When I gave birth to my second child, the words I heard most often from friends and family were, “Congratulations! Your family is complete!” My first child was a girl (woe betide me) and my second, a bonny baby boy. I had done something fantastic and achieved the apparently “perfect Indian combination” of children – one boy and one girl.
Judging by the overly effervescent greetings from of my most well-wishers, I am delighted to report that my family can now be classified as “having all the necessary or appropriate parts”, as per the dictionary definition of complete.
This underhanded compliment left me astounded, so much so that I penned an entire humour piece on it, which is now up on Arre:
Mum + Dad + Beta + Beti: Why Are Indians Obsessed With the Idea of a “Complete Family”?
Please have a read and let me know what you think!
