And then they walkaway....

They grab ur finger with their nimble hands...
Pull that and suckle on to it...
They giggle in your lap..
Sit-up and crawl, lookin back at you each time..
Stand-up and take their first step...

And then they walkaway from your life...

A life you created for them forgetting everything around you....
And there you stand wondering should you reach out and stop or just watch with pride....
Nevertheless a drop of tear crawls down the cheek...

A poem by Venkat

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Monday was the first day at Playschool for my daughter. Backpack with spare clothes and biscuits and a name tag. New dress for the first day. And in a brand new car..... Her mom n me were preparing ourselves for her crying like any kid :: "No school please, Take me home with you.."
We walk upto the gate of the Playschool.. The lady who handles these kids standing there with a smile and some candy (to bribe some easy-to-get kids) and some toy-pedal-cars (for those tougher ones). She looks at us and then greets my 2 year old.
Suddenly the nimble hands holding our finger wasnt there and the 24 months old bundle of joy vanished through the gate and into the classroom!!! She didnt even turn back to say Bye!!
Here is the twist:: She was the only one who went into so eagerly because the candy box was getting empty faster and some kids refused to climb down from their parents' safe hands despite the best-in-the-house candy bar!! Ofcourse a large number of them were in tears and tantrums...
There we were standing, first glowing with pride under the jealous glares of those parents. Then like someone knocked in our heads and we realised the most treasured treasure of our lives has just vanished behind that door to find a new world for herself..
"Well, atleast we wont cry when she gets married", I told my wife, "Atleast, she is much practical and not a sentimental fool like us..."
That brings me back to the topic: We build a secure world. Shower them with love and affection and care. Mixing baby foods, washing feeding bottles. Changing diapers. Practically we turn our world upside down. But then the eventuality dawns on us as our kids become an individual...
Giving us pride and also wishing secretly they remained that little bundle of joy giggling and crawling...
I could hear my wife muttering "..Midnight feeds and diaper changes is better than this..."
And I wink at her with a grin.... Reading my mind, she gives me the look that says "Yeah right"...