How many times have you heard this phrase, or maybe said it yourself to your little one? I have heard it often enough, in fact, today as I was waiting to pick my younger one from her school bus, I heard a young mother saying the exact phrase to her very young boy, who was probably around 3 years old.
The mother was walking her son to a kindergarten school around the block and even as the baby wanted to get in her godi, she absolutely refused to pick him up. “Agar aap godi aaogey to teacher bolegi aap bad boy ho” (if you come in my arms the teacher will say you are a bad boy).
I found this interaction really disheartening. Which made me think of the many times so many of us repeat the same phrase to our kids. My friends do it, my partner does it, many other people I know do it, as do many strangers that I see with kids. But I can proudly say I do not say this.
To me, one of the best feeling of being a mommy is to pick up my kids and cuddle them as much as I want to. That feeling of holding my babies in my arms gives me a sense of contentment and happiness that is second to none.
When I have my kids in my godi, I feel I have the entire universe in my arms.
For me, taking my babies in my arms is one of the purest and simplest ways of letting them know how precious they are, how loved they are, that no matter what they do, their parents are always there for them, right here. It is also the first step of teaching your child about that very strong feeling known as emotional connect. Just the way it is also the first step in teaching your child the importance of expressing love instead of just holding it in.
I have two daughters, aged 3 and 9, and till date, I also pick up my elder one in my arms a lot. I don’t mean I do it while I am out with her, but I regularly pick her up at home, and sometimes even outside for fun. I also make her sit on my lap a lot. Why not?
As for the younger one, at 3, I never say no to her when she asks to be in my godi. In fact, there are times when I pester her to come in my arms.
Why kids need to be held
Our babies, at 2, 3, 4 and so on, are still small kids, still growing and learning and feeding off this very strong food of growing up known as love. Taking them on godi does not spoil them, definitely does not make them bad, and no, unlike what many parents say, it does not make them used to the habit. I mean, have you ever seen a baby grow up and one who still wants to stay in his mother's godi? I haven’t.
All I have seen when I take my babies in my arms is the unmatched love and bonding we share, the one that can never be matched with anything else. Ever.
Also Read: "I don't love my in-laws, but my daughter does"
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