Featuring @deepshikhachaudhary17
Motherhood has a way of softening us in places we didn’t even know needed healing. In this edition of Voice of Moms, we speak to a desi mother raising a seven-year-old boy with intention, emotional awareness, and quiet strength. Born and raised in a close-knit desi household where family came first and opinions were never in short supply, she now lives away from where she grew up, balancing work, home, and motherhood on her own terms. While her roots taught her resilience and responsibility, becoming a mother taught her softness. Today, she parents with structure, but leaves room for feelings, creating the emotional safety she once longed for as a child.
You can follow more of her honest motherhood reflections on Instagram at @deepshikhachaudhary17.
When you look back at your motherhood journey so far, what has changed the most in you?
The biggest change in me is how I pause now. Earlier, I reacted fast with anger, advice, or correction. Motherhood taught me to stop mid-sentence, take a breath, and really look at my child. I’ve learned that not every moment needs fixing. Some moments just need presence.
Seven is an age of big emotions and opinions. What is your son struggling with right now?
Right now, my seven-year-old struggles with frustration, especially when things don’t go his way or when he feels misunderstood at school. I’m learning to support him by naming his feelings instead of dismissing them. Instead of saying, “It’s not a big deal,” I say, “I can see this feels big to you.”
Many of us were raised with strict rules and limited emotional expression. What patterns are you consciously unlearning?
I’ve consciously unlearned silence and fear-based obedience. I don’t want my son to behave just because I’m louder or older. I want him to understand why. I’m breaking the pattern of “because I said so” and replacing it with conversations, even when it takes longer.
Boys are often told to toughen up early. How do you create space for emotions and confidence together?
I remind him that being brave doesn’t mean not crying. When he cries, I don’t rush him to stop. I sit next to him. Sometimes we say nothing. I tell him, “Strong boys feel too.” Confidence grows when a child feels accepted exactly as he is.
Discipline can sometimes feel like control. How do you set boundaries without breaking trust?
For me, discipline looks like consistency without humiliation. I set clear boundaries, but I don’t shame him for crossing them. We talk after calm returns. He knows consequences exist, but he also knows my love doesn’t disappear when he messes up.
What worries you most about raising a boy in today’s world?
What worries me most is comparison, academically, socially, even emotionally. Kids today are measured constantly. I worry about him feeling “not enough” too early. I try to protect his childhood by limiting screens and reminding him that growth isn’t a race.
What does emotional safety look like inside your home?
Emotional safety means he can disagree without being scared. It means his questions aren’t mocked and his feelings aren’t minimized. I make sure to listen fully, phone down, eyes on him, even if it’s just a five-minute story about his day.
On overwhelming days, what grounds you? And what would you say to another mom struggling?
On hard days, I remind myself that this phase will pass. I step into another room, breathe, and remind myself that I’m learning too. To another mom, you’re not failing, you’re tired. Rest when you can, and be kind to yourself.
How has your son changed the way you see patience, anger, and love?
My son has completely changed my relationship with patience and anger. He’s taught me that anger often hides fear or overwhelm. And unconditional love, I finally understand it. It’s loving someone even when they push every single button you have.
Is there an everyday ritual that has strengthened your bond?
Our bedtime routine has become sacred. No lectures, no screens, just talking about the day, reading together, or sharing one good thing and one hard thing. Those quiet moments have built trust more than any big talk ever could.
What values do you hope stay with him long after childhood?
I hope he carries kindness, emotional honesty, and respect. I practice these by apologizing when I’m wrong, speaking gently, and showing empathy in everyday moments, especially when it’s inconvenient.
If another mom of a young boy is reading this and feeling unsure or guilty, what would you want her to know?
You’re doing more right than you think. Your child doesn’t need perfection. He needs you, present, trying, and loving. Give yourself the same grace you give your child every day.
This story reminds us that raising boys is not about hardening them, but about holding space for their feelings while guiding them with love. It is about choosing presence over reaction, conversations over control, and kindness over comparison. Through voices like these, Voice of Moms continues to celebrate motherhood in its most honest, evolving, and deeply human form.
Your story could be the reassurance another mama needs. DM us on @softsens on Instagram and be a part of our growing Mama Tribe.
