India is a land of mystery and pleasant surprises. One such amazing beauty is the Indian mom. Yes, Indian mothers can be startling, to say the least. They are capable of surprising anyone from any part of the world. They hold the keys to a magical reality of Indian motherhood unknown to outsiders. Here are ten facts that show the paradoxical nature of Indian moms-
Conservative – Indian Moms Stick to the Rule Book
Yes, the stereotype is true to some extent. Indian moms are indeed very conservative. They want their kids to behave and shine in life. They want their dear ones to be religious and disciplined. This quality does not mean they are tough, unforgiving martinets. They can also be malleable and very lenient. The Indian moms tolerate their kids’ tantrums on occasions too. But they are quick to discipline their kid, if necessary, even in the middle of a public place. One of the perks of conservatism is rich wisdom. The children tend to grow up quickly. They also grow up with the ability to catch up with the worldly ways very fast.
Super Optimistic Indian Moms
If superman had an Indian mom, she would worry that her son has not achieved his potential. Indian moms try to over-expect from their children and over-believe their talents. If you know how to sing a song, she would expect you to climb the stage and win vocal competitions.
But they will understand if the child settles for something less. The desire, however, always hovers around perfect STEM subjects. The kid has to grow up and become an engineer or a doctor. This expectation is like a low bar. The high bar can be anything from a scientist to a superhero.
Indian Moms – Alexa that Yells at You in the Public
“Don’t run around in the corridors!”, “Do not chase after the dog!” “You forgot your lunch box” – These instructions never come in a soft tone, I still don’t know why. Indian moms can be embarrassing, to say the least.
Yelling disciplinary phrases is like a custom in Indian households across the country. Must be something to do with the DNA, perhaps. Studies do suggest Indians across the subcontinent share genes. Dry facts apart, Indian moms can indeed be very boisterous and noisy, but for the betterment of her children.
Extrovert in Showing Emotions Everywhere
Indian moms are conservative only in value systems. Otherwise, they are great fun and very outgoing. The moms are always ready to go for a picnic or party. They don’t mind the surprise movie or restaurant food either. They will even pay from their purse or pocket.
But Indian moms do not shy away from reprimanding the kids in public. Along with the perks comes the downside. Indian kids usually wiggle their way out of mom’s arms in public. More grown-up children try to keep their distance to avoid embarrassment. Mom might suddenly have a mood shift and start doting too.
Competitive Indian Mom – Hope You Scored More than her Friend’s Child
Indian moms draw the line when it comes to academics. There is no point in reminding them of old grades. They will find a way to squeeze out joy from her child’s face when it comes to academic achievement. The standard operating procedure is simple and very straight forward. Your marks are never up to your potential.
Indian moms will start comparing the kid’s performance with his or her peers. If that does not work, there is melodrama.” What sin have I done in my past life?” “Where did I go wrong?” “How can you do this to me after all I have done for you?”etc.,
Up-to-Date Modern Indian Moms
Don’t go by the stereotype of sari-clad, wise women. Indian moms have managed to move with times. They have a great understanding of all things under the sun. This wisdom also means they learn fast and adapt even faster. Technology is the best example of this behaviour.
Modern Indian moms are not only tech-savvy but also gadget-wise. A recent study says, 90% of Indian ladies welcome technology wholeheartedly. They also truly believe that technology makes life smarter and easier to handle.
Staying Idle? Not Under My Roof
Indian moms never want their kids to stay inactive. The kids should not be idle, and so they need to be trained! Indian moms tend to enroll their kids for summer dances and music classes. It is as if they do not want the kids spending time inside the house when it is a vacation. The traditional arts triumph over the more modern ones in her list, especially when it comes to female offspring. Something to do with the conservative gene, perhaps. The Indian mom is overjoyed to watch her child perform – even if the kid can’t hold a tune!
Shopaholics?….Naaaah!
More and more Indian moms are also working women. So, there is no guarantee that they also go fun shopping. Maybe they do window shopping on their way back from work. Jokes apart, Studies do assert they are not big-time shopaholics. But they have not given up either. Moms become shopaholics during festivals and also when it is time to choose things for their children. They have the expertise to make the shop salesman suffer his worst sins.
The Protective Bubble of Indian Moms
Mothers, in general, are fiercely protective of their kids. Indian moms are no different in this regard. If anything, they tend to be over-protective on occasions. Here is a sample discussion to prove it:
Child: Mom, Can I take swimming classes this summer?
Mother: What did you say just now?
Child: I want to go swimming. Is it wrong?
Mother: Over my dead body. What if you drown. No way in the world.
The mother rarely lets the matter get out of hands. She does not mince words either on such safety-based occasions. Indian moms will use love, fear of God, or just plain anger to protect you from anything she feels to be dangerous.
To sum up, Indian moms are fun-loving and fair. They do not impose themselves on their kids. The children reciprocate to their mothers in kind as well. Kids do rebel from time to time; yet, they love their mothers with their whole heart. They follow in their parents’ footsteps and try to live up to their expectations.