They say that once something is out on the Internet, there’s no taking it back. So amongst all the things I say and do, this is perhaps a note, that I hope, survives my time, however long or short that may be.
They say that inspiration comes to us in many forms. Sometimes as the seed of an idea that’s somehow planted in your mind and urges you to take it forward. Other times, it appears as a gentle voice from within, threatening you to put it down somewhere, lest you burst otherwise. And some other times, it just appears in the form of a person, a well-wisher perhaps, or someone you want to prove a point to. And some other times, it’s just in the form of Mother Nature’s glorious (and various) forms or that lady jogging in the park.
My inspiration to write was ‘born’, on this day, three years ago.
Today, he goes by the name of Rishi. And this is for him.
Dear Son,
I know you’re too young to understand this note, but I leave it here in the hope that someday you may discover this. And that someday, hopefully you’ll know that beyond all the jokes that I make at your expense and despite the fact that I often portray you as the ‘miniaturised version of a shrewd and smart monster, armed with LEGO blocks’, I honestly wouldn’t be here today, if it wasn’t for you.
I rediscovered myself, the day you came into this world. Today, a handful of people know me as a ‘wannabe writer who can perhaps, string together a few meaningful words’, only because of your presence. Every single time, someone says a good word about my ‘Daddy Journals’ posts or updates, I want you to know that it wouldn’t be possible without you. And they’re my most popular posts. Yes, even over the ‘stories’ that I weave.
So, amongst all the love, anger and a plethora of other emotions that I shower on you every single day, I also need you to know that I owe you something – this new life of mine as a ‘work-from-home-father’ and ‘wannabe-writer’.
Thank you for the wide smiles, crazy antics and ground-breaking tantrums, that inspires me to write, every single day.
And most of all, thank you for teaching me to believe in love once again.
You mother taught me that lesson, fourteen years ago, when we first met. And you’ve been carrying on that lesson, since you were born.
I love you, our son. And remember, that no matter how angry we may seem when you push that crystal vase off the table and smash it to smithereens or when you do the exact opposite of what we request you to do, we will always love you and stand by your decisions and choices.
We want you to be become who YOU want to be, not who-WE-want-you-to-be.
Happy Birthday, you mini-monster!
Love,
Dad
P.S. You’re a ‘THREE-nager’ now. May the Good Lord give all three of us, plenty of strength for what’s coming this following year 🙂
I Wrote Those - by Sid Balachandran 
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