In this WorldAuthors.org interview, author Paromita De opens up about her journey as a writer and the deeply personal inspiration behind her book, The Secret to Mama’s Joy: How to Keep Mama Happy. Drawing from her own experiences of motherhood, Paromita explores parental burnout, self-care, family connection and the pressure to always be strong and perfect. She also shares why she chose to tell this important story through a child’s eyes and what she hopes children, parents and families will take away from its pages.
Welcome back to WorldAuthors.org, Paromita! It’s wonderful to have you with us again. Since we last spoke, what has your journey as an author been like?
It’s been an incredible ride! The best part has easily been the community side of it. Getting out to events and meeting people – both passionate readers and fellow authors – has brought so much joy to the process. Writing the book is one thing, but sharing it with a real community is what makes it all worth it.
Congratulations on How to Keep Mama Happy. The story begins with a child noticing that Mama, who always seems busy caring for everyone else, is quietly struggling. What inspired this emotionally powerful story?
Thank you so much! This story is incredibly close to my heart because it was directly inspired by my own struggles as a mom. There are so many days where you are running on empty, trying to take care of everyone else, and you think you’re hiding your exhaustion perfectly. But children are incredibly intuitive – they notice when the energy shifts. I wanted to write a book that validates that very real, invisible load of motherhood, while showing how a family’s love can help carry a mother through it.
The book explores parental burnout through the innocent and loving perspective of a child. Why did you choose to tell such an important subject through a child’s eyes?
Children are so deeply perceptive and naturally sense what we feel, even when we don’t put it into words. I chose a child’s perspective because they notice the shift in our energy when we are struggling or running on empty. Showing parental burnout through their eyes allows us to approach a heavy, complex topic with a sense of innocence, gentleness, and unconditional love. It reminds us that our kids don’t just need us to take care of them—they also notice and care about how we are doing.
When the child sees Mama crying, the immediate instinct is to make her happy again. Yet the story carries an important message—that it is not a child’s responsibility to carry a parent’s happiness. Why was this message so important for you to include?
A child’s instinct to wipe away a parent’s tears is one of the most touching things in the world. It shows just how deeply they love us. But I wanted to weave this message into the story out of pure love for our children’s freedom. I want every little reader to know that their love is a beautiful light in their mama’s life, but they never have to carry the burden of making things okay.
Mama’s family initially tries to bring back her smile with thoughtful gestures, including pink roses and her favourite cappuccino. But the story ultimately reveals that what she truly needs is rest, balance and time for herself. What do you hope parents will reflect on after reading this?
My honest hope is that this book opens up a tender, truthful dialogue within families. I want parents to reflect on how much they are pouring out versus how much they are letting themselves refill. It is so easy to hide our exhaustion until we break. I hope this story serves as a gentle mirror, helping parents realize that it’s okay to pause, it’s okay to ask for help, and it is beautifully healthy to let our children see that a family is a team where everyone’s happiness matters
The book gently challenges the idea that parents, especially mothers, must always be strong, productive and perfect. Do you believe many parents today struggle with giving themselves permission to slow down and practise self-care?
Yes, I truly believe so, and I say that with the utmost humility because it is something I have deeply struggled with myself. It is so hard to quiet that little voice inside that tells us we always need to be doing more, fixing more, and giving more. Parents today carry such an invisible weight, trying so hard to create a perfect world for their children. But I think we forget that our children don’t want perfection; they just want us—peaceful, present, and happy.
One of the beautiful messages in the story is that even superheroes need rest. What does self-care mean to you personally, and how has that understanding influenced your writing?
Personally, self-care is how I reconnect with my soul so I can show up fully for the people I love. It is built into the quietest moments of my day—in prayer, meditation, and journaling, where I process my thoughts and find peace. But it’s also alive in the beautiful, slow mornings spent sipping coffee, enjoying brunch with my family, and laughing with dear friends.
As the family begins slowing down, spending more time outdoors and letting go of perfection, their home becomes lighter and more peaceful. What role do you believe small changes in family routines can play in improving emotional well-being?
I believe small changes play a massive role because they are sustainable and fit into our real, busy lives. We don’t need grand gestures to heal burnout; we just need intentional moments. Something as simple as slowing down to enjoy a nice meal together without the rush, or taking a peaceful family walk in the evening, can completely shift the energy of a home.
What do you hope children, parents and families take away from How to Keep Mama Happy—and what would you like to say to our WorldAuthors.org readers who are discovering your book for the first time?
My deepest hope for How to Keep Mama Happy is that it serves as a gentle embrace for the whole family. I hope children feel the beautiful validation of how much their love matters, while simultaneously feeling the freedom to just be little. For parents, I hope it is a soft reminder that your humanity is beautiful, and taking care of yourself is a gift to your children.