A unique promise of protection this Rakshabandhan

Let’s talk about Rakshabandhan today. Aishwari is the eldest in my home and she exactly knows what that means. Four years after her birth she became an elder sister to Aadidev. Since then she has been the commanding lady of the house after me. As every daughter, she copies me to the core. So much so that I have to remind her almost every day who the mom is! Poor Aadidev has to bear the brunt of her mood swings and Aishwari, in turn, has to face mine. Or maybe it is the other way around.

But whatever the case, the bond that you share with your sibling is special and different. They may be fighting for hours but as soon as I get involved, they gel like sugar and ghee. They’d stick to each other and will praise each other so much that you have no choice but to keep yourself out of it. I don’t even realize and the day just vanishes between their sweet and sour bonding over petty issues.

While of course, they have a lot of fun together, their bonding has helped me in more than one way. I try to inculcate good habits and hygiene essentials in Aishwari and automatically it gets transferred to Aadidev as well. By nature, both of them are water babies. I taught basic sanitation to Aishwari as soon as she started her schooling. She knows that health and hygiene go hand in hand and special care needs to be taken during monsoon. That is why both of them love their Dettol hand sanitiser and ask for a new one as soon as the old one finishes.

Rakshabandhan-sibling bonding

Rakshabandan celebrates the special bond between a brother and a sister. In our house, as Aadidev promises to protect his sister from evil every year, Aishwari, in turn, takes the pledge to protect him from germs during monsoon. She makes it a point to wash her hands with a liquid hand wash before every meal. Aadidev, in turn, follows her religiously to ensure he stays infection-free. Even playing in parks is followed by a proper hand wash. She leaves no stone unturned in giving hygiene tips to her little brother. The simple rule at my home is to keep hand wash easily available in every washroom and am happy both my kids follow it religiously. I watch in amusement as she teaches him like a big girl, despite being just 10 years old herself!

Girls indeed take up the responsibility of their younger siblings like a pros. It is easy for me also to confide in my daughter what I feel good about her. One of the most important ways to teach them is by practising what you preach. I am also hygiene conscious and I set an example by keeping cleanliness around me. As it is well said, follow what you preach.