Parenthoot with Neha

#65: Worth The Wait: One Woman's Journey Through Infertility, Unexpected Pregnancies and a Partnership Built to Last

In this deeply personal episode, Neha sits down with Snigdha Ghosh Roy — digital marketing entrepreneur, mother of two, dog parent to Fang, and partner of fifteen years to Tushar Das. Snigdha's story is not a straight line. It winds through eight years of infertility treatment, a deliberate decision to stop, adoption registration, two completely unexpected natural pregnancies, pandemic parenthood, and the quiet daily work of building a marriage between two people who are, by every measure, poles apart. What holds it all together, she says, is one word: acceptance. Not resignation — acceptance. This episode is about what that actually looks like in practice. Why You Should Listen If you have ever felt like your life is moving sideways when everyone else seems to be moving forward — this one is for you. Snigdha speaks with rare candour about infertility's isolation, the sunk cost trap of repeated treatments, what a miscarriage feels like when no one around you has the vocabulary for it, and how she and Tushar found their footing not in spite of their differences but because of the work they did around them. She also talks about what it means to parent with intention — firmly, warmly, and without making your children into projects. Notable Quotes * "Acceptance is not resignation. Acceptance is understanding and absorbing the person or the situation as they are, before you can do anything about it." * "My life revolved around these cycles and these injections. And then they tell you the dates when you need to try. It's God awful. It's disgusting after a while." * "I was so broken that I didn't cry. It was more a loss of hope. It was deeper than tears." * "We talk about love language. We never talk about the fight language. It took me years to understand how important it is to fight, to confront, to resolve." * "Children need more space than we admit. They don't need to be projects. The easiest way for them to have what you want them to have is to let them observe that." Practical Takeaways * Name the fight language. In calm moments, tell your partner what you need when you're upset — what the indicators are, when to give space, when to step in. Don't assume they'll read the room. * Let the village be messy. Different caregivers, different rules. Rather than enforcing uniformity, Snigdha teaches her children that every person has different preferences — and that's not confusion, that's emotional intelligence. * Know when to stop. Whether it's a treatment cycle or an argument — recognising your limit is not failure. It is self-knowledge. * Appreciate out loud. Snigdha makes it a point to tell Tushar, specifically and regularly, what she values about him. She believes men are rarely on the receiving end of that, and it matters. Resources & References * CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority) — India's nodal body for adoption. If you are considering adoption, this is where the process begins. cara.nic.in * iCall, TISS — Free and low-cost mental health support, including for infertility-related grief and pregnancy loss. icallhelpline.org * The Infertility Project (Instagram: @theinfertilityproject) — Community-led conversations around infertility in India. * Fang — A Labrador Retriever and, as Snigdha puts it, the one who started it all. About the Guest Snigdha Ghosh Roy is a digital marketing and content entrepreneur based in Delhi NCR. She has built her professional life around work she genuinely loves, from home, on her own terms. She is mother to Fang (Lab, first child, non-negotiable) and two humans born sixteen months apart during the pandemic. She has been with her partner Tushar for fifteen years and will tell you, without hesitation, that finding him is the one thing she did absolutely right. Connect with Snigdha on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/snigdhacontentstrategy/]. -- Enjoyed this episode? Share it with someone navigating infertility, partnership, or the beautiful mess of early parenthood. Support Us: https://buymeacoffee.com/gargneha [https://buymeacoffee.com/gargneha] Your support helps keep the show running.

#64: Trust the Child: Shruti Taneja on Conscious Parenting, Letting Go, and Building a Life from the Inside Out

Shruti Taneja – mother, aspiring farmer, social worker, and "lazy entrepreneur" – joins Neha for a conversation about parenting as a practice of deep listening and radical trust. Shruti and her partner Abhishek moved to Solan, Himachal Pradesh, a decade ago to build a regenerative farm and a life where work, family, and mission are indistinguishable from each other. In this episode, she speaks about releasing the grip of identity, co-parenting as co-creation, why she abandoned her homeschooling ideology when her daughter asked to go to school, and how her daughter Aisha continues to be her most honest teacher. Why You Should Listen This one is for parents who feel the tension between their values and the reality of raising a real, opinionated child. Shruti doesn't perform conscious parenting – she lives it, contradictions and all. She talks about the fights, the ideologies that got cancelled, the unlearning that happened in real time. If you've ever felt like your child outwitted your parenting plan, this episode will make you feel seen. Notable Quotes * "Nature teaches you that the most basic thing of life – not roti kapda makan, but breathing – you're interdependent. So there's nothing called independence really." * "It was like, you just cancelled my TED talk. So the intentions just go off the window." – on Aisha choosing school over homeschooling * "It's best sometimes, being a parent, to get out of the way." * "Kids are beautiful sensing machines." Practical Takeaways 1. Use the grandparents as a calibration tool. If your parents and in-laws aren't anxious about something, that's a signal it probably doesn't need your anxiety either. They've watched two generations grow up. 2. Presence over hours. One hour of undivided attention – phone face down, fully there – is worth more than a full distracted day. Aisha taught Shruti this by getting "damn irritated" when Shruti had her phone on mid-conversation. 3. Your child's body knows. Shruti never forced Aisha to eat, and she grew into a child who never overeats, reads her own hunger, and makes seasonal food choices intuitively. Trust the body's wisdom. 4. Invest in the village – for yourself, not just the child. A support network doesn't just make children more vibrant; it gives parents breathing room. Build it intentionally. 5. Hold your parenting ideology lightly. Shruti arrived at parenthood with a homeschooling plan. Aisha chose school. The best parenting move was listening. Resources & References * Teach for India Fellowship: The two-year fellowship that pivoted Shruti's life from advertising towards education and social impact. teachforindia.org [https://www.teachforindia.org/fellowship] * Sabarmati Gandhi Ashram, Ahmedabad: Where Shruti encountered the value of interdependence that cracked her "fiercely independent" identity open. gandhiashramsabarmati.org [https://gandhiashramsabarmati.org/] * Satat Sammelan: The intergenerational sustainability confluence Shruti and Abhishek run in Himachal Pradesh, designed for participants from age 3 to 80. About the Guest Shruti Taneja is a mother, farmer-in-the-making, coach, and social entrepreneur based in Solan, Himachal Pradesh. She began her career as a copywriter in advertising before pivoting to education through the Teach for India Fellowship – a shift that changed everything. Over the last decade, she and her partner Abhishek have built a regenerative farm, a consultancy that works with corporates and startups, and a non-profit working towards making Himachal Pradesh regenerative. She is raising her daughter Aisha alongside chickens, cattle, and a learning ecosystem that refuses to separate work from life. Connect with Shruti on LinkedIn [⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/shrutisachdeva/⁠]. 💬 Join the Conversation 🔔 Review & Subscribe: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and family! 💖 Follow Us: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenthootwithneha/ [https://www.instagram.com/parenthootwithneha/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/parenthoot/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/parenthoot/] ☕ Support Us: ⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/gargneha⁠ [https://buymeacoffee.com/gargneha] Your support helps keep the show running.

She Found Me: One mother's story of adoption, Down syndrome, and love that defied the plan | Parenthoot Spotlight

Kavita never planned to be a mother. She told her husband as much before they married. But a chance encounter with a child with Down syndrome in the US set something in motion — a slow, deliberate turning toward a life she hadn't imagined. Nine years ago, she and her husband Himanshu returned to India, filed their adoption paperwork, and within 45 days, brought home Veda — a 16-month-old girl with Down syndrome and a blurry profile picture they were too excited to notice. This episode is the story of that journey: the bonding that didn't look like bonding, the inclusion that doesn't start at school, the achievement pressure she refuses, and the future she has stopped trying to predict. Kavita speaks with the kind of clarity that only comes from having lived something fully. Why You Should Listen If you have ever questioned what family is supposed to look like — or felt the weight of other people's ideas about what your child should become — this episode will settle something in you. Kavita does not perform strength. She cries first, she admits it openly, and then she finds her footing. She is also very funny. Notable Quotes * "Down syndrome was not even a con for us." * "I thought bond is like child hugging you. But bond was when only I could understand what she was saying — and then it clicked, because I'm her mom." * "What if she will be Veda the non-famous? She doesn't need to be something to be respected. Her respect will start from home. That's where inclusion starts." * "It's weird that I don't see her future. I see my future with her." Practical Takeaways * Bonding after adoption can look nothing like what you expect. It may arrive quietly, sideways, in a moment nobody else witnesses. * Inclusion begins at home — in how you speak about your child, not in which school admits them. * You do not have to fight every battle. Finding the right people is also a form of advocacy. * Your child's story belongs to them. Share your perspective, not their history. * The "what after us" fear is real — and also universal. You are not alone in carrying it. Resources & References * CARA (Central Adoption Resource Authority): India's nodal body for adoption. For families exploring adoption: cara.nic.in * Down Syndrome Federation of India: Runs weekly support sessions for parents, including those in rural areas with limited access to therapy. downsyndromefederation.in * Down Syndrome International: Global resources, research, and community. ds-int.org * Trisomy 21: The chromosomal condition underlying Down syndrome. A reliable starting point for new parents: ndss.org/resources/down-syndrome-facts * Sensory and play-based learning: Kavita describes following Veda's lead through puzzles, tracing, and hands-on curriculum. A useful framework: understood.org/play-based-learning * Child digital privacy: Kavita's thoughtful approach to sharing online. For parents navigating this: internetmatters.org/issues/sharenting About the Guest Kavita is Veda's mother — and that, she will tell you, is the most defining thing. Based in Chandigarh, she has spent the last nine years sharing her family's life through her Instagram account Learning with Veda and her YouTube channel, with the quiet, steady purpose of showing parents — especially those who have just received a Down syndrome diagnosis — that this life is not scary. It is, in fact, full. Her account has grown into a community of over 14,000 people, with lawyers, advocates, and parents who show up for each other. She didn't plan any of it. Veda found her. Follow her on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/learningwithveda/] Watch her videos on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/c/learningwithveda] Visit her website [https://learningwithveda.com] Join the Conversation Review & Subscribe: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and family! Follow Us: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenthootwithneha/ [https://www.instagram.com/parenthootwithneha/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/parenthoot/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/parenthoot/] Support Us: https://buymeacoffee.com/gargneha [https://buymeacoffee.com/gargneha] Your support helps keep the show running.

#63: Motherhood Stole Me: A Raw Conversation on PPD, Mom Guilt, and the Grief of Becoming a Mother

Paula Simpson – writer, marketing professional, New Zealander-in-Bangalore, and mother to five-year-old Sulaiman (Sulu) – joins Neha for one of Parenthoot's most unflinching conversations yet. Paula talks about missing her globe-trotting pre-mother life, navigating prenatal depression and PPD during a COVID lockdown far from home, sleep training in secret while her husband was away, and the razor-thin line she walks every day between work, marriage, and motherhood. She doesn't perform gratitude. She tells the truth. Why You Should Listen If you've ever quietly grieved the life you had before your child, felt guilty for missing your old self, or wondered whether the mental load ever actually lifts – this episode is for you. Paula speaks with the kind of clarity that only comes from having been to the edge and back. She's funny, sharp, and completely unfiltered. Equal parts relief and recognition. Notable Quotes * "I would be dead if I hadn't sleep trained him. 100 percent." * "I bet your mother sometimes just could not wait for you to go to sleep and sat there and cried some nights because they missed what little freedom they had." * "I feel like I'm walking on a very narrow razor and at any point I could slip. I'm just waiting to see what falls over –and hoping it's not too important." * "It comes back eventually. Not today, but one day." Practical Takeaways * Prenatal depression is real and often goes unnamed. If something feels off during pregnancy, trust it and seek support early. * Sleep deprivation is a mental health crisis in disguise. Addressing your child's sleep may be one of the most important things you do for your own wellbeing. * The mental load doesn't disappear with hired help or family support – it travels with the mother. Acknowledging this is the first step to asking for real help. * Building a local community of mothers with similarly-aged children is not a luxury – for many, it is survival infrastructure. * Gentle parenting works best anchored in consistent routine and non-negotiable boundaries, not in the absence of rules. * Science-backed parenting resources exist. Learning to evaluate studies (sample size, geography, methodology) helps cut through the noise of unsolicited advice. * Emotional regulation in children starts with emotional regulation in parents. Sequestering yourself for two minutes is not failure – it is modelling. Resources & References * On Matrescence: https://matrescence.in [https://matrescence.in/] * On Postpartum Depression — iCall India (free counselling): icallhelpline.org — Vandrevala Foundation Helpline (24/7, India): 1860-2662-345 — Postpartum Support International: postpartum.net About the Guest Paula Simpson is a writer and marketing professional based in Bangalore, India. Originally from New Zealand, she has lived and worked across Europe, Asia, and the US. She runs a business with her husband Reza and is mother to Sulaiman, age five. Paula writes with wit and honesty about expat life, parenting, and everything in between – follow her on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-simpson-9715b73a/] for the kind of posts Neha says you simply must read. * Follow Paula on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/saucyandspiceadventures/ [https://www.instagram.com/saucyandspiceadventures/] * Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-simpson-9715b73a/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paula-simpson-9715b73a/] 💬 Join the Conversation 🔔 Review & Subscribe: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and family! 💖 Follow Us: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenthootwithneha/ [https://www.instagram.com/parenthootwithneha/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/parenthoot/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/parenthoot/] ☕ Support Us: https://buymeacoffee.com/gargneha [https://buymeacoffee.com/gargneha] Your support helps keep the show running.

#62: The Messy Middle: Raising a Child, Building a Business, and Finding Yourself Across Two Continents

Supriya Sharma is an entrepreneur, mother to three-year-old Samara, and someone who has built her life without a template — quite deliberately. In this episode, she talks about straddling Bangalore and the Bay Area, seven months of solo parenting while launching a business, a postpartum experience that was both hormonal and humbling, and a birth story that left her in a state of trance. She speaks with rare openness about resentment, resilience, the village she built with intention, and why she thinks nine-to-five is inherently patriarchal. This is a conversation about holding everything at once — and slowly learning not to drop yourself. Why You Should Listen If you've ever felt guilty about a nap, questioned whether nature is sexist, or wondered how other parents keep going when the systems fall apart — this one is for you. Supriya doesn't perform wellness. She talks about the hard first month of solo parenting, the postpartum resentment nobody warned her about, and the two years it took to stop measuring her worth by her output. She also talks about joy — about a daughter who is basically a tiny guru, a café that doubles as her office, and why fun is not just for weekends. Notable Quotes * "I joke about this decade being the messy, messy, messy middle — somewhere in this spectrum of life where everything is happening at once." * "Sometimes I'm just jealous of a dad brain. Why are there so many tabs open in my head?" * "Is nature sexist? That's how the resentment bit started." * "It felt like Samara was there listening, waiting for us to get ready." * "Don't measure your self-worth by how productive you are today. It took me two years to fully let go of that." * "Nine to five is extremely patriarchal. I do not think I can operate like that." Practical Takeaways * Build your village with intention. Supriya and her husband actively requested her parents to relocate. The village doesn't always show up — sometimes you have to design it. * Protect one routine anchor. No matter the continent, Samara's nap schedule stayed sacred. Consistency in one area can hold everything else together. * Productivity looks different postpartum. Block your calendar for rest without apology. Supriya has been doing it since pregnancy — and credits it for her output, not despite it. * Trust your gut over the timeline. She delayed her business launch by two and a half months because solo parenting demanded it. The business still happened. Resources & References * Vipassana meditation: dhamma.org [https://www.dhamma.org/] * Postpartum mental health — If this episode brought something up for you, iCall India [https://icallhelpline.org/] (9152987821) offers accessible counselling support. * The productivity myth in motherhood — Also discussed in Episode 53 ft. Natasha Uppal [https://open.spotify.com/episode/3xeNGDJY3pSBcDf9uT0f9U?si=cad60420d50341b1], where the idea that productivity is "inherently patriarchal and capitalistic" was first raised on this show. About Supriya Sharma Supriya is an entrepreneur currently building in the health tourism space, helping people discover healing journeys and navigate medical travel globally. She also researches deep tech in healthcare, exploring what human health might look like 15 years from now. Before this, she led sustainability initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region at Procter & Gamble. She lives between Bangalore and the Bay Area with her husband Kunal and daughter Samara, and describes herself, on any given day, as "a zombie fueled by coffee — and extremely grateful." * Follow Supriya on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supriya_curocircle [https://www.instagram.com/supriya_curocircle] * Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/supriyaa-sharmaa/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/supriyaa-sharmaa/] 💬 Join the Conversation 🔔 Review & Subscribe: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please leave a review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and family! 💖 Follow Us: * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parenthootwithneha/ [https://www.instagram.com/parenthootwithneha/] * LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/parenthoot/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/parenthoot/] ☕ Support Us: https://buymeacoffee.com/gargneha [https://buymeacoffee.com/gargneha] Your support helps keep the show running.