Who do I want to be when I grow up
Well, I am already old, but if I could choose, I would like to be my toddlers. I know that sounds strange. Shouldn’t wisdom come with age? Yet, watching them navigate their small world has taught me that somewhere along the way, we unlearn the very things that make life worth living.
They Are Unadulterated in Nature
There’s something pure about the way toddlers experience life. No pretense, no carefully curated version of themselves, and yet a spectacular performance. What you see is exactly what they are in that moment. Joy, curiosity, frustration, wonder, all expressed without filter or apology.
TT, just being, in a restaurant!
They Work Deeply
When my toddlers are engrossed in an activity, everything else becomes background noise. Building blocks. Coloring. Examining a leaf. They enter a state of complete absorption that most adults spend years trying to reclaim through meditation or mindfulness apps. They don’t check their phones mid-play. They don’t worry about what comes next. They are simply, fully, here.
TT helping us set up house for Diwali 2025..
They Eat Healthy Despite Options
We ordered pancakes for breakfast because that’s what they wanted. But when the plate arrived, fluffy pancakes dripping with butter and maple syrup, they discovered the strawberries on top. And that was it. The pancakes were forgotten. They wanted more strawberries. Despite the glutinous temptation of carbs and sugar right in front of them, what they chose and relished was the fruit. They love fruits with an enthusiasm that no amount of marketing could manufacture.
Their bodies know what they need, and they listen.
TT drinking Coconut water in a place full of cafes and sandwiches!
They Find Joy in Cleaning
Just a small nudge, and they start cleaning up the whole place. And they take pride in doing it perfectly.
It started with me cleaning their ears but ended up getting a whole ear-a-cure one fine Sunday!
It’s not a chore for them. It’s an end in itself. They don’t clean to get cleaning over with. They clean because there’s satisfaction in bringing order to chaos, in seeing toys return to their homes, in completing the task well.
When did we learn to dread what they find delightful?
They Are Full of Energy
Everything they do is with so much passion. A simple walk becomes an adventure. A cardboard box transforms into a castle. They don’t save their enthusiasm for special occasions. Every moment is treated as if it matters, because to them, it does.
Diwali decoration done. Chaos cleared. Rangoli made. Now Krishna plays with cows and bulls before he runs away to steal more butter!
They Love Routines
Despite having so much to learn and do, they know that the best way to do it all is through routines. Morning sequences. Mealtime patterns. Bedtime rituals. These rhythms don’t constrain them. They free them. Within the safety of structure, they find the courage to explore.
TT game on: Tennis on Tuesdays!
They Wake Up with Wonder
They don’t need us to wake them up. They wake like springboards, excited to explore what the day has to offer. No snooze button. No groaning reluctance. Just pure anticipation for another day of discovery.
They Love Nature and Its Creatures
TT at the Palolem beach, Goa - being one with the sand, water, salt, waves, shells, sky and themselves.
They love creation in all its forms. A beetle crossing the sidewalk becomes a spectacle. A dandelion deserves careful study. Rain is not an inconvenience but an invitation to splash. They haven’t yet learned to see nature as separate from themselves. They know they’re part of it.
So, who do I want to be when I grow up? Someone who hasn’t forgotten how to be fully alive. Someone who works with focus, eats with wisdom, cleans with joy, lives with passion, trusts in rhythms, wakes with excitement, and never loses wonder at the gift of being here.
My toddlers are teaching me that growing up doesn’t have to mean growing away from the things that matter most. What it means is: The essence is more important than the answer. Rather than figuring out who I want to be may be I will focus on how I want to be!
While I finish this article, I hear them humming a tune in the background, maybe I’ll go and join them and sing along🎶
“…… ek chhota haathi jhoom ke chala ..”
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