Have you noticed how
easy it is to make parents happy? They never really want much. It makes them
very happy if you're happy and EATING WELL.
For example, my parents,
their faces light up when we make simple plans with them, like going to a
'function' with them or small shopping trip to the vegetable market to carry
their bags.
Moving on to the main
point of this blog:
I had a really hectic
three months recently and wasn't able to give much time to my parents, although
they still managed to give me a lot of theirs, even though I was lost in my own
sweet world. My siblings too were really very busy at the time and our parents
still managed to fill all of the empty spaces in our schedules with as much
comfort as they could muster.
I made a note to myself
about all the things I would do when I got some time. On the top of that list
was, 'Spend time with mom-dad. Do simple silly things that they
enjoy. Go to 'family - functions' or 'receptions' or wherever the hell they
want you to go! Don't be pragmatic. Just do it because they said it. In an
instant, Say Yes!, if they ask.
Now parents have a way
of making everything about you. I don't know if I speak for all when I say this
but they really do. And so it happened when I asked them to go out on trip
together. They made the trip about me. From the word go! I was
the key planner, the commander and the chief. And they, the most perfect travel
buddies.
I figured it is relevant
to write down all that I realized on this small 3 day
trip:
The Perks of Taking a trip with your Parents
Planning is makkhan (Butter)
My parents just wanted
me to be happy and rejuvenated. So, they said they would go, where-ever I
wanted to go.
Now, I have made plans
with friends before. And I know how rare such an authority is!
Normally, one guy is the
main proposer and soon the main punching bag. He has to handle a variety of
people before his plan can reach fruition! Few people will suggest a completely
different place, others will suggest a different route or
mode of travel, few will complain about the weather, the cost. Few
will have overslept on the day of execution!
In this trip I was more
like Aladdin and each of my wish was a command!
You comfort and convenience is of maximum importance
In this trip I spend all
my time between pit-stops, in deep sleep. I'm not even a car person. But there
was something about mom-dad-ness and lack of pressure to look prim and proper
that I dozed off in the most adrak-shapes possible. I swear I have never slept
so much in day time, EVER.
I'm not ruling out
fatigue etc. But still, I was always warm, the music was soft, no pictures of
my adrak-postures was taken. And I sure as hell, came out of this trip
fresher than ever,
Decisions on loo-breaks and food-breaks and 'what to order' and
the pace, change of plans/moods etc.
At this juncture, I'm
sort of belaboring the point the I called the shots on this trip. But
seriously, I really did. It was the feeling of being a small time CEO
cum MD :P
I could easily have said,
" Staff, humaare aage ke quarter (hour) ke plans XYZ hai"
The Wallet
I forgot that I had one!
Or where it was or even that I earn.
The little things that you forgot to carry
No, you didn't, because,
super mom's travelling with you.
Appreciate the finer things
You will know so many
finer things about your parents in the sanctity of a small travel space
(vehicle etc.) It's a different world when all of you let your hair down :)
There may be some
unexpected perks too. Like in this trip, we managed to squeeze in meeting mom's
old neighborhood aunt, 'Mangla ben'. It helped me to see my parents in a
new light.
Charging
You get the first claim
on the charging port. ;)
Finally, their Joy! :)
They are so happy to be
with you! I took my unsuspecting parents to see exactly two Historical sites.
Now, they're not lovers of History but they know so much! Even about History
and they were so happy to share!
We had long discussions
about life, religion, Badshah Khan, city versus village, gardening, driving etiquette, faafada and such! I cannot
describe in words how 'in-the-moment' I was at the time.
Concluding, it is really important to remember what a great bunch of friends we have at home. It is relevant to keep on rediscovering and rejuvenating this friendship from time to time!
