My MOM, my STRENGTH

She is only 3 months old.  She didn’t even get the nutritional breast feed, because her mother was ill, after bringing her out into this world.  She cried and cried and longed to be held in her mother’s arms as cradle. But, there was no one to understand why she cried.

And finally, her mother left her, knowing pretty well that she’ll make a strong lady.

Her father got in a new mother for her and she was amazingly sweet and kind to her.  She filled in the dark black hole, which was made by her own mother’s death.

Then, she came to know that she had an elder brother, who was amazingly warm-hearted and so kind to her.   She learnt to be strong, kind and gentle, just like her brother.  One best thing was, even when this little girl became the step-sister to little brothers, she was happy with all the pampering she got from her mother and father.  She understood that when God closed a door to her, he opened many doors for her.

It was an orthodox Brahmin family and her grandmother was a strict follower of all the customs and superstitions.  And she made sure that everyone in the house followed them with just a glance from her.  But, this little girl was her darling.  Maybe deep inside her heart, she understood the sadness of the little girl – the sadness on not knowing about her true mother.

So, grandmother used to tell her all the stories about her mother, while she braids her hair patiently every morning and evening.  Even though, grandmother never touches anyone after her morning bath, she’ll come running to braid the little girl’s hair, before she is off to school.  Of course, she’ll use a gunny cloth to cover the girl’s back, so that she doesn’t touch her by mistake.  Grandmother smiles to herself, for not able to break the superstition, with which she has been brought up.

Then there was this aunt of hers, who came back home to her brother, when she learnt that her husband has left her for someone else.  This aunt taught this little girl to be strong in the race against life.

And as grows the tale, she married a handsome man.

She never learnt cooking at home, what with a grandmother, mother and an aunt to pamper her.  But she was too skilled in cooking, maybe it was her grandmother’s genes in her.  Even the simple rasam or a chutney made out of hurry, tasted the best.

When her husband wanted to buy a house for the family, which has grown to accommodate 2 daughters and a son, she willingly agreed to help.  With just a PUC, of those days, in her credit, she started working as a billing clerk, earning to take care of the family, while her husband’s earnings went towards the EMI of their new house.

She missed being with her children and sometimes wondered if she has taken the right decision to start working.  But, the wonderful home, they’ve built was far more satisfying and she was happy about some invested property for her children.

She, being a cleanliness freak, taught her children to follow it strictly – for she always believes that Cleanliness is Godliness.

The way, she has found her grandmother’s cooking genes, inside her, she has passed it on to her children, without her knowledge.

The way she saved every penny, to buy a saree for herself, or a grand pattu pavadai for her daughter – she made sure that the children understand the importance of money and save well for themselves.

The love with which she took care of her children, her husband, in-laws – she made sure that her children understand that there is no big thing in this world, other than love.

She taught them discipline, moral values, confidence in one’s own self, understanding the weaknesses, upgrading the strengths and to live life to the fullest.

Even she is old now, what with becoming a grandmother and all.  But she is strong deep inside, to keep things going for everyone at home.

I am crying now, as I write this, SHE IS MY MOTHER.

She has been and still continues to be a great source of strength for me and if I keep going through tough times, it’s because she made me realise that there are always better times ahead.

The most important lesson that she has taught me is the Attached Detachment towards anyone or anything in life.  It helps me to prepare myself, when I know that my girls will open their wings and fly towards their life, the same way, it prepared her when me and my siblings left her nest to make one of our own.

Dear Ma, I am glad that you are there for me, still.  Even though I am all grown up, I would like to remain a child for you.

I would love to gift her the Custom Tone Mug, which bears the line – You are the BEST MOM in the world.  Its so apt for you, Ma.

This is my entry into the Blogadda’s Tribute to your Mom Contest, which is ON till May 11th, 2010.