“I cannot keep up with my son. He is just 18 months old and he keeps me running. Despite his age, he runs all around. When he plays, I also join him. When he cries, I try to appease him by kindly asking what’s wrong with him. He follows me into the kitchen and tries to copy me. When I am making chapatis, he wants to roll the dough. I thank him for his work. Whenever he does or achieves something, I don’t forget to appreciate him and say “Thank you and very good”. We also hug a lot of times. His hugs keep me warm and happy and vice versa. Besides this, I learn from the sessions that human touches like hugging help to grow his brain. I enjoy sitting on the veranda with him and watching outside. I think of his father who left when he was only 6 months old to work abroad as a migrant worker. It saddens me to think of his absence and I know he misses us too.What truly makes me happy is when he eats properly. Before, I used to force him. Now I don’t. I just help him eat and make sure I am not overfeeding or feeding forcefully. Now I use several options to help him eat well. I give them enough time to eat, I also eat so that he can copy me, I try to make different foods that he likes etc.

Whenever I sit down to write, he also wants a pen and paper. I am happy that he is very keen on writing. He is a good learner as he picks up our behaviour so fast. For instance, when I brush, he imitates me and brushes his teeth on his own. I think he is going to have a great future. I am regularly attending the session on parenting as it is directly related to raising and nurturing my only baby. My baby was one and half years old when I first joined the session. There have been many changes in me as a mother since then. In the past, I would leave him to play alone, while I carry out my household duties. But now I play with him and seldom leave him alone. I have learned to behave well with kids and discern what is good and what is bad. I am a happy mother hoping to raise a happy child. Hoping that he finds happiness in relationships and not things.”

(Rekha S, Mahottari)

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