The One Thing Women Shouldn’t Ignore

In my mom’s time, just saying the word period was taboo. We had to hide those whisper packets like they were our browsing history—stuffed into bags, slipped under books. 

Fast forward to 2025, and now I order them online. The delivery person hands them over without even bothering to wrap them in a black plastic bag. Progress, right?

!*Red Alert**! – Now, I can openly tell my friends, "I'm on a romantic date with my MENses today—so no swimming, no running, no white pants, and definitely no patience—just me and my ever-so-toxic red-flag partner, P.E.R.I.O.D.S!"

No shame, no secrecy. Wow, we have broken those barriers and talk about cramps, mood swings, and cravings like they are just another Friday. But just when I thought we had won the battle against period taboos, life threw me a curveball: P.M.D.D.

What’s PMDD? Honestly, I thought it was some new government scheme—Prime Minister’s Mortgage Discount Day?—and I even hoped my housing loan would be waived!

Turns out, no. It’s Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder. And when the doctor explained it to me, I was more shocked.

For months, I was going through extreme emotional highs and lows and my partner response? "Why did I even marry you?" Instead of thinking, "Wait, is something wrong with her? Should I check on her?" Oh well, he’s a product manager, not a doctor. Can’t blame him for treating emotions like feature updates.

Then came the real horror: hopelessness and worthlessness. People said, "You earn, you are independent—why the hell do you feel hopeless?" But PMDD doesn’t care how strong or successful you are. It makes you question everything.

Severe bloating, sudden weight gain—okay, fine, I can deal with that. But then came the suicidal thoughts. Yes, you read that right. PMDD isn’t just bad PMS. It’s a storm that wrecks your mental and emotional stability. And guess what? Most people don’t even know it exists.

So here I am, breaking the silence. PMDD is real. It’s not just hormones. It’s a serious medical condition that needs awareness, support, and—most importantly—understanding. Women in their 30s and beyond go through many changes during their menstrual cycle, especially a week before their period, as their hormones start shifting toward perimenopause. Well, I had to Googled it when the doctor told me—because, honestly, it sounded like a new peri-peri chicken item on the restaurant menu 😐

If you feel like you are on an emotional rollercoaster every month, don’t just brush it off. Talk to a doctor. Educate your partner. Demand support. And every man should be aware of these changes and support the women in their lives during this time. Because no one should suffer in silence.

And to my fellow warriors battling PMDD—you are not alone. It’s okay to seek medical support because your health, both mental and physical, matters. You deserve care, understanding, and a life not ruled by your hormones!

The Weight of Emptiness

I know people say life is complete  

When you have family—  

Parents, a sibling, a husband, a child.  

But what they don’t say  

Is how empty it feels  

When they are just... there, yet mean N.O.T.H.I.N.G  

My son, I protected you so fiercely  

When you were inside me,  

Filled with hope and purpose.  

But now, I am not that person.  

I am S.O.R.R.Y

Maybe in my next life,  

I wish to be an orphan—  

Not because I don’t want love,  

But because I don’t want to look up,  

Expecting hands to lift me,  

Only to find N.O.T.H.I.N.G  

At least then,  

I will march forward without hesitation,  

Without the weight of disappointment.

Teaching Independence to Kids

As a mother, I always believed in fostering independence in my child. It's not easy, and it was not understood by others. But in the end, I believe it's one of the important things I can do for them.

When my son was learning to walk, he fell countless times. Each time, I would clap, smile, and encourage him: "Come on, get up, nothing happened. Keep going!" 

I never rushed to pick him up or make a big deal out of it. I didn’t feel the need overreact. I simply wanted him to know that falling is a part of life—and it’s okay. 

But while I saw it as teaching resilience, others around me didn’t always agree. I remember the whispers from neighbors—some even called me a "****" for not rushing to my child’s side when he fell. They thought I was heartless, uncaring. 

As a mom, I know the difference between a simple fall and a serious injury. And I believe in giving my child the space to learn how to handle himself. It's not that I didn't care—it's that I trusted him to be okay, to learn that he could get up on his own, and that he didn’t need me to always fix things. 

Ah, the food phase—when I decided it was time for my son to learn to feed himself, despite the mess and the post-30-minute clean-ups, my close ones labeled me ruthless for not spoon-feeding, carrying him in my arms, or telling stories while he ate. 

"He will finish 3 idlis if you just distract him and feed him for an hour," my relative said and added, "Didn’t you carry him for 9 months? How can a mom NOT think about feeding him that one extra idli?"

Three idlis for a kid?!? Well, Dr. Pal, looks like I need your help 👶

But, I always treated my son like an adult and I ask for his opinions. He chooses his own clothes from his wadrobe. Even at a young age, I wanted him to feel in control of his own choices. I encouraged him to make his own decisions, trusting that each choice, big or small, would help him grow into a confident and an independent person. 

Yes, I received backlash for my parenting style. From strangers to family, it seemed like everyone had an opinion on how I should be raising my child. But today, as I watch my son make decisions on his own, I see the fruits of those decisions. He is independent, and though stubborn at times (like any child!), he knows what he wants and isn't afraid to stand up for himself. Since I always encouraged his independence, he grew confident in exploring the world around him, even striking up conversations with strangers without fear.

And let me tell you something: there’s no greater feeling than seeing your child learn to be self-reliant. In those moments, I know deep down that I am doing something right.

I won’t lie—it hasn’t always been easy. The criticisms, the doubts, the questions. I heard it all. There are nights when I go to bed feeling exhausted. But then, something happens that reminds me why I do this. 

One night, I had a headache and was completely drained. My 5-year-old son, seeing that I was not well, quietly came up to me with a glass of water and a cool cloth. He gently applied the balm, placed the cool cloth on my forehead with care, turned off the lights, and went off to play without making a fuss. He didn't need to be told to do that. He knew what I needed and cared enough to offer it.

In that moment, all the criticisms I faced, all the tiredness, and the doubts—they all melted away. My son had learned to be considerate, independent, and self-sufficient. He knew how to take care of someone else because I had trusted him to take care of himself first.

So yes, my parenting was right. Not because I am perfect, but I always believed in his ability to grow, learn, and take responsibility. It hasn’t always been the easy, but it has been the one that shaped him into the thoughtful, independent person he is becoming.