Good Bye to 2008

Year 2008 has been full of action for our family. We did an India trip in spring where Saumya bonded with her cousins and all the extended family. We got to saw a side of her that was never displayed before. In India, I got a chance to visit the pink city, Jaipur. Thanks to my husband who made another of my dreams come true.
In June, I started blogging and made so many lovely friends. Reading each and every blog has helped me widen my perspective. And every time a reader left a comment, I got motivated to write more. Thank you for being a part of my life and also for sharing your writings with me.
Right at the start of summers I got to buy the car of my dreams, My Beetle, and I am loving every moment I am getting to drive it. A big thanks to my love for making this happen.
Before summers could end we got our permanent residency papers approved.
In Fall, our daughter Saumya took a big step and started her formal education in school which follows Maria Montessori's Follow the Child theory.

Now when the year was just about to end, a very dear blogger friend of mine Mithe, has bestowed me with an award!! She is a thoughtful writer and I find her words very very soothing. Follow the link to her blog and you will be hooked.
This award holds a special place in my heart because she made it herself. A big thank you for the lovely honour!! This is a perfect end to a great year I had!

The British are here!

Our family had exciting few weeks and the reasons are many fold. We just celebrated Saumya's birthday and she was so ready to be addressed as a "Four year old". You can imagine a little girl asking everyday , is it my birthday today? Though She was sad the very next day for it being over! But to keep her spirits up, her grandparents are here from India to be with her during Christmas holidays!! They were last here when she was born, so for her, this is their first trip! Now you must be wondering what's with the title of this post! Well it seems when you have kids, everyone gets to know your current affairs. Not that we have anything to hide ,umm, well you get the drift. Someone at the school parking lot asked me today "Hey I heard Saumya's grandparents are coming. How nice but whose parents, yours or the husband's?"
Oh , my husband's.
"Your in laws are coming???"
I suppose so.
"Oh honey, I am sorry!"

And this happened twice this week! Not the same exact words but the same idea! This might sound way too cliche if I say "I get along well with them" but I really do! I won;t say its a path filled with rose petals and I love to indulge that way but it's not the time for me run with jitters! If I have to describe my inlaw parents, I would say, mum is a peach and dad is a grapefruit. Oooh that didn't sound like I meant it to! Mamma is loving and helpful and she is very soft at heart. She is cozy like a warm blanket too and yes sometimes can get too warm!! Dad is good at motivating people and won't overlook your positives but the same goes for your shortcomings too!! Dad is bitter, tangy and sweet, just like eating a sour orange with salt on it. You don't know which bite you are going to only like and which ones you will simply love and want more and more. Yes, that's how he is.

But really, its nothing like everyone is making me feel it is! My parents did a wonderful job raising me, well, of course but as a person I was only appreciated after I got married, by my in laws. Everything I did, they received it with open arms. And I will be thankful for the most precious gift they gave me, My husband, their son.

Health Call

Saumya and her grandma having a chat over the phone.

Saumya: Namastey Dadima! Kaise ho aap? (Hello grandma, how are you?)

Dadima: Namastey beta, khoob bade ho jao, khush raho, bahut pyaar. Main Bilkul theek hoon. Aaj ek b'day party per gayee thee. (Hello child! God bless you, lots of love. I am fine, went to a b'day party today.)

Saumya: Kya khaya aapne wahan? (what did you eat there?)

Dadima: Oh, maine bahut khaya Puri, aloo sabzi, palak paneer, kheer, cake, rice, raita. Bahut sara kha liya maine. (Oh, I ate a lot, Infact I ate too much)

Saumya: Itna sara kyon khaya, pehli hi moti ho aur bhi moti ho jaogi. Unhealthy ho jayegi aapki body. (Why ate so much? You are fat already and will become even more. Your body will be very unhealthy.)

Dadima: Oh!! Ab kya karun? (Now what should I do?)

Saumya: Exercise kero! (Do exercise)

Dadima: Mujhey to nahi ata exercise kerna! ( I don't know how to do it.)

Saumya: Walk kerni aati hai na? Wo kero. ( I am sure you know how to walk, do that!!)

Dadima: OK!!

Saumya: Jab main India aoangi to sikhaungi exercise kerna. Dadu ko bhi keho walk kerney ke liye. Bahut unhealthy ho rahe ho aap log! (When I come to India I will teach you how to exercise. Tell grandpa to walk as well. You guys are becoming way too unhealthy!)

Dadima: ahem......um...ok.

Saumya: Ab main phone rakhti hoon. ( And here I end the call)

and we heard both grandparents going in fits of laughter at the other end of the line. I am sure they didn't take any lesson the little soul was parting and must have gained a few pounds with the extreme happiness drawn out from the conversation.

image courtsey: http://tell.fll.purdue.edu

Fun with Gum

Val has gum.
Val has fun with the gum.

The pup has fun with the gum.
Val tugs on the gum.

The pup runs and runs.
Yip, yip!
Val runs and runs.
Zip, zip!

Gum is on the jug.
Gum is on the cup.
Val is mad at the pup.

The pup ran up.
The pup is in the tub.
Gum is on the tub.

The pup rubs gum on the rug.
Val will nab the pup.

Val nabs the pup.
Val cuts the gum

The pup had fun with the gum.

My soon to be 4 year old read the whole thing, with no help, Zip Zip!!. I am so proud of her and so very delighted to see that twinkle in her eyes. Yip, Yip!!
A big thanks to the hardworking and dedicated teachers at her school. Hip Hip!!



image courtsey: http://www.wilmingtonvermont.us

Love Thing

Saumya : Daddy, do you want to eat a cookie?

Daddy : Sure!

Saumya: Which cookie do you want? This, this or this?

Daddy : I want this cookie! (Pointing to Saumya)

Saumya: I am not a cookie!! (Irked and loud)

Daddy : Looking dreamily at her with a smile on his face.

Saumya: You know I am not even food!!!! (Hands in air, making a strong point. She was very serious) Main koi khane ki cheez nahi hoon!! (Hindi for I am not something that can be eaten)

Daddy : Oh, to aap kya kerney ki cheez ho? (Hindi for "So what are you for?")

Saumya : Main to pyaar kerney ki cheez hoon!!! (Hindi for I am a thing to love)

Be Thankful???

For my motherland being raged by terror????? I don't know what I am full of at the moment.... sadness? anger? helplessness? frustration... but I am certainly not feeling thankful for being a part of the world today.

Bell Bajao (Ring the Bell)

Each and every visit to India is special not just because of the family we get to meet but also the services we get from house help. Though it means much more work for them the maids also look forward to seeing us each year. And we appreciate every single day they make us feel pampered. Our parents provide for their kids education so they can take up better professions and also take care of their medical costs. Every month when my mother in law pays them the salary the two women do not want to take home a single penny. You wonder why? For everyone looks forward to salary day! But these two women ask us to just deposit it for them because the salary, if reaches home, will be snatched away by the husband and if her voices is raised, his hand will not spare her. Once she really needed the money to spend on necessities so she took it along and hid it in her blouse. The husband searched high and low and then resorted to beating her! Next day, she came to work and told no one about it. I saw her limping and asked if she is sick ,tears rolled down her cheek. Why didn't she stay home? Because she felt safer with us. This is a very common story in India, you can hear it at every corner of the street. Domestic violence, where outsiders are mere witnesses and can't do anything because it's none of our business. It's a matter between husband and wife, they have to resolve it among themselves. Really? can anything be resolved when one party is being physically abused?? In her novel "Second Sex", Simone de Beauvoir very rightly portrays our society by saying "Man is defined as a human being and a woman as a female - whenever she behaves as a human being she is said to imitate the male" Is it not weakening us as a society?? Should we not raise a voice against it?? Breakthrough.TV has launched a campaign Bell Bajao which means Ring the bell. It’s time to remove those earplugs. The campaign asks you to take a stand. Kill the “it’s not my business” mentality.
This video shows a changed attitude's simple act that can help put the message across that we are listening and the abuse has to stop. Now. Please share and help spread the campaign. It is your business.

The queen ditched the potato

Aloo Gobhi , potato cauliflower dish is one of the popular dished from India. It works well as a side dish or by itself. The king likes it a lot. So this is a regular dish in the kingdom, made once every week. The queen likes it for the ease and how quick it is to make. Now that's all good for regular days but when the kingdom is all noisy with anniversary fanfare, this everyday dish doesn't suffice. So for tonight's dinner queen picked only the cauliflower and abandoned the potato. This dish is aptly called Shahi Gobhi, where Shahi means fit for the king!!

Ingredients

Cauliflower, cut into florets - 1 Head
Potato - None! Gotcha!
Yogurt - 1 cup
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Cumin Powder - 1 tsp
Coriander Powder - 1 tsp

In a large bowl mix yogurt with turmeric, cumin powder and coriander powder. Put cauliflower florets and toss around to coat well. leave it aside for at least 20 minutes. If you have time, you can leave it for up to 4 hours to let the cauliflower absorb all the flavors well. I did it for 20 minutes.
Cook this marinated cauliflower in microwave on high for about 6 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes.

Ingredients for Gravy
Tomatoes - 2
Onion - One
Green Chillies - 2
Ginger - about half inch
Turmeric - 1/2 tsp
Red Chili Powder - 1/2 tsp
Sugar - 1 heap tsp (This is to cut the tang from yogurt and tomatoes)
Heavy Creme - 2 tbsp
Cardamom Power - 1 tsp
Salt - To taste

While your Gobhi marinates, blend the tomatoes with onion, green chillies and ginger
into a smooth paste. You can make it richer by adding a handful of cashews and blending them with the tomato onion paste.


Heat Oil in a pan and add the above paste to it.
Let it cook over medium flame for 15-20 minutes, stirring in between.
Leaving aside heavy creme,add the rest of the gravy ingredients and stir and cook for few more minutes.



Add the cooked cauliflower to this gravy.
Mix it with a light hand while taking care not to break the florets. the gravy should coat the cauliflower well. Now add heavy creme, cardamom powder and salt and cook it for another 5-7 minutes.

And your Shahi Gobhi is ready. Serve it with your choice of Indian Bread.











This goes to the Vegetarian Thanksgiving Event hosted by Mansi

And the king found his queen

Love is in the air. Braving the chill , fingers woven into each other's hand, lending just the right warmth, with a gleam in the eyes they are trying to find the perfect gift. He has given her everything she could ever dream of but this is the time of the year when his heart overflows with love and he wants to find just the thing to express and to see her eyes widened with a smile that says "oh I love it". To see her at ease , he can do anything for her. He cracks silly jokes to make her smile, he will happily eat popcorn for dinner so she can relax, he would brave the cold if she forgets her jacket, he slips out of the room quietly if she is sleeping, he gladly watches chic flicks for her, he goes for aimless shopping for hours where she doesn't know what she wants but she really wants something nice, when she comes back after dropping off their daughter to school he welcomes her with a hot cup of tea, he  always lets her have the window seat in the airplane, he tells her every single day that she is the most beautiful girl, he always holds the door for her. He loves her cooking but there are times when she creates a disaster in the kitchen while trying something new, he pats her back for giving it a try and then brings dinner and by being what he is, he  just keeps her in awe all the time. He is her king, as she lovingly addresses him many times.
They got married eight years ago but have been together since eighteen years. He is the best thing that has happened to her, looking back, she would not change anything. 
As we celebrate our anniversary this week, I wanted to thank my man for being who he is.  I know he also has a lot to say about me and but to do that, he will have to start his own blog! I wish us many more years to enjoy the beautiful relationship we have nurtured together.
A Happy Anniversary to Us.

image courtesy : www.activerain.com

India Uncut

India this is for you. I never thought I would ever miss you, my homeland, in this manner with an omnipresent thought that would just not let me focus anywhere. India the land of water shortage, the land of power cuts, the land of pollution, the land of traffic jams, the land of zero security, the land of stray animals. I never thought I would crave for your negativities, for your imperfections, for your inabilities. I was so glad to be out of you but it seems you never got out of me! After spending 8 years of my dream life, my soul wants to wake up, it wants to be stirred up again, to appreciate the happy cocoon it wants to again experience the rough heat. India, my love, in our relationship, you turned out to be the selfless lover who could let go and me, the self indulgent one who just keeps running back to you to re-energize and run away again. India, you were my home, with all its inadequacies and helped me stay grounded with reality and this foreign land acted like a gracious host, who provided me with every comfort I could dream of. But as one poet says, However, humble, and however poor, Still Home is Home, when comes the trying hour, Still Home is Home, to those who know its worth, Still Home is Home
I miss my home but where is it now? After spending a decade away from home, in a place where we realized our dreams, we are not sure where exactly is home. Is it India? The land of lip-smacking delicious array of food, the land of bollywood, the land of spices, the land of sadhus, the land of bindi the red dot on foreheads, the land of namastey, the land of bangles, the land of sarees, the land of Diwali, the land of "take it easy", the land of passionate cricket, the land of ironies. This one was for you India, mine or not.

UN Day

Maria Montessori witnessed two world wars which made her a proponent of world peace and she is often described as "citizen of the world". Peace education is an important part of Montessori curriculum that is imparted right from the preschool stage when the mind is still absorbent and has no preconceived notions about other cultures. Children learn about continents and countries of the world and also about the lifestyles of people living there. Festivals throughout the world are celebrated int he classroom with the help of parents participation. Keeping up with the same spirit of global education, Our daughter's school celebrated United Nations Day yesterday. It was a family event with potluck dinner where every family brought a dish representing their homeland, then there was Parade of Nations where everyone dressed up in their traditional clothes and went down the aisle and then on the stage to greet the crowd in their native language. This was followed by cultural performances from India, China, Taiwan, France and Iran. The head of the school concluded the evening beautifully with the song "This land is your land, this land is my land" while playing along the guitar.
PARADE OF NATIONS












DANCE FROM INDIA



DANCE FROM CHINA


DANCE FROM TAIWAN


FENCING REPRESENTING FRANCE



DANCE FROM IRAN


HEAD OF SCHOOL PLAYING GUITAR

I can read!

Saumya, the life in our life,  the girl who will turn 4 next month, the girl who was inside me less than four years ago, a life form which we saw through the ultrasound monitor, trusting the words of the doctor that the little blob on the screen is actually our baby, a life who was sucking her thumb in the next ultrasound visit and we came to know the thumb sucker is a girl (yay!), the girl who came into the world 10 days earlier than expected, a girl whose face melted me to the core and changed me forever, a girl who didn't know how to sleep, how to eat, how to talk and walk, who couldn't make any sense of this world, I am so proud to tell everyone, this little gem of ours has started reading!! Ms. C, her Montessori teacher, is helping her realize this capability and has been sending books home so Saumya can read those to us. Last night when she finished reading an 8 page reader, I was so full of awe, "Mamma what's the matter with you, why are you smiling so much, what are you happy about?" Clearly, I couldn't hide my emotions and tears rolled down.  Saumya, the individual she is, hugged me so tight and I told her that I am just so very happy that she can read. It's one of those things that hold a special place in my heart. I remember a day in my childhood when the lady who used to deliver milk bottles to us at 5 in the morning, she came with her 10 year old daughter. I was six years old and was enjoying my summer vacation, sitting outside early in the morning and reading newspaper to my mother. The milk lady saw me reading and gave so many blessings while her 10 year old looked at me with an alien expression. Reading, for her, was a far fetched thought, for they couldn't afford school. That expression pierced me and I felt as if I have an undue advantage, a privilege which could easily have not been!! 6 is a young age but the contrast right in your face, makes you mature faster I guess. I felt like sharing my treat with her, to let her taste the delicacy I am enjoying and I requested my mother and the milk lady to let me help Manju, the milk lady's daughter. And there began mine and Manju's journey into the world where letters were not just a lifeless mass of ink rather they had the power to make us laugh or for that matter, cry! Seeing Manju's journey to literacy and then onto later getting admitted in a school and then taking a job later in life was such an exhilarating experience. Manju, helped me understand my self, she kindled the desire in me to become a teacher, a kindergarten teacher, so I can help sow the literacy skills right when the soil is ripe.

Now, seeing my own daughter reading , who is not yet 4, who doesn't yet know the paramount significance of literacy skill, fills me with pride and joy. You go girl!

image courtsey : www.atimetostitch.com

Good God Bad God

I was a part of a group today, a group which was responsible for introducing our culture to another group and to do that we read a book. One person was the designated reader, chosen for no particular reason but just because of the middle position of her chair which was conveniently placed to face the receiving group. So the story started, the reader was doing a good job explaining the unwritten, in between the lines facts to make the story come clear to the crowd and just then my ears started ringing with words "good God and bad God", and no matter what I tried I just couldn't participate anymore, mentally that is. The reader added her own description "The bad God was trying to hurt people so the good God beat him"

I am sure later when she thinks about it, the thought is going to poke her a lot. I have been there  many times! Sometimes while speaking publicly we just say things that we never would have imagined ourselves saying and later we bang our head with "what was I thinking? Or Was I thinking at all?"

I just hope the listeners forgot about it and aren't going to preach this anywhere else!

I went to a party

I went to a party Mom,

I remembered what you said.

You told me not to drink, Mom,

So I drank soda instead.

I really felt proud inside, Mom,

The way you said I would.

I didn’t drink and drive, Mom,

Even though the others said I should.

I know I did the right thing, Mom,

I know you are always right.

Now the party is finally ending, Mom,

As everyone is driving out of sight.

As I got into my car, Mom,

I knew I’d get home in one piece.

Because of the way you raised me,

So responsible and sweet.

I started to drive away, Mom,

But as I pulled out into the road,

The other car didn’t see me, Mom,

And hit me like a load.

As I lay there on the pavement, Mom,

I hear the policeman say,

“The other guy is drunk,” Mom,

And now I’m the one who will pay.

I’m lying here dying, Mom….

I wish you’d get here soon.

How could this happen to me, Mom?

My life just burst like a balloon.

There is blood all around me, Mom,

And most of it is mine.

I hear the medic say, Mom,

I’ll die in a short time.

I just wanted to tell you, Mom,

I swear I didn’t drink.

It was the others, Mom.

The others didn’t think.

Why do people drink, Mom?

It can ruin your whole life.

I’m feeling sharp pains now.

Pains just like a knife.

The guy who hit me is walking, Mom,

And I don’t think it’s fair.

I’m lying here dying

And all he can do is stare.

Tell my brother not to cry, Mom.

Tell Daddy to be brave.

And when I go to heaven, Mom,

Put “GOOD BOY ” on my grave.

Someone should have told him, Mom,

Not to drink and drive.

If only they had told him, Mom,

I would still be alive.

My breath is getting shorter, Mom.

I’m becoming very scared.

Please don’t cry for me, Mom.

When I needed you, you were always there.

I have one last question, Mom.

Before I say good bye.

I didn’t drink and drive,

So why am I the one to die?

—————————————————————

Please… NEVER Drink and Drive.

This piece came to me in one of those forwarded emails and couldn't resist sharing.

Halloween Lady Bug

Gotta Love The Childhood

Yesterday we were watching a beautiful program on public television Parrots in the land of Oz and enjoyed every bit of it. I never knew about so many varieties of parrots and that too just in Australia! There was a part where they showed fire spreading across the forest and our four year old cried "oh no, do something, the sun is breaking apart" well, daddy just ate his laughter and shoved it back in his belly and mamma, while trying to contain herself, plainly stated the fact that its fire and not the sun.
*************************************************

Duck the baby sitter was the name of the story we were about to read and Saumya asked "what is a baby sitter?" It was a legitimate question because we haven't used the services of any up until now. I asked her to think who would be called a baby sitter. She said "A person who helps the babies learn how to sit because babies do not know how to sit" Can you argue with that? And I can already foresee a problem if we try to hire one for her. The name is Baby sitter and she gets so offended if someone calls her a baby, hmmm, what else would you call a baby sitter? A person sitter?

A Wednesday

If you have not watched this movie, I would urge you to run and get the DVD. I would not post a review, go watch it and then let's share opinions. And yes the name is A Wednesday

I miss home

Diwali is one week away and instead of jumping with joy, my heart is getting sunk under the weight of another Diwali that will be spent with no festivities on the street, explaining people why we have "Christmas Lights" up in October, no guests dropping in with mithais, no clay diyas and many more no no no.
Are you lucky enough to be home this Diwali?

New England Fall

It's on fire!

Tippi Tippi Tap....which color do you like?

Jungle Beauty

This is one of my favorites.

in Saumya's words, since its in our yard, Our orange tree!!
Close up time

Street View

Near the library

Introducing Diana Designs

The environment is very hostile for established businesses with even the once considered hallmark companies falling every day but a 4 year old lives in a world where everything is possible, anytime. If you have been following my blog, you would know our 4 year old is exploring many professions and does not want to be bound with only one. On being presented with the question What do you want to be when you grow up, she has a lot to say. It is not a one word answer as the questioner might expect. I would like to be Engineer in the day time, a Train Driver in the evening and an Astronaut at night. With three jobs, I thought she is all set but now the girl in her is starting to show her head. Mamma, can an astronaut do other things? While I was trying to figure out the meaning of the question, she chirped again "I am asking this because I want to design clothes and then give them to a team of tailors to stitch them" Hmmmm, that's interesting! What will you do with all those designed clothes? "I will give them to store so people can come there and buy them" What name would be on the labels of those clothes?
Why do they need a name?
i showed her few clothes with names on the labels and talked about the name so people know who made them.
"Oh my company's name would be DIANA DESIGNS!!!"
That's a pretty name for a clothes designing company!!
"and my clothes will be sold at Target and Macys. I want everyone to buy them"

I am so looking forward to the future where I will have a personal fashion designer.
Where will you be buying clothes, let's say in about 15 years? hint hint

You say this , I say that

I love this age, no, no I am not referring to the economically devastating phase of our generation where it's literally fall season and every big economic giant is turning from green to red and then falling like a crumpled leaf but I am sure, like every winter is followed by spring, this too shall pass.
The age that I was pointing to was being a 4 year old. This morning in the school's parking lot, I was fixing my daughter's hair clip and she asked me to show her which clip is that.
"Oh, its the white bow clip, I also have a hair clip with kitty on it, remember?"

I do remember.

"Mamma, if you show me the kitty clip first, I say I want to wear the bow clip and if you show me the bow clip first, I say I want to wear the kitty clip"

Oh, so you know that you do that, hunh? I am curious why!

Sheepishly smiling she said "Because, you know I am just like that, I like to do this"

So you are saying that you don't care about which clip you wear but you just want to pick the one I didn't?

Smile still plastered "Yes"

What do you do when I ask you to pick any clip you like? I guess you like those days.

"Then I say no no you pick a clip for me and then again if you pick a kitty, I say a bow and if you pick a bow I say a kitty. Just like that!"

Thursday Triumph

Looking at the Dal Parantha (Indian lentil bread) in her dinner plate, Saumya made a gloomy face and said
"Mamma I wanted to eat a Cheese Sandwich"
Mamma: I didn't know that so I made a healthy parantha for you.
Saumya: Okay then I will eat an apple.
Mamma: That's a healthy choice and you can eat it after this dinner.
She rushed to the table and ate the whole parantha and yogurt and there was no mention of apple or sandwich. This went unexpectedly easy. So why did she ask for cheese sandwich, does she not like dal parantha? A 4 year old changes her likes and dislikes on the go, one moment they love a thing and the next it's the most disgusting food. But dal parantha has never failed to appease, it always does the job. So today when I heard those dreaded words I thought there goes another option, now what will be the "go to" choice to serve that can loyally and infallibly perform for this tough audience. Fortunately, my fear didn't come alive, at least not tonight! The performance was five star, you know of the kinds when you don't even need to say once "please finish your food" and still get to see an empty plate within minutes? That is what dal parantha did, yet again!
After the meal we were just chit chatting, me and the 4 year old. "Saumya, imagine there are two plates in front of you, one with dal parantha and one with cheese sandwich but you can only pick one of those, which one will you pick?"
"Ummmm, Dal Parantha" Now, this was hardly a battle but I still felt victorious, my inside voice was jumping and I almost did the arm pull saying "yesss" under my breath maybe I cannot relate to cheese sandwich the way I can to dal parantha and of course it's a healthier option of the two. Given all this, I was a wee bit surprised by her answer. "Oh how come the dal parantha? I thought you were in a mood for cheese sandwich?" and then came the reply, ahem, the drum roll please ........"because you make yummy dal pranthas Mamma"
That's my victorious Thursday. Give me a high five!!

Cookie Session

Last night along with milk Saumya was munching on Nilla Wafers, in case you are unfamiliar, here's the picture.

They are small perfect circle cookies a bit sugary with a hint of vanilla and hence the name Nilla. So while eating she usually examines the food for it's characteristics.

With two cookies in each hand ....

Saumya: Mamma what do these cookies look like?
Mamma: Ummm
Saumya: They look like Mickey Mouse Ears!
Mamma: Oh yeah, they do!
Saumya: And they look like wheels!
Mamma: They sure do.
Saumya: And they look like sun and moon!
Mamma: Unhun....
Saumya: And they look like a coin.
Mamma: ...well...
Saumya: And they look like Pancakes!
Mamma: hmmm....what else?
Saumya: Nothing I ate them!

And we rolled on the floor in a fit of laughter

Backyard Treasures

I was in the backyard Sunday afternoon trying to be with just myself and I got completely lost in nature.










Image copyrights belong to me. Be nice, No copying please

Stuck!

On my way to pick up my daughter from school yesterday I got stuck in traffic. There was road construction crew scraping the road to make a new one. A 10 minute ride took me 35 minutes.So while coming back I decided to take a detour and I was expecting to have a smooth ride through that alternate route and I couldn't have been more wrong. I told my daughter about the road repair on our usual road and to her as well it appeared only logical to go another way. Once we were on the different road here's what followed

Saumya: Why are you going this way?!!

Mamma: I just told you about the construction on our everyday route.

Saumya: Does this road go our home?

Mamma: Yes it does.

Saumya: Do you know the way from here?

Mamma: Yes honey I do.

Saumya: How do you know?

Mamma: I have used this way before coming from somewhere else.

Saumya: Why did you use this way coming from somewhere else?

Oh my, this is what is called being stuck! I got irked by this time.

Mamma: Because that was the only way at that time!

Saumya: Why are they repairing the road there?

Mamma: Because it's broken and needs to be fixed.

Saumya: Why is it broken? 

Mamma: With a lot of use things break and need to be fixed.

Saumya: Will this road also break?

Mamma: Yes.

Saumya: Then what will we do?

Mamma: Then we will use the one that is fixed.

Saumya: How will we know?

Mamma: I know the area so we will find another way.

Saumya: Why do so many roads go towards our home?

Mamma: So we can reach home no matter where we are coming from.

Saumya: Why do we go different places?

Mamma: ummm....?

Saumya: Do you think they are done repairing now?

As I drove into the driveway, a sigh of relief came out, thank god it's over! Was it really?

Saumya: Why did you make that sound?

Oh please, I know you are a curious little individual and I love you  but please do not question my sighs!!!!!

Why?

At last night's presidential debate a four year old should have been the moderator. It would have been much more fruitful because a 4 year old, for lack of civility, doesn't let anyone sway away from the question and would not rest until answered!

Here's a sample of everyday questions...

• Why do we call an Orange an orange? We don't call things by their color!
• Same silliness is with Plum, why ?
• Why is it raining so hard?
• Rain is hard or soft?
• Why do we grow up?
• Why do we live only in one country?
• Why did you flip that pancake?
• Why do you cook?
• Why do we change clothes?
• Can we touch the sky with a very very very tall ladder kept on a big big big ship in the middle of the ocean? If yes, why? If no, why?
• Why do you have to turn the car to go left or right?
• Why do germs make us sick?
• Why do things good for our tongue are not good for our belly? ( I am in love with this one ! Could someone please pass on a calorie free cheesecake?)
• Who will be in my belly when I grow up?
• Why did you get married to daddy?
• Why do we call strawberry a 'straw'berry? I don't see any straw!
• Why do toilets flush so loud in restaurants and stores?
• Why don't they make sinks low everywhere so children can also wash hands comfortably? We are still growing up! (Are restaurants listening?)

.............................. and more!

Musical Recycle

Saumya likes to make things. Things like putting a big oval bead at the end of a string which becomes her fishing line and sitting on her blocks wagon that is her boat and then she goes fishing.
This is when she got a big bite and had to pull hard and fast! All those wooden beads on the carpet are the fish in the lake.

She usually steers away from the intended use of things and tries to make something else. For past few days she has been collecting her yogurt containers
Today she filled them up with beadsThese are push pin kind of beads that are a part of a puzzle where you push in the beads while matching it with the color to make it into a pattern. She has spent a lot of time with this puzzle and is now trying to find other uses for it. So she filled her yogurt containers with these beads to make Maracas! While trying to shake those maracas and enjoy the music but seeing those falling out one by one for lack of a cover, she got the idea of covering them with "the shiny thing in which Mamma sometimes pack her bread for office" a.k.a Aluminium foil. So there we have our own handmade maracas! Seems it's going to be a musical weekend
at our house!
Sunday we will be heading off the Welcome Back Fall Festival at her school!
What are you planning to do this weekend besides getting soaked up in the rain?

Apple Trouble

Today was my turn to volunteer at my daughter's school. I was in the library, reading story to kids and helping them check out the books. I was a bit apprehensive about how would Saumya behave with me around. But it went very well. She gave me such a naughty smile while listening to the story. Being around with kids in a school setting reminded me of the time when I was a kindergarten teacher. How the little ones want to touch you, just be near you. Whatever you say are the golden words for them and the ones, who look like non listening are actually grasping every bit and reproduce it at home for their parents. We read a story Apple Trouble Hedgehog has finished building a cozy nest for winter. Unfortunately, a ripe apple falls from the tree above and gets stuck in her spines, making it impossible for her to fit in her new digs. She has several friends to whom she can go for advice, but their instructions simply make her situation worse. She ends up with other bits and pieces stuck to her body in addition to the apple -- including nuts, a pear, a dried leaf, and some berries. Then she meets another animal that is able to ease her situation by eating everything stuck to her. It was a very cute story! Then we did an activity where children were asked to put the pictures of things that fell on the hedgehog in a sequence.
I am thankful to the school for letting me be a part.

image courtesy http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51m750W3D2L._SS400_.jpg

FAQs

Saumya: Can you wash this yogurt container?
Mamma: Yes, sure!
Saumya: Now can I play with it?
Mamma: Yes, you can.
Saumya: Why can I play with this?
Mamma:??????????
---------------------------------------------------
Saumya: Why do we need to sleep now?
Mamma: See, how dark it is outside?
Saumya: Why is it dark?
Mamma: It's night time.
Saumya: Why is it night time?
Mamma: So we can sleep?
Saumya: Why do we sleep?
Mamma: So our bodies can relax and get refreshed for another day!
Saumya: Why do we have another day?
Mamma: So we can have all the fun again.
Saumya: Why should we have the fun again?
Mamma: You don't want to have fun?
Saumya: I do!!
Mamma: Then sleep!
Saumya: okay!
------------------------------------------------
Mamma: Let's go out for a walk.
Saumya: No.
Mamma: Oh, how come?
Saumya: OK, I will go for a walk only if you take me to the end of America.
Mamma: End of what?
Saumya: America, you know my country! I want to see where it ends.
Mamma: .....Ummmmm, well....
Saumya: Do you know where it is?
Mamma: I have no idea!
Saumya: Well then let's not go for a walk!
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Saumya: Mamma who is your mamma?
Mamma: Your Nani ma!
Saumya: When you were a little girl then also she was your mamma?
Mamma: Yes.
Saumya: Are you going to be my mamma even I become big like you?
Mamma: Of course! And daddy will always be your daddy and you will always be our daughter.
Saumya: That's funny!
Mamma: What's funny about it?
Saumya: The funny thing about what you said is How can something be always?
Mamma: speechless and weak in the knees and thinking- has she figured out the big reality already?


image courtesy: http://www.clipartof.com/details/clipart/17041.html

Practical Life

Lately a trip to the Indian grocery store has become an excursion for our preschooler. She insists to accompany me and when there, she eagerly waits to reach the refrigerator where Cilantro and Mint is stored among other herbs and vegetables. Indian food is usually garnished with cilantro leaves and is used in many chutneys along with mint. Turmeric infused bright yellow subzis and curries bring to life with the fresh green contrast of Cilantro. Looking at her continued enthusiasm the vendor last time commented "She must love cilantro in her food" , rather it's the most annoying thing she can have in her food!! Why is she so excited to buy these herbs then? Once back home from our little trip to the store, we sit on the floor together with two trays. One to catch the stems and one to put the plucked leaves. Now I am only a spectator of the act while the preschooler finishes the task from arranging the trays on the floor, plucking the leaves, throwing the stems in the trash and putting away the leaves in a bag and then putting the trays away. The act might seem mundane but it helps develop skills for many advanced activities like pincer grip which prepares the fingers to hold the pencil and helps in developing the writing ability.. It provides practice in hand - eye coordination. It also is a good exercise to learn about categorization ,bunch - stems - leaves, it prepares the developing mind to understand the order or the steps to follow to complete a task
1.Pick a stem from the bunch
2.Pluck the leaves
3.Put the leaves in the second tray
4.Put the empty stem in the pile other than the bunch.

According to the book Child of the World, Essential Montessori for Age three to Twelve With activities like this She learns to concentrate, to control muscles, to move and act with care, to focus, to analyze logical steps and complete a cycle of activity. This lays the groundwork for mental and physical work in all other areas of work, not just in early childhood, but throughout life.

An Open Letter To My Daughter - 2

Dear Daughter,

The day you started your new Montessori School or "Office" as you like to call it, was a big day for you and significantly bigger for me! As you enter your office in the morning and I am left standing outside the door waving bye excitedly while waiting for you to respond, I feel like an intruder. Your office is such an engrossing space that the moment you are greeted by your colleagues, you totally forget about me. This particular act of yours is a sheer joy when I talk about your school to other people and is so comforting when I think about you later but every morning when I am in that very moment, I feel so left out of your life.
As you grow each day and gain new skills to do things independently like bathing, using the toilet, eating, dressing yourself, buckling the car seat, bringing your clothes to the laundry room, waking up, making a sandwich and many many more, I swell with pride at my parenting skills and I say to myself "I must be doing something right". There was a time when I had to prop your mouth open in order for you to get started with the feeding and now every act of yours is prefixed with "No, don't do it for me, I will do it all by myself". I am finding it very difficult to come to terms with these times when you do not need me as much. I might get into a tug of war with you at times to do things for you to satisfy the mother in me. I am much older than you are but the mother part of me is just your age. She was born with you and that is the reason that your mother sometimes doesn't act the way you expect her to. While I am there to help you with the setbacks and the failures, there is really no one with her. She will grow but at a much slower pace than you are. All this is very new to her, she is just so used to being indispensable in your life!

America Day

For past months I have been extensively reading expat blogs, non-Indians who are living and working in India. It's interesting to see your own country through the eyes of people who have not been born or brought up there.
Among the expat community there is a term India Day which is a day when everything goes wrong,the personal chef came few hours late, the gardener brought the wrong plants, power went out for hours, internet stopped working, plumber didn't show up and the likes. Now as an Indian living in America I was thinking what would it mean for us to have an America Day?Making your own food - no chef
Cleaning the house - no maid
Mowing your own lawn - no Gardner
Falling sick with no one to help you - No hired help or family close by
Plumber shows up and now instead of the empty water tank, your wallet is empty.
Getting a doctor's appointment not before two months.
Treating your car like a pick up truck because delivery for everything is so damn expensive.
Doctor taking a look at you in the "emergency room" after two hours you showed up!
How we miss our homelands while enjoying every bit of the luxury the host country has to offer.
image courtesy:www.tagdv.com

Global Perspective

Saumya: Mamma, do you know there is a country Australia and the colors of it's flag are red, white and blue, just like American flag!!

Mamma: Oh really? What else has it got just like American flag?.

Saumya: (Thinking with finger on her cheek and then jumps) Stars, it has stars just like American flag and it also has red stripes but they go like this (making a criss cross in air) and not like this (making horizontal lines in air).

Mamma: Wow! Which other flag did you see?

Saumya: America, India, China and Australia and there is one more but I don't remember the name so you will have to wait till I come back from school. I will tell you then.

Mamma: Why does your office (she calls her classroom her office) has flags of different countries?

Saumya: So I can get to know about those countries mamma! My office also has two globes which shows where all the countries are.


This speaks volumes about Montessori education which inculcates a global perspective at the right time, the time when we are ready to learn about others, when we don't have preconceived notions about far away places, the time when we are about 4 years old!

Image courtesy : http://www.international.sbc.edu
http://www.bastroplibrary.org/