In the “eye” of the storm

Last week our peaceful abode was attacked by a sinister being. It came up so quietly that all of us were caught unawares. (hey..what’s life without a little drama!!!!)

Last week started off on a happy note with a visit from my parents. Nachikaet was over the moon –telling anyone who would care to listen that his grand parents were coming!

Dad was the first to be caught .His eyes were swollen and a bloody red color. The ophthalmologist confirmed our fears..it was an attack of viral conjunctivitis. Then started the evacuation process as conjunctivitis is highly contagious. Dad was quarantined in our guest bed room with the door opened only to pass in the food plate. Amma beefed up security by making us wash our hands and eyes till we screamed for mercy. The next to be hit was my” lady Friday ‘ Ammini .Here is a picture of her in defense gear.

 Well to cut the story short both the “victims” are in the receding stages of the infection with dad being allowed an occasional jaunt out of his quarantine. Wishing them both a speedy recovery and as for the rest of us we’re still fighting – an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

Memoirs of a brand new( well..almost!!!) Aunt

Last May marked a very important event in my life. I became an aunt.. a real aunt!!! My little sister had a baby boy. I was at this point in the “been there done that’ zone; with Nachikaet having turned four I was sure I would be calm and composed when my nephew made his appearance. I was not prepared for the wave of emotions that hit me when the nurse brought out the little bundle and deposited it into my beaming mother’s arm(I was too scared to hold him ) .I knew from that instant, that this little man had a place in my heart right beside Nachikaet. We are yet to be fully acquainted, yet when he smiles at me from the other side of the world ( he is currently in the US ) I know he will always be part of my world where ever he may be. I sit before ‘skype’ and stare in silent wonder at my “little sister’ turning out a perfect “tiramisu cake” with the baby perched on one hip!!! I send a silent prayer to god to bless both mother and child and as for me I have only one message for my nephew.. at any point in life if your mother is unavailable for assistance….call me!!!!
ps: isn't he just adorable!!!!

The end of an era

Last week marked the end of a “golden era’ in our lives. Nachikaet graduated from lower kindergarten!!! A whole year has gone by and my painfully shy weepy toddler has transformed into the “resident class hero”. His beloved  'Amrita Maam' gave us quite a detailed account of his “heroic escapades”- the latest being unscrewing the faucet in the tiny kiddies basin with his trusted accomplice and flooding the class room!!! She has strictly warned us not to tamper with his “lively imagination” (as she puts it) and even given us some hope that he could be a “Hussain in the making’!!! But in spite of all these “negligibles “ the silver lining is that he has started to enjoy school life ( which just goes to show nothing is impossible!!!) When other parents show me the prizes their wards have won for different competitions and their neatly coloured pictures;

I just hold him close and whisper ‘ you’ve done a great job this year- you’ve enjoyed school, the colouring and the handwriting can wait!!!!”
Ps: This was how nachikaet celebrated the start of the summer holidays

save our tigers..there are just 1411 left!!!!

our national animal, the majestic tiger is in danger of facing extinction.
Imagine showing our grand children or greatgrandchildren(one can always hope to live upto 100 right..with a sane mind!!! )pictures of tiger in a book much like we see dinosaurs today!!! Unfortunately that is the truth. Its time to put an end to this cruelty.
The question is what can we do sitting in our comfortable homes and swanky offices? Lots of things..just log on to www.saveourtigers.com. Telecom giant aircel has teamed up with WWF- india to start this initiative. Lets pledge our support in any small way we can. Lets hope what 'chak de india' did for our national game, www.saveourtigers.com will do for our national animal!!!

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!!!!