You know you take your family for granted when you are growing up. Mom, dad, siblings — they are always around. Why worry? But then you leave your home for college. It hits hard. You hold back tears and feel like a 5-year-old still hankering for mom’s and dad’s support. But, you hold on strong willing yourself not to break into tears. You are a grown up after all. You look forward to every break you get to head home. I remember I would take off even if I got a weekend. I was that homesick. You conjure images of the goodies that mom would prepare in anticipation and how you would spend time with them.
Each moment together begins to count when you live apart.
And then you get married. You now have a home and responsibilities of your own. You start your own family and get busy with your own friends, family, work and other things. The same parents and siblings you now meet perhaps once a year. And, it is never the same, now is it? In my case, even more so because mom is no longer around. I can only imagine the delight with which she would have eagerly anticipated her children coming over for vacations.
Last year, my father turned 70. We wanted to come together and celebrate just like old times, but we also wished to make it a surprise. Leaving our spouses and children behind, my sister and I headed over to my brother’s place. It required a lot of tinkering and freeing up our schedules. Our spouses pitched in enthusiastically to make this happen. There was another family function that we needed to attend. It worked as the perfect ruse for our celebration of his birthday.
The three of us had painstakingly planned his gift where our spouses had chipped in as well with suggestions. A lovely cake was ordered and flowers too. When he assembled his cake and his gift, we felt like little eager kids waiting to see his reaction. I still remember the look on his face was priceless when papa realized that we were all there to celebrate his birthday. The family almost felt complete. (I am sure mama was watching over us with a big smile.) That was a cherished get together of a family where the son and daughters made sure that a father was cherished and made to feel special. Dad does not speak much hence there were no lengthy thank yous. But we all felt warm and happy.
This was a rare and precious family gathering of children who had left the nest. All the siblings are now married. Hey, but when we get together we get along like a house on fire. It is like being little children once again sans the pranks. Something, I wish we could do more often but can’t due to something called life.
Truly, it was that power of being #together with our family that keeps us going strong come rain or sunshine.
Such occasions like important birthdays,marriages in family or even festivals provide a reason for a family reunion.The joy is immense,bonding closer and the cool comfort of familiar surroundings are to be experienced.But such occasions get reduced as one grows older with their own commitment and responsibilities.An enjoyable post which one can relate to.
Thank you, KP Sir. Sadly they do reduce with time.
Don’t you wish that we could all stay together or atleast in the same city? I wish for it so many times but as you said it’s just how life is! Such moments are priceless and we need to grab as many as we can 🙂
Oh yes, Naba. I miss them so much.
I can just picture the smile on his face in the day you made this happen. What an incredibly lovely effort from the family to make this happen. Every moment in these situations counts so deeply.
Oh yes, Shailaja. Dad is a person of few words and always so understanding of our time constraints and situations. I wish we had lived in the same city. I do miss him so much.
Nothing is more precious then seeing the happy and content faces of our parents. These moments of togetherness are priceless….
I agree, Swati.
I loved this cute post.Children, who themselves are parents, become children once again,,,,,, remnisencing the good old days. I can very well relate to this. On our birthdays, children and grand children never miss to assemble on our birthdays and anniversary.
How lovely, Ushaji. So many times we want to but the distances and schedules make it tough.
With nuclear families and children working abroad, such occasions are precious.
They are, Alka.
Events like this bring families together. My family {parents, sister and I} will be getting together after 3 years in June this year for my sister’s graduation. Last time we were all together was back in 2012.
Wow! Three years. This is a very special get together for your family.
I can feel how you felt, Rachna! This is the reason we never skip a function in the family…we cannot see our parents or siblings after years of marriage and family, often, this way, we are compelled to meet together. Meeting for special occasions like you have done is cherished by all people concerned throughout their lives.
I can hardly make it to family functions in another city, Sandhya. Yes, when we can, these occasions are lovely.
Aww! Stay Blessed, Rachna. As an only child, I can only express my woe about not having siblings for me to shower my love (and anger 😛 ) on, but yes, family is so important. Especially in today’s age, where people are just moving further apart. Hope you all continue to get more opportunities to do a lot of things together.
Thanks, Sid. It is difficult with the distances, school and work schedules.
Nice. Good to have these ocassions. But nice when there are daughters/sisters.
Birthdays are perceived to be girly. (I know we want to move beyond gender stereotypes and all. But things are what they are) So, as only son, man to man, trying these kind of things can get a bit akward.
Yes, I know what you mean. It is exactly true. My mother would have planned everything well. With dad and brother, my sister and I have to take care of all details.
Parents are the best! My mom has a list of goodies she wants to make when I visit her. We do take them for granted but in our hearts, we know we would be nothing without them.
So true, The Girl.
Nothing like spending qualitytime with loved ones , especially parents, Rachna!
True, Rahul.
Such a sweet gesture you did for dad. I am sure he cherishes that moment too. And for me it feels like the old times as well. Back to blogdom! 😀
That’s wonderful!
You guys gave the best birthday present to your Dad by coming together as a family. I can just picture him feeling so special and delighted. It is always great when such moments of togetherness can be arranged. They create lifelong memories. Thanks for sharing one such moment.
Thanks, Beloo. Oh, we were like excited kids planning it out. Loved it completely.
That was so thoughtful of you guys, Rachna. The most important gift that we can give our parents is our time. That is really all that they need from us. Yes, it never really goes back to the way it was, but get-togethers like these sure warm our hearts and leave us feeling refreshed 🙂
Yes, I agree. Time is a great gift to give especially as they get older. Thanks for reading, Shantala.
How lovely that the three of you were able to do this. That must have made a priceless memory to be cherished forever!
It was and a lot of fun too. Good to see you here, Rickie.
At the end of the day, relationships are all we have. And the togetherness that makes our hearts smile.
Lovely post, Rachna. How happy your Dad must be feeling, thinking about this.
Thank you, Vidya. You said it. At the end of the day, relationships are all we have.
Heartwarming post! Have to agree with TF, though. These occasions get celebrated in style only when there are women involved. 🙂 MEN – if we even remember the date, it would count as a miracle 🙂
Yes, that’s true, Suresh. Men love it when someone does it for them but otherwise they are forgetful and just go with the flow. They are very endeating still. 🙂
Well said. Well written. In my case, my Ma who was a fiercely independent woman until a few years ago is now physically and emotionally dependent on me. I miss being a child, I miss her cooking, I miss everything and it is indeed heartbreaking. But thankfully she is with me. And you are right when you say that being for each other at the right time is the best thing that can happen. 🙂 Way to go!
Regards
Ashen
P.S: Do visit my page someday.. 🙂
Thank you, Lekha. Indeed, as they grow older they become more fragile. Sure, I will drop by soon.
I think I remember seeing that picture on your FB timeline. Your father seemed really happy! It is these moments of happiness that we really cherish in life. I don’t understand why people keep running after materialistic pleasures!
Yes, Nisha, I had shared the pictures. Wasn’t he really pleased? Yes, these moments are the most precious. Thanks so much for reading.
You may not remember ,but,if you ask your father of the days we all lived in joint families..
Those days are gone and so is the attachment to some extent..
Blessed are those who get opportunity for such get togethers.
Maintaining relationship is the key word to happiness .
Yes, my father has briefly told me about the big family he had when he was young. I miss my father and siblings. Wish we all stayed in the same city.
Awww…how sweet…I know how difficult it is with all of our busy schedules and three of you staying in three different places. May be you should make it an yearly ritual on his bday or a date and meet every year 🙂 I never bothered much to leave home and go to college or whatever, but it made a difference when I got married and left. It was different. We went to our sil’s place 3 yrs back and my sis flew in there as a surprise to me and that was the best surprise I had in years. 🙂 I will send you the pic she captured to see my reaction. I miss my mom already though she stayed with me until few months back.
I wish we could, Latha. But his birthday falls bang inside the school schedule. Hey but we try to meet together as a family once a year. We have another plan this April. 🙂
Emotional moment indeed. Love such occasions to get-together.
Touching post, Rachna.
Thanks, Anita.
It is important to take out time and convey our love to our loved ones when they are alive. No one else can take the place of our father.
I completely agree, Sabyasachi.
Your dad is a blessed man, how else could he have wished to celebrate his birthday 🙂 And it is a wonderful gesture by all your siblings to make time for celebrating. 🙂
Thanks, Ash. We are more blessed to have him as our father.
Such family get-togethers are just wonderful. I’m planning one such these days.
That sounds great. Hope you have fun and some warm memories.
A post after my own heart. I live right next door to my parents and I see them everyday. For me, my life is full of precious precious moments. I also get to meet my inlaws about 2-3 times a year
I couldn’t bear the idea of meeting my family only once a year when we lived in the US. The tugs were too strong. My life here is so content and your post made me realise that all over again. Thanks so much!
You know, my heart is always there with my father and loved ones. I feel terrible that we are quite some distance apart. You are so lucky to be living next door to your parents. I can’t think of anything better I would want. Stay blessed.
we realise the importance of staying together only when we wre far apart! nice read!
Thanks for reading, Sahithya.
One of the worst things to happen when i came to uk was this. Cant see everyone when i want to .. the good old days whe nwe all lived together .. even holidays we went to were together..
Bikram’s
Yes, I can imagine how you feel. Being far away from loved ones is a terrible feeling.
What a lovely surprise that must have been indeed!! Made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! 🙂
Thanks, Rosh. We felt very happy planning it.
When you let go of your parent, you let go of a part of you. I may have the nastiest arguments with my Mom, but its her I seek during the happiest moments of my life.
Our families are our biggest strength and weakness 🙂
Very true. Sometimes time and distance does play havoc with being physically present for your parents. Lucky are those who live in the same cities. 🙂
Lovely post Rachna. It must have been a wonderful feeling for all of you. Yes, we need to make moments and treasure them, for nothing lasts forever. Wishing you many more such happy memories with your family.
We always value things once we don’t have them, and when we do we take them for granted, specially our parents. I have come to this realization after marriage because one hardly gets time to spend with their parents. I really miss my dad because I looked up to him for everything…..i wish sometimes if i could just rewind. Lately i saw an ad by tata aia life which so sweetly shows a dad and son bond…..melts my heart.
Thanks, Myra. Yes, we do tend to take the time we spend with our loved ones for granted