Five Very Special Gifts For A Secure Future

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My dear Son,

When I discovered I was pregnant with you, my joy knew no bounds. I was ecstatic. Suddenly it was as if my life had taken on a new dimension, and indeed it had. The thought of a new member in the family was exciting, intimidating, exhilarating. Your Daddy and I began to plan – we wanted to give you the best life ever. You were due in November and it seemed so far away.

As we walked together by the seashore holding hands, we dreamed. We fantasized. And here is what we pledged:

1/ To give you the gift of health

I resolved to do everything necessary even before you were born, during the nine months,to give you a healthy lifestyle. I ate healthy, exercised regularly as advised. I took my vitamins, calcium and iron. I avoided eating anything that was not nutritious. Do you know my gynecologist often teased me about being a text-book case of pregnancy? All I wanted was to do the right thing by you. I did.

2/ Immunity against diseases – vaccines

Even though our body is blessed with natural immunity that can fight disease, we understood you needed the essential vaccines for acquired immunity, to protect you against diseases like polio, tetanus, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria and TB which can be fatal. We wanted to reduce the risk of developing the disease. We got the immunization schedule so that we could follow it carefully and in a timely manner. We did.

3/ To breast feed you for at least a year

In addition to the vaccines, I resolved to exclusively breastfeed you for six months to enhance your immunity. After six months, we slowly supplemented your diet with vegetables, fruits. I fondly remember your first birthday when we introduced rice.  Your diet consisted solely of home cooked food. Even today, I can’t help smiling at how joyous you became at the sight of a fruit!

4/ Healthy lifestyle 

Just immunizing you with vaccines was not enough. We had the responsibility to create a lifelong habit of a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy, getting enough exercise and sleep are important. I have heard that children who develop the habit of eating healthy until age 2 are more likely to have healthy eating habits. I am glad we invested the time and patience in lovingly cultivating this habit in you. Today I am rewarded by you in so many ways – most of all, your good habits, good hygiene and the wisdom to understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle. You exercise regularly and maintain proper sleeping hours.

I am also glad you emulate your Grandmother’s habit of meditation and prayer – a healthy mind is as important as a healthy body. I am also happy you are blessed with a good sense of humor, for laughter is often the best medicine, right?

Additionally, we were very lucky that your Grandmother had an effective home remedy for every little ailment. We follow the practice to this day.

5/ Insurance

One of the best decisions we ever made for you, with long term benefits and the foundation for a secure future is our investment in an HDFCLife Unit Linked YoungStar Plus II policy. At first we were hesitant, because we were worried about managing our housing loans and premium payments. But our Policy manager explained the benefits, especially at maturity and we knew it was the right thing to do. We won’t have to worry about your education expenses. As we enjoy the pleasure of watching your healthy growth, we feel secure about the thought of the policy’s benefits growing with you.

Health is wealth. Never forget that. It is the biggest gift we could ever give you as parents. When you are physically, mentally and emotionally healthy, life is wonderful and your future is secure. It helps you face the world confidently.

Stay well, stay healthy, my son,

With love,

Your Mom and Dad.

This post is a part of the 1001 Gifts Activity by HDFC Life in association with BlogAdda

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