It’s been a month and this post is overdue. I should have written this long back but the writer’s block stayed longer than I like. Today finally I decided I won’t wait for the perfect words and just let my thoughts flow.
I wrote about what led to Woman of the Year event and a general overview of that night in my previous post. This post is about me as an observer that night.
Ashish agreed to go with me, that itself was heartening. Anand decided to stay home when he heard that it was a 4-hour event, not including the drive. Ajey was the most excited person in the Pandey household and graciously agreed to be my plus one in case dad joins last and leaves first. When I walked in I was greeted heartily by many but it was a dear friend who is my inspiration in many ways, who hugged me with a huge bouquet. The roses were vocal enough to show her love for me. I would like to have her demeanor when I am of her age. I aspire to be that calm and beyond judgement friend. Many others wished, chatted about the nomination, my work and asked how they could help. This was huge, better than I have experienced before. People were asking questions. But of most of all, a nominee whom I had never met before, never talked to, mentioned that her sister has a child on spectrum and if I could speak to her sometime. The event began and it was my turn to come on stage, get recognized and then answer that one question we were all asked. Mine was advice for moms and I talked about building a village. While walking down the stage it struck me how lucky I was at that moment. My village was right there in its full glory. Ofcourse I don’t do anything in small measures so I have a huge village but the representation was pretty awesome. Few friends who have seen me grow over two decades were there, someone who held my hand when we lost a pregnancy 21 yrs. ago, someone who roamed around Singapore with baby Ajey in tow, someone who hosted my surprise baby shower when I was pregnant with Anand, someone who opened her heart when I was very new to the town, someone who always there to help me navigate through the different culture,someone who held my hand when I was new to the special needs world and yes she is the one who taught me that it’s OK to complain, swear, argue and feel down but then you let go of that moment with a Long Island Iced Tea for that night. BUT you bounce back again and next morning stand tall next to your kid and fight for his every right and the dignity he deserves. Some of them have walked into my life very recently but have become a very integral part of it.
In that room I had a village that helped me get back to my world beyond motherhood. The group of people who brought music and literature back to my life. Hindi Manch has been a part of my wellbeing for such a long time. I have known many of them for quite long now. They all have been part of my journey but I wasn’t sure if they knew what they are to me. The interesting thing is that I didn’t know I was part of their village either until I got to know that some of them started the nomination chain for me. I am eternally grateful for that village that is ready to give me their support and unconditional love. Two of us from Hindi Manch were being celebrated. The team took time to find a picture of two of us and got a cake with that picture on. The flowers, the card and the cake showed how wonderful that village is. There were many people with whom I share my love of music, poetry, food and art. They build a different village for me where I can get away from being a mom and enjoy being me.
I was being celebrated for helping moms with special needs kids. The village as I called it, started a couple of years ago. There were a few moms from that village with blue sarees on, cheering for me and our cause. How wonderful is it when people believe in your mission and share their journey with you. They have enriched my life in ways I cannot even begin to verbalize.
Today I am not even talking about people who are my pillars of strength but couldn’t be there in person. They need another post.
The concept of having a village has always been so important to me. I have always had a very diverse set of friends. But that night I could show that I wasn’t just preaching but do practice what I preach. Please promise me you all will build your village, a diverse one and pay it forward.
and that is one of my village.. who was in my mind the whole time.. They were not there physically but have each others back.
I wrote about what led to Woman of the Year event and a general overview of that night in my previous post. This post is about me as an observer that night.
Ashish agreed to go with me, that itself was heartening. Anand decided to stay home when he heard that it was a 4-hour event, not including the drive. Ajey was the most excited person in the Pandey household and graciously agreed to be my plus one in case dad joins last and leaves first. When I walked in I was greeted heartily by many but it was a dear friend who is my inspiration in many ways, who hugged me with a huge bouquet. The roses were vocal enough to show her love for me. I would like to have her demeanor when I am of her age. I aspire to be that calm and beyond judgement friend. Many others wished, chatted about the nomination, my work and asked how they could help. This was huge, better than I have experienced before. People were asking questions. But of most of all, a nominee whom I had never met before, never talked to, mentioned that her sister has a child on spectrum and if I could speak to her sometime. The event began and it was my turn to come on stage, get recognized and then answer that one question we were all asked. Mine was advice for moms and I talked about building a village. While walking down the stage it struck me how lucky I was at that moment. My village was right there in its full glory. Ofcourse I don’t do anything in small measures so I have a huge village but the representation was pretty awesome. Few friends who have seen me grow over two decades were there, someone who held my hand when we lost a pregnancy 21 yrs. ago, someone who roamed around Singapore with baby Ajey in tow, someone who hosted my surprise baby shower when I was pregnant with Anand, someone who opened her heart when I was very new to the town, someone who always there to help me navigate through the different culture,someone who held my hand when I was new to the special needs world and yes she is the one who taught me that it’s OK to complain, swear, argue and feel down but then you let go of that moment with a Long Island Iced Tea for that night. BUT you bounce back again and next morning stand tall next to your kid and fight for his every right and the dignity he deserves. Some of them have walked into my life very recently but have become a very integral part of it.
In that room I had a village that helped me get back to my world beyond motherhood. The group of people who brought music and literature back to my life. Hindi Manch has been a part of my wellbeing for such a long time. I have known many of them for quite long now. They all have been part of my journey but I wasn’t sure if they knew what they are to me. The interesting thing is that I didn’t know I was part of their village either until I got to know that some of them started the nomination chain for me. I am eternally grateful for that village that is ready to give me their support and unconditional love. Two of us from Hindi Manch were being celebrated. The team took time to find a picture of two of us and got a cake with that picture on. The flowers, the card and the cake showed how wonderful that village is. There were many people with whom I share my love of music, poetry, food and art. They build a different village for me where I can get away from being a mom and enjoy being me.
I was being celebrated for helping moms with special needs kids. The village as I called it, started a couple of years ago. There were a few moms from that village with blue sarees on, cheering for me and our cause. How wonderful is it when people believe in your mission and share their journey with you. They have enriched my life in ways I cannot even begin to verbalize.
Today I am not even talking about people who are my pillars of strength but couldn’t be there in person. They need another post.
The concept of having a village has always been so important to me. I have always had a very diverse set of friends. But that night I could show that I wasn’t just preaching but do practice what I preach. Please promise me you all will build your village, a diverse one and pay it forward.
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