As a mom of 5 year old, jotting down some tips & lessons I carry from my childhood and building in my motherhood.
“Communication is the object. Connection is the mould. Experience is the product.”
Every child is unique, precious & differently built. Each born and living with a purpose. From their earliest days, caregivers can unlock the potential. A habit instilled from young – stays with them and grows with them.
To understand it better, let’s pick the area – Reading. Reading while they are within the mother builds connection. Because, the whole system is wired between the mom and the child. Once out in the world, the seed is already within them – just have to nourish it.
Start from the day ONE? No pressure, Mama.
Do when you can. Yes, its true that every day and every moment of growth have its own significance. But, if you could not do it yesterday, do it today. My only policy is – “Better late than never.”
As a fetus, they listened to every voice, felt your emotions, and learned through you. Communication is already in action, without seeing each other face-to-face. Once they’re born, connection deepens even more.
Let’s get back to the ‘Reading’. Reading a word, showing a picture, explaining emotions, exploring colors, feeling textures – these experiences build the habit. They get familiar, used to, and get the idea. The rest? Let it grow with them. At this stage, You just be the ground.
To conclude – Instill the thought. Nourish the interest. No pressure. Every child is unique. Built with a lot of potential, qualities and interests. Let them navigate while you pilot them for as long as they need you. Later let them be the copilot and build themselves to what they are built for by the Creator.
The Creator appointed us to guide, not to author their story. The story is already written. The vision is already set. Parents, just have to run the show. God takes care of the rest. Just, let it bloom. So, ease! 🙂
Every parent knows what is best for their children. I am not a professional or a coach, just a mother who is still learning.
The only reminder I keep for myself and for my fellow parents is – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29 : 11.
Rain nourishes. Sun grows. The rainbow takes its role. The sun shines bright after every rain to let the life soar.
The moment of beauty is yet to come!
Patience, hard work & every pain will pay off. That’s how The Creator has crafted the creation, everything working together for the precious!
A gentle push. A small step. Little energy. Just that much more is enough to reach the destiny. Every small step, every small win counts.
A little reality from my niche – Those little eyes, looking with all charm, patience, & excitement used to wait for me at the daycare. I would be very tired after my whole day at work. Morning hustles, office drama, professional dedication, the passion for career and a small home to cuddle down. These were my days when I used to work full-time while running the show as a mom & home-maker. Spouse supports with all his might. But, MOM is mom. The roles & responsibilities for Dad & Mom are individual.
4:50 pm! The bell to run to the little one at daycare who is waiting the whole day to spend the few hours in his 24 with his people. All tired and full-of guilt, drained, but that happy face cheers me UP!
No extra hands to help being in a foreign country. But, every step counts. The cuddles, a little quality time, a quick dinner, a bed-time story, wind down… But, the guilt still persists in my mind. Did I do enough for my kid today? Is he fed well? Is he happy? Was everything good during the day, while away from us? Did we have a quality family time? So on, the list goes….
Things are little easier in this era with a lot of appliances, technological development etc. So, how did our mothers do it all back then?
These moments, my mind travels to my childhood.
In my home country (India), I still remember those days when the little me used to wait for Amma (mom) to finish all the chores for the day. Those days when I used to sit in the kitchen doing the homework while my mom prepared the food, sometimes near the traditional, manual, stone grinder (Aattu kallu in Malayalam) when she was grinding the rice & lentils, late at night, for dosa/idli (fermented foods in India) for the next day.
How did she do all that? How do moms have such super powers? Comfort, care, warmth, nourishment, strength, beauty, all in one word – MOM.
Today, when guilt builds in me, for not spending those 2 minutes more during the play time with my little one, or no playtime at all, I count the every small step, every small win and sleep cuddles me. Reminded, grateful, for every step our loved ones took – and that we are able to take – for our children.
Hello everyone! Hope all of you are doing well. Glad to meet you again!
Today, I have come with a different topic – outfit inspiration, a little about styling for women, again, that’s my perspective. I would love to know about your taste as well!
I am a fan of neutral classic colors & dark elegance especially for my workwear outfits. Before every pick, for my wardrobe, I would plan the colors & fabric. A change in the fabric could alter the complete look is what I have realized.
Other important factors include – a complete, clean look, of course, budget-friendly will be my topmost priority, to be honest. To continue – I look for picks that can be styled in multiple ways. I am sure, for many of the girls, these are their top things in mind, when out for a purchase.
Also, I have noticed and heard from my colleagues and friends that shopping is a kind of stress-buster activity? Do you agree to that? Guess, its almost true, especially for kids from 90s and after. 😊
But, what about our generations before us – our parents, grandparents? Have they even talked about anything that they want? – Not until what they already have is completely worn out, may be not usable at all. What do you think?
Today, its of course a joy to buy anything – big or small for them who kept their things only secondary to everyone else’s needs in the home – Always grateful for all that they did for us and even much grateful for enabling this generation to care for them.
Also, just another quote that I have come across – “A smile is a beautiful thing that anyone can give to someone”. Just a smile & warmth in our tone make a lot of difference in anybody’s life. That’s something that costly gifts cannot do!
Okay, all that was just a thought that flashed in my mind while writing this down 😊
To the outfit & elements –
Dark blue/any dark variant colors of blue and beige/cream with some brown tint appear to me, a classic elegant combo. So, in this pattern I have combined the below –
1) a shiny brown blouse with puff shoulders & beige straight-cut pants with a pintuck through the length. 2) a medium-wide chain watch (rose gold tinted chain with dark blue dial). 3) small stone studs & a simple brown footwear.
This makes a minimal, not loud, but classy look for work. Yes, our outfit speaks before we do! My strategy is to have a clean, elegant but not expensive look which saves our pocket.
That’s it for today & I will come back with more outfit ideas soon. I’d love to hear your thoughts & priorities when choosing workwear.
Before finishing, to the topic – is shopping, a type of stress-buster, enjoyable activity for you? For me, yes, absolutely – provided it’s all from my husband’s pocket. The theory is – “My money is my money & his money is my money” 😇😊😉 Hope he doesn’t get to know my theory anytime soon….
Here’s a tiny story to set the scene – Story of this pizza.
With all excitement – “I made it! But, not from scratch. At least.. I assembled the ingredients and baked it right (not-so-perfect, though).” 🙂
Now you must be thinking, “she is really fond of baking.” No! That’s just my mom-brain activation mode.
As I said in my last write-up, cooking is just a survival skill for me. (How about a quick peek at my last article 😉)
Now, imagine how it would be when there’s a cub all dependent on me for its growth and nourishment.
I grow first and then, help my cub grow. That simple it is! Exactly that’s the principle behind this pizza. Fortunately or unfortunately, being a food technologist adds a lot to this principle. Pheww😑
I think, overthink and question a lot…..a lot. But, many times, I give up and help myself understand – “dear, you are just a human, living among millions on this huge planet. There are a zillion things beyond your control – Let God take care of the rest.”
Okay, let’s get back to the pizza’s principle. If it’s such a big trouble, why am I baking when ready-to-eat options are easily available?
Let me explain. At my child’s school, there are days when children are allowed to get foods like pizza, sandwiches etc., from picked renowned brands which I am no one to judge about. Parents can pre-order and the food will be delivered on the day to the children at school. This is a very convenient option for parents in this busy world. Every parent tries to be their child’s superhero. So, I see this scenario as a win-win situation. Parents win by fulfilling child’s desires and child gets what he or she wants.
In fact, everything is a balance. You cannot judge anyone. Everyone is good at handling their own hustles in the best possible way. Respect is what I have for every parent and what I share here is only my way of thinking and practice.
Here’s a brief on how I prep up this quick and easy pizza. Just two steps – Assemble and bake!
Ingredients- 1) Ready to bake pizza crust (this could be made from scratch too, but this mom saves time here 😉) 2) Pizza sauce (homemade or store-bought) and cheese of your choice. I use simple Mozzarella shreds for my little one. 3) Cooked Chicken, sautéed veggies or any toppings you like .
Assemble everything and bake at 325 F. It should be done in 10 minutes.
Now, the reason I choose to give my child homemade pizza – simply because I know what goes into his food.
At a young age I can feed him with what’s good for him. The possibility later? God knows. But, I can advise him on what’s good. At least I am doing my best and rest is with God. Yes, I think like any parent.
**Guess I am mixing up my mom thoughts, cooking, doubts and what not? Let’s move on.
Why do I choose to know what’s going into his – and ours? A little bit of tech talk here.
Quick question! – Rather than randomly picking anything that you need from the store shelf, do you take a moment to know what’s in the package?
Here are a few simple things you may or may not be aware of, as a consumer. Let’s decode some information.
1) In the list of ingredients displayed on a food product’s label, the ingredients are listed in the descending order of its quantity. Yes, that’s what you just read. Did you notice sugar listed first in the label of product you just had? It means the product contains sugar in the highest amount.
2) You might be noticing many other terms like stabilizer, emulsifier, thickener etc. in the ingredient list. Each of these are food additives that serves various purposes. Additives might be indicated by their name or codes as well (like INS , E numbers). The usage of codes is universally accepted. E numbers are mostly used in Europe and INS numbers are used in Australia, NZ and India. While the US and Canada require specifying full name of the additives and some regional codes.
3) What about some product that you chose, reading the claim ‘boosts immunity’. Does the product really contain any element to boost immunity? Not all claims will be misleading but some false products may exist as well. Check with a specialist if you are unsure of something about a product, before making a masked choice.
Regulated ingredients used within permissible limits are considered safe – but, safe doesn’t always mean ideal for every individual. So, as consumers are we making informed choices?
In today’s fast world, many choices may not be feasible, or even possible, but, a lot of valuable information is available too. A pause, a read, and a little understanding can help us choose the better for our dear ones and ourselves.
There’s more on those product labels. Let me be honest – I just need another story to relate and narrate 😌 …
Every cap worn has its own responsibilities and difficulties. Cheers to all those content specialists out there!
It is the Lenten season. Time of sacrificing our likes, reflection on oneself, trying best to give up something that’s not good in our lives and to rebuild ourselves with the good that Lord showed us. Above all, remembering the sacrifices that Jesus went through, to save us and reminding ourselves that we are created in the image of God, our Father. He is always waiting for us. It is His grace that lead and strengthen us every single moment.
Now to the story about my last night’s dinner. Before that, a little about my relationship with the art of cooking –
I am not a pro at cooking and it’s basically a skill for survival to me. But, there are times I love and enjoy cooking & trying out new recipes. My interest in cooking grew after my little one came in to my life.
As parents, we try to engage him in everything we do. So, yes, kitchen is not something new to him, like most of the kids these days. From the time he learnt how to hold a ladle, he joined me in. Both of us have a sweet tooth and crave for sweet delicacies most days. So, guess what – my son and I started preparing recipes to satisfy our sweet tooth 😀
Oh my! I drifted away from talking about the last night ‘s dinner. I try to create simple, easy, good combinations for our palate and tummy, which are usually approved by my husband and son.
That’s a tip I learnt from my mom-in-law though she has not explicitly told me that but thanks to my observation skill that caught my Mom-in-law’s management skill. Even if the side dishes are just one or two, keep the combo right – you will see your people happy and full (heart and stomach) 😉
So, what was the dinner menu? Our native cuisine definitely! Choru (rice), tomato rasam (a type of curry made of tomato and spices, something similar to a soup) and cherupayar curry (moong beans curry).
Now, wondering where am I from? From a small beautiful state in India – Kerala. I love my mom’s vegetarian preparations – especially cherupayar thoran (a stir-fry dish with coconut and moong beans). I have never had, even a lesson of cooking from anyone. But, as the quote goes – where there’s a will there’s a way – Life taught me the art of cooking.
The taste and feel of every delicacy that was fed to me from my childhood by my Ammachi (both my paternal & maternal grandmoms), my Amma (mom), my Kunjanti (Aunty) and after my marriage, by my Mummy (mom-in-law), stay with me. This encourages me to cook but my learning platforms are obviously the social media like any 90’s kids.
Did I brag too much? Hmmmm…sorry if i bored you. But, that’s how I should do it, because this is my page and you are here to read my thoughts. Am I right? Just kidding! 😉
To the dish (Cherupayar curry) –
Actually, I started preparations with an intention to make thoran but it turned out to be a curry but, that was just yum! The reason? – My dear husband.
A Few days back, he said he would help me with the dishwashing and guess what – after just 3 days of managing the dishes, my pressure cooker’s whistle vanished.
Poor husband… he helped me so much and on the 3rd day I am the one struggling and wondering how to cook moong beans without a cooker. That’s the only way I’ve known since I learned to cook about 8 years ago.
I can guess what you are just thinking – yeah, we got married in 2017 – poor Him and me! Even now struggling to keep things safe. Our son is safe though – Thanks only to God.
To the curry preparation, at least now!
1) Soaked the beans for almost 9 hours. 2) Transferred the soaked beans to the pressure cooker (yes, the one without a whistle) because that’s the only utensil I’ve ever used to cook any lentil. 3) Added ginger, garlic and cumin seeds. I don’t know to advise the right quantity of ingredients. I ensure to add just enough to avoid any gastric trouble for all of us. Thank God, at least I know the technical side of the food we eat! 4) Added Turmeric powder, salt and finally a little coconut oil. 5) Then, cooked until it’s cooked well. That’s it! ( I don’t know how to term that from a chef’s perspective. As i mentioned earlier, this is just a survivor’s perspective) I kept it on a medium flame, for about 30 minutes and it was cooked enough. 6) But, my husband will say – “oh, ithu enthuva” (communication in our mother tongue – Malayalam). “Payar thoran anu enik vendathu“. So, trick unlocked – I put some grated coconut at last to the dish and cooked for another 10 minutes.
*Because you make thoran (a type of stir-fry dish) with grated coconut which is inevitable. Though, this was more like a thick curry with grated coconut. No worries though. Taste matters more in my household. 7) Dish is done and it was tasty tooo..Thanks to them and me for the cooperation. 😉
(PS – This may or may not be the right way to do it. This is just a method of preparation I tried for the first time yesterday because I learnt the authentic way of making cherupayar thoran differently from a YouTube channel. That’s what i do usually but this preparation method appears to be an innovation to me because I never knew how to cook this dish without a cooker and whistle) . This was a new practical session to me! 😀
And, that was a classic, humble dinner menu for the Lenten season. Yes, it’s a good try for people like me for whom cooking is a survival skill and sometimes enjoyable too.
I am proud of myself anyways, though my husband purposefully irritates me with the question “Nee ivide innu entha undakiye??” (An unsatisfactory tone) .
Jokes apart.
Dinner served early. Portion size matters, be it any food. All tummies full for a sound, healthy sleep and energetic tomorrow 😴😊
On the menu – as I said earlier – Choru, Spicy tomato rasam, cherupayar curry and cucumber for a crunch – delightfully flavorful!
On that note, signing off. Greet you through the next write-up!
Aes & Crumbs 