Mom's the word.

Mother's day is almost drawing to a close. Social media was rife with mother's day prayers, blessings and wishes.
A child gives birth to a mother. I turned mom at the ripe old age of 30. My pregnancy ended abruptly when my baby decided that he wanted to be born 2 and 1/2 months early. A very stressful period ensued caring for this little boy who entered our lives so suddenly. Many many anxious moments later  Jason, as we had named him showed signs of becoming all that we hoped he would be. A  talkative bundle of energy, he stole the hearts of family and friends. Two years later his brother followed him into this great big universe. The boys as different as chalk and cheese in temperament and habits, I have had to adopt different styles of mothering with each.
Motherhood, as any mother will say, is not all roses and wine. There are heartbreaks and disappointments.  There is learning and experimenting, sharing, giving and receiving. There is exhaustion and excitement  There is joy, laughter and fun and days when you are number one. There are sacrifices to be made and long sleepless nights to be endured. At the end of the day, you wouldn't give it up for anything in the world.

I have friends with grown-up children, children who live, work or study away from home and each time they visit, it is a celebration.

My mother is 83 years old and happens to be spending mothers day with me this year. At 83 she is still quite mobile but slow.
Born and raised in Bombay, she is a professional teacher. Mom began working at the tender age of 16 and taught for almost25 years. Marriage took her to the east of the country, to a small town called Jamshedpur where she spent 22 years. She taught for 14 years in a  convent school, riding a luna to school. Considering her quiet demeanour, it was quite a feat to have accomplished.  T this day, I cannot even ride a bicycle.
Mom was an excellent cook, she dished out the most awesome food. She acquired quite a few fans and dad was her greatest fan. She won prizes in a couple of cookery contests. Gardening was a hot favourite. She spent hours tending to her potted plants. A few plants dot her living room even today.
Both mom and dad were strict disciplinarians but mom supervised lessons and homework and signed bad report cards. My tribute to mom wouldn't be complete if I did not pay tribute to her prowess as a seamstress.   Her embroidery, crochet, knitting and dressing me up in her creations are some memories that I will always cherish. She brought the living room alive with cushions and covers all created by her hands. The beautiful leaf-shaped cushions together with the tortoise cushion that she shape and embroidered herself stand testimony to her talent. Sadly, I have inherited nothing of the magic that she was able to create with the needle and thread. Yes, in school she completed my needlework for me.   The USHA  sewing machine, that stands in a corner of her bedroom today almost 63 years old would have many a tale to tell of a  little girl's dresses sewn and machine needles threaded.
Fast forward to the period when my boys were young and my husband worked overseas for long periods of time. Mom visited often helping me, raise two hyperactive little men."{Nana' remains on top of their charts even today.   
Mom today is frail but by and large independent. She is a  doting grandmother to six grandsons who in turn adore her.   She visits my brother staying some distance away but by and large spends more time in her own home. 
her own space.
MOM.