07 May,2010 10:41 AM IST | | Special Features
There are times when actor danseuse mum Maria Goretti wants to give up her kids for adoption or even rent them out for 25 paise, but these moments are few and fleeting. But all is forgiven when Zene and Zeke smile at her when they get out of bed in the morning. "It's that smile that reassures me that they love me," beams Maria. "Like my friend puts it, having a child is like having a tattoo on your face. You can't ever forget about it," she says.
"We have a blast together. We dance together, we cook together and we pray together. But honestly, I get them to cook mainly because I know that Zeke and Zene will eat their food if they make it themselves. Zeke is all of 5-and-a-half, but can make his own French Toast. Sometimes we pack the food in a basket, head to the terrace, spread a mat and have our little picnic."
Maria always knew that men aren't too communicative, but she didn't know that they clammed up this early in life. So this supermom is on a mission to change the men of the world. And it's little Zeke who is her first pupil. "I keep telling him to listen to his little sister so that he grows up to respect women. If there's a girl's birthday party that he is invited to, I encourage him to take flowers for her." After school, she makes it a point to discuss the day with the kids.
And while Maria concedes that she has the luxury of being only a homemaker, she still has a super tight schedule. "And the job brings with it no thank-yous or sorrys. Even if you are sick, you still have to ensure that the house is looking impeccable. But we moms don't complain. The joy of motherhood is above everything else," she concludes.
Maria's Daily planner
6:30am Wake the kids up for school
7:15am Get them ready, shove breakfast down their throats
7:40am Run to catch schoolbus. If we miss it, like we often do, hail a rickshaw
8:30 - 12pm Catch up on domestic chores
12:45pm Pick the kids up from school. Zene (my daughter) will smile when she sees me. Zeke will frown saying, "Why did you come to pick me up? I wanted to come by bus!"
1:30pm Get them to have a bath. Looks like they've been rolling in mud at school.
2.00 - 4:00pm Lunchu00a0 and then afternoon siesta
4.20pm Drop the kids to their various classes ufffd they're learning everything from swimming to tennis to drawing.
7:00 pm Have dinner together and teach the kids dance.
8:30 pm Zzzzzz. They're fast asleep
9:00 pmIt's me time, yippee! Read the newspaper over
a cup of green tea
9:30 pm Play a DVD while catching up with friends on the phone.
12:30 am Doze off before the film is over
