Growing up, I remember every Christmas Eve my sister and I would write letters to Santa Claus and would hide them in our Christmas stockings hanging by the window. On 25th morning, magically, our gifts would be placed by our letters. We never doubted Santa’s existence, but when we finally found out it was you, it felt great to know that we live with our very own Santa!

To the mother you always were and the father you became…

Dear Mom,

I know playing a role of two parents is not an easy job and you still did it so beautifully.
You have spent the last 17 years of your life putting us before anyone/anything else and if there was any way we could do the same for you, we would, but there is nothing in the world that can match up to it.

Each time a friend has heard that you are a single parent, their first reaction was sympathetic because they had no idea what a wonderful father you are to us.
There have been so many times I hear people talk about their dads and the little things they do for them, and in my head, I can’t help but think about how my mother has played a role of being such a superhero in my life and honestly, not once, have I felt the void.

I remember the time we were so upset that Enrique was coming to India, but not to Hyderabad and you surprised us with his concert tickets and flew us down to Bangalore just for the concert! We were the envy of every child in school back then. Somehow it made me feel so happy, that for instances like this, I didn’t need to have a father figure. You were my father enough.

When you took this brave step 17 years ago, it wasn’t “normal” in our society. You were frowned upon by many, but that never stopped you from doing the right thing for your kids. From the beginning till date, you’ve only wanted nothing but for us to have a stable childhood and a good life.

Even when people around you asked you to get re-married to give us a “father” you refused to only because you wanted to give us a stable childhood.
Going back to our childhood, we cannot thank you enough for the stability and the loving home you have given us in spite of being by yourself. There was never a time we felt less loved, never a void we felt when our friends spoke about their fathers, never a time we couldn’t get the Barbie we always wanted or never a time we couldn’t go for the holidays we dreamt of. We literally had it all.

There were times we had our friends coming up to us and telling us about how they would love to have you as their mum, over and over again. Each time I heard something like that, I felt so proud, and I always knew I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Mom, you have been the most remarkable father.
Today, because of the way you have brought us up, because of the life you have given us, I can say it with all my heart, we are so proud to have you as our mother, who also became our father.

To the Mom you always were and the father you became…

Happy Father’s Day, Maa.
– Submitted by Sonam Singh