In about less than a week my rockstar princess Flora will complete a whole one year. Which means, that is one year of Kris and I being parents, one year of us sharing a responsibility of a young one and of course our first anniversary in our new work roles. Flora is a gifted child. There is a saying in Hindi and Marathi that translates into you can see the talents and behavioral traits of any baby in the cradle itself. I did not make her sleep in a cradle at all to avoid the woes of breaking the habit but brought her up like a very normal kid. No special privileges even though she is the eldest girl and child from both her paternal and maternal sides. Inspite of all this the way my parents, Kris and I and my grandparents have moulded her I can be rest assured she is a fearless baby with hard core musical instincts like her dad and the roar of a lioness for her Leo birth.

Yes, with parenthood comes the lack of sleep, vacation, and official sick days. But I could not have wished for a more cooperative baby. She made me do the balancing act of work and home perfectly. It even got me nominated for two awards!

Parenthood is the single most important role any human will ever play in the life of another. There is nothing more fulfilling than knowing that by simply living lives that are intentional and authentic, Kris and I are, in many ways, teaching Flora valuable lessons in love, empowerment, compassion, and humanity.

It’s easy to think of diaper changing as a chore, but I like to give it a positive spin and think of it as a chance to bond with Flora.I love singing silly songs and tickling her tummy when I’m changing her diaper. You don’t get too many opportunities to share eye contact and get in close during the day, especially with a whirling toddler, so if you can distract them, and make it a happy time, then diaper changing is your chance.

Nothing else can produce the joy or broken heart that motherhood allows. I couldn’t imagine going through life without feeling that spectrum of emotion.

The pure joy of just watching Flora be a child and re-living all those first moments when she discovered how to do things on her own, like eating from her own hand, chewing her food, taking her first steps, speaking her first word, switching on and off the lights, ringing the door bell on her own, listening and enjoying only hard rock music to the core, learning how to hold the pick of a guitar is something to cherish for an eternity.

I love being a mom, even with all of its trials and lessons. The ability to help shape a young mind and allowing Flora to blossom as she is already miraculous.
Because I’m a big kid at heart, I also enjoy revisiting the magic of childhood through her experiences. Her naive smile makes me wonder what a magnificent aura she has, her truthful eyes give me a fairytale bliss, her hug reminds me of the bluest skies on a bright sunny day!

Because of Flora I have flourished and seen life from a unique perspective. I have learnt to love myself as a mother and as a carefree, nonchalant girl. In all its glory I believe that motherhood is knowing joy, even while experiencing the hardest trials of life. I have learned to rise to any occasion and found myself lifted to new heights while stretching myself beyond any and all limits I once put upon myself.

Thank you Flora for everything you made me and taught me!

©Rucha S Khot

PC – Krisengel Navneet