Reminiscence.

 

Maybe motherhood was not just about me embracing my little one but also appreciating and being grateful for my own mother. 

I think the hardest part ( Like I have repeated often) has been about how I have begun to see how it might have been for my own mother, her dreams, aspirations, difficulties as she navigated through motherhood. 

So many events and instances, I have begun to see in a different light. It has been a revelation of sorts to understand everything my parents did and continue to do for us. 

Life lately has become very hectic and there is not much time to stop and smell the roses, as they say. But I do try to ensure that Sujay has the time to smell (and also hold and squish) the roses, if he chooses to. It is good to be busy but it also means I am almost always doing something or thinking about what to do next. It feels like several tabs are open at the same time in my brain and I am slowly trying to come to terms with multitasking. 

A typical morning involves me waking up by 6:30, staying in bed till 7 so that both of them don’t wake up. By 7:15 I finish my ablutions, then try and clean the kitchen a little and plan what are the meals for the day. I put the clothes for wash and then go for a small walk in the campus. I usually have a chat with dad at this time and also get some milk if needed for the home. Then I proceed with getting ready for work and also start preparing Babba’s meal if required. I join rounds by 9:40 after giving some time for Baabunni for his morning walk and also give him his first meal for the day. Post rounds I come home for a bit to check on Sujay and feed if needed and sometimes grab a quick cup of tea with Suji. After this, it’s back to OPD where I see patients or administer the questionnaire for eligible patients or sometimes correct student papers or work on the next protocol/ chapter/ article. 

I make a visit around noon for a feed and then come home for lunch by 1:40. Baabunni also has a meal by this time and then its time for a quick nap (if the stars align, both Sujay and I have a nap together or else its just him or sometimes its just me (trying to nap)).

By 3:40 we go back to the OPD and see some patients and then proceed for rounds if its my duty. I usually wind up by 5:30 and then we say bye to Akka and go to the canteen for a quick bite (for me, while Sujay watches hungrily) and then have a walk in the campus and listen to the birds as they chirp on the way back to their nests.

We spend the evenings on the floor or sometimes with books, sometimes with the most mundane household items which are exciting toys for Sujay. Post another quick meal for Sujay (and for me), we head to bed for the day! While he does wake up a few times to feed, he (thankfully) has no interest in playing at night and chooses to feed and sleep.

Most days are busy but it’s also exciting to see him learn and explore more of the environment around him. He is now trying to hoist himself up by holding on to any elevated surface and while this is very gratifying to watch, it also requires us to be very vigilant since he doesn’t know how to break his fall yet.

My recollection of my routine will be inaccurate without the mention of N aunty, P akka and M Akka who are the backbone for our household and Sujay’s playmates during the day. Their love and affection for Sujay is evident and it is only because of their care and warmth, he doesn’t mind me going to work. :)