Raja Rajeshwari Nagasigamani, the author of many books expresses her thoughts on being a mom of a daughter and a son so beautifully and wins the arguement both sides over.
“Daughters are the best!” A statement I hear from many!
Over and over again, they repeat it like a litany
They offer underlying reasons oh so many
All lined with indisputable facts, to that statement lead
So daughters surely must be the best, I almost did concede
Albeit with a punch of instinctive reluctance
But something about it did not make sense
And not just because I’m a mother of a son too
Examine this statement I must, projected as being so true
I’m compelled to debate it, the opposing arguement however, firm
On principle, I just had to and not on a mere whim
‘Cause now where does that statement leave him
With his sibling almost wearing the title of the best
So I agonized over this question like it was a critical test
And I carefully made a mental chart
Began to analyze thoughts straight from my heart
For a mother, can there be equality in disparity
I dug deeper into my psyche for clarity
Can I arrive at a conclusion that is utterly fair?
Follow me on this journey of discovery if it’s a predicament you to share
A daughter surely offers comfort by just being there
And oh! she does it with such sweet flair
Tuned by nature or nurture, to say…exactly what and when I need to hear
While my confusion and pain he does silently bear
Till he decodes the riddle and offers a solution very clear
With his triumphant and winning smile oh! so very dear
She validates and supports my path with affirmatives
To fix any situation, calmly he comes up with alternatives
With clarity and openness, complex feelings she readily shares
To step out of my little shell…me, he openly dares
With patience and approval, she shows her unconditional care
With provocative validation, he proclaims me a mother beyond compare
She listens and reacts with uncanny understanding
He instigates me and challenges my familiar line of thinking
Her well-intended sarcasm, when prodded, always finds its mark
He offers blunt criticism so precise and never off the mark
She is ever ready to lighten my mood with a jolly walk in the park
He is ever prepared to pounce on those intending me harm with the swiftness of a shark
Mistakes are just that…not to be brooded over, she tells me
He assures me that silly blunders are what make me as normal as normal can be
While she can readily offer a shoulder to cry on
He can immediately extend a shoulder to lean on
Acceptance and praise on me, she generously showers
kindness in actions and expressions without holding back, he freely offers
She is always ready to gently explain her differing point of view at length
While he is a rare combination of compassion and strength
He defends me with the same ferocity my stand he challenges
She supports me with the same wild intensity my word she questions
But just when I believed I had slotted and figured them both out
They go on to surprise me as my observations they unintentionally flout
What I thought applied to him, I now see can apply to her too
And the other way round also does surely hold true
I realize for today enough of my perceptions have been minced
Thoroughly convinced am I, that not now and not ever, will I be thoroughly convinced
As to which child should wear the title of the best
So I arrive at a temporary conclusion
Which I’m sure will be prone to more than one revision
A daughter may be the best for you
But a son is the one who can bring out the best in you.
Raja Rajeshwari Nagasigamani writes story books for children of all ages. She is based out of Bangalore and writes under the pen name of A.R. Sara. She is the author of the “Pachaihara” forest series, apart from the novella for adults “The prank call”.
You can learn more about her books at: https://www.arsarafables.com
Her books are on Amazon India at: https://www.amazon.in/shops/A1DPL0SXA61AWT
Follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/A.R.Sara.Site
Loved the subtle debate smeared in the lines. One can never choose to have a boy or a girl, but should love them unconditionally when gifted. I am glad that the writer didn’t pick a side 🙂
There are lot of stereotyping on the actions, attributes etc. Girls are the best itself is a stereo type and one need to respect what each individual brings- boy or girl. We cannot generalise. Some Girls are cold and some boys do cry.
Indu, I absolutley agree and while I am a mom to two boys I totally yearn for a girl and we definitely can’t generalise.
think over the time child product market has successfully stereotyped boys and girls to the depth of colours they have to choose too. It is now in our hands, as mothers, to break this stereotyping and make children understand things better
Menaka Bharathi has recently published http://www.simpleindianmom.in/vertical-gardening-basics-rules/
Such an amazing post!!! its definitely the most arguable topic but the experience with each one is great 🙂 we keep our house gender-free but gendering is everywhere out there.we walk to a store and find all separate clothes for boys and girls right from childhood, colours pink belong to girls and blue to boys 🙂