My Little girl, the soon to be five year old, is like spicy Indian street food whose spiciness brings tears to your eyes but you don't want to stop eating. Her conversations never end!! In her quest to read more and more, it seems she has forgotten to learn the importance of "period, the full stop". Talking too much has also made her very expressive, she can verbalize every little thought and experience. Running to me in the school foyer, tightly hugging, the little voice said "You are best mamma,everyone wants a mamma like you". Awwww that's so sweet. But what did I do to hear that? Exactly nothing! She was cheering her mamma up because she knows mamma is not in the best of her spirits these days. When do kids learn this? How do they know compliments would perk up everyone. So an otherwise tired and gloomy mother, got a cheer on her face and they both ran to the car, giggling like two mischievous friends who know all the secrets of the world. In past few days I have come to realize that she is not only my little daughter but my friend and my security blanket as well. Her presence keeps me going in good as well as bad times, she has made me realize that there is no "full stop" in life, there are only pauses, no matter how bad or good things are, life must go on.

When you are growing up whatever elders say is right. Right? No! But you are expected to follow what they say and take it in your stride. What if you don't? Are you just voicing your opinion or you are showing disrespect? Does respecting someone means being meek or being submissive to them?
Also, after getting married, girls are expected to touch feet of all of the in laws, whether you know that person or not, of your brother as well as sister in law, even if they are bride's age. Does it really initiate respect in her heart for them? She might still hate them or maybe more because of this. A man on the other hand isn't allowed by his parents to touch his in laws feet, no matter how old they are to him. What this tells about our society? If touching feet is a way of expressing respect, a girl's parents and siblings are not worthy of respect?
I loved being a new bride and enjoyed touching feet so much that many a times I over did it. But today I do not resonate with the custom, I can show respect in many other ways like by giving weight to your thoughts, by being nice to you, by letting you sit first, by being polite, by helping etc. Why is this public display of one person being submissive shows the glory of others?
What do you say?

Autumn is my favorite season. Leaves changing colors from green to red,purple,yellow , orange and hundreds shades in between, the sights are just breathtaking. The little nip in the air makes coffee and tea much more enjoyable. I love fall clothes as well, the boots, the wrap around shawls, the woolen skirts, all in sync with the colors of the leaves. Everything about this season is simply amazing!
Here's what fall looks like in our neighborhood.




And we have some visitors as well.....

Our Diwali was a simple affair celebrated at home with mithai and candles everywhere. Saumya and me did the rangoli. Hope all of you had a lovely time with family and friends.
While relaxing in my lap, after getting tired of eating all the sweets and running around in excitement of lighting up every nook and corner of the house, Saumya had a worrying expression. "Mamma do big people lose teeth?" This was her 4Th or 5Th question since morning revolving around teeth, my mom instinct sprung up and I asked "Saumya, do you have a lose tooth?" The little cute face nodded yes and tears rolled down those Rosy cheeks. While giving me the tightest hug ever, in her little crying voice she said "When this falls out, I will have a hole in the mouth for months. I read about it" But when I told her that this loose tooth means she is growing up and her mouth is getting ready for a grown up tooth now, it became a time for jubilation!
She went to bed happy and anxiously waiting for the time when the little baby pearl with fall out. And I went to bed crying buckets of tears. My baby is growing up so fast. Every little milestone brings two sided emotions. Its gratifying to see her growing up but its scares me, it makes me realize how fast we are getting there when I will be waving her bye with a heavy heart and teary eyes. The day when there will be silence everywhere in the house, no questions will be asked, no tears to wipe, when no one will forget to turn off the lights, when no one will need 100 kisses at night, when no one will need to listen to bed time story. Its only a loose tooth but this one loose tooth told me that we are making memories today, we are an active part of them today but very soon we will only be left with memoirs.