Thoughts and Quotes
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Is Dying Good for Health?
Last night, bedtime story for Yog went in a strange direction. I was telling Yog about his Grandmother, “Bamma” and how much she loved him. Yog (for the nth time): Why Bamma died? Mama: Because she was not feeling well. Yog: Is Dying good for health? Mama silent for a long time. I had no answer. Yog: Where did Bamma go? Mama: Bamma went to stay with God. Yog: God did not died Bamma? Mama again silent for a long time. We die and go to God. When we die with God, where do we go? Till date, Yogs questions have been black and white. Is Apple good for health?…
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Essence of Life is Life Itself
The most important thing about life is “life” itself. When life goes out of the system, there is nothing left. Unfortunately, most people, including me, forget this basic principle and tend to give importance to a lot of ancillary things like food, clothes, and relationships. In the process of gathering these ancillary distractions we forget this basic essence of life. Over the years, I have heard these words from a number of Gurus and spiritual books . Till some days ago, I believed that I understood these words. However, the true meaning of these words hit me a few days back when I lost my second mother, “Amma” to an…
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Don’t steal all the credit
Having two children who are completely unlike each other in every possible way, teaches you a lot about life. I realized one big learning today and wanted to share it with mothers who are too hard on themselves. Having brought up two kids almost the same way and yet seeing them worlds apart, tells me that there is only so much that upbringing has to do with health, eating habits, and temperament of a child. The most important factor that is responsible behind them being the way they are is the fact that “they are who they are”. As a mother, if you blame yourself for their poor health or…
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Why bars of dark chocolate are hidden between layers of saris in my home?
Why bars of dark chocolate are hidden between layers of saris in my home? I am pretty sure, if Sherlock Holmes was tasked to solve this mystery, he would fail. This is because Sherlock Homes never had children. I am also sure that all parents having kids between 9 to 15 years of age are nodding their heads in understanding. They know, there is no safe place in the house to hide treats. No matter where you hide them, you won’t be able to prevent them from magically disappearing in a few short hours. Every time my husband or I open the fridge to snack on something delicious and unhealthy,…
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What do you want to become when you grow up?
“What do you want to become when you grow up?” This is a favorite question for every parent. I have seen parents (including me and my husband) repeating this question to their children many times over the years. The first few responses are simply adorable. I am told that my first response to this question was, “I want to become a Dad”. As the child enters adolescence the response starts to be more thought through. As parents, we also start becoming more serious about it. After all, it is time to lay the foundation of their long term career. If they want to become a painter, they should join painting classes. If…
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Maybe it is time for Happy Mothers Day
A few days back I was casually discussing the sale season with my mother. I like to think that both of us are “smart shoppers” who ensure that we spend the right amount for the right thing at the right time. Given the ongoing sale, I was nudging my mom to check out the stores and complete her shopping list. She, however, sadly exclaimed, “Beta, I don’t feel like going alone to the malls. They are so big and crowded. I fear I will get lost.” My heart filled with love for her. I tried reading beyond her words into what she really meant. After all, my Mom is a…
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Protection begins at Home
As soon as the summer holidays started, my twelve year daughter took her first independent flight to Delhi to meet her Nani. Needless to say, I consider this as a big milestone for all of us. Her maiden, independent flight is a sign that our little bird is ready to fly out of our safe nest. I was scared, nervous, apprehensive but most of all extremely proud of her. A few of our friends and family who knew about the flight were skeptical. Isn’t she too young? Isn’t the world a bad place for little girls travelling alone? Are you not being an irresponsible parent? These are good questions…
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“Parenting” when you are 50
I used to think that being a parent is one of the most difficult roles, one can ever play. You are literally responsible for the health, wealth, happiness and attitude of young minds. Over the years, I have changed this view. I think there is one more role that is even more challenging, which most of us end up playing as we get older. That is the role of a “parent-in-law”. Consider this – at about 50 years of your life, you are finally done with your responsibilities, you have also managed to give decent values and direction to your children, you have saved enough for your retirement, and now…
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Lower the Volume
Raising your voice ensures that you are heard But it rarely means that you are understood
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If God begged you to choose a Dream…
I asked a simple question to 70 working women on the occasion of Women’s Day, “If God came today and begged you to choose your dream, what dream would you choose?” Ten minutes later, I had my answers. 100% of the women said, “My dream is to take good care of my parents and my children.” When I was preparing for the workshop, I knew a majority would prioritize this dream, but the majority would be 100%, was something that I was not prepared for. I coaxed them to think of a dream above being a mother and daughter because before being a mother/daughter they were individuals who had to…