The year that was !

2009. A year to remember.
It wasn't just another year for me. Major changes and upheavels, and even more major moves in my life. As a mom too, it wasn't just another year. Life changed for the better.

• For starters, my kids turned a year older.
• There are no more diapers to change.
• There are no more feeding bottles to sterilise.
• There's more place on our bed now.
• There's more time for myself due to the kids' schools.

Ok !! so what's the downside ? Everything has to have another face. And so does all the above changes too. Let me just jot down all the issues I've dealt with them over the last year.

• Turning another year older just means more and more questions, some embarassing, some remarkable !! Turning another year older just doesn't mean another candle on their birthday cake... it also means that they look forward to their birthdays even more than us. When they were babies, birthdays were celebrated just for the parents fancy, amidst a very-crying and confused birthday boy. But now, they decide what cake they want, what theme they like and even the dress. Birthdays now are more an enjoyable event instead of some gruelling task, because there are more hands to share and more heads to plan.
• Another year also means doing things all by themselves. Starting with toothbrush, to cleaning their own #$** , to bathing and eating and tying their own shoe-laces, to going to the nearby shop and buying chocolates for themselves. Wow, so many tasks for their little body and brain. While some tasks are still to be achieved, some are done to almost-perfection. Doesn't this prove that they are a year older?

• Diapers are now a distant past. With two kids having less than 3 yrs of age difference between them, I spent the last 5 and odd years on diaper changing. First for the first one and the second baby followed. The three main ingredients on my shopping list were

1. Diapers
2. Wet wipes
3. and more diapers.

Now that both are off-diapers, it feels so weird to travel along with them with just my handbag!! Well, the downside is the constant search for hygienic washrooms in malls and the seldom bed-wettings. Hmmm, I'll let another year to pass by to write that bed-wetting has also almost diminished !!

• Milk !! Since I was a student-mom during my first delivery, I had to depend on formula milk for my elder son. Formula not only included those expensive milk powders, but also included redundant cycle of cleaning, washing and sterilising those feeding bottles. The process, which couldn't be stopped even for a day made me do the same thing for almost 5 yrs again, akin to diapers. That stopped too. Suddenly !! My younger one, seeing his older brother wanted to drink from a cup like big boys !! And so, mukti from the bottles saw the light.

• Another milestone this year is a major one. How can I miss this one? The kids sleeping all on their own, in their own bed , in their own bedroom, the entire night, all by themselves !!! OK...am going overboard. But the point here is, yes... they have shifted to their rooms and I suddenly find my bed a bigger place. The irony is that I spent the first few nights making rounds from their room to ours, making sure that my puppies were intact. Insomnia almost crept me, not being able to digest this sweet fact. Not to mention, I've spent some nights sleeping along with them in their room, when my younger puppy wailed in sleep. But the point ? My kids have grown. Move over !!!

• And, with my younger one joining playschool too, I have more time for myself now. It might be for a mere three hours, but it helps me get recharged. No doubt about it. But, do I have to mention that their schools make me wake up at 6'o clock in the morning, prepare snack and lunch boxes, get them ready and bid them goodbye !! Phew.... the mornings have now a gruelling schedule and to think that this routine wouldn't change for atleast another decade or so, makes me yearn for weekends at least. Those two days are the only days when I can kick back and laze around in my bed for as long as I can. Poor me !! But it's worth it. And am not the only mom who's doing this !! So, just stay put.

And so, this new year will see my elder one turn 6 and my younger one 4.
Two boys.
Varied interests.
Same parents. Lol.

Wishing the coming year to be an even more eventful one, with my elder one's music classes and my younger one's impending cricket sessions. Was life a calm one before the kiddos? I seriously doubt so. In fact, I don't remember much.

Wishing everyone a very happy new year and hatsoff to all the moms !! Every year is important for your kids development and only mommies know that we cannot rest until they fly off to their own homes. Even then, we look forward to even more new years, anticipating life to come to a full circle. Don't we ?

Ciao, my dearies..... Cya in the new year !!!!

Fighting the blues...

Its raining men !! Hallelujah...
No, am not singing to Geri's tunes, but this is what is happening to most of the friends I know. Naaa... am not talking about dating or mating ! Am talking about tomorrow's men, that's the baby boys most of my friends gave birth to, in the recent times.

I still stand by the statement, "Be it a boy or girl, it's only the motherhood which one needs to endure". The sex of the baby is the least thought of, when you are a new mom. The only thing which goes on your mind is the supply of diapers, the stock of lotions and powders and the shots your baby should't skip. The first few months are so overwhelming that the post-natal blues are bound to hit almost any normal woman. (If you happen to hear anyone saying she didn't find it depressing even for one moment, then she must have been the worst-hit victim!! Trust me).

Problem # 1 :

Am done with them. What ? Diapers....

The biggest challenge any parent faces. Not to mention about the amount of fertiliser my younger one now sprays into my house plants. But seriously, my kids are completely off-diapers. But this was just after 5 years of my constant changing of those smelly things. First my elder one, and then his younger bro.

Life now seems more blissful. But I had my worst times too. The worst being, when I was travelling all alone from India to Singapore along with a 2.5 yr old toddler and a 3 month old infant.

Both on diapers.

Both on bottles.

Both at their crankiest best.

And to make it worse, I was given this very first seat (). for more leg space and that stupid bassinet to fit in, which my infant anyway wouldn't sleep inThis made me do umpteen number of rounds to the toilet in the rear. Oh, only I remember how difficult it was to smile at all those other girls around, while I had to make those innumerable rounds to change their smelly **it.

Fighting it :

Well, diapers have no subsitute. In fact, I rate it as one of the best inventions 21st century has ever seen. The stench can still be handled. I prefer it to washing an actual soiled nappy cloth. It's just more taxing on your hubby's wallet, but that's one thing no mom should compromise !!



Problem # 2

And then , my weighty problems. I was laughing the other day when my best friend ( who's a new mommy now) was bursting in anger about how slim I am looking now. I may not be at my slimmest best, but I completely understand how a new mom feels about her body. The confidence is at the least. You are always heavy, always hungry and always cranky. While the cute little fella is sucking out all what you eat, you feel as-ravenous-as-you-never-ate for every couple of hours. You don't want to eat because of that huge image in the mirror, but you can't just let go off those guilt trips too. I know i know...very frustrating.

I have to mention here that I gained a whopping 28kg during my first pregnancy and while I slowly managed to shed atleast 20kg off that mommy tummy, I got preggers again helping me regain all that weight all over again. By the time I was a mother of two, I secretly thought of donating all my western wear for charity. I wouldnt fit in any of my pants anyway, but those tees only made me look even more flabby. I still remember how I used to cover them with my dupatta or so.

Fighting it:

Slowly and steadily, I started to lose weight. And this time, I was more determined. Since I was done with the stork thing, I had to get back to my older self. I had to get back the confidence in myself. Am not just talking about looking slim. It's all about recouping and regaining that healthy girl in you. There wasn't any diet regime I followed or a rigorous gym routine. The days were anyway packed with complete set of acitivities with a toddler and an infant. Everything seemed to double. Expenses, joy and work. Though it took a toll on my mental health, my weight slowly started to diminish. After almost 6 years, am now back to where I was. Even slimmer and more healthier. Thanks to my older one's tennis or my younger one's constant naughty play, am always on my toes. And then, special thanks to Shilpa shetty and her yoga. If not her body, am atleast dwelling in the peace that yoga gives me every morning.



Problem # 3

And yes, the most depressing part of my motherhood was the non-existent career. For which I cried endless nights when the babies were fast asleep. The entire day was so busy with them that I sometimes used to forget about me not going out for work or do something for myself. But, when the house was all in a hush, then used to flood my endless gush of emotions. Those years I toiled to complete my B.tech (despite my wedding), those dreams of becoming something big in the corporate world, which everything just being a far-fetched dream. The kids were too young to let go and the guilt pangs couldn't be fought over. I have a few set of friends who are in the reverse situation as mine. To do or not to do. To think of quitting a job because of the kid or not. Well, everyone is entitled to opinion. But, am very sure that despite the compulsive decision of leaving the kid and going out.. the new mom's mind won't have anything else other than the new-born. The career now takes a second seat and any mommy won't mind the new obsession at all. My only suggestion is to think with the mind and not the heart. I've seen many women quitting their jobs for their babies, and then fighting depression due to their non-existent career.

Fighting it :

Don't do this to yourself. Quit a full-flowing career only if you are entirely sure of. Otherwise too, babies thrive. A routine should be established and its a bet that you would pamper the baby even more when you have missed around 8 hrs of his day. It's entirely OK. Don't let guilt overcome you. Later, you need to feel bad when you pass through your old office memories, while your kid is busily scurrying or scribbling or blabbering or not just listening to you.

As for me, am at rest. Though I don't have a full-time career going on for me, it's time I stop thinking that am jobless. After all, am doing the world's toughest job. And to me, the joy of my kids running back to me after school hours is definitely worth the entire effort I put up with. I have my writings too and this blog, which gives me this wonderful feeling that I am worthy to be read.

Work hard to fight any depression. Babies never like dull moms.

You can fight it. After all, motherhood isn't as tough as it seems to be. It's just very very indulging.

I forgot my blues. The world is greener to me now. :)

Made to order

The dull sound of the wet grinder was looming low from the kitchen. Tomorrow’s breakfast was slowly making its shape in the machine. Meanwhile, my elder son ( who’s almost 6) had a burning question in his tiny mind. ..

Kid : What’s for morrow’s snack box?

Before heading upstairs to retire for the day, he makes it a habit to come down to the kitchen to ask the million-dollar question. He observed the batter being made and declared
Kid :“Nice ! So , morrow’s idli.”

His large beam about his favorite breakfast made me frown.

Me : “Close enough baby. It’s dosa”

Now it was his time to frown.

Kid : "I don’t like dosa in the box. It’s more like a papad !”

I rolled my eyes and looked at my maid. She agreed in unison.

Maid : “Yeah, he left the dosa and ate all the jam last time”.
Oh, this is something I somehow missed, I thought.

Kid :“I just want idli and sugar with ghee”

I eyed on the left-over rice I just cooked for dinner. I thought of making a remix version of the rice, adding some of his favorite paneer.

Kid : “Uh No! Paneer is only for lunch, mama”.

I wanted to convince him, while his daddy dearest came to rescue. He stared at me and said,
Dad :“ You are gonna put this left-over rice for morrow?? No way !” .
I wanted to throw some water on my husband’s face for giving unwarranted suggestions and making my already-difficult task even more difficult. Instead, I just washed my own face. Anger management.

I turned to my kid, who was still waiting for today’s answer about morrow’s breakfast.
Me :"Okay baby, I’ll make you a sandwich."

Kid :"No, That’s what I ate today."

Oh my God, This kid is starting to become impossible. But, frankly and secretly, . I started liking the way he was interacting with me like an adult. I was soo enjoying this Man-to-maam talk.

Me : "That’s fine, I’ll do something in the morning. Don’t worry."

Kid : "Ok..but please don’t put papad dosa.."
I giggled and nodded.

And then, did I mention that I was dreaming of swirling dosas and angry mutters on my face the entire night? Funny dreams, I say.

Nature won't stop and so dawn broke and so did the suspense. I made upma. A breakfast which he just started to develop his taste for, apart from his western appetite of PBJ sandwiches and pastas.

Once ready, he saw me fixing his box.

Kid : “ Cool… and yeah, could u put that tomato ketchup on a separate plate and not over the upma? “

Gosh !! I wanted to tell him that’s not the right combination, but what the heck? The same kid who used to make me literally break down into tears and frantically search for websites for increasing the kid’s appetite ( when he was a toddler) is now ready for “made to order”. And mama chef is more than happy.

Am still searching for those websites. This time, its for my younger son.(who’s 3 yrs old) But, maybe its time I realize that he would outgrow his lack of appetite soon enough and start ordering me what to cook, in a year or so, following his brother. I just fervently hope that their tastes match. Or else, you would be finding me making sandwich for one box and dosa for the other. Heheh.

The chronicles of Schoolnia...

And so, the little warriors of my house, who used to be a little less than bringing the entire house down with their antics, are now ready to face the world. Already? Their schools started, and so I thought.

The first day, as you read earlier, has been less eventful than we anticipated. Everyone were satisfied, and the routine of me waking up at the wee hours of 6am(every single day, without fail).. only made me sleepless for a little while, until I got adjusted to the routine. Trust me, I never woke up as early as I do now even when I was preparing to be an engineer!! Aaah... those were the days... Despite me knowing that I had to catch the college bus by 7.30 am, I couldn't drag myself out of my nest before 7'O clock. Now I know how was this possible, with mom waking up atleast an hour before me, and toiling herself in the kitchen for my lunch-dabba, while I used to have early morning dreams about my Prince Caspian !!!

Yes, History repeats... and it did very early in my case. While the rest of the girls are still honeymooning or contemplating about their first kid, I have two major trouble-makers tugging along me the entire day, and with piles of worksheets (already for the kg standard !!).No complaints to that... but, look who's complaining? It's my mom who says that am not making my presence to their house ( despite me being in India)...but my stand on this?? "The kids need to attend schools, Ma... their holidays are mine now"... And my mom sulks. History as I said repeated, with she getting nostalgic about her mommy who used to have the same complaint. Full Circle !!!

So, how are the little princes coping up with this huge change? Pretty well. Touchwood. Especially, I am really glad I came back at the right time ( to India)...their teachers say that they are in the most flexible age, and when I visited their school and happened to sneak in their assembly.... I was really proud of my decision to give them a proper Indian education when they were crooning loudly to "Jana gana mana" !! An awesome patriotic feel, which cannot be bought abroad. :D... No offense to all the NRI's... You are an Indian wherever you are. ;)

My older one is the class leader...Did I mention that? Am I proud? Am more surprised actually. But, he seems to be a very different being when he goes to school. And since he has a better knowledge on phonics( this I should rightly attribute to his American schooling).. he's given the responsibility of distributing books to his classmates and since he's the tallest, he takes care of the blackboard. Nice !! But, I was still anxious if he's making any friends yet. And so he did. A certain Subbalakshmi.... I split into peels of laughter. Not only the name sounded very much like the 50's, but also a telugu girl in the land of Odisha !! Hmmm..Tej seems lucky.

And the younger one? He's having a ball with his Mona Darling aka Mona miss. He was obviously smitten with the delicate looks of his nursery teacher, but little did he know that his dreams shattered when she tied him a Rakhi. I was saved that day bcoz he didnt know the meaning of rakhi. He thought it was a gift from his mona darling, and refused to remove the "love band" (according to him) even the next day. Talk about puppy love !!! heheheh

And so, amidst those weekly worksheets and monthly mandatory Parent-Teacher meetings and with the daily routine of my 6 hourly sleep... all I long is for the weekend, where the kids have a bit more of the usual TV dosage and me tucking for a bit longer in my nest. This time, the dreams aren't about any prince Caspian. After 3 of them in my life now, I realize that these chronicles are never-ending. :) Ciao for now. Morrow's the weekend. I gotta REST !!!!!

Education Unlimited !!

Well, the wait is finally over... The day has finally come. No, am not talking about some jackpot in the casino... Am talking about the couple of hours I finally get to myself each day, as my little ones strut their way to their school.

Before proceeding any further about their first day in school, let me mention about the admission test they encountered with the principal a few weeks earlier. My elder one( who already has 2 yrs of schooling experience... I am talking as if he is eligible for MBA, coz of 2 yrs of work experience..hehe) But, come on...he's just 5 yrs...and has been going to preschool since he was three, both in Singapore and The US of A. So, I was little worried about him and more ecstatic about the younger one. My second son, who will turn 3, was so happy with the word "school".... we wondered if he misheard it. But, then...he happily went along with the admission test(which included color identification and alphabet and he proved triumphant.) You should see me beam with happiness. My heart swelled with pride and my husband reminded me.. "SShh... They are just going to kindergarten, not to a university!!" But, anything needs a beginning. And I was truly happy for them. But, the cute thing was... my younger one brought along his doctor-set without anyone's knowledge, and was taking out one by one from his pocket. They were like this "kalpataru", a never-ending process. And the funny part was, he began to describe each tool's color, so the test never took off formally. The principal had an inkling of what he knew, and immediately gave her consent for admission. But, to avoid any more embarassment, I now check his pockets before leaving the house. God knows, he might put some live frog or an insect and pull it out on his plate at a restaurant !! Eeeeooow !

So, the next task was to order uniforms and buy shoes for both of them. What a cute experience!! Nothing definitely beats it. What's even more funny is that my husband (who is major fashionista) didn't like the style of the uniform for the nursery kids, and wanted 'something different' for his little prince. I sheepishly reminded him that everyone has to wear the same kind, and so is called a uniform....and my husband reluctantly went along with the tailor ( who couldn't even spell 'nursery' in his book... who cares? He needs to sew properly... so he was saved when we got the uniforms a week later in proper shape).

And the day finally came. And so I thought. My kiddos, who usually tuck into their beds by 10pm... were forcibly being slept by 8.30pm. Their brushes, the shower and the night story...everything was rescheduled an hour earlier than usual, with the major thing coming up in their lives: Waking up as early as 6 am, and going to their temple of education.) So, the kids were being frantic with the schedule and weren't too ready to adapt the new timing. I was very tensed about the right amount of sleep and was having a tough time getting them to bed. That was when my husband calls up and says " Don't worry, the schools are postponed for the next week, due to the excess heat wave!!" Kambakhth heat !! I swore... I was angry...and finally slept off an hour later... My dreams of having an hour for myself have been temporarily shelved, and though it was seeming funny for my hubby dearest, I was just angry for the next half-day or so. (Mind you, my anger and temper are the shortest ones anyone can encounter...so this had to be the longest... ). Another week of waiting, only to realise that they are postponed until the weekend and would start the next monday. By now, the excitement did a plunge downwards and we were just hoping fervently that the heat wave would also take a downward plunge, allowing my day-dreams to turn true.

And, so it did happen.. The kids were thrilled. I was amazed. And my husband was happily taking the video of "My kids' first school". The video had smiling faces, statements like 'feeling on top of the world', but little did anyone know what's in store actually. There were these two-legged awkward creatures, wailing and wallowing all around. First day...seemed something gargantuan for the entire school staff and the parents' presence made it even more cumbersome. My younger one, who suddenly realised that school is "not too much fun and no more mama", wailed like a hurt puppy and clung on to me so badly that I was tempted to take him back. Wait !! My husband reminded me of my good ol school days ( where storm or sun wouldn't deter the great shanthi from going to school)... Are you the same one who is now ready to let her kids bunk school because they are not ready?? I said, YES !! Am the same one.... and then let my emotions not flow along the tide. My puppies were shoved into their respective kennels and my bulldog was waiting by the car to drive away. I quickly realised that if I don't board the car, I would be left stranded with the other dogs, and so I had to follow the bulldog, I mean my husband.

After an emotional drama , which wasn't any less than a saas-bahu saga... we waited near a coffee-shop nearby, just in case we hear from the school staff about any mishap. Luckily, we did'nt hear any and I was just waiting to get back to my whimpering offsprings.' They did pretty OK for the first day' was the statement issued by their respective 'miss'es... and I couldn't ask for more.

That's how we finally sent our sons to ensure they shine like suns. What a statement!!! Come on, any mom will get overboard.. be it their KG or PG.
After all, they are still her sons !!!

Miles to go before I sleep ...

Raising another human being is definitely a huge task... and especially, when it's your own... you are always overwhelmed with mixed feelings... To do or not to do!!

With two sons, having a mere 2.5 yrs of an age difference, my life is definitely blended into their routine. Their feeding, the showers, the manners...every single detail has to be looked in with the utmost care. Overwhelmed, tired or aything...life wouldn't stop. My kids are actually growing at such an amazing pace ( I mean.. i know every kid does..but when it's your own one, you tend to actually compare them when they are still in their diapers too... trust me, it can't get anymore bigger than my mother still recollecting all the toys she used to buy for my baby brother, who is now a 25 yr old handsome dude ! ) Strange are the ways of mom... Right ?

The other day, I was trying to organize the videos and the old pictures of my kids. What a joy swept over my mind when I was watching my older kid(a 9 month old baby in the video) trying to crawl for the first time and laughing at himself hilariously. It was as if it just happened yesterday. And its more than four years now.

As I realised, the various milestones in any baby's life are best recorded in a parent's mind..you actually don't need any handycam in handy..but then, a picture is worth a thousand words... and so are the memoirs of a diaper clad baby..when you actually have the same kid trying to solve complicated puzzles out of a kids' website. What's more funny is, my older one was asking who that funny baby was, and wasn't ready to accept that it was himself in those videos. He laughs at them saying how could he be so small ! The same question, I ask myself. When did he grow so big as to ask me if it's ok to watch the TV a little longer than the scheduled time??

First the milk bottle, then the diapers... I think these are the most challenging phases for any mom to help the baby fight off their addiction. I am the happiest one these days, with even my younger one fighting his bottle off. You won't believe, it's the first time in 5 years that my routine of sterilising the bottles has come to a standstill. BLISS ? You bet... :)

I've always maintained that a mom's best friend is a diaper. But, the euphoric feeling when your kid actually struts proudly with his diaper off, saying that he just hates it... is definitely unparalleled. I still remember the day, when my first kid went outside for the first time without a diaper. It was only for an hour, but I was more scared of having an accident than being happy. ( We were in Singapore and were travelling in a train, which had no toilets either. You should see my scared face, and my husband laughing at me the entire journey... ). After a successful one hour of no-show of the double p's, I've decided to put on the pull-up pants. Come on, my tension actually escalated to hyper-tension. But it was just a start. More days passed on without any accidents, and my tension just slowly descended to my younger one. Phew!! This time, I was a bit less worried... Experience baby! To look at it, if I had a third baby, I wouldn't make her wear a diaper even when she's an infant too,(only if I had one,..not that I have any ideas of getting the stork yet again..)

Then, the first tooth... what a joy to see a pair of upper teeth coming out of your baby, who had nothing but soft gums constantly chewing your hand. If only the moms knew that these teeth could be the main reason for most of the kid fights (HE BIT ME.... i think that's the most commonest dialogue found among kids' chaos).

I also wonder if this was the same kid who couldn't just hold a pencil, is trying to read stories out of cereal boxes. My older kid has the prettiest handwriting(that's what every mom feels.. i know i know).. and my younger one already started writing his first A. No one can feel it better than a mom about the first alphabet her kid wrote. Nothing can beat it...

I also remember how silly of me it was, to call up my husband and merrily tell him that Tej drank his juice out of a straw. It was such a big achievement, more so, when his girl-friend, who was a couple of months older than him, already was drinking from a straw from six months!! Such silly details can only be understood by a mom...hehehe

And right now, my back is hurting. With the endless rounds trying to make my 5 yr old son ride his bicycle without any support. His father, as if he did a favor, took off the support wheels one fine weekend, and declared that his son is ready to take off the bicycle. As if he was a trained pilot!! And the 'fine' is now on my poor back. But it's ok... This is another milestone. Who shall be happier than me when I actually find my son riding his bicycle all on his own, and fumes on his mom not to follow him( when he says that he's a big boy, and all the girls will laugh at him if I tried to follow him) Am actually waiting, or more so..my back is.

With all these milestones to be cherished, I slowly realise that there are so many 'miles' to go before I sleep. While you slowly help your child outgrow their childishness, you slowly grow into a child yet again,...especially when you cherish their childhood memories. :)

Cherish, They only will bring a smile back on your otherwise monotonous life. Trust me!!!!

Measuring the "Stand"ard...

Yeah, we are back in India.

With my elder son turning 5, I needed to decide on the most important topic in my life for now - His primary education. Having attended a playschool in Singapore and a pre-K in the US, my son is ready to attend Std.1 in an indian school here. Funnily, I realize that he can atleast boast of going to playschools abroad, when he starts flirting around with girls.(He would know later that such tricks wouldn't work...but atleast he can try !!)

Anyway, with the admission test coming close by, it's me who's spending more sleepless nights. Forget the kid....he probably doesn't even know the spelling of competition. Lucky boy he is !

Okay, it was time for invading the bookshop for the UKG books. That's the syllabus he needs to prepare for getting into Class 1(obviously). And mind you, I had to search for the ICSE stream. Good heavens!! The kindergarteners in America just love to color. And here, there are 7 different Text books.. Shall I name them? Just in case... you desis forgot... Here we go..

1)Mathematics ( including additions and subtractions... whoooaaa)
2)Science (too many details to be included)
3)Social Studies ( Do these kiddos know the meaning??)
4)Rhymes (That's one department where I can shout "hurray")
5)Hindi (My kid is now struggling to accomodate two new languages in his little brain ...Telugu and Hindi !!)
6)English phonics (This is the only thing which Tej is familiar with)
7)Hindi Rhymes( Waaaaaaaaaaa..they seem like sad songs to me)

Okay Shanthi, no more comparing. You faced enough wrath when you compared the two world's education. So just focus on the India Standard....

So, u ask... how is my pre-k kid trying to "Stand" up to the India Standard?? Only time will tell....

And yeah the good news is, after a week long of acidity and insomnia.. I suddenly woke up today to realize that he can still attend the so-called UKG...if he would disqualify himself with this admission test. Atleast I don't need to cry along with him rhyming the unknown Hindi !!! His teachers would deal with that...

Am lovin it !!

I once read in a statistics which revealed staggering amount of money a woman might earn, if she was paid dutifully for her duties as a mom and a wife. I just laughed at the amount. Of course, you wouldn't expect anyone to pay you for what you did as a mom to your kids... but since it's just a hypothetical situation and imagination has always been a nice mind-feeder, so let it be.

Right now, am on a dependent visa status in the US, thus disallowing me to attempt any kind of outside job. I especially mentioned about doing a job outside, because my daily job of being a mom is no less than anything else. The average mom !! She can be a stay-at-home or a working one. But the duties of a mom can never be diluted. The diapers, the food routine, the manners, every single stage is itself a milestone. It just makes motherhood the busiest jobs on earth, with sweet payments like dirty diapers and sticky bibs and temper tantrums and to make it all the more sweeter, bundles of hugs and kisses from your little ones too.

Motherhood cannot be compared to anything less. Before motherhood struck me, statements like these seemed overrated to me. But as I continue to raise my two little sons, each day is a busy one as well as challenging too. Every moment I spend with the kiddos makes me feel the importance of the world's most important job. Great countries are made out of great men, and great men are made out of great mothers. So utterly true. Of course, the part of being a dad too is very important, but the way a kid connects to a mom, right from the placenta-uterus thing to the outside worldly emotional bond, it's just very much incomparable to any other relation in this world.

Talking about my mindset, I was a bit obsessed with my older one than with my second son. I still remember ironing and stacking my older son's clothes for the next 5 days, before I went and delivered my younger son. My mom was irritated with my over-enthusiasm, because that just meant that I wasn't ready to trust anyone when it came to my son's issues. But, it just wasn't about my trust on others, it was just a way of showing my enthusiasm with motherhood. I just loved doing everything for them, and I think it would never change for another 50 years or so. I can already visualise my sons being taller than me, tending their own families,... but for me, they will always be my babies.


With them being infants, I was busy minding their 2 hourly feeds, changing diapers often...very often, and despite all this, trying to find time for ourselves too. As the toddlerhood came on, I was busy watching them grow out of mashed food to big people's food... with half of the food lying on the high chair. Atleast, they know when hunger strikes them. Its just another issue if they cleaned their platter or not. Then came the school stage. My older one who attends pre-K has a bundle of questions packed in his tiny mind. As he attempts to read stories out of cereal boxes, his younger brother follows suit. In addition to minding his daily routine of school, food and studies... I am also busy minding my 5 year old son's worldly manners too. There is a passing phase in which the kid's favourite word is NO ! That's what is going on in my house right now. No for everything. I am just hoping that this passing phase would pass off soon enough, but wait, how did I forget my younger son who is in his terrible twos right now ?? The whole day is a busy whirlwind of activities with them, thus not even making me think of my non-existent career.

To put things straight, life has its ups and downs. Honestly, I faced a lot of depression during the early days of motherhood. Frankly, whoever would read this blog about motherhood and the sweet things I write should realize that they are just one face of a coin. The sleepless nights, the unnecessary wailings, the supermarket meltdowns (where you are forced to buy something very much unnecessary just because your little one wants it for that moment) ....all these are the other side of the coin.



With the entire day revolving around their crayons, spellings, short walks, I tend to get overwhelmed at a certain point of time with this daily routine. I crave for a certain amount of freedom and a little bit of "my-time" atleast by the evening. Honestly, there are times when I use TV as a bait when my younger one would throw temper tantrums during lunch-time. The food battles are best fought with the idiot-box, but I have to admit that it's no longer that idiotic as it started out to be. The terrible twos' stage is one thing to be watched out for. Toddlers tend to crave a whole lot of attention right after their second birthday. Even a calm baby tends to get unusually cranky and unnecessarily naughty. Toilet training, too is yet another major challenge to be meted out in this age itself. Another major issue is the supply of colors. They come in various shapes and sizes, namely crayons, markers, water-colors. Sometimes, it's hard to determine if the color on the pages is more than those on the walls. And the markers just seem to evaporate in 3 days max, making my rounds to the stationery department every single week. The play-dohs are fun to play with, yes of course.... but when they make a mark on your carpet, you secretly wish you would have never bought them. So you might as well ask as to why I am buying them. Well, my husband asks the same too. My answer ? If they never played with them and made a mess, how will they ever learn ????


Anyway, in an attempt to find solace amidst my crazy schedule with two naughty sons in tow, both me and my husband hit the fitness centre, which has a kids club attached to it. This little time-for-ourselves definitely helps us rejuvenate our senses back to normalcy, and helps in hitting my busy job yet again with even more enthusiasm.

With so many things involved and such little time for oneself, motherhood might be a staggering thing from the outside. But, once inside, as I started on... nothing would compare with the daily wages of kisses and hugs of your little ones.


Indulge in it, and one can never regret in being a mom. Of course, as life isn't too rosy, one has to put up with the downside too. But then, it's all in the mind. So. ... live it, enjoy it and say CHEESE !!

Go Play !

Have you ever been to a toy store ? No, this isn't only for the already-moms and dads... it's for the rest of the normal public too am asking... Please, i don't mean that moms and dads aren't normal.. its just that our lives aren't anymore once the kids are out... I know most of the parents would be grinning at this statement... atleast a nod please ???

OK ...coming back to my question, have you ever been to a toy store ?? Why ?? If you don't have kids ? Well, you could always gift other people's kids for their birthdays or so ... Well, you won't be in this league if you are one among those who give away gift cards (no offense, sometimes its better to gift a card than a toy you know would be returned ).. it doesn't need a browse into the kids haven !! But, if you happened to browse around and tried to look up for toys, you will be reading this article further too...

My point might still be very unclear... but let me continue anyway !
Whenever I browse around for toys, you will find me mostly around the neutral section ... My elder son likes doing puzzles, blocks, crayons..... I guess, they are for both the sexes... any kid just indulges in colors and building blocks. However, my younger son is a bit different from his brother and loves playing with cars too, and already has a huge collection of them.

It's a rarity that I go into the girls section though ...remember the gift card thing ???

However, I happened to go into the girls section for a pretty girl I wanted to buy a gift for. Firstly, it's all PINK ! An overdosage of the feminine color !
And then, the toys !!! Lemme explain ... There were doll houses, mock cleaning sets ( including a mop, brushes etc ) mock ironing set, doll prams, to name a few. I had to stop myself and check the whole section yet again .. they were just toys of all kinds for girls to become a perfect woman ( who cooks, cleans and raises babies !!) And then, I went to the boys section ... I was seriously hoping for a doll pram there too, atleast in the blue or grey shade... but they weren't any !! There were tool box sets, car sets, action figures !! Whoever said that a man wouldn't stroll his baby in a pram ??

Maybe, am thinking too much ! But, I was a bit shaken with this truth that we are engineering toys to be masculine and feminine... and so, while the girls get to do mock make-up and change diapers to baby dolls, boys are out to FIX things out ??

Now, you may ask if I would like my boys to play with dolls... Well, atleast they watch Dora the explorer and Diego with the same enthusiasm. (This is strictly parental lingo... the other normal public may ignore this statement ..hehe ) What am trying to say is that I wouldn't like my boys to have a taste of the already existing male-chauvinism so soon in their life. What's in a toy? Just to play, right ? Why should it be differentiated ?? With the chef-genes running in their blood, I would happily buy a kitchen set if my son asks me so.... maybe, the girl-child parents too should start buying GI Joes... whatsay ??

So, with the newer generation having great male chefs and female pilots, maybe its just time we reengineer the toys yet again. Just a small thought of mine.....
I hope "TOYS R" listening to "US" !!