Gy, I started this blog as a way to document the way things unfolded in my life as a new parent and how it’s grown. I can safely say I never expected that this blog would be read by more than two people: you and me.

A part of me is beyond thrilled that it’s touched so many people and continues to resonate with so many more.

But I also know this: It’s a responsibility I have here. I cannot write anything I want. There are things I’d rather tell you as I hold you in my arms and whisper them in private.

The good thing though? There are other things I can say out loud which other parents will agree with and that’s why we are here today.

Here are some of the simplest things you should cultivate in your life. You can start today and you’ll notice how wonderfully different the world can be.

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Do your own chores

It’s easy. Start with the simple things: make your own bed, put your clothes away, wash up after meals, wash your clothes by hand and dust a bit around the house. This builds a sense of responsibility and if you’re ever living on your own (which you will), these will come in handy.

Play a sport

I love the way you throw yourself energetically into play. The attention you pay to the ball when it comes into your court and how you focus. It’s a wonderful skill. Keep it alive.

Read

You do a lot of this already, don’t you? We argue over those ‘extra five pages’ and ‘just till the end of the page.’ I try to be stern but I’ll tell you a secret: I was exactly like you! My mom used to get annoyed that I would lose myself in a book to the extent that I’d be deaf to everything else. Another secret? It’s why I keep you away from gadgets as much as possible. I don’t want you to lose that sense of wonder that a book can give you. Trust me. Read a lot. Read so much that it widens your horizons and your heart immeasurably.

Clean up when you make a mess

Yes, you should mop up spills but this is something more important. When you make a mistake, apologise. It can be to a friend, a senior or a junior. Admit when you are wrong and clean up the mess. You will have a lighter heart.

Respond to a cry for help

When someone calls out to you for help, do the best you can. Offer them what they need: most times, it’s quite simple. A hug, a shoulder, a ear to listen. It takes very little to make people know that you care about them. But it’s an investment that reaps rich rewards.

Learn to say No

This is one of the hardest things to do but it’s important to do. Learn to say No to things that aren’t good for you, are overwhelming and promise more than what you know are possible. These can be people, situations or jobs. How will you know? It’s a learning curve but you’ll find out soon enough.

Study hard

I know I tell you not to worry about what marks you score but there is something you should do: study. Study because learning is an ongoing process, for life. Study hard because it teaches you skills like industriousness, sticking to a goal and working towards it. Study because you love the subject and what it can do for you. Find innovative ways to study so it never becomes a chore.

Meditate

This makes you giggle now but it’s important. Spend a few minutes a day in silence, giving thanks for the wonder that is your life. Still your mind and let go of worries. When you are stressed and overworked, this habit will rescue you far quicker than you’d anticipate.

Learn to cook

You are blessed to grow up in a home where you see both parents cook. (Yes, your dad cooks way better than your mom. Don’t tell him I said that!) Cooking is a skill you need to survive. Do you recall how you loved making that cup of tea for me when I was ill? That’s just the beginning. Enjoy every task and somehow it won’t seem so taxing, after all.

Don’t be afraid to cry

Never worry about being too sensitive. We all need to cry from time to time, be it while reading a book, watching a movie, listening to stories that move us or expressing our grief. You can also cry in joy but you’ll learn about that a little later.

 Let go

You will have to let go of a lot of things: friends, family, relationships, a few dreams and it will hurt. It will feel like a part of your life has ended. But you will grow, as a person. The one thing I want you to remember here? Do it with kindness. Don’t hold grudges, don’t rant about it, don’t call people ‘toxic’ and don’t wish them ill. There are no such things as toxic people, only unfavourable circumstances. Everyone has a story and always be compassionate.

 Talk to me

I can’t always be with you in person but I am always here to listen. Sit next to me on the bed, pick up the phone and call me and some day, very very very very far into the future, when I am not with you, close your eyes and speak to me. I promise to always listen. Always.

This isn’t an exhaustive list, not at all. In fact, I may come back and add a few more things to this a couple of months from now when you turn ten, and again when you turn 13.

I won’t call this an open letter or a set of guidelines. I would rather borrow a phrase from a dear, dear friend, Laksh and call it my legacy to you. Life is uncertain and one never knows how long one has on this beautiful, blue-green planet.

Doing even two of these things with heart, will help you as you walk down this exciting path called life and learning. So,if I were to be gone tomorrow, know that these are some of the things I wish you could practise as you grow. Doing them for yourself, not for anyone else, will help you face a lot that life throws your way.

Life, for all its beauty, can be pretty challenging and on most days, we are our own best warriors. Never buckle down. Never stop. Never give up.

What would you add to this list?I’d love to know and share it with Gy too.

Mom and child looking into each other's eyes