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What the baby taught us

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Pragya Khanna
Pragya Khanna

There's a lot that babies can teach us about life. Here's what mine taught me. Ode to babies this Mother's Day.

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WHAT THE BABY TAUGHT US? I turn 1year and 3 months this May. As a newbie mum, this mother's day holds special significance. You all know how obsessed first timers are with their babies and how they can go on and on discussing them. So it should hardly come as a surprise that I'm going to use this opportunity to talk about mine. The harder bit though is that I'll leave my mother and mother in law aside. They'll understand..they've been through this phase, right? Coming back to my son. The occasion is a great time to pause and reflect and all I can think of is how grateful I am to my baby. Seeing him, being with him and taking care of him, is divine. Mostly, But more than that, he's taught me so much about life, that no book, wise quote, baba or self proclaimed gyaani on my social feed could ever do. Here is some of what I have gathered. TRUST IN NATURE Nobody taught him to dance but one fine day, he started moving his bum up and down as soon as his musical toy played on. Nobody taught him to point. But just like that, he started using his hands to point in the direction he wanted to be taken to or the object he wanted to hold. There's no gymnast in the family and but I see him suddenly trying to practise somersaults on the bed. Lesson: Nature will intelligently, mindfully and quietly go about making things happen for us and move us forward. Keep at it, but there's no use trying to complain or get frustrated at not seeing results. RISK IT He's constantly lifting himself up to grab things that are way out of his reach. He's tries to pick and throw things too heavy for his tiny hands. He touches things that are sure to cause him shock or pain. It's another matter he doesn't know what is risky. Sometimes I think , perhaps we've become too organised, too check out the pros and cons, too balanced for our own good. Is it possible to let go? To give it all not knowing what could happen? To really risk it? STAY-AT-HOME HAPPINESS Staying cheerful comes naturally to babies, and only goes out for a short break when hunger, sleep or a full diaper come in to say hello. But we adults have plenty of reasons for staying unhappy. Being annoyed, agitated, frustrated, worried, jealous, bored - all come more naturally to us, while happiness makes a quick in and out appearance. Perhaps it is time to do that role reversal, and feel the difference it makes to our lives. REDISCOVER WATER Bath time is often the fun-nest time of the day. Splashing water, chucking toys out of the bathtub, playing with squeezies, gives him joy like nothing else. What about us? Well most days, bathing is an exercise in hygiene with the mental clock reminding it's getting late for work. Or else it's a quick-fix to freshening up and getting over all the heat n dust of the day . But as spa visits become a seriously rare phenomenon, this is a note to self to not think of water as a means to
achieve some desired result, but simply to experience and soak in the drops of heaven in their pure form. To enjoy the shower more often. And a long, relaxing one at that. ADAPT LIKE IT'S YOUR SECOND NATURE. BECAUSE IT IS Little babies are quick to adapt to most changes in their lives. You remove a toy (their so called favorite) and place another one in front of them and their loud cries vanish quickly. You send them off to day care worrying how they'll live without you, but they take to it, faster than you imagined. You make them meet new people or take them to new places, they adapt soon after the initial hiccups. We on the other hand, keep telling ourselves and all those who care to listen, that we so need a change. But when change comes and really hits us on the face, we do a swift sidewalk. Should I? Do I have to?But what about...? are thoughts that surface then. If we could have a more adaptive mindset and embrace change more easily, we would be so much more lighter and calmer and yes, happier. GIVE IT A TRY No matter what it is, he's open to trying every single thing that comes his way in his crawling journey. From a piece of cloth to remnants of a toy he just broke, from biscuit crumbs to that little onion peel that got dropped on its way to the bin, to the more dreadful stuff like mud, rubber band, a big bad seed that humans aren't capable of swallowing, to the nail that got left on the floor by the carpenter who visited the house for some repairs. It can be argued that since he is ignorant about what is edible and what is life threatening, he's open to trying everything out democratically. While we know better than that. But really, this isn't about trying nails or snails, it's about being open to discoveries and experiments and going with the flow. Why does curiosity need to be 'taught' as we grow up? MAKE SOMEONE FEEL WANTED In the evening when I get back from work, he comes running from wherever he is, accompanied by squeals of happiness. And he's been doing this every single day for six whole months now. Wouldn't trade anything in the world for that. Ofcourse this is not a state that will last forever. But till it does, it's a lesson that the immense joy one feels is not simply meant to be reciprocated but also to be passed on to other loved ones. There's a difference between loving someone (in your head) and making them feel loved. That's that for now. So what am I missing? Time will tell. As he grows more. Till then, I wish myself and all other mums a happy mother's and a happy learning day.

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What the baby taught us

  • 1. WHAT THE BABY TAUGHT US? I turn 1year and 3 months this May. As a newbie mum, this mother's day holds special significance. You all know how obsessed first timers are with their babies and how they can go on and on discussing them. So it should hardly come as a surprise that I'm going to use this opportunity to talk about mine. The harder bit though is that I'll leave my mother and mother in law aside. They'll understand..they've been through this phase, right? Coming back to my son. The occasion is a great time to pause and reflect and all I can think of is how grateful I am to my baby. Seeing him, being with him and taking care of him, is divine. Mostly, But more than that, he's taught me so much about life, that no book, wise quote, baba or self proclaimed gyaani on my social feed could ever do. Here is some of what I have gathered. TRUST IN NATURE Nobody taught him to dance but one fine day, he started moving his bum up and down as soon as his musical toy played on. Nobody taught him to point. But just like that, he started using his hands to point in the direction he wanted to be taken to or the object he wanted to hold. There's no gymnast in the family and but I see him suddenly trying to practise somersaults on the bed. Lesson: Nature will intelligently, mindfully and quietly go about making things happen for us and move us forward. Keep at it, but there's no use trying to complain or get frustrated at not seeing results. RISK IT He's constantly lifting himself up to grab things that are way out of his reach. He's tries to pick and throw things too heavy for his tiny hands. He touches things that are sure to cause him shock or pain. It's another matter he doesn't know what is risky. Sometimes I think , perhaps we've become too organised, too check out the pros and cons, too balanced for our own good. Is it possible to let go? To give it all not knowing what could happen? To really risk it? STAY-AT-HOME HAPPINESS Staying cheerful comes naturally to babies, and only goes out for a short break when hunger, sleep or a full diaper come in to say hello. But we adults have plenty of reasons for staying unhappy. Being annoyed, agitated, frustrated, worried, jealous, bored - all come more naturally to us, while happiness makes a quick in and out appearance. Perhaps it is time to do that role reversal, and feel the difference it makes to our lives. REDISCOVER WATER Bath time is often the fun-nest time of the day. Splashing water, chucking toys out of the bathtub, playing with squeezies, gives him joy like nothing else. What about us? Well most days, bathing is an exercise in hygiene with the mental clock reminding it's getting late for work. Or else it's a quick-fix to freshening up and getting over all the heat n dust of the day . But as spa visits become a seriously rare phenomenon, this is a note to self to not think of water as a means to
  • 2. achieve some desired result, but simply to experience and soak in the drops of heaven in their pure form. To enjoy the shower more often. And a long, relaxing one at that. ADAPT LIKE IT'S YOUR SECOND NATURE. BECAUSE IT IS Little babies are quick to adapt to most changes in their lives. You remove a toy (their so called favorite) and place another one in front of them and their loud cries vanish quickly. You send them off to day care worrying how they'll live without you, but they take to it, faster than you imagined. You make them meet new people or take them to new places, they adapt soon after the initial hiccups. We on the other hand, keep telling ourselves and all those who care to listen, that we so need a change. But when change comes and really hits us on the face, we do a swift sidewalk. Should I? Do I have to?But what about...? are thoughts that surface then. If we could have a more adaptive mindset and embrace change more easily, we would be so much more lighter and calmer and yes, happier. GIVE IT A TRY No matter what it is, he's open to trying every single thing that comes his way in his crawling journey. From a piece of cloth to remnants of a toy he just broke, from biscuit crumbs to that little onion peel that got dropped on its way to the bin, to the more dreadful stuff like mud, rubber band, a big bad seed that humans aren't capable of swallowing, to the nail that got left on the floor by the carpenter who visited the house for some repairs. It can be argued that since he is ignorant about what is edible and what is life threatening, he's open to trying everything out democratically. While we know better than that. But really, this isn't about trying nails or snails, it's about being open to discoveries and experiments and going with the flow. Why does curiosity need to be 'taught' as we grow up? MAKE SOMEONE FEEL WANTED In the evening when I get back from work, he comes running from wherever he is, accompanied by squeals of happiness. And he's been doing this every single day for six whole months now. Wouldn't trade anything in the world for that. Ofcourse this is not a state that will last forever. But till it does, it's a lesson that the immense joy one feels is not simply meant to be reciprocated but also to be passed on to other loved ones. There's a difference between loving someone (in your head) and making them feel loved. That's that for now. So what am I missing? Time will tell. As he grows more. Till then, I wish myself and all other mums a happy mother's and a happy learning day.