We must be so resented

We moms, especially the stay-at-home kind,
Must be so very resented.
We must seem like hags to you little ones
For dictating your little lives.

Every morning we draw those blissful blinds
And wake you up from dreamland.
Whether you’re hungry or not, breakfast, lunch
And dinner are a must.

We limit TV-time, playtime, junk food,
And everything else that spells fun.
We give lectures about veggies and the need
To brush your teeth.

Till you pick up after yourselves, Till you
Finish that last morsel on your plate,
Till you finish your homework and
Pare those toenails, we pester you.

We point out what’s socially unacceptable
What’s naughty and what is nice.
We switch off the lights and put
A full stop to your  fun-filled day.

We decide what the world would call you.
We put an end to the luxury of diapers,
Allow the doctors to prick you,
And even pick out your clothes, shoes and toys.

Oh! we must seem like horrible, horrible women
Who mark your boundaries.
We moms, really must be so very resented
For breathing down your necks.

Previous mommy-post - Of mommy-guilt and mommy's separation anxiety

Of mommy-guilt and mommy's separation anxiety

I chose to play stay-at-home-mom for a while. The idea was to keep an eye on my little one at least till he was able to talk. Much as I loved being a working professional, I've always wanted to be able to stay at home when my kid(s) were very little, unless of course, I couldn't afford to.

I know that there are places that offer excellent daycare. I know that there are some great nannies out there too, who probably would do a better job than I do. It is just that I was not comfortable with any arrangement other than my watching over my kid till he was fairly good with words. I admit I'm not the best mother in the whole world. I don't spend every minute of my day with him. I don't give him undivided attention all day long. I spend a good part of the day doing my chores and my reading and trying to find some time to do some blogging, amongst a whole lot of other things. I do feel guilty about not spending more  'quality time' with him. I guess mommy-guilt is here to stay, no matter what. Even if I were to spend all my hours playing with him, I'd still have felt the guilt every time I had to make a trip to the loo.

Even though the guilt lingers, even though I continue to miss work and a part of me is crabby about having put my career on hold, I have been happy about one thing -the fact that 'I' have been in charge of my precious little baby.

Now the toddler can talk. He can communicate. He's tired of his toys and probably bored of seeing too much of mommy and daddy. It's time he ventured out of the protective walls of his home. It's time he had his own friends and its time his world got a little bigger. And now that he can express himself, it is the right time for preschool; a few days a week at least.

I'm prepared more than ever to let him go. Considering the stage of life that he is in, I am a braver mother. I could actually do with a few guilt-free hours to do my own things. I should be happy for that, and I guess I am. But I worry too.

I know my baby can tell his teacher if he needs something. I know he can come home at noon and tell me if something was not right at school that day. I know I should learn to trust some more people with my boy. Yet, anxiety is getting the better of me. I just filled up a few pages of his admission form, and the questions about what has to be done in the case of an emergency are freaking me out. I know the school wants to do the right thing with my consent but I'm getting all choked up.

Before meets after

Before I became a mommy I had much better hair. I needed no hair products save some coconut oil and some Pantene shampoo. My crowning glory even did some  modelling for a feature on hair care. Now my hair needs conditioner, hair serum and a hot air brush to make it look presentable. I'm soon going to be 'needing' hair colour. Graying happens to everyone, I agree. I'm amazed at the how it speeds up when it is coupled with parenthood. Thank you baby for the Wisdom Hair.


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You know how little kids say almost incomprehensible things that only mommies can understand, right? Before I became a mommy, I feared that when my time came, I wouldn't be able to do that well; that I would fail miserably and feel ashamed of myself for not being able to decipher my own little one's weird toddler-speak. It's been over two years since the beginning of motherhood and when I look back, I see that I haven't messed up altogether. I have figured out that audio means Oreo, thanthal once meant Water and dalo was Yellow. Now I know that loopuk means Look up and tandapis means Stand up. I know that the contextual meanings of kis can be Kiss, Biscuit and Squirrel. Multiple meanings of Kis; Ah! how convenient for the toddler.

                                                                *      *     *

Oh, and the questions they can ask you when they begin to talk! I remember the doubts I had when I was little -- Phew! I'd rather not go there. I often wondered what I would do when I became a parent? Could I be a know-it-all mommy? Hey new mommies and daddies, our stars are good; what would we do without the internet!
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Before I became a mommy, I carried a small handbag and don't even remember what I carried in it. Now I carry a big one and what do I have in it -- diapers, wipes, an extra pair of dress for the little one, some snacks, disinfectant wipes, a small bottle of sanitizer, a couple of band aids (you never know when u need them), a sipper, a small box of biscuits/cereals... In there are also some of my own things like my driving licence and debit card, lip balm and hair brush and all of that. I'm looking forward to shedding that weight and probably by then, it might only get heavier with baby formula, burp cloth and all.

More (raves and) rants in The Mommy Diary 


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