Seven things you must teach your child

Pooja S Banerjee

Nurturing a child is undoubtedly the most difficult job in the world. You need to have a lot of faith, belief, kindness, patience and values to raise a good human being. In today’s generation, there are a few things you must teach your child.

Looks don’t matter, appearances do!
In today’s world, the media has been constantly painting a picture where fair color, beautiful skin and a curvy figure will take you places. Teach your child that it is so not true. It does not matter how you look, but it will matter how you appear and behave. A pleasing personality, an engaging smile and a kind heart are few of the things that will work wonders for you. Teach your child to be charming and a good person, instead of being a good looking person.

Never say NEVER

From the very beginning, instil in your child an attitude to never give up. Enliven in your children a spirit that never dies. Life with no problems is not a life. Teach them to push themselves harder and emerge stronger in the face of adversity.
Teach your child that every hardship and struggle is an opportunity to improve their lives.

Cooking and household work is not a girl’s domain

Your daughter should know that she has to cook because she likes it and not because it’s her eventual fate. Tell her to cook so that she can manage easily when away from family and not because that’s what is expected of her. Teach your sons to cook if they love doing it and to be of use in home instead of bossing around. Teach your children that looking after home is a joint responsibility of every family member and has got nothing to do with a specific gender.

Learning arts gives a new perspective

Encourage your kid to pursue an art. They may paint, write, dance, play an instrument, sing, cook, stitch, or simply develop an innate hunger for reading, but they should learn something. Pursuing a hobby or honing an already existing talent gives meaning to life, an outlet for them to vent out emotions and a new perspective to life. Learning arts develops and enhances cognitive abilities, builds confidence and improves overall interpersonal and social skills.

Say thank you and sorry

Teach your child to be grateful for everything that is being done for him. Teach your child to accept everything as a gift including life. Teach your little girl or little boy to frequently use thank you. Those who say thank you a lot have a lively, liberal and giving spirit. Teach children to accept their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. It takes a lot of courage to admit and rectify mistakes. Teach them to be courageous and loving.

Love is not just an emotion

Teach your sons and daughters that the most important possession in life is love. The love of your parents, siblings, friends, families, soulmates and life partners is a precious thing. Love needs care, it has to be nurtured and has to be taken care of like a child. There is no type of love which can be taken for granted. Teach them to love 'love' and handle it with extreme care.

Life is the mother of all balancing games

Teach them to know how to balance life. As kids they have to balance studies, extracurriculars, fun activities and friends. As adults they have to balance work, family, emotions and self. Teach them to master this balancing act early on in their life. Make them learn time management; taking risks; develop skills; become adept at interpersonal, social skills; take care of self; be honest and disciplined; follow routines and sleep on time at night.

Make your children self-reliant, help them in developing life skills, and make them strong to face all battles of life happily with courage, convictions and faith. Above all teach them to believe in you; now and always.

Do You Think You Know Love?

Pallavi Srivastava

Love...what is love?!! Somebody asked me recently "what do you know about love", " aren't you too young to understand it".... 

Well If I aren't mature enough to comprehend it then I am also not too young for it! I have been experiencing it since childhood but by now I know what it means to me.

Love is kind: No matter how much I fought ( I still fight) and argued (I still do!) with my parents or sisters, I will always be a kid to them whom they pamper with more LOVE. Love has taught me to be kind enough to forgive others.

Love is unconditional: My family and friends love me for who I am and what I am irrespective of my boundless faults. Love has taught me me to accept people as they are.

Love is selfless: whether it was 'a beautiful dress of my sister' or 'my father's precious pen' or 'my friend's lovely earrings', I always had it before I could have actually asked for it. Love has taught me to think for others first and be selfless!!

Love is caring & sharing: my 3 year old niece has let me have a share of her chocolate and has taught me you share, you care and you love!!!

Love is trusting and understanding: my friend has let me share my weaknesses, fears with him without being worried about being betrayed. Love has taught me to trust and understand your loved ones no matter what may happen in future.

Love is a subject in which I am still growing. I have not learnt everything and there is a lot more to add to it. But at present I am happy and blessed with lovely people in my life!!! 

When it’s Time to Say Goodbye!

Anonymous

What a day! I never wanted this day to come in my life. In fact I never ever dreamt of leaving this place. I always thought and believed that I am born to work at this place and will die working here. But sometimes, what we plan or think does not materialize. Life brings you to a turn where you have to follow a road not initially in your itinerary. So, today is the day, when I’m feeling miserable.

It all started 10 days back when I got an offer from a prestigious organization acknowledging my skills, expertise, experience and I was very happy about it. I drafted my resignation almost 7 days back, and every day I would read it at least 5 times to edit, to make modifications. Finally, gathered the courage and sent it today with teary eyes. I knew I was responsible for this decision and it was for my good, for my future, but then why were there tears in my eyes? I cried let my tears wash off all my emotions.

Now when I look back to that first call of interview from the consultancy for an international school looking for an administrative profile for their new location; it struck me; this was my ‘dream job’- working in the administrative department of a school. Wow! How did this happen? I trust God is with me, always, he gave whatever I deserved- in fact wished, most of the time, if not all.

And here it is- my dream job. What joy you get when you have what you wished for a long time!

And today I have to say bye to this place after almost 10 years. People say that 10 years is a pretty long time to sustain in an organisation. Ask me; I believe if you love what you do, it is not at all long. The memories of the day I first stepped in this place are still afresh in my mind.

Memories- cherished ones bind me to this place. I feel I have grown up along with the organisation. I brought up this place as my baby and felt the joy of nurturing and caring for it. And now is the time to say bye, to let the baby fly on the wings I gave to it.

But, there is always a new journey waiting for you, a new road full of dreams, learning, experiences, joys and fun.

And I always believe this poem I read in my school days-

Ek Boond-

ज्यों निकल कर बादलों की गोद से।
थी अभी एक बूँद कुछ आगे बढ़ी।।
सोचने फिर फिर यही जी में लगी।
आह क्यों घर छोड़कर मैं यों बढ़ी।।

दैव मेरे भाग्य में क्या है बढ़ा।
में बचूँगी या मिलूँगी धूल में।।
या जलूँगी गिर अंगारे पर किसी।
चू पडूँगी या कमल के फूल में।

बह गयी उस काल एक ऐसी हवा।
वह समुन्दर ओर आई अनमनी।।
एक सुन्दर सीप का मुँह था खुला।
वह उसी में जा पड़ी मोती बनी।।

लोग यों ही है झिझकते, सोचते।
जबकि उनको छोड़ना पड़ता है घर।।
किन्तु घर का छोड़ना अक्सर उन्हें।
बूँद लौं कुछ और ही देता है कर।।

Being a full time MOM: Does it make you a lesser person?

Apoorva Singh 

It is a tough decision for every working lady to give up on her aspirations and professional ambitions to nurture a little life and become a full time, ‘stay at home’ mom. It requires confidence, courage and guts to leave a life which you have been cherishing and enter a new phase: be a full time mother. Yes, I have left my job and trust me; I am happier and a lot more enthusiastic person now. I love spending all my time with my little bundle of joy.

The bond of love!

There is no doubt that the right time to build the bond between you and your child is the first few years. Professional opportunities and money will keep knocking your door time and again, but that special bond is now or never. I wanted to sacrifice my career or rather tweak my lifestyle so that I could pamper my baby with all my love, care and efforts. Do I expect something in return? Yes, I am sure he will come to me, to share every little secret of his life and consider me a friend.  It’s a privilege and a blessing to watch your baby go up on the growth chart, milestone by milestone. Yes, at times I do feel exhausted with no energy but that one smile on my baby’s face makes all the fatigue, exhaustion and frustration worth it.

Mom’s the first teacher

I am trying to raise a happy, confident, and kind human and undoubtedly I am his first teacher. It is my responsibility, no one else’s. Studies have shown that 80% of a child’s brain develops in the initial 5 years. It is very important for a mother to play an active part in baby’s development during these first few growing up years. 

Commitment and focus?

I want to enjoy this phase; being a mother to the fullest. I am a teacher by profession and it demands 100% commitment on my part towards the young minds I educate.  I can’t spoil the future of an entire class by not being fully focused and alert. If I keep thinking about the needs, feeds, pee and poop of my baby in the classroom; how will I nurture the young brains. That is why, I am better at home. I can bet no job would have given me this satisfaction and contentment I feel right now.

Yes, I don’t go out to work but that doesn’t imply I don’t work. I am on duty 24×7 for my baby, my home and my husband. Sometimes, I let my creativity take over me and do things I love to do; for which I could never take out time earlier.

My life is more colorful and bright now and I am cherishing all the colors with equal love and zest.

Let's Not Celebrate Rakshabandhan!

Pooja S. Banerjee

     Let's celebrate 'Snehbandhan,' not 'Rakshabandhan.'

Since childhood we have been celebrating the festival of rakshabandhan with a lot of enthusiasm, gusto and expectations! Yes, most of all expectations. A myriad of anticipations from the brother and lots of expectations from the sister. Yes, gender differences existed then also.

 

But, do we expect our brothers to protect us? To save us from the evil? I don't think so. For me, the festival of tying a thread is simply a tradition that strengthens the bond of love, affection, hope and trust. It marks a day when we will try our best to take out some time from our busy schedules and spend happy, quality time with each other. In today's context, if the brother and sister can take out time for each other, be there when the other is going through a low phase and simply lend a supporting shoulder to each other, the vows and traditions of Rakshabandhan will be more than fulfilled.

 

Women throughout history have been proving themselves and overcoming challenges on their own. When standing in the face of adversity, we don't wait for our brothers to come to our rescue. But we do hope, that our brothers will be there to shower us with love, affection, trust and support. Sometimes, being there for the sister or even a female friend is all the protection they are required to give.

 

And, the last point, just because the brothers lend the wrist on which the sisters tie the thread, does not make them superior in any way. It is just a tradition, set forth by a female!

 

So siblings, buy a rakhi, tie the thread mutually and make a promise to be there for her through thick and thin. Sisters ensure your brothers are there not to protect you, but to share laughter, secrets, aspirations and ambitions with you. And when the need arises, you are assured there is one door which is open for you 24*7.

 

Next Rakhi; celebrate 'Snehbandhan' not 'Rakshabandhan.'

'Neither a Diva, Nor a Devi'

Seema Mehrotra

 

 

With the onslaught of social media, you often see sanctimonious posts/quotes/images urging to do good without expecting anything in return. Oh, the self-sacrificing mother and wife or the saintly father and family-man! But why? Wouldn't a little gratitude in return be nice? Eventually, the spring of human kindness dries up if it's not reciprocated. To be honest, I am not that noble. I want to be somewhere between a Diva and a Devi. I want my loved ones (especially my children) to be appreciative, not entitled. The idea to be an unsung hero is beyond me; I want to be sung. Just saying.....an ode, a ballad, or even a haiku would be nice. 

What do you think? Voice your opinions in the comment box!

What's it all about? Melange of Musings!

Pooja S. Banerjee

Once in a while, when you sit down quietly, there are so many thoughts surfacing, diving deep down, resurfacing and eventually becoming random musings! Sometimes, you wish you could share it with others. May be a random thought could provoke action somewhere else, may be a random thought could become inspiration for someone else or may be a random thought could be just food for thought in some far off place.

So, lets start sharing those random musings. You can share anything and absolutely everything (just don't bash anyone)! On a lighter note, let that writer come out from the deep recesses of your heart and mind and jot down something to share with others.

Spread love, spread awareness, spread ideas, and spread thoughts!

P.S. Anyone who wants to write, please contact me here; tak2puja@gmail.com

Gift an idea to your child

Pooja S. Banerjee

Don’t you wish you could take a single childhood memory and blow it up into a bubble and live inside it forever?
Sarah Addison Allen

The moment I read about this contest, I started spiraling down the memory lane at a breathtaking speed. Oh! And en route my journey to my most beautiful moment and place; beautiful scenes and enchanting souls kept passing me by. I was happy; staring at nothingness till my 3 year old daughter shook me up.

If I list down things I wish she could have from my childhood, I can go on and on about clear blue skies, chirping of birds in the morning and then again at dusk, rainbows, playing in the puddles, endlessly playing Ludo/snakes & ladders in a loop, eating junk food like candy floss or popsicles from the notorious "feriwala," playing in a huge group of children, living with so many people at home...the list is never ending.

If I have to single out one thing from my childhood that I wish my daughter gets to experience, it is being creatively social. Sounds strange?

Well, in our childhood, during special occasions such as New Year, festivals or teacher's day, we used to make handmade cards or small trinkets for close friends, families, relatives and teachers. These were then delivered personally to everyone and mind you, we used to go in large groups. So aunties, didis and parents of friends used to wait for our "toli" and treated us with special delicacies, chocolates and even gifts. Not only the build up to the D-day was exciting, but it was fun to sit with our mums or a most trusted aide and create something unique because we had to come up with the best idea and handicraft. The love and appreciation we got in return was priceless.

 

So those who know me will now understand my habit or rather need for adding that personal touch or making a tiny effort to create something for their special days. It’s a habit and an idea ingrained in me since my childhood.

 

Why do I think it's important for my child? Well, this small activity is very meaningful for a child. It stimulates their cognitive abilities and creative minds, teaches them to be a team player, and generates healthy competition. Most importantly it teaches them that festivals and special occasions are days which you should celebrate with your loved ones, do something to make them happy and above all spread love.

 

Because, at the end of the day it’s all about love, hope and life! Happy parenting and happy reminiscing :)