Parenting is like cooking maggi

It was one of those rare days when I was craving for Maggi. I asked my 5 year old son whether he wanted some. There was excitement in his eyes. Of course he did! He was surprised that his Mamma was offering Maggi instead of healthier alternatives. Usually he had to try hard to convince me on this one.

I put water in a pan to boil. I noticed how water from room temperature got warm and made beautiful bubbles on the sides. I felt it resembled a parenting journey and set me thinking about the similarities between the two. Some days as a parent are tough and testing for us. We have to bear the heat and go through many emotions. But the cute little bubbles that we get to see as a result, make it all worthwhile.

I added the hard Maggi noodles and noticed how they changed their form and softened in hot water. That’s how I feel when I scold my son and he looks back at me with those mischievous yet innocent eyes. My heart melts and I can’t scold him further. Kids are aware that they are doing something wrong. But they don’t want to upset their parents, for they mean the world to them. A little patience and more love from our side may discipline them better than any outburst can.

And what’s life without a little Maggi masala flavour. That can bring zing to an otherwise dull preparation much like our children who add so much to our routine lives. Without them every day would be mundane but their presence provides a roller coaster of emotions each day. Not all days are the same but at the end of each day our love for them only grows deeper and stronger. They are truly the flavour in an otherwise ordinary life.

It’s usually advertised that Maggi takes only 2 minutes though it seems to take longer. Similarly, in parenting, everyone around tries to comfort you with the fact that the current phase will be short and the next phase of your child will be easier to manage. However, the truth is – once a parent, always a parent. You never stop worrying about them even when they move out of your house. Parenting is a life-long journey with so many stations yet not one single final destination.

You can decide how you want your maggi –watery or dry or in the middle. Much like how you want to mould your children. They learn more by watching us than hearing from us so the example we set before them will shape their character and personality. We have to walk the talk.

As my son and I sat on the table with our bowls and dug in, there was a sense of joy in my heart. It was comfort food in a strange way and I had missed it for some time. The time with our children also is similar. It passes by before you realize it. Just like maggi needs the water, masala and the noodles to make it tasty, we have to bring in liberal doses of love, time, care and understanding into raising our children into the maggi of tomorrow.

This article was a winning entry in a contest on Confused Parent. 

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