SuperMom

 Super-mom is generally a term associated with a woman who juggles a family and a career. A la Ms Indira Nooyi. Often the term is related to what in the American parlance is known as the `tiger mom', too. Is it not possible to look at the moniker in yet another way so that it includes both the ghare and the bahire?

`Super' need not then merely mean more of an achiever. A la this usage, it appears more quantifiable. Let us try to give it a qualitative slant. Let `super' be superior. All the equations would then change, and the very formula would be more inclusive, less rigid, right?

A supermom, may be, by the very profile of the concept, is more individual oriented. Nothing wrong with that. Should be so as well. A woman's self-fulfillment matters the most. But a 'mother' includes `other'. In my opinion, a good mother inculcates in her child this inclusive feel that, I think, has been and is essential.

Such a mother need not be highly educated, may not have a salary cheque that is six digit rich. But she enriches her child's life in value oriented re(de)fining. Aai, for example, taught us how to be generous and kind through precept. Let me give a concrete example.  

Sumi chi Ai was a maid who cleaned vessels at our place. She was really poor. She was  a widow. Her stepsons, older than her, would bother her for the two room tenement. She was almost considered a mad woman. Every which way, she was a targeted victim. Aai was her only succour, and Aai performed that role really well. Aai generously took care of her simple needs, be it some food daily or a cup or two of tea that she would be denied at home,be it a pair of clothes or be it letting her be when she would really be down due to her problems. Never even once did Aai raise her voice though occasions thereof would be multiple. Every faux-pas would be  mildly explained, generously overlooked. 

In other words, such a superior mom lives the Geeta Vachan of "shuni ch schwapake ch" that Sant Tukaram extols as well.   For a cur, too, and for the birds that frequent her garden, she would have a morsel. And without any public(ised) stance of animal or nature welfare! It is this feel of gentle goodness that make `her children rise and bless her' as the Bible puts it.

As thus was Aai, let me conclude the blog today with "nothing is so strong as gentleness coz real strength is genuine gentleness'.

pratima@genuine grace