#69: Pregnant, Grieving, & Learning from Instagram: Richa on Losing Her Mother & Parenting Alone

Richa Singh became a mother in one of the hardest possible circumstances: peak COVID, while grieving her own mother who had passed away just weeks after she conceived. With no female figure to guide her, no nurse, and a husband who couldn't cook, she built her parenting instincts from a place most people would never expect — a decade of rescuing and rehabilitating senior dogs. Founder of Bowsome Senior Dogs India Foundation and a veterinary hospital in Ahmedabad, Richa joins Neha for a conversation that is honest, funny, and genuinely unexpected. They talk about a difficult pregnancy marked by gestational diabetes and obstetric cholestasis; a postpartum month where she cooked her own meals on Day 5 post-caesarean and cried in the kitchen; the Instagram village that raised her when no one else could; raising a five-year-old boy without gender policing; a bedtime ritual that quietly builds emotional intelligence; and the three things she'd tell every first-time parent. Why You Should Listen If you didn't fall in love with your baby the moment they arrived, this episode is for you. If you've parented without a mother, without a rulebook, or without a village that looked like anyone else's — this is for you. If you're raising a boy and thinking seriously about who he becomes, Richa's approach to emotion, identity, and gender norms is specific and grounding. And if you believe a village matters more than any parenting book, you'll love how Richa built hers — from childless friends who trained themselves on bottle prep and drove over at 9:30pm, and strangers on the internet who answered questions at midnight. Notable Quotes "It's a very slow process of falling in love. With your own, somebody you made, you nurtured everything yourself." "My anger has gone to five percent. The only thing that makes me angry now is him not eating properly." "I want him to remember me the way I remember my mother." "Making tough choices is also an art. You learn it with time." Practical Takeaways The bedtime ritual. After books and milk, Richa asks Ivan three questions every night: How was your day? What made you feel bad? What made you happy? When their bodies are relaxed and nothing is coming next, children absorb corrections quietly. Address what needs addressing then — not in the heat of the moment. Build your village wherever you find it. It doesn't have to look traditional to be real. Richa's was made entirely of childless friends who showed up, and strangers online who answered her questions at midnight. Toddler sports for core development. Between ages 2-7, physical play — especially gymnastics — builds core strength and sitting tolerance, laying the neurological groundwork for focus and body confidence. Know your limits and name them. Define your capacity — case by case, emotionally, financially — and don't cross the line you've drawn for yourself. That is where peace lives. Resources & References Bowsome Senior Dogs India Foundation: Richa's rescue and rehabilitation work with senior dogs. Find them on Instagram:   / bowsomeseniordogsindia   Waldorf Education: the school philosophy Ivaan attends, emphasizing play-based, developmentally attuned learning. Postpartum Support International: for mothers navigating postpartum depression and the fourth trimester: postpartum.net Babywearing International: community and resources for new parents: babywearinginternational.org ASHA (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association): for parents concerned about late speech development in toddlers: asha.org About the Guest Richa Singh is the founder of Bowsome Senior Dogs India Foundation, an organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and adoption of senior dogs who are most often overlooked. She also runs a veterinary hospital in Ahmedabad. A graduate of CEPT University, Richa lives in Mumbai with her husband, architect Piyas Choudhuri, their five-year-old son Ivaan, and many, many dogs. Find her work on Instagram:   / richasinghchoudhuri   Themes & Tags Postpartum depression | Parenting without a village | Grief during pregnancy | Parenting without a mother | Raising boys | Feminist parenting | Gender norms at home | Active fatherhood | Boy moms | Parenting in India | Working mothers | Values-based parenting | Intentional parenting | Bedtime rituals | Emotional intelligence in children | Late speech in toddlers | Toddler development | Waldorf education | Alternative schooling | COVID pregnancy | Building community | Food and memory | Dog rescue and motherhood | Senior dog adoption | Mental load --- 🎙 If this conversation resonated, share it with a parent, partner, or friend who needs to hear it. Subscribe to Parenthoot with Neha and leave a review – it helps these stories reach more people. ☕ Support Us: https://buymeacoffee.com/gargneha Your support helps keep the show running.