My First Open Letter to My Son: GoogLoo turns 4

Dearest Shri,

As you turned 4 years old today, Mumma decided to give you something special that stays with you forever. So here I am writing you a heartfelt open letter as a gift on your birthday. I also promise to gift you such letters on every single birthday of yours, and for that, I pray to God that he gives me reason and strength to keep my promise. I know, the value of this letter today is nowhere close to your newly acquired ‘Coo’ (your created synonym for the word ‘train’) or your ‘transparent concept racing car’, but I hope its value will slowly increase with every single birthday of yours. Eventually, when you have grown-up enough, these letters will be a part of your invaluable collections which you will cherish long after I am gone.

It seems just yesterday that we celebrated your 3rd birthday and look, you have turned 4 today. Honestly, Mumma has no idea where all the time flew, but two things she is sure of. The first being that you are no longer the same toddler that I had a year back and second, in these four years not a single day has passed when I have not learnt anything new as a Mom. On a deeper thought, I also think that most of the time was spent in finding your lost toys and repairing them.

In retrospection, a lot has been achieved in the past year. Many milestones have been successfully reached for which I am grateful to the Almighty.

Here is a list of all your special moments (many firsts) that Mom & Papa had with you last year:

• The first and probably the biggest one was the successful commencement of your formal education. It was and will remain one of those special achievements that were the cause of worry as well as happiness for your Mom and Dad. This was because it was the only time when none of us could be with you, and we had to trust someone whom we met for the first time just for a couple of minutes. The person was Mrs. Uma Kashyap - your first formal teacher at your first school ‘Jay Jyoti’. She was the first person other than family whom we trusted for your well-being and safety at school, and she never disappointed. Thank You Uma Ma’am!

• You faced your first audience when you stepped on the stage dressed as the cutest ‘Kanha’ all teary-eyed, tightly holding my hand. The only word you uttered from your trembling lips was ‘Jai’.

• The most beautiful memory of your school that I and Papa cherish till date is the thunderous applause you received on your first solo dance performance by the entire crowd, especially from the kids that were just a couple of years older to you. Every single time they applauded, you danced with full on energy. That moment was truly magical, My Son.

• You learnt how to hold a crayon, pencil, trace, draw, scribble, splash colours, recite a poem, story, alphabets, numbers, peel a banana, water the plants, operate a smartphone, click a picture, ride a bicycle, say your parents’ names correctly and with the prefix ‘Dr’, and a lot more things. Mumma and Papa are so proud of you.

• You started conversing in full sentences and today you are OUR most entertaining non-stop chatterbox who has millions of questions lined up and has no pause or turn off button. I am really thankful you have a sleep button.

• Mother’s Day and Father’s Day became all the more special because you could now wish both of us. Hopefully, next year you will wish us with a hand-drawn card.

• You learnt to convey your emotions and feelings, your needs and desires through words. You could also recognize and understand my emotions, moods and feelings, and act accordingly. The most memorable being, rushing to get the ice pack for me whenever I was hurt and applying it in a similar manner as I did when you got hurt. The conviction with which you used to tell me that ‘Sad se kuch nahi hota’, whenever I pretended to be sad, was truly emotional and encouraging.

• You stayed without your Mom for a record ten days without shedding a single tear. Mumma is super proud of you!

• Together, you and I completed successfully the lock-down period (84 days) due to COVID-19. The most challenging phase of our lives, just the two of us.

• Your love for cars for the past three years gave way to your fascination for air-conditioner this year (turning it on/off, sleeping with the remote beside you, watching videos on ACs, reminding Papa to clean the AC, finishing homework without any tantrums when the AC is turned on, going out exclusively to have a look at the compressor). Gosh! Shri, you actually made us believe that you are addicted to the entire mechanism of AC. I really hope that next year on your birthday I will be writing about your next fascination.

• Your admiration for quality products has grown manifolds and is noteworthy whether it is a toy, or electronic item or clothes. The way you love your Papa’s phone above mine is proof of your taste. Your Papa’s happiness knows no bounds when he sees your eyes twinkle and widen as Siri answers to your request ‘Hey Siri! turn on the flashlight’.

• Just last week, you learnt how to operate an Apple TV & tune in to your favourite YouTube channel (watching super-fast bullet trains).

• You have also become a little stubborn, learnt innocent diplomacy (how to get your things done) and how to argue. These are certain habits which Mumma is not proud of and would not like to write about them ever again.

• Finally, we witnessed your latest achievement today. When you blew your birthday candles all by yourselves and sang the birthday song with us, cut the cake, and made us eat with your tiny hands. The same hands that Mumma and Papa held to help you take your first tiny steps. You are now a big boy, Shri!

On this birthday and in fact every single moment, I wish God keeps you protected, healthy, happy, loved and blessed. Amen and Touchwood!

Happy Birthday, Son!

Love, hugs, kisses and blessings

Mumma

P.S. 1. A piece of advice that I gave you early this year and will like to remind you again on your special day with the hope that it stays with you forever.

Son, you can, and you should share everything with your Mom. I might scold you, get angry, annoyed, be furious or quiet, but I won’t stop loving you, EVER, I promise!

P.S. 2. Thank you, Shri, for giving me not one but many reasons to think and work towards a new venture which your Mom dedicates to you on your 4th birthday....'My GoogLoo'.....the countdown begins.......