Parenting Unplugged

Just the other night, over a casual dinner of pasta and kale salad, my friends and I fell into the inevitable rabbit hole of discussing modern parenting. We are that “bridge” generation—the ones who remember the screech of dial-up internet and Y2K anxieties, now trying to navigate a world with Gen Z kids who were practically born with smartphones in their hands. We all agreed: the stakes feel infinitely higher for us than they did for our parents.

We grew up in families where our parents usually had the last word. There was a certain certainty to their authority. But for us, parenting feels more like a constant negotiation, a search for balance in a world that never stops moving. That conversation reminded me of Lalitha Ramanathan’s Parenting Unplugged: The Drama Mama Diaries (Om Books International) I recently read—one that gently whispers that while parenting is undoubtedly hard, we are far from alone, and the journey is still allowed to be joyful.

A Friend, Not a Manual

What makes Parenting Unplugged so special is that it refuses to be a clinical manual. It doesn’t lecture from a pedestal; instead it feels like a dear friend taking you by the hand and walking you through the messy, beautiful archives of her own life.

The narrative style is quite interesting, mainly built on the tender, often witty dialogues between Lalitha and her daughter, whom she affectionately calls Munchkin. These exchanges capture that raw, child-like innocence so perfectly, grounding the book’s larger themes in a very human reality. Each chapter functions as a standalone story, concluding with a little snippet of gyan from the “Drama Mama” herself—seeds of insight that stay with you long after the chapter ends.

Reading these stories felt less like a task and more like a warm, soul-soothing bowl of pumpkin soup on a rainy afternoon.

Memories of the “Little Red Dot”

Having lived in Singapore for close to a decade, I felt a familiar, sharp tug of nostalgia while reading this. As a mother to two daughters, there were so many moments where I found myself laughing out loud, instantly transported back to the years when my own girls were small. I recalled that frantic search for balance—the desperate search for a middle ground between global ambition and our own cherished roots.

Balancing Roots and Global Ambitions

Lalitha dives deep into the quiet tug-of-war many of us face: the struggle to keep Indian rituals and cultural identity alive in an increasingly fast-paced, global society. Through her stories, she articulates the mental gymnastics of a career-driven life while simultaneously fighting the quiet battle to preserve heritage—whether through culinary treats, festive customs, or the simple act of passing down a tradition. She has a way of making you feel seen in those private, internal struggles that we often don’t have the words for.

The Beauty of the “Work-in-Progress”

There was one moment in the book that stopped me in my tracks:

“I learnt that I’m a work-in-progress parent who does her best, but makes mistakes at the same time, and that’s okay.” As parents we often fall into the “guilt trap,” second-guessing every choice from screen time to school lunches. It was a grounding reminder that we aren’t supposed to have all the answers. I found myself relating to her stories of the invisible “plots” we devise just to keep the household running, and how those “plots” are always eventually softened by the innocence of a child’s perspective.

An Honest Note on the Narrative

I have to be candid, though—the delivery didn’t always resonate with my personal style. While I loved the “friend-to-friend” narration, there were moments where the humour felt a bit over-extended. The frequent puns occasionally pulled me away from the book’s more poignant, emotional core. It’s a delicate balance to strike; while the heart of the story is absolutely there, the comedic tone felt a little heavy-handed for my personal taste.

Final Verdict: Being “Real” for Our Children

Despite the humor being a bit extra for me, the book is undeniably candid, heart-warming, and honest. Parenting Unplugged is a testament to the fact that our kids don’t need us to be perfect; they just need us to be real, marks and all.

The Highlights

• Relatability: It feels like a warm hug for any mother who has ever felt like a “Drama Mama” in secret.
• Cultural Tug-of-War: Perfectly captures the struggle between our Indian heritage and modern parenting demands.
• Solidarity: Bypasses the “perfect parent” facade to offer a real, messy, and beautiful mirror.

The Hiccups

• Extended Puns: If you aren’t a fan of constant wordplay, some of the jokes might feel a bit over-extended.
• Missed Beats: I found myself wanting to linger longer in the serious moments, which were sometimes cut short by a joke.

Wordsopedia Rating 4

This review reflects my honest and voluntary opinion.