So, it was just one of those long tiring days at work. And I
decided to do exactly what most of us do after a tiring day. I sat back in the
comfort of my bed, and began scrolling through unnecessary, meaningless and
over-informative social networking feeds! Ah were you thinking I would rest?!
Hey who does that in today’s “always-online” world!
Anyway, so as I was swimming in this sea of random posts, I
came across this beautiful, well-meaning video advertisement. It showed a
lady’s retirement party and how she was gifted a guitar- so she could take up
her long-lost hobby. It was tagged with #MomBeAGirlAgain.
I found it super-cool – partly because I like the whole idea
of people connecting with their old hobbies. But mostly because I have seen how
moms transform into an entirely new person; slowly and gradually ofcourse. And
this new person has nothing to do with their old selves. Their likes, their
interests, their schedules, even their faces, their hands ! They are just not
the same.
No, I don’t mean to take away from what our dads do for us.
They evolve too. Maybe not in the same way, but they do. But let’s keep that
for another day.
I do not remember ever seeing my mom overly enthusiastic
about music. But she has studied “tabla” for close to eight years ! You need to
be kidding me to be able to study that long without self-driven passion. She
tells us she even planned to take it up professionally but things did not work
the way they were expected to. So she took up another job – that had nothing to
do with music – and that’s it about it. She does play it sometimes even now,
but she is no more passionate about it. Or so she tells us. And herself.
There are so many other things that my mom or dad were
passionate about long back, and then we arrived, and we ate up all their time,
and they lost touch with their passion, and now when they have the time for it,
they can’t find the will for it. Well, that’s my personal theory and it makes
me feel I have played a major part in this evolution.
Ideally, all moms; or for that sake – parents; should try to
keep in touch with their selves and the things they love. I know it is so so so
much easier said than done. As kids, we want our parents to be completely
involved with us and we fight for their undivided attention. But as we grow up,
I don’t think anything will make us happier than knowing that you love a thing
dearly and your world is not just confined to ours.
So, here I am, trying to convince my mom to take up her
music again. We have tried to convince her in person, and it doesn't seem to work. So here is another try.
Dear Amma,
It will give us immense pleasure to see you passionate
about what was once your passion. It will be difficult at first, and there will
be a million reasons to stop trying. But once you get connected to it again, I
am sure you will a find a new you. And it will have something in common with
the old you – the girly you.
Dear mum, please take up your music again.
Dear
mum, please give it a chance again.
Dear mum, please be that girl again.
P.S. Here is a link to the video that triggered this
writing.
#MomBeAGirlAgain
