Summary

The article "My PunchAmrit Girl" is a heartfelt reflection on the author's experience of parenting a perceptive and inquisitive tween daughter during challenging times.

Abstract

The author shares a personal narrative about their daughter, who is exceptionally observant and articulate for her age. The girl's unique perspective on the world, such as finding earthworms prettier than birds, and her thoughtful questions about fairies and waste disposal, reflect her intelligence and curiosity. The family is dealing with the stress of the pandemic, with the parents, who are dentists, reassuring their daughter about their safety using PPE. The child's concerns extend to her parents' well-being, the impact of school closures on her social life, and the mental health of her sibling, influenced by a high-profile suicide case. The author grapples with the challenges of parenting, balancing support and independence, and seeks strength to be the best mother she can be. The article concludes with the author's emotional acknowledgment of the fleeting nature of childhood and the anticipation of future family outings to lift their spirits.

Opinions

The author is proud of their daughter's perceptive nature and ability to think independently.
The daughter's emotional depth is evident in her secret weeping over her family's well-being and broader world issues.
The author expresses a mix of admiration and concern for their daughter's advanced understanding of complex topics.
There is a sense of helplessness in the face of global events affecting children, such as the pandemic and celebrity suicides.
The author values family bonding and creating positive memories to counteract the darkness of current events.
The concept of "Panchamrit" is used metaphorically to wish for good things and beginnings in their family's life.

My PunchAmrit Girl

Parenting my very observant tween.

My little girl is perceptive

and from her perspective

Earthworms are shiny and prettier than birds

The little girl who spoke in her own words

Asked if it was Tooth fairies or Teeth fairy if you lost more than one tooth,

Left me feeling vanquished.

When living beings “ate, slept, reproduced, grew and threw out wastes”

She said “throw things in dustbins”, she avoids copy paste!

In her own words, after all “throw out wastes” does not literally mean,

keeping the intestines clean.

It’s going potty! When I explained, her lips she squished.

She weeps secretly in bed, she’s older now.

She’s worried her dentist parents will die of Corona, the virus will mow,

Us down. Don’t worry, I’m cocooned in PPE, and so is your dad.

Barrier technique is what we’ve always had

Barriers, are, either sufficient or useless, so for the best, we fished.

School just closed forever, did it? Baby’s so bored she wants to go back there.

Attend school, the mela, a children’s day fair.

Have lunch with friends, play hopscotch

Take mischief up a notch.

It will happen, eventually, she’s making a list.

She weeps secretly in bed, we caught her. She was worried her sibling

Swamped with schoolwork, will fling

Her own life away, like a Bollywood star just did.

Confound the fellow!

Took me, my husband, and the big sister a quarter of an hour to screw down that lid.

(Though your big sister’s utter disdain for suicide is calming, she cleared the mist)

God, give me a sign. Are we over-parenting?

Fire-fighting, or just venting,

Give me health, give me energy, give me the strength

To be the best mother ever, at length

May Panchamrit fill your lives, may love abound.. you get the gist.

Your precious and admittedly overworked sister, your father and I

are privileged to have you, we sigh

At the way words and feelings in you dominate

You’re the thinker of the family, we nominate

you for Family Human Resources, ourselves, we dismiss.

I know that right now things look dark.

Yet soon, we’ll go to Jubilee Amusement Park

You’ll giggle and squeal on the water coaster ride,

For the delight and the fun, Big Sis at your side.

A treat to look forward to, indeed.

Why does writing about her family always make Mummy weep.

it’s because you grow up so soon, by a bound and a leap

First your sister will leave,

You too, will shrug off the fetters I weave,

soon all I will have to caress are memories.

Panchamrit is a metaphor for good things, good beginnings. Ghee, jaggery, yogurt, cow milk and honey are the panch(5) items.