A Mother and A Daughter

I am a daughter to my mother and a mother to my daughter. Kind of been on both sides of the bridge....and realized that the perspective from both sides is totally different.


A mother-daughter relationship...unique...like a roller coaster...a fair share of its ups and downs. Especially in the daughter's teenage years. Mostly downs then I think. A huge generation gap...the daughter not understanding the mother's point of view at all. During those times, my mother had only one thing to say to me....you will understand when you are a mother yourself. And today I understand. As I stand firm when I am disciplining my children, as I lay down the ground rules, as I give them 'that look' when they are not behaving, as I hurt inside when they are hurt, as I laugh uncontrollably when they laugh, as my heart swells with pride when I look at them....I understand.


A mother....a daughter's mirror. She is not afraid to mince words ...say things the way they are. A mother....a source of steadfast strength. My own mother....she has stood by me at all times I needed her the most....like a rock.


Many years ago, I watched a short story on television. It was the story of a mother and daughter who always fought with each other. The daughter just did not like her mother telling her what to do. So much so that she openly said...only Daddy loves me, you hate me. Then the daughter got married. The next day after her marriage...the day she was leaving her house for good...as she was outside about to step into the car....only her Dad was outside....her Mom was nowhere around. She was annoyed and told her Dad...Mom must be so happy that I am finally leaving...She is not even here to tell me bye...I am going to go inside and tell her that I am happy to be going away from her too. Saying this, she stepped inside the house and found her mother in her own room (the daughter's room) looking outside the window. As she stepped into the room, her mother turned around. She was crying. Seeing her daughter, she broke down uncontrollably and said....How am I ever going to live another day without seeing you?... It was at that moment that the daughter finally realized how much her mother loved her. That is a mother's love...vast, deep and not needing to be shouted from rooftops.


As my daughter grows up, I know we will have our own share of ups and downs. But in the end when she is all grown up...I hope that like my mom is to me...I will become my daughter's best friend too.


To my own Mom...from you I learnt to be organized, to be disciplined and to be strong. If I am even a quarter of a mother to my children that you have been to me...I know I will have done an excellent job.


Signing off proud to be a daughter and a mother and these lines from a Hindi movie song

Usko nahin dekha hamne kabhi par iski zaroorat kya hogi
Ey Maa teri soorat se alag bhagwan ki soorat kya hogi
(Transalated as - We never saw God ever, but what is the need...
O mother, how can god's face be any different from yours?)