Make time for the most neglected person in your life…yourself!!!

Most of us hear this advice doled out to us by well wishers or at least as an article in a glossy magazine. Though we would love to do all that is mentioned there, we postpone taking time out without a second thought. Every holiday is meticulously planned for. Take the kids the dentist, clean out the kitchen cabinets, take husband’s suit to the cleaners.. the list is end less. In this blurry of activities, most of us end up being fagged out and irritated at the very people we are doing all this for.. our family
Taking out some time in a day is not impossible as it seems if we really try. The first step is to let go of the guilt most of us face in doing something for ourselves. Think of the time spent as an investment which will make us happier and calmer, resulting in a better spouse, daughter or parent.
Make time to look after our body
•by exercising at least 5 times a week
•by going for regular medical check ups
•by getting enough sleep

Make time to rejuvenate our spirit
• by carving out some time to pursue hobbies
•by meeting up with friends
•by simply doing what makes us happy at that moment..(even if its weeping over the 200th episode of a soap serial!!!!)

So this New Year lets rejuvenate ourselves and be ready with the juicer to make lemonade when life throws us the proverbial lemon.

Quotable Quotes

Nachikaet and his ‘achiya” (grand father for the uninitiated) are thick friends. They have formed a mutual admiration society to which “third party entry” is strictly restricted. A conversation I had with nachikaet last week gave me fresh insights into the functioning of this “society”. As a prelude to the upcoming republic day I decided that it was time to awaken the patriotic spirit in my son and told him about the struggle for freedom, the national anthem etc. The next day while getting ready for school, I casually asked him who the father of the nation is. Beaming with pride he replied “ achiya”

Drawing Dilemmas

Nachikaet has been drawing ever since I can remember..(so what if its only a couple of years it adds to the effect, right?) What I mean is he is a broad minded little artist.. he will not confine himself to mere pen and paper. The whole house is his canvas. There is not a square inch left on my walls (and recently the built in wardrobes) that does not bear testament to the Picasso in him. Luckily for him his father is a firm believer in the “its only paint” concept.. after all nobody stopped Raja Ravi Varma from doodling on the walls of his palace!!!!Recently a friend pointed out to me that he draws quite well for a four year old. That was when I really looked at his creations without being blinded by the “monster mother” in me . The child could draw. I had a talk with him on what he wanted to do about it. It turned out that he wanted to learn to draw animals. Thus began the quest for a drawing teacher. Nachikaet starts his drawing class today and for once I’m letting him have the last word!!!!
PS: we have reached an agreement about his wall art. I got him The “Doodle Pro” board by Fisher Price and he is happy doodling on it..for the moment!!! I highly recommend it for harassed mothers like me!!!!

Breath of life

Last week changed my life.(yes.. I am a drama queen!!!!) It happened when I began to give importance to the most taken for granted aspect in my life- my breathing. I attended a three day workshop conducted by the “Art of living” foundation. It was an eye opener for me to make certain changes in the way I was living and thinking. When I learnt how to become fully aware of my breathing, and started doing it consciously; a wonderful thing happened. I slowly learnt how to immerse myself fully in what I am doing at the moment. For the first time in my life I was able to give my full attention to the present and it was a wonderful feeling. Another thing I will cherish forever is the way I learnt to enjoy daily meals; savor each mouthful , be aware of its texture, its taste, the sensations it produces in my mouth. I try to do it at least one time a day.. even if its just a handful of raisins popped in when I am waiting for my son at school. Try it its addictive.

Annual day. with the king of my heart!!!

This morning marked a sort of land mark in Nachikaet’s social life.. his first stage performance. It was a fantastic debut (well I am his mom guys, what did you expect!!!!)


His class performed to a medley of songs by the late “king of pop”. What amazed me was that the class teacher had managed to transform a group of boisterous four-year olds into dancers, belting out classic Michael Jackson steps, leaving the audience asking for more.

It set me thinking about the efforts teachers put into molding our kids thoughts and actions. Teachers, especially in the nursery levels, are an under paid lot doing a largely thankless job. My son and I decided this afternoon to use these Christmas holidays to make a card together, list out all the things he has learnt from her this year and thank her..all in his own words ( I, being the scribe). Here is a picture of him beaming at the camera in his “beat it’ costume. He sure is the king of my heart!!!!

Power of praise..try it with your child

Last week I was waiting for my turn at a doctor’s clinic, when I chanced upon an article in a magazine. It made me think about a topic I had never associated with parenting..praise. The article speaks about how praise, if used in the right way, plays a vital role in boosting your child’s confidence levels. As human beings,we all have an inborn need to feel loved and appreciated. As parents we some times forget that children define themselves based on what their parents or peers think about them. They are more likely to turn out into what they constantly visualize themselves to be. I found the ways  suggested by the magazine, to weave praise into our daily lives, very practical and doable. Here are a couple of them. Instead of saying vague things let him know what exactly you are appreciating. So if he helps you lay the table, instead of saying’ you are the sweetest child in the world’; try “that was very helpful of you, mama felt very happy when you helped” This will help the child understand why he  is being praised. In most cases appreciation works better if done privately, rather than in front of everyone. This will avoid situations where the child will feel embarrassed or spark sibling rivalry. Another thing most parents need to be aware of is what they speak of, behind the child’s back. Put off discussing negative behavior till you are sure the child cannot over hear. So try tapping the potent power of praise. You will be surprised by the results.. I was!!!

Sneaky ways to introduce healthy snacks for kids

For most of us mothers, unhealthy snacking among kids is a reality we face on a daily basis. Fuelled by a daily dose of advertisements and peer pressure, all kinds of processed food find their way into their daily diet. My son was also introduced to this kind of snacking when he started preschool; so it was like “Amma, Nikhil has got chips for break time I want ‘just like that only chips for snacks’.. you get the picture. There were nights when I would lay awake wondering which of the “forbidden foods” he would be introduced to the next day!!! Finally it dawned on me that “if you can’t beat ‘em join em!!!”. That’s when I began to look out for alternative home made substitutes. It is a slow process but the results are worth the effort. My son enjoys these two substitutes most times.

When he wants something crunchy like potato chips, I entice him with chatpata puffed rice chat –sauté puffed rice in a little oil until crisp (don’t over fry), keep aside. Sauté shredded carrot, boiled sweet corn kernels (I use saffal frozen corn), thinly sliced yellow and red capsicum for color... basically any colorful veggies in bite sized pieces in a little oil; add a little chat masala, salt and lemon juice. Mix with the puffed rice and serve hot.

Whole wheat crackers topped with flavored cheese spread with a topping of your choice and zapped in the microwave is another option.

When he wanted ice cream every day I tried out a recipe I read in a magazine and it was very successful. Mix pureed fruit pulp into yogurt, add honey and freeze and scoop out servings into a bowl using an ice cream scoop (to retain some level of authenticity!!)

Please send me any sneaky snacking recipe which you may have tried out!!!!

Let us join hands in this noble endeavor!!!!