Great topic! Shilpa Sharma is really a gem of a character, so far removed from the stereotypical Hindi 'filmy' moms of Bollywood and Tellywood - she's such a refreshing change. She's smart, intelligent, independent, and has a wonderful sense of humour - very rare in TV parents, most of whom are of the Bauji Bui variety! Being a bit of a feminist, one of the things I admire most about her is the way she has brought up Mayank to help in the house in terms of sharing cooking, household chores etc., something which most Indian moms even today think are 'not for boys' to do. Also, she is truly friend, philosopher and guide to Mayank - she knows when to be friend, and when to be parent, and that is really a fine line to walk. Most importantly, she has kept the lines of communication open with her son, so that he's not afraid to talk to her about anything and never feels the need to hide anything from her, which I feel is the most important part of any relationship, especially that of a parent and teenager. She really is an ideal mother - a wonderful blend of traditional and modern - she seems to have given her son all the right values, and is comfortable and confident enough with her upbringing to trust her son, and give him the space to make his own decisions, make his mistakes and correct them himself, if he has to, with the confidence that she is standing behind to help him if he ever requires it.
Great topic! and Happy Women's Day to all!