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.
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....
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....
Marital bliss ?
This is a convo from a sitcom I was watching, I found the exchange of words very amusing.
A married man and a man who chooses to remain unmarried ( and is a popular ladies' man) are chilling out on the deck, drinking margheritas...
MM : You know what, I have a confession to make.
Un-MM : Uh?
MM : Sometimes I wonder about the 'Road not taken'
Un-MM : Which road would that be?
MM: Your road!
Un-MM : Oh! Yeah it's a good road.
MM: So, it's not a case of - the grass is green on the other side ?
Un-MM : No, no no! The grass is pretty fricking green on this side!
MM : Damn!
A married man and a man who chooses to remain unmarried ( and is a popular ladies' man) are chilling out on the deck, drinking margheritas...
MM : You know what, I have a confession to make.
Un-MM : Uh?
MM : Sometimes I wonder about the 'Road not taken'
Un-MM : Which road would that be?
MM: Your road!
Un-MM : Oh! Yeah it's a good road.
MM: So, it's not a case of - the grass is green on the other side ?
Un-MM : No, no no! The grass is pretty fricking green on this side!
MM : Damn!
Sleepless in San Jose ( and everywhere)
My friends and I sometimes discuss how hard it is for vegetarians to lose weight when compared to meat eaters. Omnivores, if they are careful how their meat is cooked and what kind of animal food they choose over others, have it working for them. For vegetarians like me, when you're working out and trying to watch what you eat, you're getting burnt from both sides. Without some chicken to add bulk to your salad, without fish and egg, we certainly don't have it easy contending with lentils, beans grains and dairy along with our dear pals from the plant kingdom - vegetables and fruits.
I discovered the problem of vegetarians extends beyond the human race. Today,while watching TV, I learnt that meat eating animals like cats and lions sleep many hours of the day compared to plant eaters like giraffes, zebras and deers who have to graze and eat for many more hours of a day to satisfy their nutritional requirements. And even the few hours that they do sleep, they have to be vigilant of predators. This sleep pattern was true even for plant-eating dinosaurs versus carnivores like T-Rexs.
Especially if you are a vegetarian, working mother of a toddler, you can kiss sleep goodbye! She sleeps less and I am sleepless. No matter what, I am not going to cross that line , I was always a vegetarian and will forever be - with all its little supposed flaws!
I discovered the problem of vegetarians extends beyond the human race. Today,while watching TV, I learnt that meat eating animals like cats and lions sleep many hours of the day compared to plant eaters like giraffes, zebras and deers who have to graze and eat for many more hours of a day to satisfy their nutritional requirements. And even the few hours that they do sleep, they have to be vigilant of predators. This sleep pattern was true even for plant-eating dinosaurs versus carnivores like T-Rexs.
Especially if you are a vegetarian, working mother of a toddler, you can kiss sleep goodbye! She sleeps less and I am sleepless. No matter what, I am not going to cross that line , I was always a vegetarian and will forever be - with all its little supposed flaws!
La-loo episode
This evening when I went to pick up DD at day care, as usual I took her to the restroom. She is fiercely independent and insists on not getting any help from me. I comply. As she was washing her hands at the sink outside the bathroom, another mom asked me how old she was. Many times I get that from other moms who are pleasantly surprised to learn my 2 1/2 yr old is potty trained and goes about her activity in restroom all by herself, including washing her hands with soap and drying them with a paper towel and disposing it off properly. I smiled in the 'proud mama' moment. Before the curve of my smile could straighten up DD started pulling out more sheets of the paper towel. I gently chided her, reminding her to not waste paper, when she goes "One for me, one for appa and one for amma". I winced in pain, while the other moms giggled. With kids the grin-to-grimace transition happens instantaneously. I pleaded and coaxed in vain for her to let go of the paper. She gripped them close to her torso and walked away with conviction. I followed shaking my head at the 'helpless mama' moment.
Powercuts that helped connect
Recently saw a wall post on my kiddo cousin's FB profile that read 'Pissed off by powercuts..'
It can be very frustrating for people especially in the hot summer without their fans and air coolers/conditioners. Music/TV/studying , a slew of activities get disrupted, true! But somehow thinking back about powercuts brought back a lot of fond memories of my growing up years. Whenever we lost power, as much as it rankled us, it provided relief moments when we sisters and cousins chatted, mostly played antakshari. We shared funny anecdotes about happennings in school or college and sometimes my mother, or aunt also joined in the fun. We imitated our teachers and their accents and would be laughing hysterically. Gathering in one room in that candlelight , laughing and just being silly - I am overwhelmed by nostalgia. In this age of ipods, laptops, cellphones and blackberries - Gosh! There was a time when apple, blackberry were simple fruits, palm was a tree (or the inside of one's hand)
24 hour TV, youtube, facebook, twitter we're so well connected to far off people and events, but so detatched from those who are around us.
When I was in college I always commuted by public bus. I used to strike up a conversation with anyone sitting beside me, and such interactions have led to a couple of wonderful friendships. Today it's hard to see any young boy or girl not immersed in their cell phones- talking, messaging or lost in their musical world with a pair of white wires attached to earplugs, travelling down their ears and disappearing into a pocket or bag. The ability to work round the clock and remotely from outside office is the worst bane to hit our generation. The good old days when a siren signalled the start of the day at 7:30 or 8 am and another one at 5:30 when everbody had to wind down and leave, makes so much sense to me now. Weekdays, weekends, holidays; night and day - is all one big blur.
My most recent experience with power outage was when I was in Toronto, the east coast lost power for a day and a half. With traffic lights gone, public transport halted, we could not step out. Stores were closed, our electric stove was useless. Our kind landlady who lived in the basement urged us to bring our pressure cooker down to cook some rice on her gas stove. My colleagues and I had a nice candle light dinner - a simple menu of rice, some curry and spicy powders tasted so good with happy, unhurried and uninterrupted conversations.
A friend suggested to go on a 'digital diet' where you discipline yourself to stay away from the electronic monsters all around you. If only I could do it ! I'd welcome a power cut every now and then to break this maddenning pace of life, to close out all the distractions and have some good time with friends and family.
It can be very frustrating for people especially in the hot summer without their fans and air coolers/conditioners. Music/TV/studying , a slew of activities get disrupted, true! But somehow thinking back about powercuts brought back a lot of fond memories of my growing up years. Whenever we lost power, as much as it rankled us, it provided relief moments when we sisters and cousins chatted, mostly played antakshari. We shared funny anecdotes about happennings in school or college and sometimes my mother, or aunt also joined in the fun. We imitated our teachers and their accents and would be laughing hysterically. Gathering in one room in that candlelight , laughing and just being silly - I am overwhelmed by nostalgia. In this age of ipods, laptops, cellphones and blackberries - Gosh! There was a time when apple, blackberry were simple fruits, palm was a tree (or the inside of one's hand)
24 hour TV, youtube, facebook, twitter we're so well connected to far off people and events, but so detatched from those who are around us.
When I was in college I always commuted by public bus. I used to strike up a conversation with anyone sitting beside me, and such interactions have led to a couple of wonderful friendships. Today it's hard to see any young boy or girl not immersed in their cell phones- talking, messaging or lost in their musical world with a pair of white wires attached to earplugs, travelling down their ears and disappearing into a pocket or bag. The ability to work round the clock and remotely from outside office is the worst bane to hit our generation. The good old days when a siren signalled the start of the day at 7:30 or 8 am and another one at 5:30 when everbody had to wind down and leave, makes so much sense to me now. Weekdays, weekends, holidays; night and day - is all one big blur.
My most recent experience with power outage was when I was in Toronto, the east coast lost power for a day and a half. With traffic lights gone, public transport halted, we could not step out. Stores were closed, our electric stove was useless. Our kind landlady who lived in the basement urged us to bring our pressure cooker down to cook some rice on her gas stove. My colleagues and I had a nice candle light dinner - a simple menu of rice, some curry and spicy powders tasted so good with happy, unhurried and uninterrupted conversations.
A friend suggested to go on a 'digital diet' where you discipline yourself to stay away from the electronic monsters all around you. If only I could do it ! I'd welcome a power cut every now and then to break this maddenning pace of life, to close out all the distractions and have some good time with friends and family.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)