Saturday 19 October 2019

In the lap of mother

Dear Piya,
I have often heard this phrase - ‘In the lap of Mother Nature’, being used to describe the immense joys of enjoying nature.
It is only recently that I realised why the phrase is worded so.

There are many activities that you & I engage in, on a routine-basis.
I call you. You don’t reply.
I ask you to do something. You don’t do it.
I ask you not to do something. You go ahead and do that, right that second.
I get mad at you. You smile your way into a hug.
I kiss you a million times. You yell for help the second kiss onwards.
I insist on having you in my arms. You try to run away all the time.
And my favourite - I place you in my lap, so as to see you face to face, which believe it or not is much harder these days as the toddler in you is a constant flight-risk. Herein, you oblige at time, given the extent of the allure of my promised prize.
Yes, I have to trick you into sitting in your mother’s lap these days, as I am at that point of motherhood wherein I want to hold onto you, whereas you are at that stage in your childhood wherein you wish to explore the world beyond your mother’s tutelage.

Shortly put, my little birdie seeks the horizons beyond my nest.

But, I keep on insisting on some lap-time everyday.
I mostly do so at the end of the day, as I recite some story to you, as you sit in my lap. You resist a lot. Your attention gets sought by the vast corners of our room, which you wish to scatter toys in. But my arm holds onto your wrist firmly. Slowly, drowsiness takes over your eyes and you take interest in the story I am telling.
This is the time I take to see how much the girl I first held in my arms has grown up.
I caress your hair continuously, thanking my stars for the best of all the worlds that I have in the form of you.
You keep gesturing me to stop pulling your cheeks every few seconds with a frown, which only make me cuddle you more.
As your head starts to feel heavy, you request that I switch to singing your favourite lullaby, which I do.
My sleepy baby then rests her head on my shoulders and closes her tired eyes.
I kiss your forehead many times, while holding your petite fingers in my palms. I pat your back for being an amazing child, at the same time whispering positive thoughts into your ear.

As I gently rock my soon-to-fly-out-of-my-nest-birdie, this lap seems filled with the best of treasures my heart can desire for. It is in this moment that I realise what a content heart feels like, as well as what a thankful soul feels like.

I think the phrase gets it right because of this very aspect of a mother - the source of her bond to her child - her lap. For me, this is the best part of the day. I can only wish it is so for you too.



Love,
Maa.

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