Bringing up Vasu: That First Year

Synopsis:

First time mom Mira steps out of the hospital with her baby son, aglow with confidence that her aspirations for Supermom-dom will be fulfilled. After all, she's attended all the pre-natal sessions, armed herself with postnatal planning, read all the books, and - most crucially - has the benefit of advice from expert Yummy Mummy, Rhea.


Mira realises quickly though, that the road to being a model mommy is not that smooth: her baby seems to think sleep is overrated, her boss has decided to show her the door, her pregnancy fat is staying steadfastly on, and - having threatened to beat up the one woman who could get her son into the coveted play school Teddy Foot prints - plans for her first-born are already going away


Will she ever gain entry into the kingdom of chic moms? will she ever be able to successfully juggle a baby and work? and will she every shed those twenty extra kilos?  A funny yet tender peek into the pleasures and pitfalls of becoming a first-time mother, Bringing Up Vasu is a true coming-of-age read.

Review

The book was everything that a new parent goes through.  It was like reeling back in time and witnessing everything that happened to us as a parent during that first year.  The author has meticulously brought out the difficulties, especially when fate takes it turn and things do not happen as expected.  She rightly mentions that the a new parent does not mention these hardship to a non parent, discusses only the feeding and health to the other parents and clearly forgets about these basic process after a few years (as an old parent).  The chapters were short and each of the episodes has been rightly classified with respect to the age

It was right down hilarious and I was literally laughing aloud, leaving my son to steal suspicious glances (sometimes he would also ask what was so funny.  The thing is I cannot explain that I was reading mostly about him, atleast not now).  The authors display of variety of emotions to become a supermom was down to earth.  I mean, each parent (esp. mothers) tries real hard to strike a balance between home and work and some fail to do so.  She explains those parts of self will and energy when she makes unsuccessful attempts to juggle home and work.  The dramas with sleep deprivation and weight loss were never the less funny and true too. (I mean look at me now.. err.. may be all the moms I know too..).

But there never seem to be any heated argument between Anand and Mira, which was not quite right (or atleast given my experience).  The episode of getting the child into preschool was a bit long.  But it is true that these days schools need students who are trained at home.  I was shocked when I learnt from the first interview at a school that my son was expected to sit in a place, play within the play area, say when he needs to go to the restroom, should not cry over seperation anxiety (you get the picture).  Parul Sharma has etched every drama of her life into this funny and uplifting novel that most parents can relate to.

One excerpt from the book, which was my practical experience too

you are also a very light sleeper. The slightest sound, the merest touch, even the hint of a sudden movement in a five mile radius and you are up, looking aroundwith  bright eyes to check what is going  on, where and how, specially at two in the morning.

The downside is, I feel, a person who is not a parent cannot understand or appreciate the details of the book. But if you can relate to how our parents would have brought us up, you will get the picture.  But mostly this book celebrates motherhood and its caring and loving nature.  I am now waiting to read the next book by this author, by the water cooler