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Happy Mother’s Day

Mami & my mom.

In the past 8 years or so, I have dreaded Mother’s day. I have almost always focused on why I am not a mother and with my mom also not being around close, to do something special is difficult. One of the years, my cute lil niece called to wish me on Mother’s day and I asked her why and she said I was like a mom to her for a year when she lived with us, it touched me lot. There are lot of women who have influenced my life, and I want to wish the few, very special moms in my life who have played a vital role of who I am today.

This year is very special, because my parents are here with us.

The special people in my life:

Mom-in-law:  When I see her and talk to her, all I can think of is her will power and how focused she is. She stood up to her dad and wanted to be a doctor and nothing else and he had to eventually give in. She was and is a pillar of strength.  She thinks everything you set your mind can be achieved and she is one fearless lady. After serving for many years and delivering several thousand babies, she retired in Chennai and at 70 pursued her interest in music. She went for music lessons, sang in concerts with her group and has not stopped living life to the fullest. I truly admire that quality. Happy Mother’s day Mami!

Anandhi, me & Anu

We were all meeting for Diwali and we all shopped individually in different towns and had bought almost identical clothes, what a lovely coincidence.

My sisters: My eldest  sister Anu raised me when I was a new born and my middle sis took over from her during the later part of my life. When the doc decided I was underweight ( I wish they say that now for me..Sigh! That is a different post), Anu, my oldest sister would diligently make omelets for me in a skillet that was designated just for eggs and my parents would not even enter the kitchen and the house had to be aired out. My aunt has told me that Anu even tried to feed me puliyodarai  rice when I was lying on her lap, thinking I was crying for the food she was eating when I was a baby.  When in college, she would custom order the most beautiful cotton sarees for me and some of hers would just disappear from her wardrobe when we went visiting and magically move to mine. She is one strong gal that meets challenges head on, has survived just any curve ball that life throws at her and is also a single mom. She does everything she can and more for her kids and her children have grown to be ‘those  kids’ that every parent wishes for.  Amidst all that is going on, she also built this website for me. If any one of you want to design your website, she is the person !

My middle sister, Anandhi is the quiet one addressing her challenges in a calm way. She was in charge of how I dressed, took me to the tailors to get me some girly clothes that I lacked, coz mom loved to dress me like the son she never had. She would give me haircuts and in later years take me to the salon and patiently tell them how she wanted my hair cut. When I was in college, Anandhi convinced my parents that I needed more exposure to the outside world, promised my dad that she will take good care of me and took her under her wings to start my first job that opened up a whole new world for me.  I almost followed her and her family to every town they moved. There are days I call her and speak for hours just to vent and she listens patiently and offers the best advice.

And the best for the last, my mom.  She has been mostly my friend and confidant and now it is my turn. As a child, she was forced to listen to my every story after school and about my squabbles with my friends. When I was a teenager, she knew about all my crushes and infatuations. I have watched her cook and learned from her patience and devotion to family. I am going to enjoy my time with my parents and will be posting recipes that my mom teaches me. I never had a chance to learn from her being the youngest and I am now going to make the best use of my time with her.

Happy Mother’s Day to all you Moms out there!