We are mothers.

We are strong. Capable. We are a reckoning force on our own. We can do this AND that. We multitask, we fill the gap, we are the cog in the wheel, flourishing even in the most testing times. We are super humans. We are super moms. It’s a crown we wear with pride. If it was us against the whole world, we know we have won.

But sometimes, there creeps in that doubt. That thought that forms over us like a tiny, cold, grey cloud on a bright sunny day, asking, did we really do it all? Was that carrot in the organic carrot butter muffin recipe really organic? Was the screen time that exceeded by 10 minutes on a day i really needed extra tea time, do any lasting damage to my precious one? Did my eye roll and sighing, while watching my child throw out home made, fresh fruit yogurt in exchange for a 2 day old, dried piece of chapati from under the sofa, match with my intentions?

One little cloud and another, the little clouds gather, through the day, through each minute, till there’s a fully brewing storm, and then thunder & lighting till finally - the downpour!

Just when we thought we had perfected and owned that title of a supermom, almost there wearing that crown, sashaying down the ramp watching our ancestors wave proudly back at us, almost saying, “She did it! we are so proud!”, the vision comes to a screeching halt!

We were only almost there! We failed. It isn’t going to happen today. We wrap up our efforts and analogies and call it a day. We carry ourselves to bed and console ourselves to sleep, coz we failed.

But that was only Day 1. As a new day dawns, we start all over again, determined and laser focused, inspired to be nothing but the best. We tell ourselves - today better be the day we not only wear the crown on our heads, we make it a hoop and hula around in it. We are going to crush this.

Oh gosh! Do we ever recover from this emotional roller coaster! Because it goes all over again. And the title of a ‘supermom’? That title dangles in front of us like a carrot on a stick, and we are forever trying to reach it with a little more effort, with a little less sleep, with a little more stretching, with a little more bending, with a lot more breaking.

Dear Mom, before we go any further, let me assure you today, you ARE a super human. You always have been, ever since that bundle of joy arrived. Not for all that you did, or are doing now or are planning to do soon, but for simply being who you are to the wonder you created. Everything you become to the little human you birthed is awe inspiring magic. For the life you brought to this world, you ARE the world.

But even then, there’s a child, a precious and divine life, that seems to get overlooked in all the frenzy of being a mom. There still remains a little one who most times is prioritised last, seems to be intentionally left out in being cared for and loved for to make space for others, has needs that is pushed back for a later day, and still this child doesn’t show it, doesn’t ask for it, and graciously let’s the mother be. Does your mommy heart ache to know who that child is?

Dear mother, that little child is you.

That divine and precious life is you. There’s a little girl inside you, inside all these layers that make you. And today we are here to unbox this mom.

Who is she, really? What is the stardust that she’s made of? What’s the secret sauce that keeps her fuelled? Standing undone, without ever having had that title, what is inside that frame?

A wide eyed wonder with a big red heart. Lover of colourful balloons, chocolates, grandma’s stories and her favourite earrings. She skips at the sight of rain. Her favourite song is the one Appa used to sing in the bathroom. She giggles endlessly with a bunch of other little girls in class, hushing secrets and passing notes. She flies the kite, rides the bike, plays dress up, then curls up with the best book in the drawer. She’s passionate, quiet, formidable fashionable, fun.

Dear mom, do you meet this little girl everyday? Before the mommy thing happened, who was it that you were? Who is it that you still are but are trying to keep for a better day? Who are you before the world decided that as a mom you had to have it all figured out?

Dear little girl, take a deep breath. Today it’s ok to accept we haven’t figured it all. We are just trying to fit into the big shoes of our moms, who had it all figured out. Or so we thought. Till we ask them. And they will tell us, they were just like us. You know that grandparent analogy where the parenting skills of your mother isn’t exactly the grandparenting she does today? That explains it all.

Coz really, in trying to bring up our children, we really are bringing up the mother in us.

And that’s why motherhood seems like a paradox of emotions. It’s exhausting but exhilarating. It’s rewarding but chaotic. You ask yourself, how can i feel both these extremes at the same time? Allow me to tell you, it’s only right to be able to feel both extremes at the same time. It’s a superpower, only for superhumans.

It’s time to acknowledge your contrasting emotions paint the canvas of motherhood. Thats why here on, we replace the word ‘but’ with ‘and’.

Happy AND exhausted. Terrifying AND naturally instinctive. Alone AND being the heart of the party. Because look at it closely, you’ll see it’s just a little girl, against the big, blue world.

And yes, even though WonderWoman does not have a kryptonite like SuperMan does, dear little girl, take that break, rest a bit, eat that salad, dance to your favourite music, take that supplement, go for that walk, take care of the body that made you a mother. It’s not selfish to protect and nurture the vessel that protects and nurtures others. Every month, with every cycle that is a reminder of how you’re created with the divine ability to give life, honour your body for everything it has done.

Dear little girl listening to me, you’re seen. You’re loved. You’re amazing. You’re wonderful. You’ve done well till now, you’ll figure out the rest too. Don’t let the world define motherhood for their lack of understanding you.

On a parting note, they say it takes a village to raise a child. Join this community, we would love to be your village. This is your well to refresh yourself from. We stand with you and commit to supporting you in bringing up your little one in the best way possible.