A dozen years old!

My heart bounces out of my body as I prep myself for a to-be-teen’s mom! Four thousand, three hundred and eighty-three days ago, you laughed your way into our lives, changing them forever. Making our days bigger, brighter; warming our hearts and adding a purpose to our living.

But trust me, being your mom has been the hardest and also the easiest job for me in the entire world – all at the same time! I had no instruction manual and I fear if I am doing the right thing or not. I worked very hard to build a loving relationship with you – built on respect and trust because love is a given. And I am confident that whenever you find anything tough, you will come to me and share.

Your story started off as a prayer, a prayer that was answered! I still remember the day before you were born, I had felt a little lethargy since morning and it only gave way to fatigue by dinner and at about 330AM we left for the hospital! We spent the whole morning ever so gently encouraging you to join us. And after 20+ hours of labor pains I had you in my arms. We were teary eyed, filling up the room with bliss and triumph. I loved the part when you dint cry too much, just about enough to clear your lungs out. And then, you had settled in well as if you had known me… Forever!

A dozen years and I have memories to this day... your soft coos, your beautiful smiles, my nights of feeding and soothing you... your incessant colic cries... the squeals, those tender touches as if they were offerings of love... I have carefully hidden them all in my heart. When I think back about the dozen years gone by, I think about the resilience, determination and how you overcame most hardships that came your way. Just like I used to caress your face while you slept as a baby, my heart still pulls towards you after you have slept, every night… I wake you sometimes... but I love how I am able to hold you for just a little longer!

Ever since you started to become this effortless tween, I have missed your wit, your goofy retorts, those were charming in their own way. I only wish to tell you, how genuine and one of a kind those were… you are maturing and what’s maturing with you is your gift of independence, your inner beauty, your spirit to soar like the eagle; and its getting difficult for me to keep pace with that.

They say, children are like trees, they find roots and they keep growing and evolving. But I feel that in the last 12 years while we kept moving places and countries, you, my child not only found your own strong holdings, you became more majestic and beautiful!

Here are some 12 things that I love about you:

1. Your Love to read: It’s amazing how you can devour the books, children who take time out to read are gifted and can easily keep themselves engaged as busy adults.

2. You can go against the grain: I admire your strength to stand up for what you believe, I have seen it on a few occasions.

3. You exhibit joy: Your joy is infectious; it makes us all around you joyful.

4. Your laugh! I can’t get enough of it..

5. You are super loyal!

6. Your ability to make anything fun, just about anything.

7. You care! I still remember how you stayed up all night for the lost dog who showed up on our doorstep.

8. You are thoughtful.

9. You respect other people’s spaces.

10. You are strong-willed, it could borderline obstinacy and usually it is when I don’t like it.

11. You are resilient, and I think Legos help.

And that brings to your next quality...

12. You still love your Legos… yep, 10 years into them and still growing strong, how superbly passionate!

Ilvikaa, I am so proud to be your mother. I too have grown in the last 12 years, with you! I have learnt to love unconditionally! Your teachers have the nicest things to say about you and that fills our hearts with a confidence that a wonderful future awaits you. Every year, I feel there is so much that I can barely cover in a letter to you, as such – I will end by just stating that we are lucky to have you as ours, and ours’ only!

Love thy worth!

The Great American Poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.

Well Indeed! These eminent personalities have blazed a trail! – To name a few, The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, The PepsiCo CEO, Indira Nooyi, Yahoo CEO, Marissa Mayer, The German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and not to forget the legendary Margaret Thatcher, have shown the world what women can achieve.

 

The gender imbalances are well and truly a thing of the past as increasingly more women are breaking into the inner echelons of the corporate boardrooms and are stealing a march over men in all areas of work life. 

 

As CJ Walker of the ‘Walker Cosmetics line’ fame says, “There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it for if I have accomplished anything in life it is because I have been willing to work hard.” 

 

You truly epitomize the spirit as so beautifully put forth by CJ Walker. Being the torchbearers for the modern urban educated women, you are in a unique position to create an ultimate successful and fulfilling life for yourself and for the people who depend on you - friends, family, co-workers, and even line managers. It goes without saying that you will succeed to deliver on both the fronts.

 

One of the great challenges of a modern day corporate life is maintaining a harmonious work life balance. The challenges multiply manifold for an urban, modern and educated women like you, as you not only take care of your family but also manage work efficiently and effectively. How do you strike the right balance without compromising on the demands of both family and work life?

 

The answer lies in constantly making efforts to develop both professionally and personally as both go hand in hand and feed each other helping you overcome challenges at workplace and personal life. The traditional or classical school of learning regards personal development as a means to master professional front. In reality, it would not be a misnomer to say your professional life mirrors your personal life.

 

A few examples of element of personal development include having effective communication skills, having empathy; having a well-groomed personality, having self-confidence, and ability to manage emotions both at work and home.

 

These characteristics go a long way in developing your ability to cope up with the demands of a professional world. However, a failure to develop these personal characteristics tends to affect you on professional front too. You cannot wear a sneaker on one foot and a stiletto on the other! - You will not be able to walk. Ignoring one set of skills for the other is just the same, both feet are part of the same structure and complement each other.

 

 

If you ever feel your work life balance is getting affected, take a step back - double check, and consider the following:

·  Are you able to manage emotions at work?

·  Do you overreact at home or office?

·  Are you communicating effectively at work?

·  Are your disorganized at work and at home too?

·  Are you hitting a hilt at work but things are not moving at home?

You will soon realize that one things lead to the other. Personal dissatisfaction affects your professional life and vice versa. Therefore, it is important to recognize that a right mix of the triumvirate of success, recognition, and personal happiness will go a long way in mitigating a work life imbalance.

 

 

Oprah Winfrey says, “Doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”  So put your best foot forward and seek greater heights and glory.

It is the triumvirate of recognition, success and happiness that will stand you a greater chance of diminishing imbalance. Let self-mastery rule you -   you will see that it counts everywhere.

You have proved your worth! Now it is time for Love thy Worth!