My Views and Ideas: Life and Parenting

My elder daughter is in grade 1 and she is studying the basic knowledge of studying maps in her social studies.The chapter makes me wonder ,it is such a practical thing to teach a child to understand maps.This is a very basic easy knowledge but it is very useful at every stage of life. When I came to the U.S.,I saw maps every where and I used to wonder how people understand maps so easily here,because it looked so complicated to me.However people here have apparently no problem understanding maps and direction. The ways and topics to teach here is so practical that some times I am amazed ,and it tells me why Americans are the ones leading in all kinds of discoveries in math ,science,medicine and software. In India we are force fed the topics to study in which we have no interest what so ever.We study ,we memorize and keep memorizing just to get good grades and pass the test. I feel that at this age I am learning so much from my daughter who is in grade 1.

Routine has become so hectic that I have to maintain a calender now. There is so much going on at both daughters  school,doctors appointment etc.etc , that it is hard to keep up without a calender . 

I have come across many websites dedicated to women matters solely.It disappoints me to read the contents in there.There are certain things about which if it is written genuinely can bring lots of good changes .For example equality at work place ,equality in school and collages,equality in raising boys and girls etc-etc. What I do not understand is when they advocate wearing skimpy clothes for women to show equality with men who are allowed to wear less clothes and it is acceptable.What is such a big deal about it.Men will love if women wear less and less clothes outside.They want to see the skin as much as they can.I am not saying wear burka but there is nothing wrong in wearing decent  cloths which will cover your body.Will the women themselves like to wear such clothes which will give them maximum exposure. At least I won't. If men get provoked by looking at women in skimpy clothes you can not blame them.That is how God has made them,that is how...

Some times in life people are unhappy just because they have a hard time accepting their current state of life.Where as life can be very happy just accepting that this is what my life is,I may  not be meant to live like this ,but the truth is ,now I can not change it anymore.This little realization can bring great happiness .I am not asking to become complacent but realization of your ground is some times very self soothing.

When I was a kid growing up I always ate fish with lots of spices and gravy,or may be some times just fried.If at that time someone had told me that fish can be poached(literally boiled) I would  have firstly refuse to believe and secondly would have just not even touched ,let alone eat. Interestingly, since couple of years we have been eating poached salmon and and I feel I have never eaten fish so tasty.It has a mild flavor,however very buttery and fragrance full.The best part  of this way of cooing is preparation and cooking time is remarkably simple and terrific.  Now I am at such a point where some one asks me to eat gravy fish I can not eat.I find the cooking very potent and devoid of fish flavors.  This experience tells me  that taste is just a matter of acquired liking.The more you eat some thing the more you start liking it ,even if the cooking dose'nt belong to your cuisine. Salmon cooking is all about how fresh the fish is and cooking is done at...

Last weekend we went to a Radha-Krishna Temple for Janmashtami celebration hoping that my kids will love it.The celebration event time was around 4:30-8:30 pm and so we thought dinner will be served around 8:30pm.We left home at around 6:00pm apparently not in too much rush to see the events.On the way we decided to stop by at dairy queen to have a quick softy.My daughters picked up chilled lemonade. All of us were enjoying and then suddenly we realized that we might get late.Kids on the other hand were  aloof about every thing and were enjoying their chilled lemonades.They looked extremely happy when we threw a bomb at them saying we have to rush and they have to finish fast.They tried to gobble up as fast as they could but the chilled drink was hard to swallow for them.Anyway being two inconsiderate parents we took our drinks and asked them to leave the store.Now the rule for our kids is not to take any drink other than water in the car.So before leaving both of them threw away...

Today in the morning while I was busy preparing breakfast and lunch boxes for kids ,I noticed a very interesting learning lesson going on in my living room between my two daughters.And I immediately realized the importance of pattern and math learning. My elder daughter is 3 years older than the younger one.Since the time younger one started talking both sister talk to each other the difference in age ,and every time in number.So for example "T" will say "when I become 7 years old you will become 4 years old".And then "O" will also repeat that same thing.Interestingly in last couple of months I observed that now "O"  comes up with an imaginary number for her age and guess "T's" age. And this keeps going on for a good 10-15 minutes. Other time I used to think that it is just a fluke that "O" is getting "T's" age right .Today I realized that every time her answer was correct.And she did it correctly until ...

Common core Math.

Today my little "O" went to school. It was her first day alone without me after she was born.It seems my world has a different side now. I could not believe my hands could not reach and touch her soft cheeks and bubbly hands to which I am so used to.I have a different kind of attachment with her. As if she is my last hope I can always rely upon without failure. From now on life will just keep changing. I hope for the better.

Two things for today again:- 1)Yesterday my little "O" went for "meet the teacher day".My elder daughter went to the same class ,same teacher in the year 2011.So obviously every thing was very familiar to me and "O" too.The biggest missing part was that one of the teacher has changed whom "O" used to adore a lot.But anyway she was very happy and very excited in the class room. 2)Last evening I had to go for the parent orientation and it started raining so heavily that the whole event was tipped down.

I practiced parking today.I thought I got a good hang of it, but obviously I did not.Because I did not park very well in our apartment complex.I will need a lot more practice.

This is the simplest yet tastiest gravy chicken I have had  anywhere.At least that is what everyone in my family says. You do not need lots of ingredients in this recipe,unlike the recipes these days.They ask you to add cream,cashew paste and lots of such things.In our house we make fun of recipes in which they add these pastes as adding these things can make even wood pulp tasty.But who will carry those extra fat on the waist ,that is something to consider. I usually use drumsticks but you can use mixture of all parts and it will taste the same. Here is what you will need:- Chicken -  2 pounds(cut into small pieces) Tomato  -  2(medium size,puree them) Onion    -  1 small        garlic    -   2 cloves              ginger   -   1and 1/2 inch Grind onion ,garlic and ginger together into a paste. Green chilli - According to your taste vegetable Oil- 3...

Today for the first time in almost 7 years I was separated from my elder daughter "T" for 6 hours and 45 minutes.After dropping her off to school ,I came back home but felt very lonely.I have never been  away from her for so long in my awake time.It felt as if time wont budge,it just stood still. For the first time in so many years, I had lunch alone ,without her .I felt very strange.I missed her too much.I know in few days I will get used to the routine.At the same time I also sense how it will feel when she will be away from me for even longer hours,when she will go to work,when she will have her own life. It felt as if baby bird just left my nest.Kids become big just like that.So savor the moment when they are still small,still need you and are still with you.

Tomorrow is "T's" first day of grade one.Time just flies away.

"T" will have her " meet the teacher day" tomorrow.She is excited.

I have regressed a lot in last two months after I stopped driving because of surgery.I also forgot some road rule which are dangerous.I have to read all the rules to refresh again. Overall I am not happy about myself .

Schools are about to start now,after almost 3 months of summer vacation.It is almost like being grounded.For parents it is a torture to have such a long vacation where kids are just free to do any thing any time.More when kids are too small to entertain themselves. Back at home we used to get a little sad after summer vacation was over ,because there was so much to do.But here kids get really bored.Specially the place where I live ,is so hot  that outdoor activity it not possible. Anyway kids are all excited to go to school.And why wont they ,school is so much fun here.If you just look at the class room,it looks so lively,so much fun.And I think kids learn more this way than the traditional way.This is "T's" kindergarten class room last year.  The whole day ,the two sisters play with each other ,fight and then become friends again within few seconds.What makes me happy that they never try to hurt each other even when they are very mad. The best time for me is when...