“Baa Boo Baa Boo” – a lovely little kid was poking her moms face and making sounds. Another couple trying to change the diaper at the table in front. A little boy looking over the baby bassinet and trying to hold the bottle. Another toddler shaking the bottle on his hands and splashing the milk!
I was calmly watching the naughty kids actions as I was seated in the second row behind the seats for travelers with infants and toddlers. Every action of the kids seemed similar to me – my little Pranav. I am going on a Business trip leaving him with my parents.
“Ma’am, what would you like to drink?” probably it was her second time and I apologised for being absent minded. I smiled at her asking for water and tried to move around looking for my colleagues. Not to disturb them, I returned back to my seat. I read the book and used the bookmark given by my beloved Harshu.
Last evening as I was packing my luggage, Harshu ran upto me and asked how many books I’d carry this time. When I said three, she looked at the clock and said “I have enough time” and ran away. After about an hour she came back to me with three colourful bookmarks. How thoughtful of my little daughter to give me something useful! The love from her is incomparable to any other precious gift I could get!
An infant started throwing up and my anxious mind asked hundred questions to me. “Did Pranav eat? Did he play too much and throw up like this one?” “He’s in safe hands and mom cares better than you. So shut up!” my mind warned.
The flight had complimentary wifi and I messaged my husband to send pics of my kids. As he sent one by one, I smiled.
Collecting the luggage and boarding the train, I called my husband. The first video call to see my kids this time. Harshu was deep into her favourite Surya’s movie and Pranav was crawling energetically smiling at me. Taking the phone in his hands, he performed his tricks as usual. He paused the video a couple of times, made cackles, hooted at me and then went back to his world playing.
Happy to see my kids and thanks to the technology today I thought. As I smiled at his actions, tears rolled down my cheeks.
“Granny leaving her one year old daughter (my mom) and went to pursue her studies during the times when only letters were there; no frequent trains to go home to see kids often;” my last blog post reminded me to stay strong.
Well, this is the path I’ve chosen and “no pain, no gain” is understood. Call it work life balance, or work life integration, every working mom has her true inner feelings. “Hey I cannot leave my kids and just go like you” the sarcastic notes I hear often and move on – I’m numb. But the love of my kids understanding the situation makes me strong to go further. Above all the helping hands of mom and dad just in time – no words for this.
“Does he stay without you. Does he manage” these are typical questions that every mom like me is asked. It’s rather the mom who struggles and undergoes anxiety and I’m glad my kids are able to adjust!
I smiled with tears and this is just temporary!