This incident is from years ago… pre covid.
It was a mom’s birthday. I was a guest.
Please note, I didn’t say it was my friend’s birthday - because what I am about to say probably happens in more households than it doesn’t - to more moms than not.
The cake was brought to the table. Mom is getting ready to blow out the candles and someone voices their concern, “Awww, look your baby wants to blow out the candles..” - except the said baby was at least six years old AND the “baby” didn’t want to blow out the candles!
The mom said, “No, she knows it’s my birthday and the birthday person gets to blow out the candle”, and went right ahead and cut her cake.
I LOVED IT.
What an amazing mother. What an amazing way to show her child, how to be assertive.
Of course, people talked. Instigated by that one person, people talked.
This one tiny lesson has stayed with me since. I am sure it has stayed with the attendees too because there was complete silence when the mom said what she said.
Most of all, I hope it stays with every child that was there at that party. And I hope that every woman understands that it is more than okay to take up space, to own it, to flaunt it, and to do it with grace.
That mom was all smiles and polite even as she saw the looks she got from certain people. The grace she exuded, the elegance she carried herself with - pure brilliance!
So moms, assert your position in your life. Be kind, but don’t be a pushover. Be gentle, but push back when it gets too much and do it with a smile!
That small act of assertiveness - if applied to every area of our lives, would make us much happier and help the others in our lives understand “boundaries” - a topic for next time!
Until then… PLANT yourself!
Sweta Shah Sakhpara is a pranic energy therapist and a pranic psychotherapist. She also teaches mindfulness and meditation to kids, adults and families. When she is not doing any of the above, she actively practices being a mindful parent to two kids.
Having learned and practiced pranic healing for ~fifteen years, Sweta has been blessed with the trust of many clients for ailments as simple as a headache to complex ones like Tourette’s syndrome, from depression and anxiety to finding ways to embrace the idea of a new normal with a child being diagnosed on the spectrum. You could read more about her HERE.
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