Archana Puran Singh and Parmeet Sethi Reveal Turbulent Early Parenthood Journey
Bollywood couple Archana Puran Singh and Parmeet Sethi, who secretly married in 1992 and welcomed their first son Aaryamann in 1994, have recently shared intimate details about the difficult initial years of their parenting experience. In a candid vlog on Archana's YouTube channel, the couple discussed how Parmeet was largely "absent" following their first child's birth, leaving Archana feeling isolated and overwhelmed by the responsibilities of new motherhood.
'I Was a Very Bad Father' - Parmeet's Candid Admission
When Parmeet mentioned that he hadn't anticipated how dramatically his life would change after becoming a father, Archana immediately challenged him, asking pointedly, "How did your life change? Because for the first few years you were absent." Parmeet didn't hesitate to acknowledge his shortcomings, confessing that he was "a very bad father" during Aaryamann's early years and describing his presence as merely a "guest appearance" until their second son Ayushmaan was born.
The couple revealed that both pregnancies were unplanned, though Archana clarified that she genuinely wanted a second child. She recalled becoming a mother at 36 and having her second child at 39, describing this as "very old for a mother." Parmeet explained that his perspective shifted during Archana's second pregnancy when he noticed Aaryamann sensing a change in attention.
The Turning Point in Fatherhood
"I saw Aaryamann realising that the conversation had shifted from him to someone else," Parmeet shared. "That's when I realised that he would not receive as much attention, and I decided to take him under my wing. That's when I started spending time with him, playing with him. I became his father in the true sense."
Archana's Struggle with Post-Partum Challenges
Archana reminded Parmeet that just as he was unaware of what fatherhood involved, he was equally oblivious to the struggles of a new mother. "Just like you were not aware of what I was going through during my pregnancy, you didn't pay attention to what a woman experiences after the baby arrives," she said. "I was so weak during that time and you were missing."
She described waking up at least six times every night to feed and check on the baby, wondering why Parmeet wasn't sharing her burden. "I thought, why isn't Bittu sharing my load? Then you convinced me, 'What can I do? I can't feed the baby,'" she recalled. Parmeet acknowledged this bluntly: "I didn't help you. At least for the first three years of Aaryamann's life, I didn't help you at all. I just changed his nappy a couple of times, I am admitting it."
Parmeet admitted he had no understanding of post-partum struggles, and Archana added that even she didn't fully recognize what she was experiencing at the time. "But I felt I was alone. I was powering through everything but I was so fragile then," she confessed.
Anniversary Dinner That Exposed Deeper Cracks
Archana recalled an incident from their anniversary when Parmeet became upset after she refused to go out for dinner due to sheer exhaustion. "I remember it was our anniversary and I was putting the children to bed. They were three to five years old then. I was ready to go but I was so sleep deprived because I would feed them, get their homework done, and take care of them. You said the table was reserved and you were so angry with me," she said.
Parmeet remembered that phase as one where Archana repeatedly declined outings with him. "I understand that you wanted to be with the kids but does the husband also exist or not?" he asked, calling it a "balancing act" and admitting, "You didn't balance it, and that's a fact." He added, "It was a very touch and go situation between us."
Motherhood Versus Wifehood: A Delicate Balance
As the discussion continued, Archana questioned why Parmeet couldn't understand her position while juggling multiple responsibilities. "You yourself said that you didn't know what fatherhood was so you obviously did not know what motherhood was. You didn't know what all a mother has to do," she said. Parmeet responded, "What about wifehood? You didn't understand wifehood."
Archana stood her ground, acknowledging that Parmeet may have been hurt but emphasizing that motherhood took precedence at that stage of her life. She described motherhood as "a bigger responsibility then," highlighting the complex dynamics many couples face when navigating the transition to parenthood while maintaining their marital relationship.
