Aarti Pathak was on the cover in August 2008, along with Arjun, now three, who was not even a year-old then. The birth of second son Aditya, now one, and the rediscovery of her writing passion have been major landmarks since...

I was featured three years ago in the August issue of M&B. I think it was the third or the fourth month of M&B’s birth. The biggest event that has happened since then was the birth of my second child Aditya, who is one now.

The shoot was a pleasant experience. I did not once feel that I was with people I was meeting for the first time. From the first moment, it felt like I was among friends. Wearing different clothes, a lady fussing over my hair and make-up and a photographer giving me his full attention most definitely made me – a simple home-maker with a baby in her arms – feel special!

It was surreal! Seeing your face on the cover of a fabulous magazine does not happen every day and I cherish that experience till date. All my relatives and friends were very excited and I received warm wishes for days together after the cover was published. Without telling her why, I had told my mother-in-law to pick up the latest M&B. Since she was in the market, she did so immediately. The bookshop owner, who is also a family friend, asked her, ‘Ma’am, why are YOU buying this magazine... is it for your daughter-in-law? My mum-in-law held the magazine and stared at the faces till, in one instant, the recognition happened! ‘Oooh that’s my Arjun and Aarti,’ she exclaimed, beaming. When she called me up after that, the excitement in her voice was exactly what my ears were waiting to hear! The rest of the family had similar happy and surprised reactions when they saw the magazine.

I am an Economics professor but I have not gone yet back to teaching. I felt my kids need me terribly and I want to be around for them for the next few years. But yes, the birth of my children has made me a very emotional person. Motherhood has brought out a multitude of emotions in me and gave me strengths I did not know I could have. As I have been fond of writing since school, one day I began penning my thoughts and, in an hour, I had a poem ready! What a lovely coincidence that it got published in M&B’s first anniversary issue. Since then, I have been writing for various magazines and periodicals as also for the Chicken Soup for the Indian Soul series of books.

Along with M&B, Arjun has also grown in the last three years. He is currently enjoying his summer vacations, playing cricket, football and catching up with his friends. At home, he busies himself with writing his name and making aeroplanes to fight wars with his toy blocks. Being a quiet child, he surprised me recently by excitedly rattling off numerous rhymes, poems and songs that he must have picked up at school!

Aditya, on the other hand, is enjoying his newfound independence as he has just learnt how to walk. I love watching them both play and fight together. Arjun and Aditya have developed a language of their own and it’s delightful watching them use it to interact with each other.

I am currently making sure that both Arjun and Aditya finish their breakfast lunch and dinner  every day (and, on some days I am successful too!). I have just finished editing and compiling my first book – Chicken Soup for the Indian Soul - Teen Talk: Growing Up. It will be in the market in a couple of months. I will start on another writing project very soon. Hobby writing, of course, is on each day.

Time management is vital for a mother, as is maintaining a sense of humour. Just having wonderful kids to look after, care for, nurture and raise is in itself a heavenly experience. There is so much to it. Watching their personalities emerge and evolve, feeling their love for us, the innocence and trust in their eyes, which always tugs at the heart, little arms around my legs when my three-year-old hugs me or little flying kisses that my baby blows at me... the whole experience is beautiful and priceless.!

One day, the kids will grow up and be on their way. We can achieve great heights, but in the dusk of our life, no achievement can be bigger than the knowledge of having raised good human beings. And to me that too would be a very precious part of motherhood. M&B