A Journey of Changing CareFor Mother’s Day and Beyond
From the very first breath your child takes, you become a mother—not just in body, but in mind, in soul, in every heartbeat. And from that moment until your last breath, you remain one.
Mothering is not just feeding and protecting. It is caring and guiding. It is learning how to let go just enough—at the right time, in the right way.
- The Newborn and Infant Phase: Total Dependence
At this stage, your child needs you for everything—nourishment, sleep, warmth, and love. Your touch, your voice, even your scent is their world. Mothering here means total presence. Your baby doesn’t understand language yet, but understands comfort, rhythm, and consistency.
- Toddler and Preschool Years: Curiosity Awakens
This is when your child begins to explore. They walk, talk, question. You are still their anchor, but you are also their mirror. They imitate you, test limits. Here, mothering is about setting gentle boundaries and encouraging curiosity. Let them try, fall, and get up—under your watchful eye.
- School Age: Expanding World
Now the world begins to enter your child’s life—teachers, friends, books. Mothering shifts. You’re no longer the only voice, but still the most trusted one. Teach routines, values, health habits, emotional control. Support learning, but don’t overdo it. Allow space to grow socially and intellectually.
- Adolescence: The Identity Storm
Here comes the storm of change—physical, emotional, social. This is when parenting becomes hardest and most important. Your child wants freedom, yet secretly still needs safety. Don’t just control—connect. Talk less, listen more. Trust them gradually. Discuss, don’t dictate. Give independence, but draw clear lines of responsibility. This is where the foundations of lifelong resilience are built.
- Youth and Young Adulthood: Wings Take Shape
Your child starts stepping out—career, relationships, choices. You worry. But this is the time to shift from protector to advisor. You have prepared them. Now let them try. Be a strong, quiet presence in the background—available, but not intrusive.
- Middle Age and Beyond: The Circle Turns
By now, your child may have become a parent. You’re still a mother, but your role is wise and light-handed. Let them find their own way. Offer experience without imposing. You have not stepped back; you have grown forward.
The Golden Thread: Care That Changes with Time
What remains constant is love. What must change is the way it is shown. Overprotection delays growth. Too much distance creates fear. The art of mothering lies in knowing when to hold and when to let go.
You are not just raising a child—you are shaping a person who must learn how to live, grow, adapt, and thrive in the world.
Celebrate yourself this Mother’s Day. Not for being perfect, but for being present. Not for always knowing the answer, but for always being there to help find it.
Becoming a mother may be natural — but understanding the science of childhood is not automatic.
No mother is born with complete knowledge or expertise.
She learns, adjusts, makes mistakes, and relearns — because the child keeps changing, and so does life.
Raising a child isn’t only about love and instinct; it includes a thoughtful understanding of the child’s body, mind, health, prevention, and disease management.
A wise mother knows when to seek timely help from professionals who understand child development better — not because she’s weak, but because she’s responsible.
To grow as the child grows, the mother too must keep learning — not only new skills, but new perspectives.
– Dr. Anil Mokashi (Pediatrician)
MBBS, MD, DCH, FIAP, PhD
(Child Growth and Development)
