Wednesday, April 28, 2010

the ten commandments

I had come across these beautiful set of commandments, by Dr. Kevin Leman, long back, when Aryan was just a year old. I was so touched by them that I have made it a habit to read them every now and then. There are times when I lose temper, or am depressed, as the house work never seems to end, or simply exhausted by the end of the day and feeling low! Reading these, at such times, brings an immediate change in my attitude. I think every mom should keep them handy.


A Child’s Ten Commandments to Parents, by Dr. Kevin Leman.

  1. My hands are small; please don’t expect perfection whenever I make a bed, draw a picture, or throw a ball. My legs are short; please slow down so that I can keep up with you.
  2. My eyes have not seen the world as your have; please let me explore safely: don’t restrict me unnecessarily.
  3. Housework will always be there. I’m only little for a short time-please take time to explain things to me about this wonderful world, and do so willingly.
  4. My feelings are tender; please be sensitive to me needs; don’t nag me all day long. (You wouldn’t want to be nagged for your inquisitiveness.) Treat me as you would want to be treated.
  5. I am a special gift from God; please treasure me as God intended you to do, holding me accountable for my actions, giving me guidelines to live by, and disciplining me in a loving manner.
  6. I need your encouragement, but not your praise, to grow. Please go easy on the criticism; remember, you can criticize the things I do without criticizing me.
  7. Please give me the freedom to make decisions concerning myself. Permit me to fail, so that I can learn from my mistakes. Then someday I’ll be prepared to make the kind of decisions life requires of me.
  8. Please don’t do things over for me. Somehow that makes me feel that my efforts didn’t quite measure up to your expectations. I know it’s hard, but please don’t try to compare me with my brother or sister.
  9. Please don’t be afraid to leave for a weekend together. Kids needs vacations from their parents, just as parents need vacations from kids. Besides, it’s a great way to show us kids that your marriage is very special.
  10. Please take me to Sunday school and church regularly, setting a good example for me to follow. I enjoy learning more about God.

brothers


Reading these, every now and then, helps me reconnect with my little angels. Thank you, Dr Kevin Leman.

the big red barn


Ever since I was a small child, I have read and loved stories of all kinds. Now I delight in sharing them with my little Aadhya.

One of her favorites is The Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown. It's a sweet picture book, of a farm that takes you to meet the animals , It is told in a lovely irregular rhyming verse. With a simple vocabulary and virtually no "story", it's easy for her to grasp what's going on . There are plenty of pictures of familiar animals, she can name and imitate the sounds of, the fact that it ends with all barn animals asleep, makes it a perfect bedtime story. After reading it several times, I have it memorized and sometimes recite it to her, when she's having trouble sleeping.

When I read aloud the story to Aadhya, using the rhythm of language, her eyes twinkle, and looking at the pictures and hearing the animal sounds, the story comes alive in her mind. The magic of story continues to play on her mind, long after I close the the book.

Monday, April 26, 2010

life has changed!



A lot of things have surprised me about motherhood. The most obvious is how much of work it is, and how much of patience it requires! Being a mother is so much more fulfilling than anything I’ve ever done. In my career, I’ve worked with interesting people and have had exciting times, but nothing of all that compares to the simple moments that I have had with my little Aadhya. I love watching her grow. Initially I thought I’d be bored sitting at home but to my surprise, there’s never a dull moment!

I wanted to be a mother simply because I wanted to experience what my own mother called “the most wonderful, yet terrifying, but the fulfilling thing that life has to offer.” With a description like that, I knew I had to check it out for myself. Only one year on the job and I can see that she was right.

It was just few days back when Aadhya held the ice cube in her hands for the first time. She was amazed and filled with joy, but the real fun and excitement grew for her, when it started melting. It was something really new for her. The more she tried to hold it tight, it started to melt in her little hands. She came running to me, " Mumma, hold it for me". The innocence of a child that a mother feels and experiences everyday, is something that is very special, and only a mother can understand that.

I love each moment of my life that I am share with her...

Animals Flash cards for Aadhya



There are many different ways to teach your children about things around them, whether you home-school them or they just need some extra help with their work. One of the popular methods for quick learning is the use of flashcards or well said by Seema as Illustration cards. They can be made at home for any subject your child needs to learn.

I made these flash cards for my 16 months old daughter Aadhya with the help of Seema's guidance and I am proud to say that my little Aadhya identifies almost 50 animals with the help of these flash cards. Try it yourself and trust me it is a wonderful experience...