Before I was a Mom

Before I was a Mom -

I slept as late as I wanted and never worried about how late I got into bed.

I brushed my hair and my teeth everyday.

Before I was a Mom -

I cleaned my house each day. I never tripped over toys or forgot... words to a lullaby.

I didn't worry whether or not my plants were poisonous.

I never thought about immunizations.

Before I was a Mom -

I had never been puked on - Pooped on - Spit on - Chewed on, or Peed on.

I had complete control of my mind and My thoughts. I slept all night.

Before I was a Mom -

I never held down a screaming child so that doctors could do tests...or give shots.

I never looked into teary eyes and cried.

I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.

I never sat up late hours at night watching a baby sleep.

Before I was a Mom -

I never held a sleeping baby just because I didn't want to put it down.

I never felt my heart break into a million pieces when I couldn't stop the hurt.

I never knew that something so small could affect my life

so much. I never knew that I could love someone so much.

I never knew I would love being a Mom.

Before I was a Mom -

I didn't know the feeling of having my heart outside my body.

I didn't know how special it could feel to feed a hungry baby.

I didn't know that bond between a mother and her child.

I didn't know that something so small could make me feel so important.

Before I was a Mom -

I had never gotten up in the middle of the night every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.

I had never known The warmth, The joy, The love, The heartache, The wonderment or the satisfaction of being a Mom.

I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much before I was a Mom.:-)

Illiterate mother / अनपढ़ माँ !!!

मेरी अनपढ़ माँ
वास्तव में अनपढ़ नहीं है
वह बातचीत के दौरान
पिताजी का
चेहरा पढ़ लेती है
काल-पात्र-स्थान के अनुरूप
बात की दिशा
मोड़ सकती है
झगड़े की सम्भावनाओं को
भाँप कर
कोई भी बात
ख़ूबसूरत मोड़ पर लाकर
छोड़ सकती है

My illiterate mother
is actually not illiterate.
During a conversation
She could always read
My father’s face
and assuming some tension
which could lead to some contention,
she could alter the direction of the
conversation.
Judging the time, place and person,
She could redirect everything
to a beautiful note.

दर्द होने पर
हल्दी के साथ दूध पिला
पूरे देह का पीड़ा को
मार देती है
और नज़र लगने पर
सरसों के तेल में
रूई की बाती भिगो
नज़र भी उतार देती है

If in pain, her concoction of
milk & turmeric would kill
all the pain,
a cotton wick soaked in
the mustard oil, she could
save you from all evil eyes.

अगरबत्ती की ख़ुश्बू से
सुबह-शाम
सारा घर महकाती है
बिना काम किए भी
परिवार तो रात को
थक कर सो जाता है
लेकिन वो
सारा दिन काम करके भी
परिवार की चिन्ता में
रात भर सो नहीं पाती है।

The fragrance of her incense
would keep the whole house
fragrant, day & night.
Without doing any hard work,
the whole family would sleep
tired at night.
She, working the whole day,
thinking about the family wouldn’t
get a good night’s sleep.

सच!
कोई भी माँ
अनपढ़ नहीं होती
सयानी होती है
क्योंकि
ढेर सारी डिग्रियाँ
बटोरने के बावजूद
बेटियों को
उसी से सीखना पड़ता है
कि गृहस्थी
कैसे चलानी होती है।

True, no mother is illiterate.
They are clever,
because even after
accumulating many degrees,
a daughter has to learn from
her mother,
how to run a family?