'My mother is my role model'

Special Someone

She could be the best part of your life. A mother is the foundation for what you have grown up to be.

‘Mother’s Day’ is around the corner and there’s no better way to celebrate mothers and their importance in our lives. There are many people in the City who plan to steal this chance to tell their mothers how much they mean to them.

 Metrolife talks to mothers from different walks of life to understand what the occasion means to them.

Being an actress, Sumalatha’s biggest challenge was to keep her son Abishek well-grounded. “I have always made it a point to treat him just like any other kid. Making him aware of his actions was also important,” she says. Ask her about the other hardships she’s faced as a mother and she replies, “Adolescence is a stage of confusion.

As a mother, you have to be able to guide your child on one hand and let them learn from their mistakes on the other. This is really hard.” She proudly adds, “Abi has been a great boy.” For Abishek, his mother has been everything to him. He says, “She’s my pillar of support. I always turn to her for guidance and advice. And if anyone would say that I am a humble guy, then it’s all thanks to my mother.”

A popular face in the Kannada film industry, actress Jayamala, vouches that an authoritarian attitude doesn’t help with children who are above the age of 16. “My daughter, Soundarya, and I have always been friends. Until she was 16, I decided what was good and bad for her. I think after that age, a mother must try and be friends with her children,” she says.

“I’m proud that she has never lied to me. I always wanted her to focus on academics. However, I was supportive of her interest in acting when she asked me to guide her through it.” For her part, Soundarya says that she owes all her success to her mother. “I get all my values from her. My mother is my ultimate role model. She’s always made time for me, whenever I wanted her to.”

Unlike the olden days, a lot of young mothers are on a full-time job as well. So, the challenge is to excel both as a homemaker and as a professional. Shweta Chandrashekhar, a special educator, says, “Considering today’s fast-paced times, a mother’s role means time management and working really hard.” Shweta, who has a seven-year-old son Sanay, adds, “As a mother in today’s hi-tech world, it is important to expose your child to the right things and keep him or her safe from others.” Commenting about his mother, Sanay says with a smile, “My mother loves and cares for me like no one else. She makes time for me and corrects me whenever I go wrong.”

Motherhood has its own challenges, and it’s often hard to be patient with one’s own kids. Janaki Narendra, a homemaker, says, “I love kids, but raising one’s own can be a test of patience. Every mother should raise her child to be well-adjusted and a good human being. Children should be trained not to shy away from challenges.”

Aravind, Janaki’s son, is a 12th-standard student. He says, “My mother has always supported me through all my decisions. She’s been there with me through thick and thin.”
Her daughter Tanvi, in class five adds, “She has always told me to follow my dreams. I can turn to her for anything.”