You give me creeps!!

Aaaaaaah !! Hearing my loud scream my host rushed to find out what the matter was? We had gone over to a friend’s place for dinner. There, I spied on a sinister looking Mr. Cockroach in the kitchen. That scream, was my response on coming face to face with it 😦

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My fear of the creepies-n-crawlies dates back to the time when I was a kid. I hated singing rhymes like Incy wincy spider or Little Miss Muffet and would often wonder the reason behind learning rhymes on such dreadful creatures. Those weird creatures always managed to exasperate me. Spying on one, I would yell out to Mom, my messiah, my saviour 🙂

I have vivid memories of our annual visit to our grandparent’s house at Udupi. It was a huge old house with a big garden, cowshed and a well. Oh! What fun we city bred cousins used to have there. Playing around in the huge mango/jackfruit orchard, watching the ladies milk the cow, trying our hand at drawing water from the well and miserably failing! We used to enjoy the time spent there with the only grouse being, there were lots of creepy insects, bugs and roaches and many of them flying ones too. We (my sister and I) would always be on tenterhooks looking out for those dreadful insects. If the cockroach happened to go for a stroll over my cousins who stayed there, they would just pick it up and put it down……while we would bring the roof down with our screams. We would be ridiculed and teased endlessly for being so scared and were the butt of many a joke!

I grew up, but did not outgrow my fear! When my children were born I would pray  “ Oh God please let me not set eyes on any of those dreaded creatures, specially when I am carrying my baby…….lest in my fear I don’t know what I will do “!! I thank God from the bottom of my heart that he said “Amen” to my prayers 🙂

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Though I have banned the entry of these creatures into my home, at times some persistent ones do manage to sneak in. But I don’t have the luxury of calling out to Mom as now I am a “Mom”. During such encounters now, I have the sole prerogative and privilege of doing the honours……….I strongly nominate myself for the “Bravery Award “……..Anybody listening?????

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Himalayan Ecstasy

Sharing a few pictures of the Mighty Himalayas on our visit to the holy shrine of Badrinath, a few years back. The spectacular scenic beauty enroute and the positive vibrations at the temple rejuvenated the body and soul.

“The magnificent mountains of the Himalayas soared up to the heavens to kiss it, the clouds whispering and caressing its high peaks. Serrated and snow-capped, these gigantic mountains were a sight to behold. The eyes admiring the pristine beauty in awe, the heart soaking in the pure energy of the tranquil atmosphere and the mind experiencing the spiritual bliss.  The evening rays of the sun painting its peak to a golden blush. Standing in front of the majestic mountains felt like the eons of time stood still. ”

Salt n pepper

Jagged edge

Romancing the mountains

Whispering clouds

Rendezvous heights

Careless Wisps

Sentries of the North citadel

Dusk beckoning the hills

Golden blush

Sun shades

Let’s learn to teach our children – 2

What do we want our children to grow up as? When every aspect of their lives is competition driven, where is the place for anything else? Be it from the toys the kids own, the clothes they wear or the school they go to, why is everything measured in terms of “being the best”? I have often heard parents brainwash their children to score high marks or else it is the end of the world for him. His interest, likes or dislikes don’t matter. After school the child is shunted off to either tuition classes or a plethora of activities to keep him busy. Even during the summer holidays he is packed off to a summer camp. He is denied any free leisure time with himself.  Isn’t it shocking to hear that some parents put their child in IIT coaching classes from sixth grade onwards!

Let’s learn to teach our children – 1

 

Its result time for many students who appeared for the various boards and entrance exams…… And each year, it is shocking to read the number of suicides committed by the young students due to fear of failure, is on the rise. Who is to blame for this grave problem…….is it the education system, parents, schools or all?

 

What does education mean to us? Is it a report card with high grades, or is it a journey into the world of learning, doing, understanding, experiencing the various subjects? The dictionary defines education as “the process of facilitating learning, knowledge, skills, values and habits to people through teaching, storytelling, discussion, training and research”. So do our schools have a good blend of all these ingredients to churn out a perfect recipe for gaining knowledge?

Why should we always win?

Last week my 12 year old daughter and I sat down to play a game of scrabble. As the game progressed, she got a few very high scoring letters, with which she made a word. In spite of that she did not get high points for that word, as she didn’t use it on a “double word/ triple word/letter”.  Using it in such a place would have increased her points three fold. I told her she could make some other word for now and try to make this word in her next turn.

She did not like my suggestion and was fine with her choice. Her question that followed surprised me!! She asked me “Amma, why is it always so important to win all the time? Can’t we just play the game to enjoy and learn a few new words in the process? I want to enjoy my game. I don’t want to play to win “.

I really didn’t know how to react. But her question left me thinking…….