Date: 8th May 2014

Dear Ritwik

It has almost been a month since we have shifted to our new home, and it feels like a decade to me already! May be because all of a sudden your mumma has to manage it all – you,dad, home, office work etc etc. Frankly i never ever thought i could manage it. Just before we were to move out, i had butterflies in my tummy and i kept questioning my capabilities. I had this huge responsibility of converting a “house” into a “home”… Well almost 30 days down the lane, our new house is “almost” looking like our cozy home…and most of the days you, me and your dad are happy and well fed 🙂 And i feel that is just about enough to begin with!

Your daddy has totally been such a rockstar and has helped me in setting up and organizing stuff, shopping groceries, cleaning the house etc etc. But do you know why our house is running smoothly most of the times? It is because of my little helper – “YOU”.

I had read somewhere that moving to a new house is always a difficult phase for a toddler – but you my child have adjusted to every little thing here so well. It amuses me the way you get busily engaged in your activities whilst i have to answer to urgent office emails. I love the way you help me in the kitchen – be it kneading the dough or  keeping the vessels in the shelves. Or well, just sitting on your high chair watching me cook! I love the way you help me remove clothes from the balcony, and give me clips to hang the wet ones outside…Isn’t this our new fave game! I love the way we sing songs on top of our voice while clearing the sink and tidying the kitchen every  single night….Somehow my tiredness vanishes off looking at your enthusiasm and giggles….Yes we do make a mess…(a lot of it, actually) and our home isn’t the tidiest – the laundry pile keeps mounting, and most of the nights Mumma-Dadda just crash out after putting you to bed. Phewwww…..but aren’t we all enjoying?! YES. Don’t we keep saying “I love you” to each other all the time?!  I mean i will never ever trade this off for anything else. i love our threesome-togetherness…the thrill of doing stuff together, helping each other, adjusting and being sensitive to each others needs is so awesome! And you, my little Ritwik, are undoubtedly the hero of our story…you are the backbone of our new home…

And as a small return-gift and a thank-you note, today mumma is going to make some promises to you. Yes my child, today my letter to you is about “promises to keep”.

‘Promise’ is a very strong word. Deeper than it sounds. It is a commitment. A vow.

Promise (noun) : A declaration or assurance that one will do something or that a particular thing will happen:

I like to keep promises. It makes me happy, but more IMPORTANTLY it makes the other person happy…simply because it all boils down to love, trust and faith. And these 3 are most important virtues, my baby, in any relationship. So here i am making 10 small promises to you – i promise you, my son, to keep up to my promises simply because i love you to bits and i would never ever want to let you down.

PROMISES TO KEEP:

#10.  I will always hold your hand, and be your guide…some days you would want to lead, and i will follow…but i will always be there for you…together we will explore paths unknown…you may fall and get hurt..but i will be there to hold you…until  one day when you would want to let go and walk your own path.

#9. I will always be kind to you. I will be mindful about your needs and aspirations. And in doing so, i am sure you will become mindful about mine. In this process, i am sure, you will get disciplined on your own, and you will let me teach you the difference between right and wrong, good and bad, truth and lies.  Having said that always remember that i will be your mother first, and friend later.

#8. I will stop you…I will warn you…I will protect you from all things that might harm you or your character. Yes i will be  protective about you, because you deserve to be raised in the most healthy, positive and peaceful environment.

#7. I will be the first teacher of your life…i will homeschool you till you join a play-school. (I am so excited about the shelf-work i have created for you)…but i will homeschool you even after you start schooling. And by this i just do not just mean the numerous Montessori-inspired activities that i have planned for you. Let the learning happen beyond books, exams and closed rooms. I will let you learn at your own pace. I will let you explore, discover and invent your own ways and style of learning and understanding.

#6. I will always listen to “our” heart (read: yours, mine and your daddy’s. I mean it is all one and the same, right?! 🙂 ) We love you, and you love us . I feel together we three can manage this awesome parenthood journey wonderfully well! I will always rely on ‘our’ cues instead of any books, internet and outsider advice.

#5. I will always look up to you for answers. Life sometimes gets tricky, son. That’s when you feel a bit lost. But i have always (always, always!) found solace, happiness and comfort in you whenever i have felt dejected, clueless or down. Even without talking you have solved my endless problems. I am, because you are. And this will never change.

#4. Love and Forgiveness will always win over hatred and grudge in our home.  Period.

#3. I will always keep writing for you – this blog is my way of documenting all our wonderful times – it is my way of celebrating ‘motherhood’…and i know one day you will love to browse this blog (and hopefully) it will bring a smile to your face!

#2. If ever (whenever) you get a sibling, i will always LOVE you a tad bit more than baby no. 2 🙂 (Shhhhh…keep this a secret)

#1. You (and your daddy) will always be my no.1. You both mean the world to me. Period. Everything else can wait. Work, home, family, friends are all very important. But nothing is more important than you and your dad. Sorry for sharing this one with your daddy, but i could not choose between two of you 🙂

So these are my promises to you, my baby. Do remind me in case i ever wither away in keeping up to them. God bless you.

Love you lots,

Mumma