A Small Step For Moms Like Me, A Big Step For Motherhood Everywhere!

A mom takes a stand on how her child should be named, convincing the establishment in her small way – and that this should be the norm everywhere.

A lot of her classmates ask my daughter why she has two initials for her middle name. She says to them “one is for my father.” And the other? “Why of course, my mum. Who else?”

So here’s how it started…

On one hot and sweaty afternoon, I found myself standing in Kiara’s school office lining up to verify her details in her school register. The clerk asked me “what’s your child’s mother tongue?”

“But isn’t Karir a North Indian surname?” She enquired.

“Oh yes it is. Her father is a Punjabi.” I replied.

“But you said her mother tongue is Marathi.” continued the inquisitive clerk.

“You asked me for her mother tongue, didn’t you? Or was it father tongue?” I was getting irritated partly because of her audacity and mostly because of the heat.

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The poor clerk was a bit perplexed. Moving on to the next column she asked me my daughter’s complete name.

“Kiara Anand Sunila Karir,” I helpfully offered.

But I have place for only the first name, middle name and last name. What sort of a name is this?”

“You asked me her complete name. And that’s what it is. Anand is her father and Sunila is her mother. Make space in your form for both or neither.”

“But I have to write a middle name.”

I glared at her and perhaps that did the job faster. She quickly made space for two middle names. Ever since, she has been Kiara A. S. Karir. And that’s what she is… on her certificates and forms. It’s a name she is proud of because it has her daddy.. .as well as her mummy.

Satisfied with the rest of the details, I turned around to leave the room as the next parent took her place.

“What’s your child’s name?” She asked the lady. “Karan Manish Sunanda Rawat”. The woman proudly replied. As I overheard this, I turned around and looked towards her. I saw her looking back at me with a big grin on her face as the clerk shook her head in amusement. There were three other mothers, who were waiting for their turn.

All equally in tandem with what had happened, I’m guessing. I’m sure the clerk noted that from next year, they would have to make an extra column on the form.

A small step for these moms and me, and hopefully, a big step for mothers everywhere.

Published here earlier.

Image source: Flickr, for representational purposes only

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