“I know it sounds really weedy, but we are all children who seek approval from our parents.”
Gurinder Chadha
Thank you, Spidey, for a quote from a woman I much admire! (Gurinder, if you are reading, by any chance, I think Marriage Unarranged would be a great base for your next film!)
This week, I was given the news that Pops, my dad, was reading my book. As a holiday read!
Now, I have to tell you, this is a big thing. My Pops isn’t a reader of books, apart from the holy Guru Granth Sahib, and the daily paper.
My Mum is a different case, altogether. She is the reason I love books, and though it took her a little time to finish it, (she isn’t the speedy reader she once used to be, as I am at the moment!) she told me all about what she thought last summer, and even allowed me to interview her abou her thoughts!
Now, Pops was sat there, as we discussed Marriage Unarranged.
Mum had her Kindle copy, and, knowing Pops isn’t tech crazy, ordered him a paperback (she wouldn’t take one from me!) It was sat by his armchair in the living room, lovingly wrapped in a clear plastic bag. Mum told me he would take it out daily, and look at it, with pride, before replacing it.
At that time he told me that he had tried to read it, but was a bit put off by the risqué scenes near the beginning, and laughingly told me that he had been unable to read further.
I never thought he would read it, so the fact that he had tried was just wonderful.
On the Friday just passed, Pops text me, from Finland, to say that he had finished Marriage Unarranged.
That is a feat, in itself!
But the best part was the feedback.
I called him, straight away. Knowing that there was that little scene at the beginning, to negotiate, I was dying to know what he really thought.
He said that he was so proud of me. He had, once he got past that ‘scene’, really enjoyed the book. He could relate to so many parts of the book, and recognised many of the places I wrote about. He loved the bits about India, and felt that he was there, when reading.
I felt blessed. So blessed.
Pops had finally read my book. And liked it. And that parental approval, for me, beat any other reviews out there.
An aside – I was speaking to my brother, the Finndian, and he did say that Pops took him to one side, to ask if I had ever experienced anything like what had taken place in the book… but my brother reassured him that it was totally fiction, from his sister’s overactive imagination, and that just the places were real! (Though, he hasn’t read it yet, himself, so I wait, eagerly, to hear what he thinks, too!)
Knowing both my Pops and Mum enjoyed that labour of love meant the world to me. I need to get this next one finished, but goodness knows what he will think of the content with this one!
So, how important is Parental Approval for you?
Wishing you a wonderfully peaceful Sunday, Peeps!
But I Smile Anyway... 
Oct 11, 2021 @ 04:57:03
Great Post Ritu…! I know the feeling 😀👌
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Oct 11, 2021 @ 06:14:29
Thanks, Shivangi. So special!
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Oct 11, 2021 @ 04:05:53
Happy for you, Ritu 🙂 x Love the pictures 🙂
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Oct 11, 2021 @ 06:14:13
Thank you, Carol. It is a special moment 💜
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 17:54:39
That’s wonderful new Sis , I new they would love it ….I did and I am a similar age . You are so clever 💜💜💜
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 19:38:55
Aw bless you, Sis! Thank you xx
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 19:46:50
💜💜💜
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 16:20:18
Sis! Lol! You father thought too you have written a little memoir. 😉 Now I am reassured because it was the same for me. I hope you can enjoy a nice weekend! Best wishes, Michael
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 16:41:38
Ha ha! But it wasn’t!
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 22:59:25
Now its clear. 😉
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 16:17:32
Reblogged this on OPENED HERE >> https:/BOOKS.ESLARN-NET.DE.
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 13:25:33
Love it! I am so happy for you, Sis!!
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 14:22:18
Thank you, Sis 💜
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 13:22:45
Ritu, this is so lovely for you. Well done. Keith
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 14:22:10
Thank you, Keith 💜
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 13:01:20
That is so wonderful! Yes, we all need our parents approval at any age. Mom loved my books and when she could no longer read, we had someone come in and read to her. She would always ask for my books to be read. Dad was gone by the time my first book was published, but after mom read it she said, “Your dad would be so proud.” That meant the world to me and I still tear up thinking about it. I LOVE the pictures of your parents reading the book. Perfect. xo
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 13:22:08
It means the world, doesn’t it, Darlene? 💜
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 12:45:20
Reblogged this on The Reluctant Poet.
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 10:08:57
I agree with that quote. Although, we all want to find our own way and need to walk it. We still want our parents to be proud of us, approve or support our way – no matter which way and whether they would walk it or not. I think if that doesn’t happen, those people keep seeking that approval and try to prove themselves over and over again. This also dims their self-esteem. It can keep those people under pressure all life long.
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 10:16:32
It can, if you’ve been brought up with a negative experience of parental approval, Sis, I agree.
However, if all you’ve received is positive encouragement, all you want is to make them proud 💜
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 10:30:23
We all want to make them proud and if you got the encouragment you are motivated in a healthy way to unfold yourself freely (and make them even more proud). I see it in my sister, who always seeked to make my father proud but with her lifestyle and “ideas” she went opposite his ideas of a good life… which resulted in what I previously wrote. She has not found stable ground beneath her feet. Even worse since my father died 9 years ago. But this might be here big task in this life to get past that. However, it is a good example how important it is how your parents supported your personality in earlier years.
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 10:39:50
Absolutely, Sis 💜
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 10:41:52
💖
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 09:39:14
Unfortunately, I don’t have any parents, but loved hearing about your dad’s reaction, Ritu!
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 09:40:42
Thank you Anita. I feel blessed xx
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 19:36:43
I think you have been, Ritu… 🙏🏻💕
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 19:39:04
💜🙏🏼
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 09:34:41
This is such a wonderful story, I’m so glad he read it and enjoyed it, I can imagine how proud he is of you now!
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 09:40:17
I am so touched that he did!
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 08:04:17
Yes greatest thing to happen was progressing to publishing as paperback with Amazon so my mother got to have my ‘real’ books in her hands and read them and a blessing that in her last couple of years she was totally with it and enjoyed reading.
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 08:46:39
That is a blessing, in itself, absolutely!
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 05:59:54
How sweet! I think for most people, that means more than any other review. My parents have both passed, and yet I still find myself thinking, “I wish they could see this.”
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 08:46:00
This is why it’s so, so important to appreciate them while they’re with us. I’m sure, wherever they are, right now, Pete, they’re looking down on you with pride 😊
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 05:16:02
Lovely post
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Oct 10, 2021 @ 08:44:05
Thank you
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