It was a sweltering day, many years ago, when we had the naming ceremony for my baby girl, who was only 3 weeks old. My mom’s home was teeming with aunts, uncles, cousins and little nieces and nephews, all of whom had come to bless and welcome our little bundle of joy.
I received hundreds of tips on being a mother, and hundred ‘must-know’ things about child rearing, and a dozen versions of who my baby resembled in the family. It was a normal, Indian family celebration.
I was a little tired by the afternoon, and when my mom caught my eye and realized that I was tired, she signalled for me to go in and take a quick nap. I slipped away, unnoticed.
I went and lay down, my eyes closing involuntarily. While still asleep, I heard something. I opened my eyes and realized that one of my nieces was in the room, before the dresser mirror.
I could see her reflection in the mirror, as she made faces at herself, and then tried on one of the lipsticks. Gently opening the tube, she used her finger to apply a dark maroon lipstick on her lips. I could imagine how good and beautiful she felt. After sometime, she quietely slipped out of the room.
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I laughed, fully awake by then. I remembered how, as a little girl, my favourite game was to play ‘teacher’. The role demanded that I have long hair, and that I wear lipstick.
The hair problem was easily resolved. I found a piece of black cloth from my mom’s sewing kit and tied it around my hair, allowing the black cloth hair to fall over my shoulders to the front. My students ‘had’ to see my long hair.
The lipstick posed a problem. My mom did not use lipstick, neither did my aunt. But my teachers at school wore lipstick, so I needed to wear lipstick to look authentic. Then I hit upon the idea of using the red liquid that Indian women use to wear bindis (the dots on the forehead). This was available in abundance, so during the afternoons when my gran, aunt and mom napped, I applied generous amounts of red on my lips and taught and educated many children every afternoon.
Lipsticks and makeup were forgotten till high school and university, when my mom gifted me my own lipstick for my birthday. I still remember its shade, copper brown. I still wonder how my mom knew what would look good on me! I used that tube till there was nothing left.
After that first tube, lipsticks became a part of my life, and over the years I have tried many shades, and have settled on a few that suit me well.
A few years ago, when my son had his school concert, the little girls in his class were all dressed up like pretty dolls and fairies. However, a few girls had their lips in a weird kind of pout. On asking their moms, I found out that the girls had worn lipstick for the first time, and that they did not want for it to go away. I remember how much I laughed that day.
Now, my daughter grimaces when I talk about makeup or lipstick or accessories. She is ‘at home’ in her jeans and tees.
I smile as I look into the future, when my daughter will want to try on lipsticks and makeup. She just doesn’t know it yet!
Interesting read. Some sweet memories you had shared from your childhood to your teen daughter’s time. You are a storyteller. Keep on posting the good stuff.
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Thank you. Will check it out
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I love to read ur articles…kiara loves to put lipstick and mostly in their playdates favourite game is Fashion , dress up and make poses…😎
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Awww..thanks Jaya. Lots of love to Kiara 😘😍
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No rush on my part! I loved the idea of wearing
Makeup when I was a child but it really doesn’t look right til they’re teens and even then… just a little!
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I agree, but most li’l girls go through that phase
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I like to go back to those happy days as a little girl!
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I am sure there are many wonderful memories there..
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Yes!
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My oldest girl was always a “girly girl” and my youngest was into sports (soccer, track and no makeup nor dresses!) It is so cool to think of how life changed their journeys. Youngest dresses up, oldest has two Boys! (No girly girls!)
Youngest one may have a girl, but she really wears makeup, nail polish, etc. . . I had a boy “stuck in the middle” and the girls would do his nails, much to the chagrin of my ex-husband. He is a Daddy of two girls and one baby boy. He can braid My Little Pony, do play dough and rock baby dolls for the girls. 💞
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Life 🙂
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That just about sums it up! Thank you😍
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