“Moms are angels in training.”

Its slightly anecdotal that I am writing an article for my mom on Fathers day , but I think realizing and appreciating how our mom has been a role model in our lives, helping us thrive and succeed in every walk of life would be the greatest gift for my dad.

When I was growing up I used to feel like mom is my closest ally , my all time friend , one whom I could get mad at any time of the day and the very next moment turn over for a hug.

Fast forward it to today I still have the same feelings but much more, she is now my all time hero from whom I seek much more than I can ever give.

When I am standing near the stove preparing dinner for my kids asking them to get involved , I remember her simmering without the modern day amenities. I took all those umpteen meals for granted pointing them to be too spicy , too dry or too repetitive but I realize now that what she put together was real food, delicious, flavorful, always set on the table with a smile.

After all these years I can still feel the sizzling , the thickness of flat bread the magical aroma of her cooking like pure love always brewing my appetite for more.

She taught me attention (then may be it is for family or work or home) is the beginning of devotion.

Today as I ask my kids to sit down with us , they never come alone. There is always either a phone or an iPad or a laptop accompanying them. Are they even listening?

I wash down a big sigh and then remember my mother imploring with us for different reasons though. When she combed our hair, tied our shoelaces or packed our lunch she always reminded us to pray , to be good , to study hard , to finish lunch before we venture out to play.

Times change but the pleading never goes away. Perhaps in my frenzied busyness I never turned back to see what she was saying but today I look for the deep voice of genuine care as if it is the soothing piano note I want to hear over and over again.

She taught me patience , resilience, compassion and above all being optimistic in every situation.

I have seen my mother working hard all the time. The only time she sat down was perhaps for a cup of tea. She raised three wonderful kids while working full time till her retirement. She also had an extended family to support our cousins , relatives and friends.

Yet she always made time to fill the silent spaces in between the lines with so much beauty, harmony, vividness that when I nostalgically remember the chapters of our book of life its a masterpiece in itself written by the trembling , giving, soothing hands of my mom.

She built a nest and we all were secure in it till we learnt to fly. Yes we all flew to more aspiring lands to make our own future but our feathers are still rooted in her creative abundant love that cannot be found anywhere else.

Happy Exploring:

1.Good Book : Every breath – Nicholas Spark

2.Good kids movie : What a girl wants

3.Micro-adventure blog https://www.alastairhumphreys.com/microadventures-3/