2009-2010

After a break!

Year and more than a quarter have gone by and have not had a chance to take a pew and write anything! Life has taken its toll in terms of learning, responsibilities, love, care, emotions and what not!!!

An impeccable year 2009 has conceded presenting me wonderful things in life! Made my life change in one of the most loving and lovable ways. It took a bit of time to sink in and apprehend the truth – you are responsible for another life when you carry a baby in your womb; but then the story doesn’t change much when they are out at least for the initial period especially it was an unexplainable emotion to realise that your body is responsible for the food for your baby! Yup, breastfeeding was the most ever challenging things in my life and the hardest thing I have ever done. It took my body a bi-annual period to get used to the idea and start enjoying the course. If not for the love, support and confidence boosters I had from my better half I would have not been able to pass the testing times. But then you have no idea how easily you start falling in love and be ‘responsible’ for every single aspect of the new relation. People say that is the law of nature!

Though you tend to talk about your sleepless nights and smelly nappies, I don’t think most mothers genuinely grumble about the phase. Some say no time to complain, guess I was overwhelmed with joys of having M and didn’t feel like complaining. As most people put it, ‘it is all worth it’. And slowly your little one starts responding to you – oh man, I tell you that’s your world of joy! I never knew I would enjoy parenthood like the way I do now. That is the same case with better half – Brilliant DAD. Though your toddler consumes whole lot of your available time and your couple life changes a bit, you wouldn’t complain much. I think the couple bond changes to a stronger emotional double bond with a jumping monkey in the middle! Having been referred to as an over anxious parent when it comes to the baby stuff, I think first baby, you are new to it...and that is the way it should be. You have time (well and chance!) to improve. And there is no right or wrong that others can advocate in raising your baby – I strongly believe it is the way to do what you feel is the right thing to do, after all that is your baby!

Took a year off from work which was fantastic! Planned the delivery in India and had all the pampering from family! Oh yeah that is the place where you can catch support (or hire support) for anything related to your baby – you can sit and enjoy your after-delivery period. But then I think I was too sucked in to the world of my boy and didn’t want anybody to do my part of the pack. Back to UK – fun filled 6 months enjoying maternity leave as a full-time mum and home maker! Overall I rate 2009 as FANTASTIC – things can’t get any better than this (in fact don’t know to ask for anything healthier than this!).

The subsequent year – 2010 before I get a grip on things, it is coming to an end in a weeks’ time and I thought I should take a crumb of time to reflect how it was. The year passed by at the speed of light – didn’t even comprehend. Loads of happenings – all for good! M has been referred to as Thakkudu (cute? - don’t know!) even before birth which got shortened to Thak by his Dad when he gets too cheeky - which in turn got chucked down to ‘Tak’ by the gorgeous himself. Cheeky monkey says ‘Tak’ after getting into some naughty stuff and ensures that everybody is bursting out with laughter and he wins the game!

The best part of the year is Tak itself – the growing up stage! Both of us were fortunate to enjoy every speck of it; and that is the prevalent pleasure we have ever had. Term it - responsible, over-anxious, obsessed, addicted, drugged or whatever! Tak calls aMMaaa with a huge stress on that M in the typical Mal accent!
Touchwood we were showered upon with returns for good work, opportunities, family support, long lasting memories and so much. SRN’s new job is treating him well; my return to work was easy and smooth; could settle down fast and Tak settled well in nursery. Had the harmony and peace at home, excellent work life balance, good holidays, enough partying (oh yeah Tak has more social commitments than us now!), met new and good friends, family and friends’ support and so much!

Sample shots of great feelings this year:
• To see your boy running to you shouting out ‘AMMMAA’ at nursery in the evening when you go to pick up!
• To hug your other half tight when he is back after a couple of days (or more) from business trips and when you are stressed and of course waiting after a single parent job during the time!
• To see your little one kissing his grandparents over the phone!
• To get that appreciation at work when someone let you know when you have done a wonderful job!
• To get those things you have wanted for so long and when your other half surprises you with that for no reason!
• To hear that your boy has done well at nursery from a twilighter – he has done some colors, eaten well, played well, slept well and so on!
• The first of types with your baby – first walk, first word, first paint, first tooth, first hair cut and anything of the first of types!
• To get that entry to the metro when it is overcrowded and the driver says no more entry; but still someone shows that kindness to squeeze a little bit and get you in; so that you get to see your baby 15 minutes before!
• To catch up with old and long lost friends!

Well, life is not complete without challenges too. 2010 had been challenging at times as well.
• When my parents left and we couldn’t get support from other side as planned due to family weddings – all of sudden I was blank – what to do with Tak! But then to my surprise Tak has settled well at Kids Academy much quicker and easier than I had ever expected.
• SRNs job move to Scotland and the single parent job for me at times is demanding or exhausting especially when Tak gets a bug or flu. But then, we have survived the tides until now. The job move has put my job at risk (at the moment) as I will have to find a suitable position in Scotland which has not been very great this year.
• The snow, the bugs, flu and all sorts has been exigent from a parent perspective, but then that is all part of the package.
• Oh yeah! The dark circles around eyes – is not getting any better!!! I think I can smartly and carefully mask it with some estee lauder eye colours; but truth never dies!

Too much of bullet points – recently into too much of reports I guess! Well altogether 2010 had been great as well. I am actually looking forward to 2011 – to see what is in store for us! Sure to have more of Tak as he is growing fast; much more intelligent than we think! Apart from this the big tasks for 2010 in my hit list are move to Scotland, sorting out jobs, entering the property ladder!