Myth, Mystery, and Reality

Maybe because she is a Mom...and I thought I knew her well!!

I went on a holiday with my Mom. Nothing surprising about it.

What is surprising though is that I assumed I know everything about the woman who gave me birth, who I lived with for 17 years, and who I speak with almost every day. Knowingly or unknowingly, so much got revealed about her on the trip that I realized I was wrong! There is so much more yet to be known…maybe because she is a Mom.

To begin with, I thought it would be impossible to sleep next to her because of her snores! As a kid, I remember cuddling and sleeping with her. Those memories are long forgotten now. I refuse to share the bed with her even when I visit Jaipur. We were together for five nights on the trip, and I slept well all through. Irrespective of this, one night she held back her sleep for me to first fall asleep. I couldn’t understand why she had to do that…maybe because she is a Mom.

I thought she would be fussy about exploring a place, its culture or the food. I thought she would want everything nice and convenient. I thought she wouldn’t like walking around when it’s sultry and hot. She climbed 105 steps to visit a temple without any complaints. She got ready in seconds for a fantasy show, had Thai food because I wanted to, and came to a Micheline Star restaurant with me even though it wasn’t to her taste. She could have complained while going up the stairs, cribbed about the rush and the Thai food, and thrown tantrums about the extravagant sum we spent at the Micheline Star. I do not understand why she did not do any of these…maybe because she is a Mom.

I thought she would be critical of how tourists conduct themselves at destinations like Thailand. I thought she would disapprove of the bikinis and the public display of affection. I was surprised to see her walk to newly wedded couples and offer to click pictures for them in romantic poses and revealing dresses, and I was shocked to see her walk through the red-light area as if it was just another street. These are the assumptions I held about her, and I do not know why. I am glad I got to see the other side that I would have never seen otherwise…maybe because she is a Mom.

We had some intimate conversations too, which are better not spoken about. I always saw her as a strong woman who created her identity on her terms. What remains a mystery to me is how she went through all that…and why! Where did she get all the courage from? Courage to face a difficult family, a challenging workplace, and well…bring up two mischievous kids! I don’t think I can ever get to all the depth of this mysterious woman…maybe because she is a Mom.

As I sit and reflect on the five days we spent together, I realize I held many myths about her. It is said that the best way to know a person is to travel with them. I did not know it applies even to people we think we have known our entire lives. Time is running, and life is short. On top of it, we assume we know all about the people close to us, especially our immediate family members. There is still so much more to this woman I need to know that I wonder if a lifetime is enough. It is nevertheless enough to spend a day putting this together and tell her that I love her…I love the mystery, and I love the reality…because she is My MOM.