Becoming my parents' daughter

Everyone knows motherhood is tough. That it takes as much out of you as it gives...both in time and joy. One invests so much time and energy into being that perfect mother - the kind who bakes cupcakes on Saturdays just because it is Saturday, who stays awake late into the night folding onesies and stitching fancy buttons on a costume - there are moments that one forgets to be a daughter.

Why?

Why is it engrossing to discuss cow dung with the tot than answer questions on how the day was with the parent? Why is it so hard to let go of little things when it concerns your child? Why is it harder to understand someone you've known for more than two decades while you're completely in-sync with a 21 month old who can barely string two words together? Does motherhood erase all signs of being a daughter once?

As the peer pressure of young, vibrant do-it-all moms rises, the doting daughter slowly fades into the background...with occasional glimpses once in awhile to buy a certain bag, listen to an old tale, touch a burning forehead, share a joke over phone...or simply smile every morning instead of the usual complaint about the wrong sippy cup in the toddler's hands.

Being a mother is all about loving someone unconditionally.
Being a daughter is about letting that someone love you...unconditionally.

Work + Love = A Life in Balance

I love my job. I really do.

Ofcourse love has never stopped me at earlier jobs to post while on office time.

But this time it's different.

I love it even more to get back home early.

Why?

Because, now there is a tiny (well not so tiny) wisp of an angel who runs to the kitchen as I open the back door...who stops by the fridge as soon as she gets a glimpse of me. She then proceeds to ignore me and chant, "A B C D O I P" while I walk in and sit on the sofa.

But the moment I say, "Amma-kku hug", she drops everything and runs to me to disappear in my arms...I would die a thousand deaths just to be born again in that moment.

For now I just clock my 8 hours and zip home...to be loved.