My dear Nithila,

A very happy 14^th birthday to you…

I have been so eagerly waiting to write this letter to you… it’s that year which I have been waiting for all these 14 years 😊 and what is so special about this year you will ask.. I am smiling while I write this, but you know what, and you will be extremely surprised, and you will be all smiles too… I have been waiting for you to grow to a point where we can wear each others clothes and shoes and accessories… well, as of today, only you wear mine (and don’t give me anything of yours) but that’s also so very exciting ! I always expected it to be, and indeed it is, an amazing feeling to see you step into my shoes ! I would see other mom-daughter duos twinning and sharing and would imagine doing those things with you… this year brought me that happiness 😊 Shopping dates with you are such fun.. emulating you is sheer joy ! you make me feel young(er) !

Besides being my shopping partner, you also are a great companion for the food explorations… your food choices, your tastes are exceptional… you can eat anything and everything in the menu, at any place, at any time… today on your birthday, we had some authentic Hibachi Japanese for dinner, truly a one of its kind experience… You will never forget this birthday am sure… been one of the most remarkable ones you would have celebrated till now… we are in the US, living up your ‘castles in the air’ and ‘flights of fantasy’ dreams.. Ankoo bua and Samrat fifi have left no stone unturned in making this one special… a road trip by the west coast, ticking off all the must-see places you listed, shopping escapades and food explorations… your relentless craving to try unusual food options has been the highlight of this trip !

It is gratifying to see how you accept everything that comes your way, and live it to the fullest.. You have your wants, but they don’t give you sleepless nights (yet!).. you pursue your own interests & hobbies, you learn new things every day, you have your favorite bunch of people whom you connect with, you read a lot, you think a lot too, you play and you exercise, you go to sleep happy, and wake up happy… You simply know how to live in today, how to enjoy all that life is today… and you teach that to me in so many ways…

I was once engrossed in a discussion with someone on investments in crypto and risk profile of crypto assets… not a subject that comes to me easily, but was determined to know all about it… because I don’t want to lag behind on things that will be a way of life for the next generation, your generation… and I was suddenly distracted with your scream… I ran to your room as you exclaimed “Mamma, just see this vlog from Hannah, such cute pastels she has… and you missed seeing Lauryn’s vlog on her home tour, it had such a mod feel” ! Lauryn, Hannah, Maskit, Julia and the list goes on… You are in awe of these Youtubers and Insta-influencers and then of course the Kardashians and Jenners…

Phew.. here I was taking all the trouble to understand the dreary world of finance that you will live tomorrow and there you are into the exciting world of teen-influencers today… both are equally weird, but given a choice, I want be in your zone all the time… I absolutely love discussing your present world… it may not be relatable to ours, but its attractive, its mushy, its wishful, it’s a happy world… through you, I get to laugh and cheer and live some ecstatic, girlie, fan moments… I get to live in the moment…

I admire that you live in present, it is great to be in the ‘now’… but know that there is no instant gratification and there is no instant success (outside the virtual world)… I do understand your adulations, but you should know that all the flashy Instagram posts, the sexy fashionistas and the youtubers’ swag is not their real world… it is not anyone’s real world… their true life is full of hard work behind the scenes, when no one is watching them.. at least you don’t get to watch it… so listen to what you cannot hear and look for what you cannot see… wholesome perspectives are important…

 I am enjoying every bit of your teenage… Insta-inspired deliberations and discussions one day, friends-influenced fancies and cravings on some days and self-pondered anxieties and reassurances on other days… how your days swing and your moods with it… and how I love to be with you in these ups and downs… through all these, I am heartened to see your unfading curiosity, thoughtful choices, studied opinions and taking of shape of your ambitions…

We discuss, we debate, we argue… we agree to disagree, or disagree to agree… but in midst of so many influencers around you, I don’t want to be left behind… I keep spilling many wisdom bytes on you regularly (see, I didn’t spare this letter too 😊)… if I have to sum it all up, all I would say is… be kind, be humble, have faith in God, believe in destiny, but don’t let life just happen to you… develop your self-esteem, follow your curiosity, set your goals, take your own risks, create your timelines, enjoy your milestones, be your own self..

I love you…

Yours Mumma