This popular column charts the rather choppy waters of trying to bring up teenagers…and learning a few lessons on the way.
Hi, I am writing this letter soon after you turned 19. Since the day fell just before your semester exams, you had sighed tragically and vetoed the friends’ routine, which is when Gaurav came up with the idea of a surprise birthday eve bash.
It took just two calls to ‘fix’ the surprise — one to Shikha to invite one group from Bombay Scottish School, another to Tanvi to rope in the four Xavierites. In two days, I got messages informing me who would be coming and who wouldn’t. Fretting about not meeting them on D-day, you caught up with the ‘Scottishites’ briefly, but their lips were sealed.
To explain the food that piled up in the kitchen that evening, we had told you that we had invited your kid cousins for a family dinner. You knew about Jyotsna, your cousin and buddy, coming after college but not about the rest. So, we were soon bursting with silent excitement by the time of the appointed hour. “Aunty, we are downstairs, we will be up in a minute,” came Shikha’s message, even as Tanvi and Mitalee walked in with a beautiful home-made cake. With a glint in your eye, you came to the kitchen and asked, “Mom, what is going on?” In answer almost, the doorbell rang to reveal the brigade — Devdeep, Shikha, Gautami and Nikita — and your excited shriek and their yells of surprise made our neighbour peep in. Soon after, Zaibaa and Mrinalini trooped in to complete the party.
All of you found space for yourselves in the bedroom and after the initial breaking-of-ice period you were set for a good time. Devdeep dipped into Gaurav’s books, excited that some were still the same.
You spoke like adults often do of ‘those good old times’ and the antics of Gen Next. I listened intently on how you opined that today’s brats are oh-so-different, more mobile and e-games obsessed than you were. “We had our fun, we played football, but we studied hard and got our marks too,” you chorused.
The cake was cut at midnight. You ended up with cream on your face and a cherry on your nose! The only absentee due to her study schedule, Preeta, called at the stroke of 12 to wish you. Your remark “It was the best birthday” made my day sweeter. As did the messages your friends sent me: “We had a great time and she was so happy!” So was I for not only did you all make me feel young, but I was warmed by the sight of all of you together. Despite choosing different streams and living in different cities, you continue to cherish your closeness. My only regret is I wish I had got to know your buddies earlier… and better.
Love,
Mom
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