A lesson from preschool

My daughter is moving to preschool from junior-pre. It's actually the classroom next door from her current one. I had a what they call 'needs and services' meeting with her teacher this morning to go over schedules, general curriculum, activities, any specific things about her personality that I wanted to discuss etc. I told the teacher, sometimes a couple of older kids push or hit her and she doesn't defend herself. The teacher mentioned they do watch out especially for such behavior. They take the kids away by redirecting them into other activities and sometimes talking to them about the effects of their acts, making them think about what they did. And how it can hurt their friends. And she said sometimes when even that doesn't work the boisterous kids are sent to another classroom for a couple of hours, during that time they become uncomfortable and want to get back to their class. She said it's to make them realize that being with their friends is a privilege and they have to acknowledge that. 
That was a wonderful statement, it set me thinking. So many things we take for granted are actually a gift. Being able to see your spouse ( and kids)  every evening is a privilege. There are so many men and women whose spouses are away from them - getting an MBA, finishing up their residency, taking up a job cross country or in another continent in this economy, travelling a lot for work, fighting in Iraq or Afganistan and so on. Being able to sit down for a dinner together, even being able to argue face to face is a privilege. It's not always possible to compare ourselves with the starving in Somalia or the homeless in the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti. But from time to time, it's important to realize what we have , not materialistic pleasures or possessions, but the friends and family, the picnics or bike rides in the free air under the sun, the joys of celebrating birthdays and anniversaries.... I don't mean to get sentimental and start singing the glory of God, it's that - we all have troubles, everyone has problems - but the only way to be happy and enjoy life is to, from time to time think of how fortunate we are . Only when we see ourselves relative to the situations and circumstances of those who are less privileged can we value the people and moments we have. And if we are bitter or sour over mundane things, it helps to pay a visit to the other classroom in our lives for a bit, so we acknowledge and respect what we have.

Mall stories

This past weekend, DH, DD and yours truly found ourselves in a shopping mall as part of running errands. I was in the women's apparel section of a store , alone for barely a few seconds, when as I have come to expect these days, at the most inopportune of moments, my daughter started to squeal "pee pee".  I turned to find DH carring her in his arms approaching me with the expression of someone handing over the baton to the next runner in the Olympic relay race. Obviously, I have to drop anything I am doing to heed to that call. I followed the signs to the restroom which is usually at the farthest , remotest corner of the store from where I'd usually hang out. Like George Costanza from Seinfeld who knew all about restrooms in different parts of the city, after potty training my daughter, I am now aware of decent restrooms in a few public places that I was blissfully unaware of, prior to motherhood.
 Upon reaching the ladies' restroom, I knocked the door as I wasn't sure whether it was a multiple stall or a single toilet situation. As I knocked I leaned on the door which gave way since it was unlocked. At the same time a young woman from one of the stalls answered , "Yes", to which I responded, " I was just checking, thank you". I proceeded to an empty stall with my daughter as I heard the woman go, "Is there a purse there? "
Puzzled I looked out at the sinks and the floor area and let out a "Uhh I don't see anything here."
She : "Go in the one which has an activation sticker "
Further alarmed as my daughter was almost wrapping up her business there, I wasn't sure what this woman was saying and if she mistook me for someone she might have been expecting - a friend or someone.
Me : " I am not the one you think you are talking to"
She : Pardon!
Me : I think you mistook me for someone else.
She : Eh, I am on the phone....
Me : Oh sorry, I apologize!
DD : She's not talking to you, amma!
Me : thinking to myself - Right, that's the icing on the cake.
I helped DD wash up and tried to exit before the lady could catch sight of me.

Can't let go.....

Yes, I admit it, I am a serial killer - of orchids!!!!
There, I said it!
The fifth set is dying out on me.
I love the buggers and am thrilled by the sight of these dainty blossoms in my home.
first batch : died due to overwatering
second batch : died in spite of watering as required
third batch : died after I re-potted them into a bark mix, after getting good instruction from several youtube videos and reading up online how-to literature.
fourth batch : reason unknown
fifth batch : even fertilized as recommended
Each time I buy at least two plants in the hope that at least one of them makes it into its second year with me.
By now I know most of the basic rules of growing these dahlings, where am I going wrong?
I water them once a week or so, allowing them to completely dry out between waterings. I keep them in indirect sunlight as suggested. I have tried sphagnum moss and bark mix as the medium for cultivation.
Why won't they live on and happily bloom?
(In) significant other is disgruntled about my craze to keep buying and my inability to keep these plants thriving. 'Stop fussing about your orchid and spend some of that time on 'our kid' , says he!
Everytime I go up and down the stairs and catch sight of these beauties sitting on the landing, I feel a lump in my throat. Please live on dearies....