Ode to a Modern Asian Indian Mother

Feeds breast milk to the last drop

lest the baby not be a flop

She looks for a preschool

even before the baby sits on a stool

She takes the baby to jungle gym

so that he stays fit and trim

buys videos, software and books

Montessori like her home looks

a day later than charts child speaks

And developmental opinion she seeks

She puts him in a part time daycare

So that he learns to play and share

Every second of the child is planned

Every moment is scanned

Every minute has to be sculpted

for nature cannot be trusted

As the day fills with birthdays and play datings

She starts looking for preschool ratings

For my baby I will find the best

Good in not enough, only best begets the best

Even if he and me have to take many a test

For preschool she buys a big hatchback car

For the baby will have to be hauled near and far

Soon comes the grammar school

When the child is easy and cool

But his mama is not to be fooled

In music and dance he has to be schooled

For religion and language, Sunday schooled

Soon mamas begin culture fight

Over how many events for one child right

Everyone has to get even chance

For life can change with one or two dance

In middle school mama’s effort picks up speed

To math and spelling bees and sports she pays heed

Sprinkles a little volunteerism, if there be need

Come what may my child will be the best is her creed

She monitors friends and foes around

To see if anyone has gone far

Then her child has to get afar

Activities to beat others can be found

In high school begins the Ivy League fever

Life of the child has to be made now or never

Volunteerism, projects, sports, leadership galore

Fill up the resume more and more

College applications, essays and trips

With these parents cannot make any slips

For worthy are only Princeton, Columbia,

U-Penn, Stanford, MIT, Cornell and Yale

Besides these everything is pale

If he fails I fail losing my bragging rights.

And will die of shame on party nights.

Hindi dénouement (Hindi Upsamhar)

Ivy league ke bina mein kese jiyoomgi

Sharm se chhipoongi yaa maroongi 

Kah kavi Bhushan, Ivy league mein baccha jiska jaye, vo maa itraye

Rutgers, metrotech mein baccha jiska jajye vo sharm se maari jaaye

Waiver: Although I fully understand that due to intense competition for college admissions parents have to and should work hard to nurtute their chidlren, but they should strike a balance between the natural ability and desire of a child to learn and supplanting it with their own ambitions and anxieties. I respect and salute all the young mothers who sacrifice so much of themselves for their children.