Shilpa Roy Kota

Parenting Stories (and more) from the desk of an imperfect parent

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Category: Thoughts and Quotes

  • The Hockey Stick – Lessons on Physical Aggression

    Yog runs to me with urgency and purpose in his stride, his chubby legs trying to keep pace with the thoughts running in his mind. Concern is evident all over his red face. I am certain he has a very important matter to discuss with me. Huffing, he exclaims, “Big boys are beating small children…

  • A Gym tops my list of Most Positive Places

    Gym is perhaps the most positive place on this planet. This is why I think so: If you are there, it means you already have a goal/purpose in your life You feel inspired (and not jealous) if someone is doing better than you Pain is associated with having done things right You know there are…

  • Father and Daughter

    Today, during my morning walk, I saw a father driving his teenage daughter to college. She sat upright holding the back of the motorcycle for support. In the rear view mirror, she adjusted her hair and checked her red lipstick. She would have been prettier without them, but then teenagers don’t really think like me…

  • Matching Intent with Actions at Terrassen Cafe

    I don’t endorse places or products quite often. I believe all businesses are trying their best in their area of expertise and it is rare that I associate a personal experience so closely with a Business that I decide to write about them. But then, a few days ago, I chanced upon a small restaurant…

  • Why should my daughter focus on Career when she may end up being a Full Time Mom, like me?

    After a long and fun summer holidays, school started today. With both kids out for more than just a few hours, I seemed to have all the time in the world for myself. By the time I completed walking, yoga, meditation and breakfast, it was only 10 AM. Without a second thought, I packed my…

  • Believe in Yourself

    This picture says a lot more once you catch the spell error. The artist, my daughter, did the background painstakingly over 3 hours. She then took a short minute to scribble the title. Irrespective of the error, she is proud of her painting and rightfully so. If this isn’t the power of belief in oneself,…

  • World of No Lies

    We are all guilty of lying. Sometimes we lie for the good of others, like when I crush Flax seeds inside a fruit smoothie and completely deny it when the children ask. Sometimes we lie for our own good, like when Pavan and I go for a date telling the kids we are off to…

  • Mind before Heart

    One rotten apple on a tree does not mean all apples are rotten One bad father does not mean all fathers are bad One bad Guru does not mean all Gurus are bad Don’t eat an apple with your eyes closed Don’t accept exploitation even from your own father Don’t follow a Guru leaving aside…

  • Whose Side are You?

    We are all looking to blame someone for everything wrong happening in the world today – blame Muslims for terrorism, blame Hindus for rapes, blame Modi for economy, blame Congress for corruption, blame Trump for IT slump, blame blame blame… It is so easy to generalize segments, brand them and blame them. It gives us…

  • Rape 101: Conversations on Rape with Teenage Daughter

    Rape is in the air! Sad but true! The only good thing about Rape being in the air is that everyone is talking about it. Unlike multiple generations till now, it is not being silently brushed under the carpet or hidden inside dirty laundry never to be seen or cleaned again. My daughter and I…