June 1st means end of Summer holidays for my girls and starting of a new academic year. We have a tradition in our home - Mom and Dad goes with the girls and see which classroom they sit and and say hello to the teacher before leaving the school.
Showing posts with label My family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label My family. Show all posts
Friday, June 01, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Thank you KKR for making my girls identity a memorable event
As I told you in my previous post about the IPL finals war at home, now I want to tell you about how we went about watching the finals.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
How to save your child's sweet adoption memories?
For those of us that are blessed to have a family through adoption, our child's memories are no different than that are blessed through biology. Considering the challenges that an adoptive child expected to go through as he/ she grows up, for adoptive families, these memories are not only a tool to reflect the past but also to enable the adoptive child to see what went on.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Move over Shakira......Here I come!!
My baby girl Lily bringing the roof down to waka waka tunes. Watch out Shakira, you got a strong contender.
Friday, April 23, 2010
Momma don't cry (My poem)
I've never been into poetry and it never interested me. That was one of my least favored subjects in school. But something happened after my older daughter Lydia came home. She brought a poet (of a sort) out of me. I wrote this poem when my daughter celebrated her 3rd birthday and today she is almost 9. Time flies.
MOMMA DON'T CRY
MOMMA DON'T CRY
Momma don't cry,
Thinking about your precious gift
Who was only three days old
When you'd given her away three years ago
To never to see her again........
Momma don't cry,
Thinking about your baby girl,
Of what she may have eaten,
She was fed and comforted for five months
At the same place that you'd left her......
Momma don't cry,
Thinking about your little angel,
Of where she may have been to,
She has crossed the oceans
To be on the other side of the world.....
Momma don't cry,
Thinking about your bundle of joy,
Of what she may have been doing,
She jumps, runs, climbs, crawls and swings
Like a normal child.....
Momma don't cry,
Thinking about your little princess,
Of what she likes,
Would you be surprised to know that she likes
Books, bicycles, music and blowing bubbles....
Momma don't cry,
Thinking about your beauty queen,
Of what she may be like,
I dare not imagine to compare but
She got thick dark hair, beautiful eyes and a clean set of teeth.....
Momma don't cry
Thinking about your cutie pie,
Of what personality she may have gotten,
Well....let's say she's "Strong Willed"
But quick to cling to our legs to say "I am chorry momma/ Daddy...."
Momma don't cry
Thinking today about your daughter
Of what she'll say/ do if you ever get to meet her,
Knowing her, she'll give you no more tears of sorrow
But of joy.....Full of Joy and a Bundle of Joy.....
(Thoughts on my daughter's biological mother as my daughter celebrated her 3rd birthday)
Thinking about your precious gift
Who was only three days old
When you'd given her away three years ago
To never to see her again........
Momma don't cry,
Thinking about your baby girl,
Of what she may have eaten,
She was fed and comforted for five months
At the same place that you'd left her......
Momma don't cry,
Thinking about your little angel,
Of where she may have been to,
She has crossed the oceans
To be on the other side of the world.....
Momma don't cry,
Thinking about your bundle of joy,
Of what she may have been doing,
She jumps, runs, climbs, crawls and swings
Like a normal child.....
Momma don't cry,
Thinking about your little princess,
Of what she likes,
Would you be surprised to know that she likes
Books, bicycles, music and blowing bubbles....
Momma don't cry,
Thinking about your beauty queen,
Of what she may be like,
I dare not imagine to compare but
She got thick dark hair, beautiful eyes and a clean set of teeth.....
Momma don't cry
Thinking about your cutie pie,
Of what personality she may have gotten,
Well....let's say she's "Strong Willed"
But quick to cling to our legs to say "I am chorry momma/ Daddy...."
Momma don't cry
Thinking today about your daughter
Of what she'll say/ do if you ever get to meet her,
Knowing her, she'll give you no more tears of sorrow
But of joy.....Full of Joy and a Bundle of Joy.....
(Thoughts on my daughter's biological mother as my daughter celebrated her 3rd birthday)
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Happy Easter!
I feel it is good for a family to have traditions, it really helps you to bond together and have something fun to look forward to each year. I think traditions may even be more important for an adopted child, especially as they grow and even if they get too old for certain ones in their teen years they can still look back and remember the good times they had with certain celebrations with their family. I think it also reinforces to the child that the family is an important unit with them included. In short it makes them feel more connected.
Tonight is a big night for our kids in our home. After my husband and I fill and hide some plastic glow-in-the-dark easter eggs, we will hide them around the house, as it is cold outside, and then when we are finished the kids will come and hunt for them in the dark with their little flashlights. We started this tradition a couple of years ago and I like it. I like how it signifies new life/light of Christ in the darkness. Earlier we will decorate hard boiled easter eggs to hide for tomorrow's hunt, which will hopefully be outdoors, if the weather holds. We also usually have the kids find a basket of goodies, complete with a chocolate rabbit in it each year.
Along with going to some Easter services, this is how we celebrate our Easter here. The kids are getting excited already and asking when we can look for the eggs. Now, if they could just wait till it gets dark enough outside.
Tonight is a big night for our kids in our home. After my husband and I fill and hide some plastic glow-in-the-dark easter eggs, we will hide them around the house, as it is cold outside, and then when we are finished the kids will come and hunt for them in the dark with their little flashlights. We started this tradition a couple of years ago and I like it. I like how it signifies new life/light of Christ in the darkness. Earlier we will decorate hard boiled easter eggs to hide for tomorrow's hunt, which will hopefully be outdoors, if the weather holds. We also usually have the kids find a basket of goodies, complete with a chocolate rabbit in it each year.
Along with going to some Easter services, this is how we celebrate our Easter here. The kids are getting excited already and asking when we can look for the eggs. Now, if they could just wait till it gets dark enough outside.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Family Time
Someone mentioned to me the other day that they had heard of some research done that told the number one thing you could do with your family. The top thing was to take...
them camping! Surprisingly enough, the best part was not even in the camping, but in what came out of it later on, even years and years later. He said that what really mattered was in the years later when the family could talk about all the experiences they had while doing this activity. The things that went wrong, that are funny now but weren't at the time, and just the shared experiences that the family had together. So, really any family time you plan together where it focuses on you being involved together and making memories is just so important. The time you spend together could just be hanging out in the great outdoors of your own yard(I loved doing this as a kid)enjoying each others company, sitting on the porch laughing together and telling stories, watching the stars or clouds, greeting the neighbors, playing tag or hide and seek, riding go-carts, walking and talking about all of creation, raking the yard and finding a great treasure in the grass, to going on a camping trip and getting drenched in your tent, just things that your kids will get into for thier age that helps you to really engage with them on a together basis, not things like watching TV/movies where no one talks to the other. It could be great or simple things, anything that creates great memories of your family life together can be one of the biggest blessings you can give your family.
them camping! Surprisingly enough, the best part was not even in the camping, but in what came out of it later on, even years and years later. He said that what really mattered was in the years later when the family could talk about all the experiences they had while doing this activity. The things that went wrong, that are funny now but weren't at the time, and just the shared experiences that the family had together. So, really any family time you plan together where it focuses on you being involved together and making memories is just so important. The time you spend together could just be hanging out in the great outdoors of your own yard(I loved doing this as a kid)enjoying each others company, sitting on the porch laughing together and telling stories, watching the stars or clouds, greeting the neighbors, playing tag or hide and seek, riding go-carts, walking and talking about all of creation, raking the yard and finding a great treasure in the grass, to going on a camping trip and getting drenched in your tent, just things that your kids will get into for thier age that helps you to really engage with them on a together basis, not things like watching TV/movies where no one talks to the other. It could be great or simple things, anything that creates great memories of your family life together can be one of the biggest blessings you can give your family.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
‘Earth Hour’ in my house
I didn’t realize that my kids are into observing the ‘Earth Hour’ (‘Earth Hour’ refers to shutting off lights for an hour from 8:30 PM to 9:30 PM on March 27th) but at about 8:35 PM last night my wife reminded the kids about it and that’s when I knew it.
I am just not into these kinds of things that just come and go (events) but I thought that it is not a bad idea to make use of the event to teach something valuable to my girls. When my wife reminded the kids, I was on my laptop doing some important work and dad was trying to take his evening medicines.
Without any notice to anyone in the house, kids went around switching off the lights. They were so enthusiastic that I didn’t want to disappoint them. So I agreed, took the chairs, candle lights and flash light before the house plunged into darkness. We sat outside the house for an hour with kids running around with a flash light.
Girls wanted to hear stories so we had story-telling time. My older one – Lydia is so excited that she want to carry the message to her school on Monday to update on it to her teacher and we too encouraged her to do it.
Girls want to observe the ‘Earth Day’ every day and that’s when I decided to talk about the importance of the ‘Earth Hour’ to them. Briefly I talked to them and from here on out I know that I can talk to them about the environmental protection that they can engage in on a daily basis.
Kids can be taught to stay engaged to protect the environment by doing things like saving water, planting trees, and caring for plants etc. Things that they don’t learn as children not expected to be practiced when they become adults.
I am just not into these kinds of things that just come and go (events) but I thought that it is not a bad idea to make use of the event to teach something valuable to my girls. When my wife reminded the kids, I was on my laptop doing some important work and dad was trying to take his evening medicines.
Without any notice to anyone in the house, kids went around switching off the lights. They were so enthusiastic that I didn’t want to disappoint them. So I agreed, took the chairs, candle lights and flash light before the house plunged into darkness. We sat outside the house for an hour with kids running around with a flash light.
Girls wanted to hear stories so we had story-telling time. My older one – Lydia is so excited that she want to carry the message to her school on Monday to update on it to her teacher and we too encouraged her to do it.
Girls want to observe the ‘Earth Day’ every day and that’s when I decided to talk about the importance of the ‘Earth Hour’ to them. Briefly I talked to them and from here on out I know that I can talk to them about the environmental protection that they can engage in on a daily basis.
Kids can be taught to stay engaged to protect the environment by doing things like saving water, planting trees, and caring for plants etc. Things that they don’t learn as children not expected to be practiced when they become adults.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Best blessing of my lifetime!!
Today evening my girls wanted to go to the HOPE House because tomorrow is a holiday (India celebrates 60th Republic Day). As usual, my kids were chatting on the back seat of the car while I was concentrating on driving.
Suddenly I heard a question from Lydia “Daddy, what is the best blessing that you had received so far in your life time”? Not knowing what to expect, I was little apprehensive to answer this question but at the same time I didn’t want to disappoint Lydia. So I thought for few seconds and said “I think I have to say that my best blessing that I had received so far is my education”.
Lydia continued “Oh you think that’s why you’re able to run the HOPE House”? She went on and on to associate my education to things that I am able to do today or had done before. I decided to turn the tables on her so I asked Lydia “What’s your best blessing that you had received so far”? She thought for a second and said “I think my best blessing is to have a mommy and daddy like you both”.
Before I could say anything, I heard “that’s the same blessing for me too daddy” said Lily. “You’re the best daddy, you know that?” and tried to grab my head to kiss while I was trying to keep my focus on the road. That just made my day.
Suddenly I heard a question from Lydia “Daddy, what is the best blessing that you had received so far in your life time”? Not knowing what to expect, I was little apprehensive to answer this question but at the same time I didn’t want to disappoint Lydia. So I thought for few seconds and said “I think I have to say that my best blessing that I had received so far is my education”.
Lydia continued “Oh you think that’s why you’re able to run the HOPE House”? She went on and on to associate my education to things that I am able to do today or had done before. I decided to turn the tables on her so I asked Lydia “What’s your best blessing that you had received so far”? She thought for a second and said “I think my best blessing is to have a mommy and daddy like you both”.
Before I could say anything, I heard “that’s the same blessing for me too daddy” said Lily. “You’re the best daddy, you know that?” and tried to grab my head to kiss while I was trying to keep my focus on the road. That just made my day.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
How beautifully our day started off today!!!
It was 5:45 AM and I came out of the house to open my gate and something wiggled in the grass in my yard and knocked the day light out of me. When I leaned forward to see what it was, it was a crow. He was not able to fly.
I waited for the day light and woke up my girls to tell them what I saw. Contrary to their routine, they jumped out of their beds to see what happened to the crow. Even before they saw the crow, my little one said, “Daddy let’s give some water to the crow and let’s keep him”.
By the time we saw, he somehow moved himself to hide under the plants. I moved the plants to located him and my kids got a kick out of seeing him. We had to shoo him out of the plants to identify the problem.
As my older one was shooing the crow, conversation between my little one and me went like this:
Lily: “catch him daddy”
Daddy: “I am scared Lily, do you want to catch him”?
Lily: “Oh no, I am too scared. But you’re big daddy, catch him”
Daddy: “I know but I am still scared”
At last I pulled my strength and caught the crow and only then did we realize the problem. Something happened and his legs are paralyzed. He is not able to stand on his feet to get push off to get a lift to start flying.
As we were figuring out as to what to do, we had zillion crows gathered right above our heads and sounded like screaming “LET THE CROW GO”.
Lily said “throw him up daddy, he’ll fly”. I was so scared to throw him up because what if that’s not the problem and I have to see the crow land flat on his nose. I came out of my yard and pulled my strength and threw him up, that’s it, he flew away and all his buddies followed him.
My girls started clapping and it was such a nice feeling to know that our day started off right footing.
I waited for the day light and woke up my girls to tell them what I saw. Contrary to their routine, they jumped out of their beds to see what happened to the crow. Even before they saw the crow, my little one said, “Daddy let’s give some water to the crow and let’s keep him”.
By the time we saw, he somehow moved himself to hide under the plants. I moved the plants to located him and my kids got a kick out of seeing him. We had to shoo him out of the plants to identify the problem.
As my older one was shooing the crow, conversation between my little one and me went like this:
Lily: “catch him daddy”
Daddy: “I am scared Lily, do you want to catch him”?
Lily: “Oh no, I am too scared. But you’re big daddy, catch him”
Daddy: “I know but I am still scared”
At last I pulled my strength and caught the crow and only then did we realize the problem. Something happened and his legs are paralyzed. He is not able to stand on his feet to get push off to get a lift to start flying.
As we were figuring out as to what to do, we had zillion crows gathered right above our heads and sounded like screaming “LET THE CROW GO”.
Lily said “throw him up daddy, he’ll fly”. I was so scared to throw him up because what if that’s not the problem and I have to see the crow land flat on his nose. I came out of my yard and pulled my strength and threw him up, that’s it, he flew away and all his buddies followed him.
My girls started clapping and it was such a nice feeling to know that our day started off right footing.
Monday, December 07, 2009
Playing Lily’s chess
I had been teaching Lydia to play chess. Lydia is 8 years old and she can play fairly well now. Only problem is that she wants me to play with her all the time. She waits for me to play just before she goes to bed and as soon as she wakes up from the bed.
Today morning, I was checking my e-mails and she came and asked me to play so I asked her to set the board. She set it up and went to the bathroom. Here comes Lily (my almost six year old but going sixteen) and sits in the opponents chair and asked me “Daddy what color do you want to play”? I asked her “Do you know to play” (I know very well she doesn’t) and came the confident reply “YES”
Recently I read in a book that children do not have an extensive vocabulary to express verbally what they have in their hearts so as adults we need to look at their facial expressions, excitement to do something and body language etc to understand what they are saying. That thought being fresh in my mind, I decided not to disappoint my little lily so I agreed to play.
In Lily’s game of chess everything moves only forward. I decided to play Lily’s game of chess. She began to cut my coins and I couldn’t believe the excitement she had to see daddy losing the game. She went on and on and at one point she said “Daddy you don’t have any brains in your head” and I nodded in agreement.
Then comes the Chess queen Lydia. Seeing us play the kind of chess we were playing, she said “Daddy, are you teaching her wrong chess”? I showed her with my eyes to be quiet to let Lily win. Then Lily looked at Lydia and said “Akka (big sister), what do you think? I am winning and daddy is losing”. Lydia couldn’t disagree with her more but decided to play along and then Lily won by cutting my king. She got a kick out to see Daddy cry for losing.
Today morning, I was checking my e-mails and she came and asked me to play so I asked her to set the board. She set it up and went to the bathroom. Here comes Lily (my almost six year old but going sixteen) and sits in the opponents chair and asked me “Daddy what color do you want to play”? I asked her “Do you know to play” (I know very well she doesn’t) and came the confident reply “YES”
Recently I read in a book that children do not have an extensive vocabulary to express verbally what they have in their hearts so as adults we need to look at their facial expressions, excitement to do something and body language etc to understand what they are saying. That thought being fresh in my mind, I decided not to disappoint my little lily so I agreed to play.
In Lily’s game of chess everything moves only forward. I decided to play Lily’s game of chess. She began to cut my coins and I couldn’t believe the excitement she had to see daddy losing the game. She went on and on and at one point she said “Daddy you don’t have any brains in your head” and I nodded in agreement.
Then comes the Chess queen Lydia. Seeing us play the kind of chess we were playing, she said “Daddy, are you teaching her wrong chess”? I showed her with my eyes to be quiet to let Lily win. Then Lily looked at Lydia and said “Akka (big sister), what do you think? I am winning and daddy is losing”. Lydia couldn’t disagree with her more but decided to play along and then Lily won by cutting my king. She got a kick out to see Daddy cry for losing.
You like this write up? Leave your comments and write to me at indiahopehouse@gmail.com
| This above information is made available to you by the HOPE House - a registered charitable trust that cares for orphan, semi-orphan and disadvantaged girls in Vellore, India. Would you like to financially support us? Click here to learn more |
Friday, December 04, 2009
This is what I got for my wife from the 'City of Love' (Taj Mahal)
On the 31st of October (remember it was my birthday?), I wrote a post saying about a gift I got for my wife from the city of love – Taj Mahal. Well…It is time to talk about it again. She really liked the gift I brought for her.
I got her this Saree (pictured above) from Agra (City where Taj Mahal is located)and it is made by the prisoners of the state penitentiary. This Saree is made out of bamboo fiber. It looked so beautiful that it glitters under the lights. Today she decided to wear for a wedding. She looked gorgeous.
When I gave her the Saree she said “You never gave me a Saree as a gift but you certainly got me a kind that I like, I really like it”. Undoubtedly, I was relieved that she likes it. This picture above is taken at the wedding. If you like to look at the details of the Saree, you might want to click on the image.
I got her this Saree (pictured above) from Agra (City where Taj Mahal is located)and it is made by the prisoners of the state penitentiary. This Saree is made out of bamboo fiber. It looked so beautiful that it glitters under the lights. Today she decided to wear for a wedding. She looked gorgeous.
When I gave her the Saree she said “You never gave me a Saree as a gift but you certainly got me a kind that I like, I really like it”. Undoubtedly, I was relieved that she likes it. This picture above is taken at the wedding. If you like to look at the details of the Saree, you might want to click on the image.
Monday, November 02, 2009
It wasn’t just another day.
On October 31st, since it being a Saturday, my entire class (attending the training with me in Delhi on Child Rights & Protection) decided to go to see Taj Mahal in the city of Agra. We decided to travel by a bus with other passengers and my classmates were 15 in number. It took almost 4 hours to reach.
First we reached Agra Fort. This is where some of the mogul emperors lived and ruled. It is amazing how intact and strong the structure looked in spite it to have been built about 400 plus number of years ago. One of the emperors had 1000 concubines and apparently he was a very caring man towards these women but he built a small prison to put them in when they fight among themselves.
Then we reached Taj Mahal. Because of the pollution and security concerns, we had to get off the bus about 0.6 of a mile (one kilometer) and take horse/ camel cart or a battery operated motor vehicle to reach there. I almost felt like the whole of India was out there that day to see the Taj Mahal. Easily, there might have been about 40,000 people when we were there.
It took us about an hour of standing in line to get in to see the structure. We were standing in concentric circles around the Taj and moving inch by inch. Actually that gave us an opportunity in the evening’s cool breeze of Yamuna River, to study the structure in detail. I was completely awestruck by the architecture.
It was built about 450 years ago when there was no electricity. Entire building was built manually and it took 24000 people, 32 years and 32 crores of rupees of those days. It was built entirely with locally available materials. Taj Mahal was built by an emperor called Shajahan in memory of his third wife named “Mumtaj Mahal”. When the first two wifes bore no children, he married Mumtaj who gave him 14 children and died at the age 34 during child birth.
With the kind of details I stated above swirling around my mind, I wasn’t impressed to call it a ‘symbol of love’ but certainly an architectural marvel. When we went in there, it was a bit dark as the dusk had already set in. I touched some of those colorful stones that were ingrained in to the marble and one of the tourists flashed a light on to those stones and they changed color. It was an absolute treat to the eyes. Before I knew it, I was pushed out of the Taj Mahal by the people standing behind me.
I didn’t want to go home empty handed from this symbol of love but I absolutely had no idea what to buy for my wife? When we went into one shop of local items, my eyes fell on one item I knew my wife will certainly like it. When I heard the price, I swear to God my heart skipped a beat but I wanted it so badly for her I gladly paid for it. You keep guessing till I show it my wife to surprise her on November 22nd. .
After all, October 31st was my birthday and it certainly wasn’t just another day. I got a call from my dear wife and the kids to wish me and I just knew that I am blessed.
First we reached Agra Fort. This is where some of the mogul emperors lived and ruled. It is amazing how intact and strong the structure looked in spite it to have been built about 400 plus number of years ago. One of the emperors had 1000 concubines and apparently he was a very caring man towards these women but he built a small prison to put them in when they fight among themselves.
Then we reached Taj Mahal. Because of the pollution and security concerns, we had to get off the bus about 0.6 of a mile (one kilometer) and take horse/ camel cart or a battery operated motor vehicle to reach there. I almost felt like the whole of India was out there that day to see the Taj Mahal. Easily, there might have been about 40,000 people when we were there.
It took us about an hour of standing in line to get in to see the structure. We were standing in concentric circles around the Taj and moving inch by inch. Actually that gave us an opportunity in the evening’s cool breeze of Yamuna River, to study the structure in detail. I was completely awestruck by the architecture.
It was built about 450 years ago when there was no electricity. Entire building was built manually and it took 24000 people, 32 years and 32 crores of rupees of those days. It was built entirely with locally available materials. Taj Mahal was built by an emperor called Shajahan in memory of his third wife named “Mumtaj Mahal”. When the first two wifes bore no children, he married Mumtaj who gave him 14 children and died at the age 34 during child birth.
With the kind of details I stated above swirling around my mind, I wasn’t impressed to call it a ‘symbol of love’ but certainly an architectural marvel. When we went in there, it was a bit dark as the dusk had already set in. I touched some of those colorful stones that were ingrained in to the marble and one of the tourists flashed a light on to those stones and they changed color. It was an absolute treat to the eyes. Before I knew it, I was pushed out of the Taj Mahal by the people standing behind me.
I didn’t want to go home empty handed from this symbol of love but I absolutely had no idea what to buy for my wife? When we went into one shop of local items, my eyes fell on one item I knew my wife will certainly like it. When I heard the price, I swear to God my heart skipped a beat but I wanted it so badly for her I gladly paid for it. You keep guessing till I show it my wife to surprise her on November 22nd. .
After all, October 31st was my birthday and it certainly wasn’t just another day. I got a call from my dear wife and the kids to wish me and I just knew that I am blessed.
Friday, June 19, 2009
My first experience
We all know that the first experiences always create lasting impressions apart from taking the individual through a train of nervous moments. Yesterday I had one such a moment.
My daughter’s school had an investiture function and I was asked to be the Chief Guest for the function. Investiture function is a day when new house leaders accept the responsibilities. Week ago, when I got the phone call, I was told to gear my message on the most appropriate message for the day - Leadership. I gladly accepted the responsibility but my immediate question to myself was “Why me”?
My parents are visiting us so my father wanted to accompany me. We reached the school premises well before time and as soon as we reached, junior school headmistress ushered us into the principal’s office. After a short chat, we walked with the newly elected leaders up on to the stage. All the students and their parents were in the audience.
I decided to talk about a Bible character to talk about the leadership qualities. I chose ‘Nehemiah’ who defied the conventional thinking to build the wall around the ancestral city of Jerusalem which was ruined by the adversaries. When I talked about courage, I said to the new leaders that
1. Courage is not the absence of fear but mastery of it
2. Courage is not synonymous with being a confrontationist but a catalyst
3. Courage builds on courage and
4. Courage enables you to think out of the box
At the end, I challenged the school to learn more about child rights and help themselves and others to become aware of their entitlements in India. And then, I was asked to give away the certificate of leadership to the new leaders. Some of these kids I know them from the church so it was nice to see such young boys/ girls accepting leadership roles.
Both my daughters attend this school so I had one fear up on the stage: I kept thinking what if my girls come running up on to the stage to sit with me? My older one did it once when she had to dance in her day care, refused to do it when she saw me sitting in the front row to take pictures. I knew if they do it, school wouldn’t mind it and I would have loved too but they never did come.
Well….I was thinking about my daughter becoming a ‘head girl’ when she reaches 12th grade and that’s another 10 years to go.
My daughter’s school had an investiture function and I was asked to be the Chief Guest for the function. Investiture function is a day when new house leaders accept the responsibilities. Week ago, when I got the phone call, I was told to gear my message on the most appropriate message for the day - Leadership. I gladly accepted the responsibility but my immediate question to myself was “Why me”?
My parents are visiting us so my father wanted to accompany me. We reached the school premises well before time and as soon as we reached, junior school headmistress ushered us into the principal’s office. After a short chat, we walked with the newly elected leaders up on to the stage. All the students and their parents were in the audience.
I decided to talk about a Bible character to talk about the leadership qualities. I chose ‘Nehemiah’ who defied the conventional thinking to build the wall around the ancestral city of Jerusalem which was ruined by the adversaries. When I talked about courage, I said to the new leaders that
1. Courage is not the absence of fear but mastery of it
2. Courage is not synonymous with being a confrontationist but a catalyst
3. Courage builds on courage and
4. Courage enables you to think out of the box
At the end, I challenged the school to learn more about child rights and help themselves and others to become aware of their entitlements in India. And then, I was asked to give away the certificate of leadership to the new leaders. Some of these kids I know them from the church so it was nice to see such young boys/ girls accepting leadership roles.
Both my daughters attend this school so I had one fear up on the stage: I kept thinking what if my girls come running up on to the stage to sit with me? My older one did it once when she had to dance in her day care, refused to do it when she saw me sitting in the front row to take pictures. I knew if they do it, school wouldn’t mind it and I would have loved too but they never did come.
Well….I was thinking about my daughter becoming a ‘head girl’ when she reaches 12th grade and that’s another 10 years to go.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
My girls have a new friend
About a month ago I posted a blog about a couple that just lives few blocks from us is adopting a baby. Well…day before yesterday they brought their baby home and my family is equally excited to see the baby. We talked to the girls and we are supposed to go this evening to see the baby.
Today morning, my girls packed several toys for the new baby – Disha (Disha means direction in Hindi) and around 2:00 PM my little one – Lily, came to me to tell me that she is ready to go. She had make up on and jewelery etc. They kept bugging me to take them to see the baby.
Before hand we talked to the girls about the adoption and we made sure to open a channel of communication to talk about their own adoption. At last, we went this evening and the baby was asleep but my girls promptly woke her up.
As soon as I saw Disha, it reminded me of my daughter who came home in 2001. She is about the same age and size as Lydia was. Parents looked so happy but busy and I couldn’t help but think how babies can change lives overnight. We went over few things about what we did with our girls and my girls promptly pulled out the toys they brought for her.
My wife had few thoughts there. First she said “babies at this stage are so easy to take care because they keep whatever the clothes you put them on” referring to obvious fights we have at home about the choice of clothes for my girls. She also noticed that Disha sucks her middle two fingers and then we talked about my kids thumb sucking habit.
Just before we left, my older one told Disha’s mom that she will come tomorrow on her own to play with Disha and aunty agreed. We are so glad that my girls have a new friend (to boss over) to play with.
Today morning, my girls packed several toys for the new baby – Disha (Disha means direction in Hindi) and around 2:00 PM my little one – Lily, came to me to tell me that she is ready to go. She had make up on and jewelery etc. They kept bugging me to take them to see the baby.
Before hand we talked to the girls about the adoption and we made sure to open a channel of communication to talk about their own adoption. At last, we went this evening and the baby was asleep but my girls promptly woke her up.
As soon as I saw Disha, it reminded me of my daughter who came home in 2001. She is about the same age and size as Lydia was. Parents looked so happy but busy and I couldn’t help but think how babies can change lives overnight. We went over few things about what we did with our girls and my girls promptly pulled out the toys they brought for her.
My wife had few thoughts there. First she said “babies at this stage are so easy to take care because they keep whatever the clothes you put them on” referring to obvious fights we have at home about the choice of clothes for my girls. She also noticed that Disha sucks her middle two fingers and then we talked about my kids thumb sucking habit.
Just before we left, my older one told Disha’s mom that she will come tomorrow on her own to play with Disha and aunty agreed. We are so glad that my girls have a new friend (to boss over) to play with.
Have a great weekend.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
IPL and my family’s loyalties
Today at the breakfast table we saw a commercial of a cricket game of the IPL (Indian Premier League) saying the scheduled game between Chennai Super kings and Kolkata Knight Raiders. My wife expressed her desire to see the Chennai team win today.
Lydia immediately jumped at her and said, “No, I want Kolkata team to win”. When asked she said, “It is owned Sharukh Khan and I am from Kolkota”. When asked Mommy said, “I am from Tamilnadu and I want to support Chennai”. Rest of the two that were left to pick their loyalties were Lily and Daddy.
Mommy said to Lily “Lilyma you be with momma and root for Chennai, OK”? Lily answered in a microsecond “No, I want Kolkota”. When asked she answered on the expected lines “We were born there”. Everyone wanted to know what Daddy is going to say and he was putting up his price. Girls asked Daddy to root for Kolkata.
When mommy reminded the girls that her brother also supports Chennai it did the trick for Daddy to pick his loyalty. “I want Kolkata” said daddy to make the Kolkata supporters in the house a majority. Then we went all out cheering “Go Chennai” “Go Kolkota”.
Lydia immediately jumped at her and said, “No, I want Kolkata team to win”. When asked she said, “It is owned Sharukh Khan and I am from Kolkota”. When asked Mommy said, “I am from Tamilnadu and I want to support Chennai”. Rest of the two that were left to pick their loyalties were Lily and Daddy.
Mommy said to Lily “Lilyma you be with momma and root for Chennai, OK”? Lily answered in a microsecond “No, I want Kolkota”. When asked she answered on the expected lines “We were born there”. Everyone wanted to know what Daddy is going to say and he was putting up his price. Girls asked Daddy to root for Kolkata.
When mommy reminded the girls that her brother also supports Chennai it did the trick for Daddy to pick his loyalty. “I want Kolkata” said daddy to make the Kolkata supporters in the house a majority. Then we went all out cheering “Go Chennai” “Go Kolkota”.
Lydia also changed her mind to become a cricketer for India and not an astronaut anymore. Game doesn’t start for another 7 hours and the heat is on in the house.
Friday, April 24, 2009
I surprised my girls and my wife
My kids went to Bangalore 10 days ago and it has been hard on Daddy, as he was staying alone at home. Today they came back but I wanted to make our reunion to have little punch so I did something that they didn’t expect.
They came by a train so I decided to travel by train to one rail station before and meet them in mid journey in the train. There I went with my video camera. You know how this Murphy’s Law works, my video camera went dead just after I met the kids in the train and I couldn’t record anything thereafter.
I just loved seeing my kids and my wife and we never sat in the seats thereafter. Running across the vestibules and jumping up and down. My little one got on to me and told me several times that she had missed me a lot and I knew then it was well worth the effort.
They came by a train so I decided to travel by train to one rail station before and meet them in mid journey in the train. There I went with my video camera. You know how this Murphy’s Law works, my video camera went dead just after I met the kids in the train and I couldn’t record anything thereafter.
I just loved seeing my kids and my wife and we never sat in the seats thereafter. Running across the vestibules and jumping up and down. My little one got on to me and told me several times that she had missed me a lot and I knew then it was well worth the effort.
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