Motherhood, a soap opera!

Fifteen months of motherhood has taken the toll. What else would explain my perennially tired existence, pony-tailed hair-do, dark circles, and a constant desire to sleep?

I guess this must by a reality for any expat mom with out a full-time help or the support system we take for granted, back home. Yet, I find it difficult to accept that I do not have any time to myself.

That’s not completely true, is it? -  I get my daily breather when my part-time help comes home and on weekends when Daddy is in charge of Smera. But, there is something that I find very difficult to come to terms with - being at someone’s mercy to go to the beauty parlour ! I am not being unreasonable here, just enough time for me to get through regular and very essential stuff, nothing fancy.

I shouldn’t though, be complaining about the lack of inspiration when it comes to personal upkeep. I only to need to step out to my balcony to spot all the lovely ladies in our apartment complex - some even mothers of 13 or 14yr olds, look younger and definitely fitter than me.

I have on numerous occasions complimented them, and somehow that still does not feel enough to applaud the way each one of them take care of themselves. There is a fashion-week-feel to the occasions I get to meet most them together – usually for a party at someone’s place.

During the recent Valentines Day, on the way to one such get-together, I bumped into a lady at the elevator. I was on the phone, but we noticed each other and then we surprised each other, when we later turned up at the same party. But nothing could have prepared me for what came next.

After the customary pleasantries and introduction, the sweet lady revealed, that when she met me at the elevator, she thought I was some college girl skipping class on a Valentines day!

A college girl! - far cry from the down-beat self assessment early on. “My Santoor-moment”, I told myself, while sporting a broad grin through all of the following week.

I guess, a well meant compliment works better than the best beauty treatment.

Note: Santoor is a well known bathing soap brand in India. The brand is made popular by its iconic yet consistently cheesy commercials.  It typically features a beautiful Mom walking into a party being spotted by unsuspecting ladies. Just as everyone shower compliments such as ‘which college are you from?’ or ‘are you single?’ – a child appears on the scene calling “Mommy…” to everyone’s surprise. Here is a video