The Smile Stash: Secrets to Success

I read in an article recently that kids with nagging parents turn out to be more successful. I take such surveys with a grain of salt, I have my questions about the validity of such a survey or its seemingly definitive results. However, I was nagged by my mother as a child, and, I'd like to think of myself as a nagging mom too. I have gone a full circle on the nagging spectrum and I would like to report out my nagging experiences.

I always had a very long hair as a child, and I loathed every inch of it. Throughout high school and for most of the freshman year in college, I had to wear my hair in two braids. My mom used to put coconut oil on my hair religiously and I would look forward to the one school day of the week I get to wash my hair and do a single non-oily braid. For someone that longed for short hair left loose or tied in a cute little pony tail, oil-free hair was all I could make do with. I used to beg for my hair to be cut short and mom would give her standard reply- you can cut it any way you like, after you get married. She loved long hair on us and never once budged on my constant pleas. She made it sound as if I would have my wings and fly once I got married.

I did get my wings and fly to the US after college, although it took me three years in the US before I could muster the courage and get my hair cut. Full disclaimer, I grew it all back before my wedding and all was well with my mom's dream of seeing her daughters married off with a long hair. I was reminded of my first hair cut when I going through some old pictures on the occasion of our tenth anniversary. My daughter spotted the picture with short hair and remarked that she likes long hair better on me. She recommends never cutting my hair short again. The length of my hair is yet again dictated by others. Sigh.

My sister, a very good carnatic singer, never liked to practice or sing for a crowd as a child. At every get together at our home, my parents would ask her to sing and she would look for every excuse in the world to not sing. Now, when she complains to me about how my older niece does not spend enough time practicing singing, I gladly remind her about all the practice she did not do as a child herself. :) Oh, and my niece recently got an opportunity to participate in a TV Channel's singing talent show after featuring in the top 20 contestants from the state. I am so proud of my niece!

I relayed this story to my dear daughter and encouraged her to practice singing. I told her how I always sing whenever anyone asks me to sing, hoping that it would somehow inspire her. The smarty pants replied- amma, you LOVE singing and that's why you sing whenever anyone asks. I like singing but I don't LOVE it like you do. Oh no! Hope the corollary for the said survey is not true for I seem to be failing miserably in the nagging department, ;)