Happy 8teen !!!

Today Rhea is 18 years old, for some reason I never noticed how fast time is running. And why should we?

This day, I want to remember my 18th birthday. I was in college and my celebration was with my college mates. I took my friends for a lunch and a movie. Those days birthday person has to treat others, my brother used to get upset on such celebration because he used to feel that my friends should treat me and not I throw a party for all. In all this I used to invite my brother too ;).
18 is a big number or I became an adult - no idea! But one thing I knew and was sure of is that I can vote and that was a proud feel for me.

" Now that you're 18, you're responsible for covering for your own mistakes. Unfortunately, those don't stop at any age"

Today everyone says Rhea is 18- she is an adult and is independent. She can go out and live of her own and no one can say anything. I feel at 18 what do we know? Nothing! We only have seen life through the window that our parents kept it open for us. In my case, Rhea has seen more than what I had seen in my life, probably that's my learning what to do and what not to do while I raise my kids :).

I believe in life,  awareness of reality is important. Life is not complicated yet we can make it one and at times life is not that simple also as we might think. I remember my dad used to tell me "if you study well then it's good for you probably you will fetch something that will make you financially independent and if you don't study still it's for you because parents are not going to be there with you all the time." Scary isn't it? Yes, at the age of 10 when my dad said that it was scary for me because I never want to lose my parents, never! 

But then I am not thinking that I cannot be a burden on them even though they are my parents. So, study well and be financially independent because when you are financially independent you can think properly and make wise decisions for yourself. Many times we are stuck in life because we are dependent on others and then we are under lot of obligations. Sometimes in such situations we live someone else's life.

One advise to my kiddo is that study well, do what you want to be and follow your heart. I am sure as long as you're not hurting anyone, not disrespecting and not letting any ego get inside you - you will be a happy soul. Live life, help others but make sure in helping you don't get hurt yourself.

Life is like a two sides of a coin. You will have both good and bad, happiness and sadness walking side by side - it's up to you how to balance both. People are good, yet sometimes people also go through different situations and in that they may hurt you, they may become mean to you but don't let all that make you weak. Gain your strength from those people and rise and shine, always!

Be strong and try to defeat all your fears only then you will rise with shine :)

Remember, I am always there until I am around here ... A Very Happy Birthday to a Big Girl 

"You're an adult now, but don't let it go to your head. Seriously, the younger you think the younger you'll stay" ;)

~ Dawn

To fall and rise like a true dawn!

This was the day when 

The stream of strength

Followed with me to walk

When I was thinking "am alone"!

A journey which I chose

A journey she walked without knowing

The trust brought us together

To fall and rise like a true dawn!

Feeling of togetherness

A time well spent on relation

Which made us best friends

Only to grow together once again!

I know the time will come

To say goodbye in life

But am sure she will carry the relay

Being a living extension of mine!

~ Dawn

Happy Birthday to My Extension ;)

Today is an important day in my life, yes April 17^th, 1999 I was able to deliver a much desired baby girl – Rhea. This day I became ‘VAMA’ – a WOMAN.

I had her name decided even before she was born or rather even before I knew of having a baby girl. Somewhere in my heart, I was very confident about raising a baby girl as supposed to a baby boy.

Naming my kid Rhea – also had a significance which I call as life is full of struggle yet how to make it a success is all up to us. I liked to call my daughter Rhea – which means “Stream” in Hindi – though it has many meanings in other languages. I wanted my daughter to be like that stream which flows smoothly no matter how the path is. Streams they make their way.

This was my first teaching to my daughter, telling her the meaning of her name and why I chose one for her. I still remember the day April 17^th 1999 at 3:00 pm the doctor asked me what would you like – a boy or a girl? And me being cautious said, ‘A healthy baby’. The doctors tried their best to get out of me and when they couldn’t they tried a different question this time – What would you name if the baby is a boy? – I said, I don’t know yet! And what would you name if the baby is a girl? – Rhea 

They laughed out and said, here’s your Rhea and I heard one delicate voice of cry and it brought tears of happiness in my eyes.

That day and now – 15 years is a long way and many more long ways to go but that’s the best thing happened to me. When I thought I am alone in this world, I found an extension of me .

She remained my extension and now I see it turned into a best friend relationship. Previously as a kid till I became VAMA, I used to tell everything to my dairy, now I tell to Rhea. A relationship that we both have built together, irrespective of what came into our life as a change, we didn’t stop there. Today, I feel so proud to say that I do have a best friend, something which I never committed even in school.

When Rhea, comes and discusses her story whether it’s about her teachers, friends in her school or outside, her crushes, her dream to marry Zyan Malik (until he got engaged), the scary stories of pregnant school mates or kids who are being caught for drugs, or even when for the first time she had to dial 911 in school to protect a guy who was being bashed by other outside guys or even her feedback on her dad – I find my daughter is way matured for her age. I am sure life has its own values and learning that educates us and make us wise about a situation. I like the way she thinks and the way she reacts to a situation, makes me a worry free mom – specially to those who always told me wait until they turn 10, or teen  I am happy about my girl – it’s her 15^th birthday but the way she treats me – it feels like I am 15. 

As I wish my kid her 15^th Happy Birthday, I also say THANK YOU Rhea, for walking with me along side by side through the journey that I chose for US.

Your Madre’s advice to you on this day is -  Live the life the way you dream and desire for, never think of what someone else will think. Your happiness is yours and no one knows it better than yourself. Go for it!

~ Dawn