"Learn to be like her- so warm and hospitable"..."Learn how not to be from that person- so arrogant and loud"... Every mom has told her child how to be and how not to be. So I decided to join the bandwagon. Dear Sahasra, 1. Smile. Teeth or no teeth, it's more powerful than an aspirin is for a headache. But when you smile after you chew the newspaper, remember that your mother is going to be a dud with current affairs (or if it's a gossip paper, your mom will be the only one not to know where Aishwarya Rai took her daughter). 2. Family is more pleasure than pain. Even if you've never met them before or you don't know how they are related to you. And when they ask you "do you know who I am?" say- "of course, you are that mama/mami who finished all the payasam at the previous wedding we met at!" 3. Planning is important. Plan to be happy and chirpy. And if you forget to do your 'planned' homework or craft assignment...