Grandparents are role models

It's been a long time since I posted anything here. I delivered on 25th March, after going through immense pain and gave birth to a wonderful baby girl (whom we have named Aditi). At six months of age, Aditi is an adorable darling. There's not a day when I don't wonder how this miracle happened!

Three months after delivery I came back to work. It's not been easy both physically and mentally. Lack of sleep, weight gain, stress at work, elder child to look after, pleasing the husband, house work, difficult M-I-L ...it's very stressful. Many "well wishers" asked me to stop working but my pillars of strength are my parents. Every time I have given quitting a thought, their advice has been to "hang on, it's a passing phase", "we are there". What would I do without them?

Anyway, this post is about grandparents. So, back to topic.

I leave my children at my parents' place every morning and pick them up in the evening. They love it and for obvious reasons. They are indulged, every wish of theirs is met (though baby is still very small, all she has to do is cry a bit and she is carried!), no rules to follow and no mummy to yell/no papa to frown. Yippee!

Mom is amazed to have a girl in the house again. She feeds the baby in my absence and reminds herself of her mother (my grandmother) who looked after me while she was at work. In her mind, my mom is making up for the time she lost when she was working unable to spend time with her own children.

Dad is a 'baby lover'. Loves to carry a baby (any baby in the family is fine) and at times I worry that Aditi may not learn to crawl or walk as she is always being carried around by a doting grandpa. All the songs that dad had sung to us as children are now being sung to Aditi (as it was sung to Anish, my son). I listen to those songs carefully, trying to pick up words and tunes. I sometimes wonder how he learnt all those songs for he must've been thirty when I was born?! It goes to show the kind of person he is. Learning lullabies and melodious songs needs talent.

Just like how I picked up many things from my grandma (oh I miss her a lot), foremost being cooking, I foresee Aditi picking up a lot from watching her grandma. Like for example, making dolls, needlework, crochet, knitting... and of course, singing, as both grandparents have an ear for music.

I didn't feel so strongly when I used to leave Anish with my parents but I know now that when I leave a baby girl, she'll be secure. Her safety will not be a big concern. And I know that she'll learn the 'Indian' way or more specifically the 'Iyengar' way of life. Their love and guidance will help both the children become better human beings.

Anish is growing up to be a very strong and confident individual and does decently well at school. This wouldn't have happened if I had left him at a crèche. I hope Aditi too will gain from the presence of grandparents. It's a big reassurance when parents aren't around.

One might ask, what happens to the role of a parent in all this? I miss being with my babies on weekdays but I realize the importance of being gainfully employed. I believe children learn by example and my children will value the effort I'm putting in and appreciate it. On weekends, I try and give my best to them and I can only say that I will try and be a better parent.

In the end, I know when I become a grand parent, I too will be there for my grand child/children and inculcate in them Indian values that I'm so proud of. Thank you Ma and Pa. You are my role models.