Whenever I flip through my gallery this picture implants a portrait in me.I feel it represents the tenet of an attached detachment of which I am an ardent advocate.

I believe that the distance between us in this photograph depicts the living space that we provide for each other while the handholding symbolises my maternal urge to be there for him as a lifebuoy to keep him afloat at times of turbulent tides.

Just like the womb which stretches dramatically, gives flesh and blood , nurtures an embryo, breathes life into it and then shrinks back once the job is done, so do we mothers bring up our kids . But once they grow up and fly away from our nest we mothers too ought to be back in shape .However, let us be well aware that the consequential scars and sags shall stay for a lifetime .On a lighter note let us take it all as a part of the game .

Yes , our children will move away from “our” family and form “their” families .Acceptance of this simple dictum could alleviate our fear of letting our children step out to chase their dreams .

There could be thousands of strings of memories that might force us to tie them down to us… like the desperate suckle that pleads you ” please don’t take me away” when you try to unlatch those lovely lips from a delightful feeding , the sweet smell of breastmilk in the breaths that breeze on to you , those sleepless febrile nights where thermometer , cold sponges and paracetamol play your tools , the clutch of a soft little hand around you neck saying ” I need more of you ” pulling you back before you could stealthily slip out from a lulling session , the unexplainable joy of watching your baby smile for no reason amidst a peaceful nap or the saline taste of tears when you kiss and save your little one from a nasty nightmare, cuddle up with a warm hug whispering ” fear not , am I not there for you ?”.

It would be exceptionally great to be a mother who is there for her children whenever they need you and invisible when they want you to be away .I wish and hope to be one of that kind .Let my love set them free to live as blissful souls. Let my angelic instincts guard them from spiteful spirits .

PS : Inspired by the words of Khalil Gibran on children “You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let your bending in the archer’s hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable. “