Dear Mamama ...

~ 89 weeks to my 'Tees' (30th) ~

The most important thing the past week has got to be mum leaving for good ... and so after 2.3 years of helping us look after not just Ayaan, but also our household and ourselves - Amma was finally flying off to be with Papa (finally an end to their 'Baghban' like long-distance situation) and now we were on our own! The house did feel empty, but our hearts were full, and heavy...

Thus, I decided to pen this not-so-little poem, on behalf of the little one: An ode to our wonder-woman! :*

Dear Mamama...

Thank you Mamama
For running behind Amma
Being wheeled off on the hospital trolley
As you witnessed your prayers being answered
And set your eyes for the first time on me

Thank you Mamama
For taking me in your arms, even past midnight
And rocking me to sleep
Singing "Nanda ke laala" so melodiously
Until I drifted into my dreamworld, deep

Thank you Mamama
For taking care of Amma
So she could breastfeed me exclusively
For being so persevering, when Amma headed back to work
And you had to at times even force spoon/bottle feed me

Thank you Mamama
For recording all my first milestones
Be it my first smile, giggle or boisterous laugh
Or me sliding, crawling and cruising - my first steps
Even my fussy crying, when you'd all had enough! :D

Thank you Mamama
For teaching me my first syllables, letters and words
And soon we were singing my first nursery rhymes together
It's no wonder that 'Mamama' was amongst my first few words
Especially as we spent so much time with each other

Thank you Mamama
For taking me outdoors daily, and running behind me
We would see the koi fish, and play with Ashley the cat, seek and hide
Collect dried leaves and flowers; or go to the "sp(l)ash zone"
And when older, watch me climb up and down the slide

Thank you Mamama
(&Ajjo) for "so many many" gifts from Jakarta and elsewhere
For filling my wardrobe with the softest cotton clothes
Umpteen books, which I get Amma-Baba to re-read
And my tricycle, and my latest scooter, to speed away, I suppose?

Thank you Mamama
For letting me do yoga with you
Merely a "copycat" but it felt nice anyways
Even breathing as you and Ajjo did during 'Bhastrika pranayama'
Climbing on you, and hugging you "G'morning" while you were doing your asanas!

Thank you Mamama
For being my serene moonlight and morning sunshine
And teaching me to greet the cleaner aunty and the security/driver uncle with glee
Also, for teaching me to be kind and share
So now all my friends (and their nannies) love me

Thank you Mamama
For making me love food, fruits and veggies, in all its vast variety
Especially with all the yummy meals you cooked
My faves till date: 'puttu' with banana, 'sabudana', Chocolate cake
"d(r)agon fruit", carrot "(cha)pati", and broccoli, slightly undercooked

Thank you Mamama
For teaching me the value of prayer
And bowing down to the Almighty everyday
Now, I can do "puja" on my own ;)
And chant in tune, all alone, "Om Namah Shivaya"

Thank you Mamama
For teasing me and tickling me
And making me laugh, by saying you'll pull my ears
For all the great times together and being there for me,
Amma & Baba, over the last couple of years

Thank you Mamama
For dressing me up and treating me as your little Krishna
To me, much like a second mother (Yashoda) you've been
You've fed me, bathed me, changed me, not once, scolded me
Always dropped and picked me from school, even if unwell, you'd been

Thank you Mamama
For teaching nanny #1 & #2
The way to my favourite "another park" and playschool
And to my heart too with my fav "One Fish Two Fish" tshirt
And "my tummy", with my fav foods too - you're too cool!

Thank you Mamama
For sacrificing your time, which you could have spent with Ajjo/Mamu
To help Amma-Baba look after me
For sacrificing sleep, and alot of me-time
In exchange for a lot of quality time with me

Thank you Mamama
For being my "Mogach" (favourite person) in this world
For being the epitome of unconditional love and kindness
I hope we get to chill together, often in the future too
But until then, all these cherishable times, I'll definitely miss

"Love you so much"
Ayu ...

P.S. I'll share my Lollipo(p)k with you when you FaceTime next ...