homework before the TV", "have your bath before your dinner", "brush your teeth at night" (even when you can barely keep your eyes open for another second), "You can only play in the vicinity where I can see you", "Don't talk back when you are being 'lectured'", and many more I am sure you would love to add to this list...

I also know you hate it when I tell you what to wear, and how to wear them. Another thing I think you want done away with is when I sneak a peek into your 'personal' stuff - including your diary and your trinkets drawer. You don't know it yet, but I do realize you have been shifting your hiding places more often these days.

I also understand that you don't like the way I tie your hair up in two pigtails, and why you change it to your favorite 'grown-up' pony tail the moment you are in the school van. I am quite impressed at your ability to manage your hair, dear. And I am happy you think of doing things only to please me; but it will be a little while before I completely let go of your hair yet. But tell you what - lets have a deal here. I'll tie up your hair the way you want, and you can try sharing more of your 'personal' stuff with me.... Sounds good?

No, don't get me wrong. I trust you completely, and I most certainly second your sense of independence and accountability. And you have more than once proven to me how responsible and sensible you are - as a daughter and as an older sister to a very irritating younger brother. I have never for once doubted your ability to choose your friends, your activities or your hobbies. Neither can I complain about your attention to your studies or your behavior - they remain one of my most cherished blessings.

But I need time to adjust to your independence too, you know! It does come as a shock to me when you don't need me anymore to get you ready for school, or when you don't need my help to open up Google and look for a new word in wiki. Or like the other day when you warmed up the milk on your own in the microwave - I didn't know whether I ought to be happy or sad. So I've drawn out a pact for all the things I promise to do, now that you are nine
  1. I promise to discuss our 'going out' plans with you instead of just expecting you to tag along - you have stuff to do too, right?
  2. I shall take you along when we shop for you - no more surprise frocks... and we start the lovely tradition of blowing Dad's credit card - together!
  3. I shall refrain from hunting out your diary, and we can talk about all that stuff instead
  4. You want a pony-tail, you get a pony-tail. Or a short blunt cut. Provided we are clear on the tattoos and body piercing rules.
  5. You don't want a nagging mother or a really naughty brother when you go to play with friends - point taken, and we stay put. But the rule on playing at a visible distance from our balcony stays - for now. 
  6. I will stay clear of the accessory matching too. But I step in with suggestions now and then - ok?
  7. We stick to our wake times and sleep times as set, but I promise you can set your own alarm clock as soon as you reach high school.
  8. We go out on mom-daughter ice-cream trips, and we can discuss about anything in the world. Yes dear, about anything at all.......... we are friends too, right?
See? No problems with temporary tattoos too!


Happy ninth, daughter.

22 comments:

  1. How lovely :) the mother-daughter bond is indeed a beautiful one!

    Nice tattoo, btw!!

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    1. Ash, thank you. And yes, my daughter is the one that causes misty eyed thoughts - wonder how the son became the sought after???? And the tattoo is a vacation art joint attempt.

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  2. sweet.. heart felt... time moves too fast. am watching kids I saw born now 5-6 years old- a constant reminder of time going by.

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    1. True, Roshan. And it moves much faster when you have kids - can't help but think of your published story 'Father of my son' here .....

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  3. I could have sowrn that my mum would have written and rewritten much of what you have in this post in her head especially with respect to my sister who is almost through with high school now.

    This one can definitely been shown to her when she is 18.

    Brilliant read this one.

    Cheers :)

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    1. AS.. that is perhaps one of the best compliments I could get - I realize how ill-equipped with motherly qualities I am, compared to the mothers of the past generation! Thank you

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  4. time fliesssssssssss ...

    and yes temporary tatoos work too, I always wanted one, but then i got a temp. one ..


    Happy birthday and many many happy returns of the day to the little one :)

    Bikram's

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    1. Thank you Bikram. Shall wish her from your end.

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  5. Awww...
    I'm just a pile of mush right now, reading this.
    Happy b'day and hugs to her.. :)

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    1. hehehe! Long time, Spiff. Thank you for the wishes.

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  6. This is so lovely :) Fully agree that the mother-daughter bond is so special. As a child, my mother would always tell me 'No Secrets between us, okay?', and I soon became accustomed to telling her everything. In fact, I would say we're friends first! I was just reminded of the relationship I share with my mother after reading this.
    Happy birthday to your little one :)

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    1. Krishna, that is exactly the kind of relationship I want to build with my daughter. And I guess thats the only way we will be able to ensure that they remain confident to share stuff with us. Thank you for the comments.

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  7. Such an adorable letter. Your daughter will treasure it :) and that tattoo looks cute.

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    1. GBTP .... thank you so much! Making that tattoo was a lovely experience too.

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  8. Replies
    1. Hi Pooja.... good to see you here! Hope you've settled well into role and the city you are in now.
      Thank you for coming by!

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  9. If your daughter is only 9 then must say this is incredibly liberal, its rare to find many parents who are so open

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    1. Love your name - Pesto is one of the most basic, yet the most difficult-to-get-right sauce, and in the many years of Hotel life, one of my passions!

      Now coming to the liberal views, let me assure you, almost all mothers would be as liberal as me, and all fathers a little more wary and less liberal than this. Because, by virtue of having gone through the same pain points during our growth, we know the best way to ensure that the kids share things with us is by being resonable with them on most things. You have a nice blog, btw.

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  10. Yes, we want to treat our daughters exactly the way we wanted to be treated, yet, I can understand the conflict of not wanting to let her have her way all the time!!! Lol to the temporary tattoo...good compromise!!
    Thank you for your sweet comment at my guest post!!

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    1. Thanks for coming by this post Mom(a&a)... appreciate the gesture! And I had just had a word with my sister (who stays really far away from here!) about this post, and got her all misty eyed! It was a lovely post indeed!

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  11. I have a daughter who will be four soon,my blog and I guess everything else worthwhile about me happened after and because she chose me.
    My mom also appeared to me in a new light after i was a mom and she a grandmom and I realised I have to tell my part of this personal yet common mom-daughter story.
    Some day i hope S my little one will know and understand and continue to add her two bits to this never ending mom-daughter story.

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    1. I know, Pooja... I ready your introduction to the blog, and it was apparent that that arrival of your daughter would have changed everything in your life!! Also, I know from experience that a daughter only becomes more and more precious as time goes by! Thanks for coming by!

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