The Super Power called Family

Growing up in a small town in eastern UP – Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, which means the world is one big family – was taken too seriously by us. A huge house with several rooms, a large courtyard to play, dinner table conversations with atleast 30 of my family members (yes, you read it right) was how I spent my childhood – after all, the big Indian joint family. And it remains the same for almost everyone in the country.

This changed when I shifted after marriage to the UAE a couple of years back. And guess what, now we too had a ‘small’ family here after my daughter was born.

But it was only during the lockdown our family became ‘complete’ when my mother-in-law, who was on a short break, got stuck with us in UAE. She spent over six months with us after India announced a complete lockdown on March 25. Her extended stay was a blessing in disguise – after all, we again got a chance to have three generations stay together.

It was a win-win situation for all three of us as dadi and her granddaughter for the first time got to spend so much time together. And we got the company of lovely maa during the torturous lockdown.

It is surprising to see how the eldest and the youngest member of the family get so involved with each other. My mother in-law’s morning began with a good morning kiss and ended with a bear hug from my daughter. The completeness on grandmother’s face and that smile on my daughter gave us strength during the pandemic.

Children who have the opportunity to stay with their grandparents are blessed. After all, they acquire superpowers to do anything in the house. With the backing of elders, they can overrule their parent’s rule book.

You only realize the value of something when you don’t have it. I say this with experience when I see Indian friends lonely here in UAE worrying about their family back home. But not that people don’t have problems at home. I have also heard about dispute between the members of a family but I was fortunate to grow up in a joint family were each relationship was a priceless life lesson.

Living in a joint-family lifelong I truly believe that every member of the family has a significant role in shaping up the future of the younger generation in the family. This pandemic has made each one of us realize the importance of family members, friends, loved ones and those who matter.

The innumerable series of chats and video calls we have made to people we love during the lockdown is a sign that how much we need each relationship. I hope the love continues even without the virus.

The author is UAE based business analyst, mother of one, and keeper of family values.