My first 'date' with Amma?

Can you believe I didn’t know what’s ‘date’ until I was 18, and when I was 18, I understood about ‘date’ in a different way and that’s a funny story. 

Do you remember when we were little how our moms used to take us out may be just for a walk,  that was the time when I had learnt to keep baby steps, amma used to take me out but come back home carrying me in her arms. In later years , I learnt to walk for longer time, amma used to dress me up like a doll and take me to her friend’s place or for a walk. 

Do you remember when was the first time your mom took you for shopping or for a hotel? I remember, when I was 8 years old amma took me to one of her favorite hotels “Hotel Mayura” for the first time and ordered for a cup of Horlicks for me and I madly enjoyed it. 

I still remember how amma used to hold my hands and helped me cross roads or take me on a ride on her Kinetic Honda on every Sundays. The days where amma helped us finish home works and the smile on our faces when we finished the home works soon and it was time for cartoon, the best days.

The way amma never missed us taking to exhibitions, let us play with other kids and joined us taking different rides, just wow!

I remember somedays amma made sure to take me to libraries, never forced me to study something academic instead introduced me to novels and poetries. I think this is one of the reasons for the person I’m today and to have a keen interest in literature.

Those days when amma helped us create clay models then later treated us with chocolates and ice-creams. Hmm! Can we go back to those good old days?

The stories my amma narrated every night when I was a child and the forehead kisses before I sleep is what I still live for.

As time passed, we grew up. We definitely changed but not our bond. We both grew as individuals. My teenage could not have been better without her. I was exposed to a different environment as I moved to a different city for studies. New place, new people and new journey but the only constant was my amma. She motivated me and stood by me all the time. 

Amma always asked me to prioritize myself first but amma never prioritized herself first. She understood me so easily but it took me years to understand amma in a very good manner.

I was 18 and heard one of my friends telling that she is going on a date with her boyfriend, hmm! This was the time I got to know there’s something called ’date’ and understood about it but as per the Genz standards. I kept thinking whenever I fall in love, the first thing I’m going do is to go on a ‘date’ with the boy I love. But the sad yet funny part is I finished my graduation but found no one. 

I completed my graduation, got into a good company, started to live a life that I always dreamt of.        

Recently, I went to my home town , amma was the happiest. The next day I took my mom for shopping, we spent some quality time at our favorite hotel “Hotel Mayura” where amma enjoyed a cup of filter coffee and I enjoyed a cup of Horlicks. This was not it, Amma and I had some gossip session as well, we also cherished the good old days, how amma used to dress me up, take me on a ride and finally order a cup of Horlicks to me. 

Guess what, this time I helped amma cross roads, took her on a night drive. When we finally reached home and was about to go to  bed, I narrated a story from one of her favorite story books and kissed on her forehead. 

Before I return, I also taught amma how to use Instagram, how to cook cheese Maggie, introduced her to new novels, explained her about self-love, meditation, affirmations, to maintain a gratitude journal and most importantly, requested her to prioritize herself first.

This helped me change my perspectives on life and my concept of ‘date’.

This wonderful time made me realize my amma always prioritized me, loved me and indeed took me on ‘dates’, actually the better ones.

There is a Genz trend nowadays called ‘Alphabet dating’, I know this dating is definitely different but from my perspective ‘date’ is something where you spend quality time with your loved ones, make them feel good, make them feel important. I think our moms are doing this to us even before this was a trend.

It took me so many years to understand that it is all about our perspectives. This was the first time I took amma out. I could see the shine in her eyes and that innocent smile has my heart. Oh! This was our first ‘mother-daughter date’ or maybe its our 100th and we never knew. 

I explained all this to amma on call and amma had a laughter attack, that was expected but also amma loved the concept of ‘date’ and I was surprised.

Amma and I decided to go on dates regularly and we have not stopped till now. Sometimes it is virtual, we video call each other, cook our favorite food, talk for hours, eat the food we cooked, enjoy our favorite shows together and we are happy. 

From our perspective this is what we call a ‘mother-daughter date’.