Happy 18th Bday Anand ..

One February morning in 1999, a phone conversation I can never forget.

I was 16 weeks pregnant with a second baby, 9 months in a new country I never knew I would call home.  We both wanted a baby girl so badly that we took the first opportunity to get an ultrasound done. Everything was different from my first pregnancy so I thought this was every sign that I was having a girl. That morning we got to know that I will be a minority in the Pandey household forever. Ashish dropped me home and left for work. I took solace with a phone call with my parents, I remember crying that my dream of colors and flowers and dresses and shoes are turning into another reality of jeans and sneakers. They told me it’s all good, and he was there to change our lives in a different way. That I will forget how much I want those ribbons, clips and dresses and love those Legos and cars. In the middle of that conversation I got another call from Ashish. An accident on Rt 93, someone hit him from the side, 5 cars involved and he was fine but shaken. All of sudden the “what if” took over my mind and then I thought yes, this kid is in this life for a reason. We were 26, young and knew nothing much about life and its vision. Well that day we both learnt how to deal with an accident -insurance, hospital and police  and the whole life lesson. That was Anand’s big bang entry in our life. My mom said the next day, that Ashish didn’t even get a scratch because the boy brings blessing. Five months later Ashish chose to name Anand.. (Anand means bliss in Hindi)

It was a Sunday morning, Anand arrived on the scheduled date. When I look back it all seems like a snap shot of our life. Had a very easy pregnancy, and a very short labor. Started at 5 and I decided to do laundry that morning (after good 7 months of pampering) so Ashish could sleep a little more. Rushed to the hospital at 8.30, my regular obgyn Doc was on vacation so met the substitute doc (what are the odds but that taught me to deal with change) and Anand was born just like that at 11:36 AM.. I think we were getting prepared for what’s ahead.. Friends all came together to help and we were a happy family of four. I remember those days fondly. That July month taught me the value of happiness, friendship and gratitude. Friends and neighbors cooked. No one could come from India but a friend’s wife came to spend a week with us. And in 10 days we were back to normal.

Fast forward 18 years,Anand is 18 today. And I see how he keeps changing our life, pushes us to do better, challenges us to the core, brings the best and sometimes the worst out of us. He sure helped me see the world differently. When I had him 18 years ago I knew nothing about vision or long term thinking but now he is the one who has made me think beyond what’s now. Not only for him or us,he inspired me to do the same for others too.

Today this Monday morning I write this post, my heart is full of gratitude (wonderful people around me), worries (mother’s natural state of mind), happiness (how far we have come) and a tiny bit of sadness (What could I do better) but above all I am a proud mother.

I am told, no cake, no celebration and nothing for Bday.. he is an adult today I cannot go against his wish. But he cannot stop a mother celebrating her own milestone. So here I am celebrating the joy of motherhood with you all.

and here we are...