Sonal Singh On Sonal's Table
The book jacket describes this book as a parenting manual. My perspective differs. Lalitha’s brand of self-deprecating humour, the puns, the tongue-n-cheek moments elevate this book to something that’s far above the mundanity of being labelled. This isn’t a book that lectures you about being a “better parent.” It’s a conversation, a confession, a comforting hug wrapped in laughter. It’s a peek into the life of someone who wasn’t just blessed with a child but born anew as a mother herself.
The stories are candid and heartwarming, written with an honesty that makes you nod, smile, and often burst out laughing. I chuckled through most of it and even guffawed on a flight (alarming my poor co-passenger!). Every anecdote feels relatable. The frantic dashes to the stationery shop for last-minute project supplies, the holiday homework marathons, the pandemic-era frustrations, and those everyday tug-of-war moments yo-yoing between love and exasperation.
What truly elevates this book is Lalitha’s sharp, sparkling wit. Her sassy repartee, child-brand reasoning, emotional blackmail, and logical parley are pitch-perfect. She captures the universal rhythm of parenthood… its chaos, comedy, and contradictions, with an authenticity that’s hard to fake. I relived my daughters’ childhoods as I read, smiling at memories I didn’t realize I’d tucked away. Thank you, Lalitha, for those nostalgia seeped sepia-toned moments.
While the book will resonate with anyone who has ever been a child or raised one, it speaks especially to working parents who walk the tightrope between ambition and affection. Lalitha captures the heartbreak of leaving a feverish child to attend a meeting, the guilt of missed moments, and the sheer joy of watching their faces light up when you return. It’s a tender tribute to every parent doing their imperfect best.
Isn’t parenting the hardest job in the world? One size doesn’t fit all here. Heck, one size doesn’t even fit one family’s dynamic often. Parenting develops as the child grows and matures. This isn’t just a book about parenting. It’s a love letter to motherhood itself. Equal parts humour and heart, it’s a reminder that while our children grow up, we grow into ourselves as parents.
Lalitha has written something rare. She has written a book that makes you laugh till your sides ache and then quietly, unexpectedly makes you tear up. I couldn’t put it down, and when I finally did, I felt lighter, happier, and oddly reassured that none of us are alone in this grand, messy adventure called motherhood.
Heartfelt, hilarious, and utterly human! This relatable book is not a manual; it’s a mirror. Don’t miss it.
