Role Models

Does the above statement bring out pictures of hot sensous females clad in the most fashionable clothes or men who look like carved out of marble but still breathes life? Well if it does, i am sorry but that wasn't the kind of models in a role i meant to dedicate this post to.This one goes out to all the wonderful people whom you so dearly love and want to be like. Hmm.. that description dosen't fit the title of this post either.. i had so badly wanted to look like Penelope Cruz and Sushmita sen and Diana..but somehow none of them instilled in me the desire to have my life followed in their footsteps.So to make more sense or rather to describe the essence contained in the title, i guess its better to read the rest of the post and understand for yourself.

All through our growing ages, we always awed over the multiple plastic faces and fancy characters created by some imaginative soul and shown to us in the general media. For me, my different role models over the years have been Tom (from tom and jerry), then Betty from the archies comics, George from Famous Five, the saucepan man from the Enid Blyton Series of The Faraway tree, malayalam actress shobana, revathi, then bollywood actress Madhuri and finally landed up at Diana.

But it was not until i left the cozy comforts of my home that i realised who my true role model is.The one person who gave the strength to move on, the wisdom to understand, the sense and sensibility to lead my life, to uphold the self respect bestowed upon me. The one person whose soft hands turned coarse in trying to ensure a softer and easier path for me in life.The one person whose glow in eyes i failed to see while we are around.The one who's every heart beats just for her beloved and loved ones... My mother. At every step, at every juncture in my life, i know the one person to approach if in doubt. From a very young age, both me and my brother had been given the freedom to choose our paths and carve our niche in this world. She firmly believed she had achieved in imparting the wisdom in us for us to make the right decisions.
If there is anything i want to be when i grow up..its to be you ..mom. To have your sense of judgement, your warmth in heart and most importantly the ability to instill in my children the same sense of freedom and judgement and wisdom that you have given us with such ease and confidence.

And if any of you feel that fathers are any less important... you got it wrong! Fathers have always provided the invisble strength to our mothers in moulding us to better persons. They have always been the unselfish people who would rather be behind the curtains and prompt the main actors to get their lines correct. They expect nothing in return for it either. No applauses, no cheers. All that matters is to see their children remain on stage for as long as possible in the limelight.

Here's a snippet i happened to come across. It really struck my heart with such a fierce force that for one minute i longed to be in the arms of my mother and father.To feel their loving embrace and the warmth of their love. To be able to see them just once more and tell them how important they are to me, how grateful i am to them for having given me everything in this world and for having made me what i am today...................

"Have you ever watched them sleep...
Have you ever watched your parents while they were asleep? Your father's body once big and strong but now the big is withered and the strong is weaker.Wisps of grey peek out from his hair, wrinkles now scar his forehead and face.
This man works very hard every day and would sacrifice anything to make sure his family is provided for and his children get the best education possible.
Or how about your mother, whose soft hands once cuddled and held you close when you were a baby?Now,those hands are dry and rough, bearingevidence of the challenges she faced just for us.This woman takes care of our daily needs, constantly nagging and scolding us because of her love for us.But sadly, we often misconstruct her love as control and unfairness.
I have never thought of watching my parents while they slept.I've watched my cousins sleep when they were babies, all round and cuddly and sweet smelling,But watch my parents...??
Right now i realised, my parents do not have to be asleep for me to realise that they have aged.Just looking at my mother walk tells me that her legs are not as strong as they were before.Or hearing her ask me for help with that flowerpot in the garden, the one she used to be able to push and drag around the garden without my help.Or watching my dad struggle with a bag of rice.
All these tells me that my parents are aging, just as i am ageing.But i am ageing towards my best years and become stronger, they are becoming weaker.They were once the caregivers and i the receiver,But now time has reversed our roles.
"