This one's for my parents..

Now that I am mom of two, I keep wondering how my parents managed 4 kids. Growing up my dad was the only bread-winner. Not only 4 kids and wife, he had sisters to be married off, brothers to get settled..

He is from a small town from coastal Karnataka. He was oldest son out of 8 kids. Being oldest he was “supposed” to handle all the home responsibilities. Growing up he did lot of side works like helping out his mom with chores, selling milk and flowers etc to get some extra income. My grandpa was way too much interested in film industry & wanted to invest money in that. So, lost lot of money; had to sell whatever land they had. My dad, whom I call Pappa, after his degree in Arts, got a job in bank. Through his dedication, attention to detail & sincerity in his work often he got promoted. When I was 2 yrs old they moved to Bangalore to a new city. We were three girls then & my mom expecting her fourth child.
 My mom grew up in a very small village. But with her perseverance she managed to get a college degree. Well, she gave her final year exam a wk or 2 weeks after her wedding it seems. She had 5 siblings. Grandpa had 6 girls and my mom was the 5th one. She grew up in lot of hardship; they hardly had luxury of owning new pairs of clothes. Most of them came down from her siblings. My mom’s oldest sister, after her marriage helped her sisters with some of her little savings. Aayi (my mom) often told me about how her sister would try to get something or the other when she came down to see them from Mumbai.

Both my parents are very soft spoken and I do not remember my dad ever raising his voice or raising his hands on us.. Even though they were from small town, their thinking was never like a small. My mom has always encouraged us to be independent and make our voices heard. Also, she would tell us how to be kind to others & be patient. While Pappa took care of earning part, Aayi managed the house. There was never ending traffic of Pappa’s sisters, brothers, their kids, uncle’s kids, long time friend’s relative’s son etc. Our home was first stop for everyone from our native, who landed in Bangalore in search of new job or for studies.

Even with all this there weren’t many occasions when they refused anything for us. They always made sure we get into good schools. Exposed to new avenues in life, they would help us in our school works, be it a science project or a painting competition. Always encouraged us to do extra curricular activities & just not constraint ourselves to studies. All of us *touchwood* did well in our school & in life. I am just so proud of my parents, for managing so many things in their life & not let us know that pain ever. I can go on blogging about them for hours together I think. There is still so much more to write and say….. But I think it will never be enough to say how much I love them & how I appreciate all the things they did and still do for us.

When my lil daughter was born this march, my parents were the only ones to step up and help us out for 5 months. Without them I donno how I would have managed. I am glad to have them as my parents & wish and pray that if I have more lives than this one, then I would always want to get them as my parents. Pappa & Aayi I Love you both and Miss you a lot.