Why Punctuations Matter In Life

Do we realise that even in life, we need punctuations… those pauses, those moments to reflect and let go?

- Vidhya Sanjay

One of the routines, we follow at home is to share the day with each other before we all retire to bed. It is my second son Pramit, the seven-year-old who is always the first one to ask the question - "So, how was your day?" and it's always his day that gets discussed first. He is so eager and enthusiastic about sharing everything taught to him in school, about his friends, his teachers, what he did at the playground… the list is endless.

That day, Pramit, shared about learning punctuations as part of his subject, Language Arts. We were all given a full revision on punctuations and how it's important to pause after every comma while reading, where to use the appropriate punctuation and what quotation marks stand for etc. For all the patient listening we do, the whole family gets rewarded with limitless kisses and hugs from him. He is such a delight to parent.

That week, one of those days when I was reading a storybook to Pramit, he said, "Amma, you are not pausing when you see a comma, remember I told you about punctuations." With a smile on my face, I slowed my pace of reading and we finished the book together, giving due respect to all the punctuations.

Playing so many different roles and to ensure my attention is given to all the roles in my life, a checklist - a TODO list - constantly runs in my head. This list never ends… no matter how much I clear. The additions are more than the subtractions… the reason is my belief in being an 'all role' wonder versus a 'one role' wonder!