Special Day
The night is dark. The lovely, old trees seem ghost-like with large shadows dancing across their branches making them look eerie. The fire in front of me is crackling. The wood slowly turning to ashes but giving it all just before the life goes out of it. Staring into the glowing embers, my thoughts turn to my younger son. He is turning 10 tomorrow.

We are sitting in the lovely hill station town of Coonoor in a mesmerising setting enjoying this little getaway. Surrounded by lush greenery, we are energized. The last two days have been spent lazing around. Just this evening we played some games especially foos ball, frisbee and carrom, fishing for the bottle and housie after ages having forgotten how much fun these simple games are. This is precious family time. The mind and heart is at rest; the soul feels satisfied. And tomorrow will be the younger son’s birthday.

We’ve planned a little surprise with the participation of the hotel. Hope he enjoys it. You know birthdays are fun only with children. Their excitement, their expectation and then the look of pure joy on their faces is worth going the extra mile for. Else, we adults have become so jaded that I no longer even know what to give for gifts or what to do to celebrate.

He will be 10. No longer the cute, cuddly toddler that he once was, he is still as naughty and very affectionate. I can see him growing older, maturing slowly in how he talks, reacts, observes and absorbs yet still continuing to be the baby of the family and cherishing it. He is still a fabulous companion if you are running an errand. He still loves cars and reads everything he finds about them. And he really has a mind of his own. It is tough to convince him to do something he doesn’t wish to do. Sometimes, it is just the parent card which has to be used.

He loves Coco to death, sometimes almost strangling him in his fits of love. He still warms up slowly to academics. With him, it is about being distracted. If in the mood, he studies and studies well. Last FA, he maxed his Maths test. But if he is not in a mood, he is distracted and cranky while studying. I am not too worried. I believe every child comes into their own, and he will have that tipping point too.

But today, I think of all the precious moments with him. It is not easy raising two kids. There is the amazement as to how these two children with the same genes and upbringing are as different as chalk and cheese. That they come with an immense ability to connive against the best-laid plans of the parents and drive them up the wall. Also the joy to see them stand up for each other.

The challenges, the opportunities, the hopes and fears are different the second time around. With G too, we have had our ups and downs and will continue to have them.

But, one thing I am sure of, life would not have been as exciting and beautiful as it is with G. My sincere wish is that he is able to explore everything that he has born with the potential for and that we as parents facilitate him in every manner possible.

Happy birthday, son. May you stay blessed.

27 Thoughts on “A Getaway, Fun and a Special Day

  1. Aww such a heartwarming post. Many many happy returns of the day to G! I am sure he will love the surprise!

    Kids do change as they grow older and for most of the time, it’s great too, watching that change. You’re right that each child comes into their own at the right time. I bloomed very late, in high school. As for the break, you deserve it, all of you. Enjoy it completely 🙂

    • Thanks, Shy. Though l love that they are growing older and smarter, it does tug at the heart strings that time is flying past. The vacation has been fabulous. Today was such a lovely day.

  2. Happy birthday blessings to him, Rachna. Wishing him all the wonderful things in life. I would love to see a photo of his surprise! They grow up all too soon, it seems, sometimes, doesn’t it? Sigh. Enjoy every moment.

  3. Kids grow up way too soon. As much as I love the changes, I sometimes yearn for the days gone by- the younger days. And wishing him a very happy birthdy

  4. Unconditional love is all our kids need. To know they have our support and love through their failures and successes.

    Wishing G a very happy birthday.

  5. really really nice Rachna…

  6. I hope you had a great outing. Wish your son a very happy birthday. He will learn when his time comes… on his own. Often we forget behind their cuteness, lies determination too 🙂

  7. Lovely post. Happy 10th to G and I am sure under your wings, he will turn to be fabulous. Hope you had a lovely time off!

  8. I love love this post Rachna. I love how mature and how positive you are. And I need to learn to think like that. Somedays worries for the children overwhelm me so completely that I can barely think straight. I stand at the verge of giving up hope for them. When I think rationally I realise how silly it is, how very early. And like you said – each child comes into his own at his own time. I am sure G will be fine with a wonderful, sane mum like you. A very happy birthday to him.

    • Thanks so much, Tulika. I know we all go through our phases of self-doubt and doubting our kids. But in the larger scheme of things, it hardly matters the marks they get at such a low level. Come to think of it, who cares about their 10th grades as well. Of course, it is important that they pay attention to their academics. But us driving them nuts actually backfires, at least that is what I’ve seen. I am sure each one of us is trying to do our best for them.

  9. Such a wonderful post, Rachna.

    Happy Belated Birthday to the little man.

    I hope he enjoyed the surprise.

    I just love your take on parenting, Rachna. I want to be like this and not put unnecessary pressure on M.

  10. We had planned a Conoor visit to celebrate our birthdays this August. The flight and Kurumba bookings were canceled because my husband had to travel for work.
    Best wishes to young man on his birthday. Holidays a are a great time for family bonding. Hope you have a great time.

    • Thanks, Alka. I hope you get to do the trip again soon. The Taj resort where we stayed was really beautiful and they took such good care of us. Else, we spent most of the time lazing around and bonding together. Had a beautiful time.

  11. Such a beautiful and a heartwarming post, Rachna! Belated birthday wishes to the lil boy! I am sure with your mature and able parenting he will simply do great in his life. Hod bless him!

  12. Belated Birthday wishes and blessings to G. You seem to be a real cool Mom, Rachna and that is really nice. And I’m sure your kids appreciate it too.
    Thanks for sharing about your special day with us.

  13. A Belated Happy Birthday to G from S and me. I agree birthday are fun with kids and every single one is a reminder of how gar we have come. I know he liked the surprise.

  14. Happy belated birthday to your son Rachna ! Hope he enjoyed his surprise

Do not leave without commenting. I love a good conversation :).

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