Mom's the word

An ode to motherhood
Be it Salman going gaga about step mom Helen or Pooja Bedi extolling her step moms Ixchel and Nikki, it's clear to see that these moms have not only earned their children's reverence but their unconditional love too.
Even Vinod Khanna's sons Akshay and Rahul share a great relationship with Kavita Khanna, and Ratna Pathak Shah has a fantastic relationship going with stepdaughter Heeba."Motherhood doesn't come with an instruction manual. There shouldn't be any sense of threat to the child from your relationship with your spouse. The whole credit of such a wonderful relationship between Farhan and Zoya and me goes to Honey Irani and Javed," says actor and member of Parliament Shabana Azmi. Singer Kavitha Krishnamurthy Subramanyam knows what she is talking about.
She says, "My kids always tell me that I was the missing link and have completed their family. I am extremely proud to be their mom." But is age a crucial factor for a child when it comes to accepting a new mom? "For a very young child, yes. Spending quality time with the child till the fragile equilibrium is attained is what is needed," suggests psychologist Pramila Saxena.
An uphill task
Brushing off misconceptions, actor Supriya Pathak, stepmom to Shahid Kapoor, says, "There was never a single trace of frigidity between us. Shahid is my son, and motherhood is to me the most enriching experience." Shabana concurs, "The key lies in not encroaching upon your child's individuality. Zoya confides in me and Farhan calls me Shabana – this is what a friendly relationship requires – freedom and understanding."
Unsung heroes
Unlike a biological mom, a step mom has to earn accolades. "To save yourself from being judged by myopic eyes, showering affection in public and feeling otherwise in your heart is the most stupid mistake a person can make. The relationship should be role-based rather than people-based," says Shabana. Today's moms and their step kids are keen to make the equation work..