It gives me great pleasure to tell you that today is a very special day.
You’ve already read about Lil Man and his birthday. And the fact that he was born on my mother’s 55th birthday – a present I couldn’t ever surpass.
Well, today is her 70th birthday!
It is a tough time to have a big birthday, especially since we aren’t even near them, and I can’t go and do a driveby celebration, but I know you will all help me to celebrate with her.
My mum is the absolute best person in the world. She is an amazing woman with the hugest heart.
Born into a family with parents who were pretty forward thinking for their time, my mum was given the best education, including an British boarding school, in Kenya, where she was born, and then university in Bath. (She even briefly knew Mary Berry!)
She married my Pops, an arranged marriage, and started a totally different life. My Pops’ family is different. A great bunch, but maybe, at that time, not so forward thinking. So Mum settled into the life of a housewife, living in an extended family with no parent’-in-law, but plenty of sisters’-in-law (Pops has a HUGE family) and kids all over the show!
They moved to England in the early 70’s and as Pops settled into his dentistry, saving to buy their own first home, Mum found a job in the Civil Service, but was never able to start it, as she fell pregnant with me! A decision was made between them both then, that mum would be a stay at home mum, to look after the family and home, while Pops was the breadwinner. That was the norm in those days.
Cue many years of being mum and house wife, as my brother entered the scene, as well as many other members of our family. Our home became a place where people started to send their kids when they were of a certain age, to continue education in Britain, from Kenya, so I had at least eight different room-mates over the years, from cousins my age, to older ones, to some who were having babies and staying with us for the support.
And Mum was there, being surrogate mum to all these different people, as well as being a fantastic mum to us.
As the houseguests lessened, and my brother and I got older, Mum took a job, helping Pops with his dental surgery, and the management.
Then us kids got married, and she became the best grandma ever, to my two children, including Lil Man, who shares her birthday, and to my brother’s two darlings.
Mum hasn’t just been key in our lives, but I have many cousins and nephews and neices, who look upon Mum, and Pops as their guides too. Her love is so great that she always welcomes all with open arms, offering love, advice and cake.
She is the best cook, a wonderful baker and she’s a sucker for hoarding things, but I’m not complaining, because mum’s squirreled away things become little treasures for us, when they are brought out! From old materials and clothes, to household gadgets, and hundreds, if not thousands of photos.
But all the time, she never stopped being the biggest support to us all. Mum has always been, and still is, my mentor, my guiding light, and someone I aspire to be like.
I’d like to take this time to ask you all to help me wish my darling mother a very happy 70th birthday! Here’s hoping I’ll be able to see her soon, so I can give her the biggest hug ❤
But I Smile Anyway... 
Jul 03, 2020 @ 00:08:57
Happy Birthday to Ritu’s Mum! She sounds like a really cool lady!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jul 03, 2020 @ 06:45:21
Thank you 💜
She is 🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jul 02, 2020 @ 17:26:31
Aww, such a lovely post about your mum Ritu. Like you I am really close to my mum – and my dad. Your mum sounds like a wonderfully special lady, hope she had a great day for her 70th.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jul 02, 2020 @ 17:27:55
Thank you so Much, Marje. We’re blessed to have her 🥰🥰🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jul 02, 2020 @ 13:40:29
Beautiful story. Happy Birthday to your Mother. Have a wonderful day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jul 02, 2020 @ 16:01:53
Thank you!
LikeLike
Jul 01, 2020 @ 14:10:46
Wait… 70? My age??? No way!!! Happy Birthday to your Mum.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jul 01, 2020 @ 16:15:38
I’ll be calling you Mama Jen 😉
Thank you ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jul 02, 2020 @ 02:53:27
Hahaha!! 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 30, 2020 @ 20:41:40
Wonderful tribute and as always hope you are doing good, and no sleeping while teaching…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 30, 2020 @ 20:53:34
Thank you 🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 30, 2020 @ 02:11:07
Your mom is beautiful. Happy Birthday to her and your son.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 30, 2020 @ 06:52:35
Thank you 💜💜
LikeLike
Jun 30, 2020 @ 01:56:31
May she live long, happily and healthily! Wish her a very happy birthday! 🎉🎉🎉 💝🙈
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 30, 2020 @ 06:52:51
Will do! Thank you 🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 30, 2020 @ 13:51:50
My pleasure! 💝🙈
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 30, 2020 @ 00:56:32
Happy birthday to your mom and your li’l man, Ritu and many happy returns of the day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 30, 2020 @ 06:53:08
Thank you, Pranab! 🥰
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 22:36:31
Hi Rhitu’s Mom. Happy Birthday. You are the second-best-mom in the world–right after my MOM. I miss her.
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 19:50:59
What a beautiful woman! Happy Birthday with all my heart 💖
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 20:18:46
Many many thanks, Sis 💜💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 30, 2020 @ 20:21:34
You are most welcome! Our moms are gold💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 18:59:11
She is so beautiful! Happy birthday to her🎂
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 20:16:18
She really is, inside and out 🥰🥰🥰
Thank you 🥰🥰🥰
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 18:59:09
Happy Birthday, to the mother of a wonderful daughter, teacher, writer and caretaker for Sonu. Lol
Its true, you are looking like her, Sis!
Happy Birthday to LilMan too. Had you written about earlier? Sorry, seems i forgot.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 20:15:56
Thank you, Bro!
Yes, I wrote a post for him too 🥰🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 20:53:23
Great! I had found after i had sent this note.;-) Now you have a real teenage house. Happ party time. :-))
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 20:53:48
Still got 12 year old Lil Princess 🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 21:05:46
Teenage life rocks. Lol You cant retire, Sis! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 21:14:26
I can’t afford to yet!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 23:45:36
🙂 Better this way. They would miss you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 21:07:05
But you have the fun i will miss: Shopping wonderful clothes, dating hairdressers, making garden parties.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 21:14:13
🥰🥰🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 23:45:53
🥰🥰🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 18:55:37
Happy birthday to your wonderful, sweet and dear Mum🤗💖
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 20:15:29
Thank you, Dear Brother 🥰🥰🥰
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 20:31:56
You’re very welcome, Dear Sister ❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 18:49:47
Happy birthday to your mum, Ritu. She is beautiful and wonderful!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 20:14:49
Thank you Miriam 🥰🥰🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jul 01, 2020 @ 01:20:33
You’re welcome, Ritu! 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 18:06:49
A wonderful tribute! And your mum is stunning in her pink sari (?) in her younger years. Very beautiful.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 20:13:57
She is beautiful, inside and out. We’re lucky she’s our mum 🥰
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 17:56:19
This is such a lovely post, Ritu. Happy birthday to your mum.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 20:13:22
Thank you, Robbie 🥰🥰🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 17:27:39
Your mom and your son have the same birthdate! How wonderful. You win the prize for giving your mom the best gift ever. Happy BIrthday to your wonderful mom. She sounds amazing!! xo
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 20:11:45
I could never top that gift!!!
Thank you, Darlene, she is xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 16:17:06
Happy Birthday Ritu’s Mum! What a wonderful woman you are, even without this post I knew that from the little I know Ritu. She is such a precious person and I hope one day to meet her in person, and from what I said about Ritu, the only way she could possibly know how to be who she is, is because of a mother who was a shining example to her. I, too, had a quarantine big birthday, 65, and so I hope you have a wonderful day, filled with lots of long distance love, hugs and loving memories to think on.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 20:11:04
Aw, that is so lovely of you to say, Cathy 🥰🥰🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 16:12:53
Your house is filled with celebration these days! Bravo to you and your family!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 18:14:44
It is, John! Embracing cake today!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 14:12:37
Terrific post. Happy Birthday to Mum.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 15:23:25
Thank you, John xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 13:21:22
Happiest of birthdays to your loveryl Mum! And MANY more! ❤
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 15:24:14
Thank you sis 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 11:55:36
Happy Birthday to your mother ! 🙂
LikeLiked by 3 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 15:26:14
Thank you xx
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 11:52:15
Happy Birthday Ritu’s Mum have a great day you are a wonderful woman 💜
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 15:26:22
Thank you Sis 💜💜💜
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 17:08:35
It’s a pleasure Sis she is so beautiful 💜💙
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 20:11:16
🥰
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 20:37:35
💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 11:14:13
A lovely post in tribute to your wonderful mum. Happy Birthday – hope it’s a really special one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 15:26:07
Thank you Mary 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 11:14:04
She sounds amazing – a very happy birthday to your Mum! And to your little Man – same age as mine, who also turned 15 this month.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 15:27:09
Aw happy birthday to your son too! And thank you, she really is special xxx
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 08:51:05
A very happy birthday to a wonderful lady.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 10:20:14
Thanks again, Colin!
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 08:43:37
She is beautiful. Happy Birthday!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 08:47:40
Thank you 💜
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 08:29:47
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RITU’s MUM 🎉🎂🎉
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 08:47:28
Thank you 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 08:12:59
Happy birthday auntieji 🙏🙏
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 08:46:15
Thank you 💜
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 08:07:46
Happy birthday to your mum!
❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 08:46:07
Thank you 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 11:14:11
❤️❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 07:39:11
Happy birthday Ritu’s Special One. Sounds like my mum in many ways whose array of jobs is extraordinary yet we never properly acknowledge them. Housewife and mother covers a multitude of skills making her one of those domestic polymaths we should all aspire to be. Your mum is the sort who should be receiving a gong from Her Maj -an OBE – Ordinary But Extraordinary!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 07:59:53
Bless you. She is that! Thank you, His Geoffleship!
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 07:03:56
Show me a person with a stable family foundation, and I’ll show you a happy person. What a blessing to have such great parents!
LikeLiked by 3 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 07:06:39
Thank you 💜
I feel.that daily, Pete 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 07:00:40
Wow! That’s such a sweet post ! Loved reading it …
And she is so beautiful ❤️
A very happy 70th bday to her 😊
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 07:06:21
Thank you 💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 06:54:15
how nice ritu that your son shares your mom’s birthday!!! Pls wish her all the very best on her 70th birthday…My dad too celebrated it last year….
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 06:58:56
Thank you! Yes, double celebrations!!
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 06:32:37
A beautiful tribute. It is quite sad women in certain generations in any indian culture weren’t always allowed to get an education. Or if they they in their parents home, they couldn’t do much with it when they got married. I know your mum’s case is different.
My mum also studied back in the day in India. She got married to dad in kenya. We came here in the early 70’s .
But in Kenya, girls still don’t always get an education, or opt not too.
I side track. Your mum is a star and so is your dad. You have written such wonderful tributes to them. Heart warming.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 06:58:35
Thank you. We count our blessings to have a mother and father that we do xx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 07:13:58
Yes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 06:32:14
A beautiful lady, in every way. x
LikeLiked by 3 people
Jun 29, 2020 @ 06:57:46
Thank you, Sue. She truly is 🥰
LikeLike
Jun 29, 2020 @ 07:13:03
You can see her in you too ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jun 29, 2020 @ 07:35:10
That is the biggest compliment 🥰
LikeLiked by 1 person