Circle of life..

Yesterday, Yaya and I attended her grade 11 orientation day where she has to pick the subjects she is going to study the next 2 years, the subjects that will be the foundation for her future. Until now, her life was dictated by the dept of education when it came to the subjects she had to study and now she has to make the decision.

When she came back home after school, she looked visibly upset and went to her room right away. Normally, she would take her lunch bag out of her bag and put the containers for washing and make herself a sandwich, often steal my tea while eating her sandwich, then she talks to her siblings about her day and they all chat about anything and everything under the sun.

A part of me wanted to go to her and give her a hug and tell her that  choosing the subjects isn’t the end of the world and that I am there with her always, but I knew my head would be chewed off. So I let it go.

The meeting was at 7 and before we left I cooked Bhattura and chickpeas curry. When Yaya was little, she could never say chickpeas and always said pick cheese and it is still one of her favourite meal. She didn’t want to eat. I really wanted to give her bop on her head because by the time we get back home, it will be pretty late and she would be famished and that will make her even more crabby. But being the nice mom that I am, I let her starve if that was her choice and packed crackers and cheese to take with me.

As soon as I parked my car, she got off and was met with a bunch of her classmates and I was left standing there alone. I didn’t even know where the meeting was. But fortunately there were other parents there as well and I followed them.

I have an attention span of 15 minutes, after that my mind will wander. This is what I learned in the first 15 minutes. Her principal spoke about “letting your children choose the subjects  they love” Because it isn’t the grade that matters in the long run, but the love they have for the subject that will lead them to a career they would love and will help them to live a fruitful life.

I love science. I still study science and read all the latest scientific papers and journals. I am also exceptionally good in maths especially when it comes to questions in Maths challenge competitions,  but I hate maths. Solving a rather difficult maths question gives me absolutely no satisfaction, but learning about Dr. Lakshmi Devi’s discovery of CYM51010 an alternative opioid pain reliever without the usual risk of dependence  makes me really happy. When I was 15, I knew that I will never study maths and even though my mother registered me to do maths as an extra subject for pre degree, I cancelled it without her knowledge and spend the 90RS fees that was returned to me for buying masala dosa in the canteen for few months 🙂  I was not worried about my future. I took the decision not to do maths, even though by doing so, I limited my future to only health sciences. I knew what I wanted and also knew that I am capable of reaching where I want to be.

Drive back home, while munching the crackers and cheese, Yaya asked

“Mom, how do I know what subject I should pick, I am so scared that if I pick  the wrong subject and my grades will suffer?”

I asked Yaya ” Do you know what is my favourite cartoon movie?”

“Lion King” She replied without any hesitation.

I started to sing my favourite song and initially Yaya said “Mom, you can’t sing to save your life” I ignored her and continued to sing and after few seconds she too joined.

After the song, I told Yaya, there is a place for you in this world and she will get there and I will always there for her and she should pick the subjects she love, not because it is a bludge subject, but because doing it makes her happy. This but a circle of life.

 

2 thoughts on “Circle of life..

  1. I honestly wish I could do that!! There are many things that I do that makes me happy about myself as a parent; but in such a situation, I can see my launching into a philosophical lecture (and probably annoying everyone)!!

    • MS: I could only think of the song at that moment. I think if I spoke anything philosophical, she would have eaten my head.

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