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"...

The Circle of Life....

Topic of an argument with a colleague of mine: Which one fullfills your life, taking care of your parents on their twilight of lives or being a parent and bringing up a child.
The basis of this discussion started with two movie stars who are equally successfull where one is unmarried and is taking care of her parents and the other who adopted a girl child and bringing her up as a Single mom. I must add both have had their string of failed relationships and love lifes.
In my opinion, its the being a parent and bringing up a child and making that child a good person with all values and virtues that you and your parents have stood by, which is the most difficult, rewarding, emotionally fullfilling and yes finally, completes your responsibility in this Circle of Life...
You can take care of your parents by providing the best of the medical care, personal care, money, so on and so forth. A little time from you, they will also be happy till the sun sets on their time. Despite that I believe, you will ALWAYS be the one who _receives_ love from them in abundance. For you are their living footprint...
Waking up in the middle of the night for a nappy change, late night feeds. Running behind with a bowl of porridge or a change of clothes. Carrying them on your shoulder when they are sleepy or staying awake when they are sick. Telling them stories and reading books. Choosing the best dress with a price tag that might buy you your whole wardrobe. In short giving them the best than what you had as a child.
Watching that little bunch of joy first rollover, then crawl, then situp, then hold your hand and stand and then walk away....yes walk away from you. Only to become an adult often turning back to see you are still there. Holding that bicycle and promising you wont let go, but letting it go to see them cycle on their own....
Well you have just paid back your dues that you have been accumulating since you were born. If you are a mother, I feel, you have more than repaid what you owed....
I believe that untill a person becomes a parent he/she has not completed that Circle of Life and in net is overdue in their payments to the nature.....