PW invited parents of the top-ranked N.L Dalmia High School, Thane to share their insights on the joys of parenting

“We never know the love of a parent till we become parents ourselves. The joy and happiness of parenting my 14-year-old son Aaron Keith is a gift we have cherished for every moment of our lives. It has given us a reason to wake up every morning and work towards providing him with a strong foundation and a set of wings to realise his dreams. In my opinion, the biggest joy of parenting has been to relive our childhoods while transforming from dutiful parents to Aaron’s best friends. The journey thus far has been extraordinary. Under our love and guidance, Aaron is now a budding teen ready for the future and about to spread his wings.” — Montina Boodle, homemaker

“From the time she was little, we never discouraged our daughter Mahike (class VII) from exploring as many activities that she set her heart on and always praised her when she made the effort to overcome challenges by demonstrating grit, persistence, and determination. It also makes us happy that she uses her mobile phone, digital devices and gaming with moderation and invests considerable time in productive work. I believe our parenting has helped her blossom into an intelligent, hardworking and self-motivated pre-teen winning not only scholarships, awards and encomiums but also the respect of her teachers and fellow students. What an honour it is to be Mahika’s parents!” — Poonam Sankhe, special educator, Thane.

“Parenting not only provides joy and excitement but also imposes huge responsibility. Parenting my 13-year-old son Medhansh (class VIII) has given me the opportunity to relive my own childhood. I have ensured Medhansh gets the best opportunities without our being over-protective or over pampering him. Through this journey, my effort was not to evolve into a perfect parent, but an honest one. I must admit that at times, the going was tough but in the end, I am filled with gratitude for being blessed with such a wonderful child. Today I am proud to say that Medhansh is my best friend.” — Sujatha Ramachandran Iyer, homemaker

“Parenting is a journey of discovering strengths and virtues I didn’t know I possessed and fears I never experienced. There are no rules for good parenting and this makes the experience exciting, joyful, challenging and full of sweet memories. It’s a delight to watch my nine-year-old daughter Laaibah grow into an independent young girl. I have guided her through new experiences and it’s a great feeling to share her successes. Each time she achieves something, it’s like my dreams have come true. Motherhood has completely changed my life, my priorities and gives me inner satisfaction. I am my daughter’s whole world.” — Shazia Shaikh, homemaker