A slice of childhood- Memories of my grandmother

It was one of those days when you had to have mangoes in every meal; right from a lusciously thick milkshake the colour of daffodils, sweetened with honey at breakfast, to the tangy and sweet ‘pazhamanga kalan’ (a sweet and tart curry made with ripe mangoes simmered in a yogurt sauce) with which you douse your steaming hot rice for lunch.  Mangoes always bring back memories of my paternal grandmother from whom I learnt the art of eating a mango without having to use a knife. We called her ‘valliamma’, which is a term ordinarily used in my mother tongue Malayalam for addressing one’s aunt, more specifically mother’s elder sister. But to us, her grand children, she was anything but ordinary. I can picture her still, sitting crossed legged in her starched linen ‘mundu veshti’ which smelt of talcum powder and mellow sunshine, holding the reins of  my father’s sprawling ancestral home in her gentle yet firm grip.

valliamma and her grand kids

Valliamma always ensured that each of us children felt special. Whenever we visited, there would always be everyone’s favourite dishes on the menu, as if it was the most normal thing. Fresh   succulent ‘poozhan’ (a river fish common to the region), crisp and fried to perfection for lunch; or a robust, rustic egg masala curry in a rich mahogany hued coconut gravy, which you could mop up with thick slices of crusty bread. There was always that special dish to perk up your meal.

I remember waking up in the morning to her soothing voice, as she sat at the foot of her bed, fresh after her morning bath, chanting prayers. I loved watching her get dressed, readying herself to face the day, and if I was particularly lucky she would let me help her. She would sit on her bed and call for her ‘vanity case’, an antique rosewood box which she would delicately slide, to reveal a mirror cleverly concealed within its womb. I would then play her ‘lady- in- waiting’, handing out whatever she asked for. She had a creamy porcelain complexion and I would watch her massage her face in swift, deft movements and there would always be a smidgen of cream for me to practice my massaging skills. Afterwards we would examine our glowing cheeks in the mirror, faces pressed together.

 But it is during Vishu (the Malayalee New Year festival) time that I still miss her the  most. Whenever I go through my ‘make-do’ Vishu preparations;  buying yellow flowers to make do for the golden hued ‘konna flowers’ or getting a ‘instant’  payasam mix to make do for the creamy sweet ‘semiya payasam’ fragrant with cardamom and speckled with plump golden raisins and slivers of cashew nuts fried in ghee, I think of my valliamma sitting in her enormous pooja room and arranging an elaborate ‘vishu kani’ , with a large urli (brass urn) polished until it glistened like gold, brimming with seasonal fruits and vegetables, gold ornaments, an antique ‘valkannadi’ and ‘konna’ flowers.

The pooja room would be transformed into a magical place with flickering brass lamps and deities adorned with brocades and flowers. It was to this room that she would take us at the crack of dawn, one by one, with our eyes closed and we would open our eyes and take in this wonderful sight. What a lovely way to step into a brand new year.

One of the last memories I have of valliamma which I still cherish, is of us going through my wedding trousseau. Too frail and sick to actually come out for shopping, she insisted that I show her whatever I purchased. I can still picture her childlike glee as she opened each packet and fingered the rich silks and brocades. She passed away just after my engagement. I know she would have loved to see me as a bride and I would give anything just to see that look of love mingled with a tinge of pride, as I stand before her in all my bridal finery; the same look I had seen in her eyes all those years ago when we pressed our faces together to look into her mirror.

Review of Simba bags

Steffi Doll, Spiderman and WWE Superstar John Cena printed bags from Simba toys is a good value for money deal, that combines functionality and affordability. Printed with a colourful picture of Steffi doll , Spiderman and WWE superstar John Cena, this bag is sure to be a hit among boys and girls alike.

It boasts of three spacious zippered compartments which will ensure that your child can pack all his books(plus other 'stuff') in an organized way. No more leaky water bottles spoiling your child's books;this funky bag has two netted bottle holders on the sides which will ensure that your kid can stay hydrated throughout the day without the worry of spilling water.

The straps of this cute bag come with padded support, so that the weight of the bag is distributed evenly on the little shoulders of its owner while its light weight design ensures that it is easy to handle.

Scope for improvement: I felt that the back of the bag could have some padding as well, so that it is easier in little backs; also the material could have been a little thicker as there are chances of it being torn.

Overall a great buy, which I am sure will satisfy both the parents and kids.

Mocomag - a complete online magazine for kids

Mocomag review

Mocomag is indeed the coolest online magazine for kids. My eight year old son is hooked on to it and it is one addiction I don’t want him to stop. It beautifully injects learning with large doses of fun and makes sure it is presented in a format that is interesting for kids. The simple easy to follow language and the colorful illustrations ensure that the kids are able to follow the information provided, with minimal adult assistance.

What sets this magazine apart is the way that technology has been cleverly used to create a visually interactive content. Each issue has a specific theme that runs through the length of the issue. It also covers a whole plethora of topics, ranging from history mysteries, quiz and news tidbits to easy to make recipes, crafts and stories. The riddles, comic strips and informative videos that it is sprinkled with make it a sheer delight for kids to read. All in all a fantastic read for kids and highly recommended.

you can read their latest issue here:  http://mocomi.com/issue-18/

Share the language of love

“Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others” 

Brian Tracy.

In the times that we live in today, when the concept of ‘I’ ‘me’ ‘myself’ seems to be the new age mantra; the art of sharing is one of the greatest lessons that we as parents can impart to our children. I am honored to feature on my blog, this wonderful initiative called ‘Johnson’s baby share the language of love’. Johnson and Johnson, which is synonymous with quality baby care products across the globe, has partnered with the well known NGO Goonj  to share this language of love with less fortunate children across the country.

What the campaign stands for:

In keeping with Johnson’s core philosophy of “care”, this campaign aims create a forum for the less fortunate children in our society, to experience “the joys of childhood”.  Working hand in hand with Goonj who shares the same philosophy, this campaign encourages mothers’ to share their child’s old or unused articles with those less fortunate.

What happens once you contribute?

Once the drop boxes at various centers in the city are filled up for the day, they are taken to the Goonj collection centers where they are cleaned sorted and pressed. They are then transported to the nearest Goonj centers and distributed among the needy.

How you can make a difference

Any object which you can contribute be it an old toy, book or games can bring a smile and brighten up a child’s day somewhere. All you need to do is collect your stuff and take it to the nearest collection center in your city. This year’s collection centers are being set up in 14 cities across India including Mumbai Delhi Bangalore Kolkata Hyderabad, Chennai, Ahmadabad, Cuttack, Pune etc over three successive weekends. Collection drives will also be initiated in 170 residential societies in 5 cities. There are also various touch points through which you can contribute to this campaign. Give a missed call on 1800 267 6767/ 1800 267 2222 to get details about your nearest collection center .You could also check out their face book community which is over 4,50,000 strong.

So join in today to speak the language of love, for no words can say more clearly that you care.

The art of leaving

Leaving a place you called home for nearly a decade, is not easy.   Possessions and memories coexist in bountiful abundance.  It is amazing how you begin to notice little things about your world, that you hitherto took for granted, when there is an expiry date attached. A pomegranate tree laden with luscious crimson fruit in a far corner of the apartment garden, which makes you feel almost guilty for not having noticed it before. The way the morning sun drenches your living room in a buttery golden light, that gives it an almost ethereal tinge. A pencil mark on a bedroom wall indicating your child’s height, when he was still at that delicious age where you could carry him around; the way a little apartment  housed our joys and sorrows, our hopes and fears, our little rituals of sustenance, our little indulgences and pleasures.

Bangalore for me, will always be a special place where I was privy to my child’s wonder years, where I learnt the art of leaving behind the dispiriting  ‘why’s’  and ‘what if’s’ and befriending  the elusive “why not’s’.  

I leave behind a bit of myself here, as I prepare to discover a whole new world, learn new things and more importantly be willing to unlearn old ways; for as Joseph Campbell quoted  “We must be willing to let go of the life we planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”

‘Home’ from now on, is the lovely coastal city of Chennai and I look forward to this leg of the exciting journey called life.

Guest post for whattoexpect.com

Mom of all trades is thrilled and honored to be featured on the ' pregnancy bible' whattoepect.com.


It is an online companion to the book 'What to Expect When You're Expecting'

Dubbed the “pregnancy bible,” the iconic New York Times bestseller is now ...in its all-new fourth edition, with over 17 million copies in print, and according to USA Today, is read by 93 percent of women who read a pregnancy book

you can read my article here

http://www.whattoexpect.com/wom/toddler/things-i-wish-i-had-told-my-son.aspx

Full circle

 

“We'll be Friends forever, won't we, Pooh?' asked Piglet.

“Even longer,' Pooh answered.”

― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

 We were a bunch of six girls barely out of our teens, all thrown together into a ‘degree course’ where we were expected to behave like ladies, rather than boisterous girls. Looking back, it might have been that calm convent atmosphere filled with demure lady like class mates, which drew us together. Each of us was as different as chalk and cheese with a common mischievous thread binding us together.  Soon we were inseparable, determined to enjoy each day to the fullest and dipping into our collective mischief bank to ensure that it happens. We would spend countless lovely afternoons in some shady spot of the lusciously green campus, chatting about everything under the sun or gossiping in the canteen biting into crispy golden banana fritters and sipping steaming hot milky tea.

We were slowly getting meshed into each others lives in a way that would ensure that we carry a part of each other wherever we may be. A tilt of the head of a co passenger on a train , a hearty laugh of a colleague, an old melody on the radio all transporting us back to those  sundrenched days of pure joy.

After our course, despite promises to stay in touch we drifted apart as quietly and as uneventfully as we got together; as if it was the most natural thing in the world. Life took us along in its whirlwind ride and soon we found ourselves in the peripheries’ of each others lives, sending an occasional ‘how are you’ message or congratulatory notes for birthdays.

 Thirteen years is by any standards a long time but it can seem like a life time to a group of people who were as close to each other as is humanly possible; people who drifted apart and finally lost touch with each other completely.

Finally one of us was wise enough to realize that friendships like ours come once in a life time and it was important to cherish it and hold on to it; and enterprising enough to do something about it.

So it was that a couple of months back, our collective lives changed once again with a whatzapp group. We typed on our handsets till our fingers were sore and our eyes bleary as if to make up for those lost years.  We blended into each others lives as if we had never been apart, with an ease that surprised us. We were once again becoming each others pillars of support, with the power to salvage anything from a bad mood to a badly turned out curry. No subject was out of bounds and life slowly began to take on an attractive sheen when seen through each others eyes.

It feels now that things have come full circle; a circle encircling us with its warmth and unconditional love.

As Jim Henson rightly quoted “There’s  not a word yet, for old friends who’ve just met”

 



One of the rare times we managed to actually look lady like.