Sonali Bendre’s note on son Ranveer’s 13th birthday: It’s the first one that we’re not together. Watch video

Sonali Bendre is away from son Ranveer Behl on his 13th birthday but that doesn’t mean that she would not celebrate it in her own way. In New York where she is undergoing treatment for ‘high grade’ cancer, Sonali took to Instagram to share glimpses of their moments together from the time Ranveer was a wee little kid to now that he is a teenager. She also shared a heartwarming note that celebrated her son’s milestone while accepting she is getting a bit melodramatic.

Sonali wrote, “Ranveeeeer! My sun, my moon, my stars, my sky… Okay, maybe I’m being a bit melodramatic, but your 13th birthday deserves this. Wow, you’re a teenager now… Will need some time to wrap my head around that fact. I can’t tell you enough how proud I am of you… Your wit, your humour, your strength, your kindness, and even your mischief. Happy happy birthday, my not-so-little one. It’s the first one that we’re not together… I miss you terribly. Lots and lots of love always and forever…. biiiiig hug! @rockbehl.”

Sonali has stayed positive as she fights cancer — from spending time with her friends on Friendship Day to spending time with books, she is attempting to look beyond the moments of pain.While Ranveer was with Sonali during the initial days she shifted to the US for cancer care, he had to return to school once summer vacation got over. The actor had shared on a social media post how she had decided to reveal her cancer diagnosis to him instead of keeping him in dark.

“From the moment he was born 12 years, 11 months and 8 days ago, my amazing @rockbehl took ownership of my heart. From then on, his happiness and wellbeing have been the centre of anything @goldiebehl and I ever did. And so, when the Big C reared its ugly head, our biggest dilemma was what and how we were going to tell him,” she wrote.She went on to say that he son has become her rock and has taken the news maturely. “As much as we wanted to protect him, we knew it was important to tell him the full facts. We’ve always been open and honest with him and this time it wasn’t going to be different. He took the news so maturely… and instantly became a source of strength and positivity for me. In some situations now, he even reverses roles and takes on being the parent, reminding me of things I need to do!”

Sonali also had a word of advice for other parents in a similar situation. “I believe that it’s imperative to keep kids involved in a situation like this. They are a lot more resilient than we give them credit for. It’s important to spend time with them and include them, rather than make them wait on the side-lines, not being told yet instinctively knowing everything. In our effort to protect them from the pain and realities of life, we might end up doing the opposite.

I’m spending time with Ranveer right now, while he’s on summer vacation. His madness and shenanigans help me #SwitchOnTheSunshine. And today, we derive strength from each other #OneDayAtATime.”