Nurture with Nature

When I was a small kid, I was fascinated with mud. It was great to play after the rains in the mud. We made caves and decorated them with sea-shells glass pieces and flowers. It was fun playing in the open, running, screaming, laughing and touching the earth.

One of my loveliest memories of childhood is holding the hand of my grandfather and going for a walk at night. He would tell me stories of his childhood how he would walk through a patch of woods to go to school, how he met a hyena one day and how he climbed a tree to escape. We would come back home and on winter nights, grandmother would have hot chocolate waiting for us. As we drank the delicious chocolate we would smile as our affection spoke silently.

I wanted my daughter to experience the beauty of togetherness with nature. When she was a toddler, we chased butterflies together. When she turned six, we started a nature journal practice. It is lovely to go for walks and collect twigs and leaves. We observe trees, the sky, seasons, animals, insects and birds. We make notes. It is fun to paste these notes, draw, paint and sketch with the date and time.

Last year, we discovered a tiny nest on the top of a tree next to our terrace. In this nest, small babies waited for their mother to come.

A lone woodpecker used to visit a leafless tree near our house. We used to wait for the bird (our Woody) to visit. Every morning we observed Woody religiously visiting the tree.

However, that tree was cut down, and we lost our Woody forever. I could teach an important lesson to my daughter. We need to accept the change as only change is constant. Friends may come and friends may go, but life goes on.

I want my daughter to discover relationships beyond SMS, emails, social media or the Internet. Today an overdose of digital media and 24×7 connectivity is making us isolated ‘islands’ existing in a zone to become a zombie.

I want my daughter to experience the sunrise and sunset, to feel the difference between a breeze and a wind, to sit under the canopy of star and have conversations in person not on a mobile.

I want her to know that nip in the air announcing the winter and observe the slanted rays of the sun telling us that the days are getting shorter. Our nature journal consists of lovely notes of all these occurrences.

Nature journal practice has bonded well. It has also made us revere and respect nature in an amazing way.

Life changes literally and figuratively. These lovely moments of togetherness keep you grounded and become an anchor later in life.

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Connect Faster with 4G Airtel

From pigeon mail to snail mail to telegrams and wireless to land line phones and cordless to pagers and mobiles and then to Smartphones we have come a long way.

There was a time when you had to book a call and wait for it to happen.  Sometimes you waited for hours before you could hear the voice of your loved one in another city, and if it was a small town, then it was a test of your patience.

Connectivity was through telephone exchanges where you booked your calls and waited in a queue for endless hours. Overseas calls would take longer and were exorbitantly priced. It was tough and people hardly called except in emergencies.

Then times changed and we got the STDs or Standard Trunk Dialling system that offered us the convenience of dialling a city code to connect.

It was better way as you could directly call and there was no need to call through the telephone exchange. However, the calls were expensive and people preferred to call after 10 pm when the rates were lowest. A long ring on a land line announced a long-distance call and was exciting.  Families would wait for these 10 pm calls.

Then we got the cell phones or mobiles. A mobile phone connected you through a radio link that made it possible to make and receive calls while moving around a wide geographic area. This was done through the cellular network provided by the mobile phone operators. These stylish gadgets become very popular. It was a style statement to carry a mobile.

However, calls were expensive and incoming calls were also charged. If anyone called,  you shared the bill for that call. Slowly, the mobile bills reduced as more companies entered and competition provided more options to the customer. With technological changes, mobile calls became affordable.

Today, Mobile phones together with standard features offer many useful facilities like text messaging, MMS and email, short-range wireless communications like Bluetooth, Internet access, gaming, business applications. These mobiles are called Smart phones. It is so easy today to connect, share, and respond to friends and family. You carry your office with you as the world works almost 24×7.

With Airtel 4G, things are definitely going to be fascinating. We will be able to access rich content and multimedia applications as movies easily. It will enable downloading heavy files or high-definition multimedia content at the same time.

I would love to experience seamless online streaming and forget the buffering. Face-to-face video chatting seems like the icing over the cake.

Airtel is the first telecom operator to roll out 4G services, nationwide across 296 cities. It is offering 4G at 3G prices. You can get your 4G SIM home delivered for free.
Welcome 4G we look forward to having you in our life!

Appreciating Cracks

There is a crack in everything.
That’s how the light gets in.
~Leonard Cohen

Yes, there has to be a crack for light to enter. This is one of my favourite quotes. Though I had read this quote long back I grasped it much later.

It was during a difficult phase in life; I understood this quote. There were challenges and obstacles in every sphere of my life. I went for long walks in the evening with my small daughter. Those walks helped us to smile.

On a particularly difficult day, we decided to take a new path. It would be a long way back home, but somehow it felt right. This was not a familiar route.

We passed few landmarks and suddenly stopped. There stood a lovely house all in ruins. It had been an elegant structure. Though unoccupied, for years, it had been maintained well.

My daughter approached the guard to find out. The house had been burnt in a fire accident. By the time help arrived it was late. Thankfully, there was no one inside. We asked the guard’s permission to go inside to look at the once beautiful garden.

The path was covered with charred pieces of wood, bricks and heaps of ash. I looked around strangely captivated by the havoc. My daughter had many questions. However, the futility of those questions made me sadder.

I sat on a flat stone while my daughter explored the gardens. Devoid of colour the landscape looked bleak. Grey, black and strange white were the only hues.

My eyes scanned thoroughly and I noticed something. Pulled by a strange force I ran towards it.

Yes, there was a crack for light to enter.

On the corner of an ash heap was a tiny leaf dancing on a thin stem. We knelt to observe.
Life hoped to live.

Tiny After two Weeks

How interesting, to see some seed taking root in this barren place. How did a seed land and embedded itself? How did it sustain? There were no obvious answers, and yet I had found answers to my questions.

Yes, Life goes on to bloom in any circumstances. Somehow even my daughter understood this truth.
Perfection binds you, imperfection provides hope.

Cracks are required for letting the light pass. In periods of transition cracks are bound to appear. Transformation goes through disintegration. We just need to cherish hope in our hearts
Our journey back home was different. I felt optimistic and capable of facing the challenges ahead. That tiny seed transformed  my thoughts.

“Mama let’s come every day to meet ‘tiny’.”

My daughter suggested. And we came for about a month until the day we relocated to another place. By that time ‘Tiny’ had become a small plant.

Today that plant is a metaphor we refer when things are difficult. Remember ‘Tiny’ is all we have to say to smile and sing.
This post is for Indibloggers – Lookupstories
https://housing.com/lookup

Healthy Pancakes

Healthy Pancakes

Ingredients

The Batter
3 cups chick pea flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 onion grated
salt, turmeric and chilli powder
1/2 tsp cumin seeds

The Filling

Carrot and Radish

1 radish grated
2 carrots grated
2 tblsp coriander finely chopped

Oil as needed

Method

Mix the ingredients for the batter and keep aside for ten minutes.
Heat a pan apply some oil and spread the batter. Sprinkle the filling and press it with the back of a spoon so that it sticks. Flip and  cook from both sides. Colourful healthy pancakes are ready. Enjoy with a tangy chutney or tomato sauce.

When Virtual becomes Real

The internet has made life easy and complex at the same time. I would like to share my experience with you.

Last year in one of those terrible moods, one day on the net, I was desperate to do something mom would not like. I logged on the computer and went on a chat room of a strange website. This was not the first time. I had chatted earlier but today my rebellious mood was responsible for my adventure.

There was someone called ‘Soul friend’ in that room. My hesitant “Hi” was met with an enthusiastic “Hello darling!”

The conversation took turns and changed tracks. We continued to talk every-day for about a month. I became comfortable by this time and exchanged our email IDs.

One day, he suddenly started asking me personal details. Not being very extrovert on this subject, I immediately tried to change the topic. He became lurid and cheap. I switched off the computer thanking God that this was all virtual and not real.

Next day, I discovered my email account overflowing with his mails. Deleting the email account was not an option as the guy had my phone numbers, my address and other details. I realised I was in for a big trouble.

I decided to confide with my dad. That night my parents patiently listened to my story. The worry on their faces made me cry. Dad consoled me. He and Mom were happy that I shared this ordeal. The next day I surrendered my mobile phone number and got a new one The Email ID was deleted.

We could not change a house it was difficult. However, dad got in touch with a friend who is in the police. I was not allowed to go alone. Life was very difficult when I wanted to hang out with friends.

For about ten months, I felt he was following me. Even in the house I was never left alone. Last month, Dad was transferred to another city, and we were happy to relocate.

This was a lesson, well learnt. Now I am more careful of not disclosing my personal details. I am aware that the Internet is not a safe place for anyone. Chat rooms are the places where these characters hang to trap the innocent. Please have faith in your parents and do listen when they tell you to be on guard. The conversation channels with parents should always remain open.

This is a real experience of a sixteen-year-old daughter of a family friend. This incidence emphasises the need of having a supportive relationship with kids. The need of the times is to be a patient, understanding and non-judging parent.

This post is written as part of the Women’s Web – eKavach ‘This Digi-Parenting Life!’ campaign.

A Rainy Afternoon Treat

Imagine a rain-soaked afternoon and your kid wants something different and yummy. What should I cook, is an eternal dilemma of a mother.
Try this easy snack.
Easy and quick to cook, it packs the goodness of mung beans. Mung a native of Asia is rich in fibre, calcium and iron.
This can be packed in a lunch box for school. Use it as a burger with cheese, tomato and chilli sauce or whatever your kid likes.

Mung Dal Snack

 

Ingredients
1 cup whole mung beans
1/2 cup flour (maida)
½ tsp of green chilli paste
3 tbsps Chopped coriander
Salt to taste
Oil to fry

Method
Cook whole mung beans in a cooker by adding just enough water. It should be cooked but not get mashed. Cool the mixture.
Add salt, green chilli paste and chopped coriander
Make a thin batter of maida
Heat oil in a pan
Make round balls of the mung mixture flatten it a little
Dip in the maida paste and fry on slow heat until golden
Crispy mung snack is ready to eat

 

Freedom to Be

The Independence Day comes over again and our Tricolour freely soars in the August sky. It flutters and sways in the wind.

This is how our life should flow through the winds of destiny. With all kinds of freedom, the freedom to be what you ‘are’ is extremely important. Today, I watch my daughter with a happy smile.  A confident eleven years old, comfortable in being whoever she is.

Few years back I remember she suddenly became an introvert, hesitant child. What exactly had triggered this was not obvious, though. As a mother, I helplessly watched her going into a shell.
I was aware this would require a lot of love, acceptance and patience. I did not want to hurt her in any way. The fragile emotions were delicate and precious.After introspecting, discussing and researching I decided to convey the message through a story.

She had always enjoyed bed-time story sessions. As a toddler she would often give me subjects to create a story around. These story sessions would continue until she fell asleep.
While conversing, I realised that she had been comparing herself with her friends.
This is a trap we fall into. No one can help us to find our unique abilities. That discovery solely depends on us.

I wrote a story of a sad peacock who thought he looked dull. This peacock waited for someone to help identify his strengths. A squirrel who became his true friend helped him discover his talent. The colours were a gift from his friends as a token of appreciation.
This story helped my daughter immensely. She would listen to it almost every day and slowly things changed.

Today, she is a cheerful well-adjusted child. She is aware of her strengths and comfortable with her weaknesses. This is the real freedom.

This story has been published by Mangoreader. It is award winning reading library. It is an amazing resource for kids, parents, teachers, readers, writers and artists. Digitally interactive stories enhance imagination and creativity.

I appreciate Artika Ranjan’s contribution in creating lovely illustrations for this story.

Do read and share this story with young readers.

The Peacock’s Secret

Happy Independence Day !

Review-Pee Safe and Jungle Magic

I received a Jungle Magic Hand Sanitizer for kids and PeeSafe Toilet Seat Sanitizer from SafetyKart.com. Thanks to Swapna and Pratibha for the two very useful products.

PeeSafe Toilet Seat Sanitizer

My daughter had to go on a school trip with one-night stay in a hotel. Though the school ensured it was a good hotel with high standards of hygiene I was still worried. Using the hotel toilets was an issue. However, a great product Pee safe Toilet Seat Sanitizer came to my rescue. I tried it at home and was impressed. I packed this small bottle with my daughter’s travel things and instructed her on its use. She found it very convenient.

Pee safe Toilet Seat Sanitizer is a disinfectant that can be used for toilet seats; door handles and flush knobs to prevent bacterial and viral infections. The company claims that it offers 99.99% sanitization from toilet borne diseases in just 5 seconds by eliminating germs like Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and E. coli.

The pros
•    Convenient to use
•    Travel friendly
•    Kills 99.99% germs on the sprayed surfaces
•    Alcohol free
•    Dries quickly without ant residue
•    Nice fragrance
•    Environment friendly

The Cons
I found no disadvantages. It is economically priced at Rs 120 per bottle.

Jungle Magic kid’s Sanitizer

This product also came at a perfect time for my daughter to take it with her.
The little bottle of Jungle Magic kid’s sanitizer is designed well to attract kids. The sanitizer feels like regular sanitizer without any special fragrance, but the product comes from Piramal Healthcare and promises to be kid friendly. It can be used by kids above three years of age for hand hygiene and sanitation. Some regular sanitizers are profited for children. Jungle Magic Kid’s sanitizer protects children from germs and infection. I tried it at home and feel it is good for children, especially outdoors or while travelling. I was happy to that this is kid-friendly.

Price Rs 60 per bottle

Do I recommend these products? Yes

Both these products are available online at http://www.safetykart.com

Dear Daughter

Dear Daughter,

It is strange to observe how time flies! It seemed just like that yesterday you came into our life as a helpless sweet little bundle. However, eleven years have walked through the curtain of time, and I can hardly believe. This year as you celebrate your eleventh birthday, I decided to write this letter. We can read it together when you turn twenty one!

I have tried to record many enchanting moments through all these years. Whenever I visit my blog, I notice this drawing that adorns the blog. You were two years when you created this. I smile as it transports me to those beautiful days when you danced as shimmering light of dawn and slept like an angel (though only for few minutes).
Today you stand tall, confident, happy and enthusiastic. Your girlhood and adolescence seem to compete with each other. As I watch you grow up, I feel proud and scared at the same time. Dear daughter, the world today is evil and the mother in me constantly worries about your safety.

Your energy sometimes frustrates me dear daughter; I want you to calm down. Slow your pace to experience life, see the grace around you and feel it. Rushing through our days and through life has become our mantra. We hardly have any time to ‘live’ life in the real sense.

The Nest

Remember when we created our nature journal last year we discovered such lovely things near us. We found that tiny nest on the top of the park just next to our terrace and small babies waiting for their mother to come. We observed a woodpecker visiting that leafless tree. Remember how we used to wait for the bird (our Woody) to visit. However, that tree was cut down, and we lost our Woody forever. Yes, life changes and we need to accept the change as only change is constant. These moments, would become an anchor later in life when you feel lonely. So try to notice these little things, experience the exquisite as you walk through life. Though happiness cannot be taught, it’s an art that needs to be practiced. Try to notice the perfect ‘imperfections’ of apparently mundane days where life dwells and joy resides.

I am not asking you to become slow. You should run at times to feel the air in your face and jump and shout, but not all the time. Dance in the rain let the droplets soak you. Nature is very healing and rainy afternoons and paper boats are so enjoyable. Dear daughter, let life unfold like a flower one day at a time.

Believe in yourself while taking your decisions. Don’t be afraid to follow your passions that one-day would lead to your dreams. Let people say anything don’t look for acceptance from the world, but accept yourself as you are. See your own beauty and don’t compare. Beauty is the way to speak with compassion, with respect, with concern. Beautiful means to have the ability to make another feel warm at heart in your presence, beauty is those stars in your eyes. You have extremely expressive eyes, look after them lovingly.

When I scold you for eating too many chocolates sweets and junk food, you are frustrated. However, it is for your health. The mother in me wants the best for you. Treasure your health dear nothing else will ever matter.
And yes about those hurts, yes you will face some bitter, harsh truths; sometimes people will be mean and rude. Life will look very unfair, but my dear accept it with all humility and surrender as grass does in the midst of a storm. It’s alright to cry sometimes and fearlessly, give way to tears; you will feel healed after a good cry.

Lastly I have not been able to spend much time with you as much as I want to due to other responsibilities, but let’s make a pact; we will try to catch more time together on weekends when we cook, create, read or just lie in the bed and listen to the night sounds.

Lovingly

Maa

Magical Kingdom

Those were the days touched by magic. Everything was enchanting, wonderful and waiting to be discovered. Those days everything seemed attainable in land of infinite possibilities.  When the twin sisters; astonishment and wonder held my hand. The days jumped happily, and nights provided wings to visit the dreamland of fantasies.

 When running happily everywhere, competing with the wind was the norm.  The mud fascinated, and clay took any shape in tiny hands. When clouds looked like giraffes, and the wind whispered magic spells.

A square box which was guarded fiercely, which contained treasure of feathers, pebbles, sea shells, ribbons and paper cuttings. Many pleasurable hours got immersed in this treasure.

Seasons were accepted with great glee without any complaints. Each season had ample and varied temptations.

Red, orange and yellow kites would allure in the windy months. The sight of kites soaring high in the sky is mesmerizing. Even today when I watch the kites a smile touches my lips delicately.

The tangy summers were spent in hours of reading books in the afternoons and drinking chilled fresh lime. Indian summer is like a mango all sweet and sour. Raw mangoes are eaten as a salad with a bit of salt. The variety of mangoes we get is huge. There is a new flavor to look for every week. Freshly pickled mangoes with rice would add tanginess to the lunch.

 Paper boats floated in the rains. I loved the rainy days when schools declared holidays. Those days nothing mattered except discovering the universe, at least a part of it.

I don’t exactly remember when things changed. The colourful world became black and white and gray. Things and objects lost their ability to fascinate me. Life was more of routine with clock stress creating strife. The seasons brought additional chores. I started walking instead of running and became skeptical. I accepted life out of acceptance, and the wonder vanished. Then….

The magical Kingdom visited me again with my daughter arrived. Today, I get a glimpse to this wonderland holding her hand. I am touched to notice the dancing stars in her eyes when runs after the crimson butterfly. A ray of sun from the window makes her eyes huge with wonder. A little bird, a bunch of small puppies are worth all the time. She is my teacher in this innocent world.

The pictures are from the net.