I live in Bombay with he-who-must-game, he-who-must-dance, he-who-must-leap-onto-cupboards-on-three-legs and she-who-must-steal-tomatoes-for-a-living. Someone told me it was poetic justice I begat a boy after all those years of bashing men in my column Chickwit in the Hindustan Times. So I figured, I might as well appreciate the poetry in being a mother, at least moments/milestones that make me think. So this is a mommy blog with a twist. It will not be about poop and boob travails, and will definitely not be a chronicle or diary, but about the things we think and do not say. Mostly.
For the purpose of convenience, the husband is referred to as OPU (other parental unit), the child as Re and the cats as F1 and F2.
I absolutely dig feedback and will try and reply to each of your comments, but if I don’t do so, hang in there. Perhaps my cat got my keyboard. And while I am all for healthy discussions and points of view, if you intend to be mean, vicious, malicious or racist, I have just two words. Stay out.
Please do not reproduce any text or images in this blog without my permission. You can write to me on mommygolightly@gmail.com should you have any questions.
Enjoy the blog!
Lee, this is awesome
can’t wait to read more (loved the galaxy ball post!) Hopefully someday we can blog together! xoxo
Thanks malz. Just found this today in my spam folder. Dunno how I missed it, but I am still figuring things out. Yes, blogging together sounds like fun. Yay for that!
Hi, I happened to read your blog and thought it was really so refreshing and so real. pardon me being technologically challenged I must learn to visit your blog and reply. Looking forward to read much more.
Sonia
welcome here! and don’t worry too much about the tech part.
I’ve been following Chickwit almost from the time you started writing it so I obviously knew about this blog of yours but never checked it out coz I assumed it would be the usual mommy blog.. MY BAD!
I visited this blog only today and read up many many posts already. Now I only feel silly. After all, how can Lalita Iyer write a boring blog!
Thank you Manali. I try not to let the Chickwit readers down.
hi, saw your blog for the first time. good work, keep going.
i love to share information with the events in Chennai
THANKS JAYSHREE
am sure even if you decide to write about poop and boob travails, it will be whole lot of fun to read
I might take you up on it!
hi, read your article in the Mid Day last month the one with the recipe for Tzatziki and have been meaning to read your blog ever since, I finally did it today and boy am I glad I did, I agree with quaintk. I am thinking of trying out your recipe this Sunday.
Hi
I am expecting and had the most amazing last 5 months! 4 more to go ..
i just read your blog on breastfeeding..its really nice and motivating!
Hope to have more on parenthood!
Hi Shalini, congratulations and welcome to the blog! I will have lots more on parenthood, so hang in there
i just love reading your blog.
Being an aunt to a just-going-to-be 2 year old’s I see so much of my nephew in Re…
That’s so sweet Roshni.Thank you
Just started with your 41 things in Mumbai piece…. eager to catch up on other posts. Lovely blog! p.s. OPU – how perfect!
Thank you Subha.
This one of the best blogs ever! Congratulations, you rock!
Hi Lalita,just happened to read your article today-about how our outlook towards our parents change when we become parents. Simply loved it and was able to relate to it which I’m sure most of the new parents would have!!! keep rocking
Thank you samriti. Those are very sweet words.
Hi Lalita….had started reading your columns in The Sunday Express Eye…..loved it since…….have a way to go before i become a mother, but enjoy your writing and experiences (i ain’t a sadist!)… A summer camp called life, Like a little prayer and He said, she said – win thumbs down….. love children so yes, Re surely is on my list……..god bless…..
Thank you Nidhi. I think we are all mothers or children in some way or the other; having a child just intensifies it. I am glad you enjoy the writing.
Am enjoying reading your blog Lalita – makes up for having to live in what appears to be a very large pig sty, with discarded wipes, cloth nappies, and changing mats everywhere.
Am so glad you are enjoying it. Thank you for writing.
Hi,
I am a writer who up till now was heavily deluded that writing needs to be grand and catchy to be out there. Like a pretentiously portioned exquisite five course meal only worth the bomb of a price and the taxes. You either set out that on the table or set out nothing!
So I haven’t been able to write as much as I wanted to for four years years and been heartbroken about it. I have wailed and whined about it aptly to justify a genuine heartbreak.
Reading your blog made me realise that true art is in putting your heart out on the platter, not in garnishing and presenting it. its about making the same dal-chawal everyday and making the eater salivate for it. sometimes it’s just about the tadka you gave today because you felt like it.
That’s a lot of delving into food analogy. But now that I have finally finished my essay, thank you because you saved the martyr queen from not writing for a lifetime..
Puja Gokarn.
Happy to help. Yes, it’s good to wear your heart on your sleeve, as long as your mind knows where to stop.
Hahah I live with he who must game, he who must draw, she who must dance and he who must sleep on new laundry. So looking fwd to this new blog find. Its like finding out you have a few more chapters left when you thought the book was over. Yay!
Enjoyed reading your blogs. Especially the one on friendship post marriage+kids. Have encountered similar feelings…..
Am glad!
Just one article has me hooked. You still bash up men pretty good. N heck, they deserve every bit of it.
I am your latest fan. I think your blog is the most awesome piece of writing I have read in the longest time! I am absolutely insanely in love with your writing! Brilliant stuff!
Mommy…u really dont go lightly…do you?
loved ur writing….glad I came across ur blog…may be shd thank CB for this atleast!
Hi Lalita, Loved your article in eye..(Freedom of choice) and you seem to inspire me !!!
Thank you.
Your blog lit my day and belly with laughter and i didnt rest till i had read them all. Looking forward to all your future posts and perhaps find courage in embarking down your road sometime in the future.
Wishes and cheers
Spurthi
Absolutely witty and refreshing. Your sense of humor while making a point kept cracking me up. Glad I came across ur blog
Btw I came across in context of the much hyped Chetan Bhagat’s article and then someone posted ur response to it…
Cheers
I just want to tell you that I am just beginner to blogging and honestly savored your web page. Likely I’m want to bookmark your blog . You amazingly have fabulous writings. Bless you for sharing your website page.
Hi Lalita ! Read your article in the Sunday Eye and then followed your blogs. I love the way you write and very aptly put little things mommies feel but do not say. I’m an amateur writer and write under the head ‘ Ruminations’ but haven’t written in a long time. But, I must say after reading your blogs, I’m really inspired to write again. Please read my blogs too and tell me what I can do to further and enhance my writing skills.
Dear Mamta. I am so glad I helped. Do mail me a link to mommygolightly@gmail.com and i will get back to you
You are just awesome !!! The loved that one-Home truth’s on non-career wives !!! Love love love !! The whole world was going ga ga about Chetan’s article and I had to pick it up and read it once to just understand if he had suddenly started making sense – obviously not ! I was quite disguised about how he used that silly movie as a comparison point to discuss about women ? I am a banker by profession and I would hate it if my husband married me for some – benefits ! -I understand stock options and I invest well ,am a career women so yes we do afford everything we don’t necessarily want and go on lovely breaks !… but that is no reason for anyone to marry me ! If anything the whole article made my husband quite miserable as I kept asking him if he thoughts are any similar…..! I loved your response !! Loved Loved !
Thank you!
Hi Lalita, I nominated your blog for a Best Moments Award. This badge is for those who beautifully capture the essence of this moment of life, and your funny/kind/touching notes on parenting are definitely worthy of this award! Here are the details: http://wp.me/p2x7VR-p9
I am sorry I have quoted some of your words of wisdom (2 small 3 line paras)on my FB page but given due credit to your blog.Just got hooked on to your blog today after my daughter posted a link. Might have read some earlier had not my paper wallah defaulted on supplying Indian Express making me change the news paper.
Sunita Kumar, 66.
Of course you are welcome to share, Sunita. Glad to have you here.
Just discovered your blog through the article on getting back to work for shallow reasons..so resonated with me. Got back to a corpo job after a nearly 3 year break and i know how that feels…