Still, sheis here, enduring life as it comes; for him, just for him, and only for him, sailingwith him through waves of expectations, blunders and hopes, that crashed andswelled.
She isimmensely proud, watching him take on one hurdle after another, independently,through school, college and work.
Yes, she hasbroken down and cried in his presence, at all those moments when everythingseemed to be lost. Over. Gone.
She is notashamed.
She hasadmitted that she might have made the wrong decisions for him. That, perhaps, she has fallen short of hisexpectations.
She hasgiven him his space to explain, experience and realize the value of certainresponsibilities in life; when he blurts out his confusions, mistakes andfears.
No, she isnot ashamed of him.
She hastaken the back seat herself many a time, watchfully giving him the experienceof making completely wrong choices; till it was time to give him a supportinghand, a kind word, a patient hearing.
She has beenwith him as he struggled to shape his dreams, as he faltered along the way, ashe chose to not surrender.
As herebuilt them all over again, and smiled, victorious.
Still,somewhere within herself, she wonders how very different life would have been forthem all, if his father was alive.
She ponders,if she has really been able to give him everything, and prays with immensefaith to learn to develop the strength to do so.
And she goeson.
Dedicatingthis piece to all those single moms with the willpower to have strived andtaken on the remarkable challenge of filling in the role of both parents fortheir children.
Kudos,ladies.
Happy Father’sDay.