A Play Date!

On a very busy day at office, I suddenly get an invite from someone I don’t know for a ‘play date’! Oh, the invite was not for me, but for my daughter from her friend’s mother. First reach of me – “What is a play date?” Where else to go, other than ‘Google’. Here are some few lines from Wikipedia for people who are ignorant like me.

“A play date or playdate is an arranged appointment for children to get together for a few hours to play. Playdates have become the standard for children of many western cultures because the work schedules for busy parents, along with media warnings about leaving children unattended, prevent the kind of play that children of other generations participated in. The intention of a playdate is to give children time to interact freely in a less structured environment than other planned activities might provide. Playdates are different from organized activities or scheduled sports, because they are not usually structured."

I even read through different sites to understand how it is arranged, what do the host do, what do we do, what should we carry? Finally called her friend's mother and fixed the day. Got a small gift for her friend, discussed the "Do's and Don't" with my kid. ALL SET TO GO! I was more excited in the 'play date' than my daughter. Finally we couldn't go, on the fixed date. 

Three weeks later, I called up her friend's mother again, and got the 'play date' fixed. The schedule of the D-day got aligned to accommodate the playdate time, "waking up-breakfast-lunch-sleep-snack". Me and my daughter reached her friend's home at the right time. I was happy to make new friends, with her friend's Mom and her aunt. We began with a light conversation, in getting to know each other. The kids (My daughter, her friend and her little cousin) started to play with the toys. There was 'sharing', 'grabbing' , 'complaining' between them. After a while, we were served some snacks and tea. They reached to point of getting bored in their games. So I called for my free car pick-up (by my husband). By the time, my husband could reach, their games started getting interesting again. My daughter was not willing to part with her friend and toys when her father called from the gate. Finally, managed to come out. 

On the kids's opinion on coming back together for playing,

My kid - " I don't want to come again. She is not sharing her toys"

Her Friend - "I don't want her to come. She is taking my toys"

Me and her friend's mother probably became good friends than these kids!

Got a feeling of completing a big ordeal - "PLAY DATE"

When I travel back in time, me and my brother would jump the compound and go to our friend's house to play. Our friends would also do the same. There was no formal invitation, and never felt embarrassing to go and disturb our friends as well as their families, at any time of the day. I also come from a small town, and this makes me realise that I am many generations behind!

Being Second!

Is being second a better option?

• Second rank in school
• Second position in industry
• Second best to your husband/wife after your kid
• and so many 'second's...

There are so many advantages in being second. You always want to improve, either move to first or lessen the gap to being first. There are the elements of strategy, politics, tactics in the second position, compared to any other positions. 

Contrary to the old school of thought, 'Be Number One' and 'Be the Leader', everybody wants to be the 'SECOND' nowadays. In this position, you enjoy all the benefits, similar to the first position, leaving out the troubles of the first position (constantly under watch, pressure to maintain the first position, ...)

Rain Cloud and the Small Bird!

Peacocks dance and cry seeing the rain clouds. Farmers also look for the rain clouds to appear. Each student looks for a rain cloud so that he can float paper boats, get a rain holiday, eat mother's garam pakodas. People in arid regions look upon the sky for a rain cloud. 

Like all, a small bird was expecting a rain cloud for a while. The rain cloud appeared a little far. The bird could see the cloud, but could not witness the rain. She felt very sad, that the rain cloud was near, but still far to touch. The bird flew away over the mountains, rivers, to a new place. The bird was happy here, that it need not feel that pain for the rain cloud, rather pretending that  there is no rain cloud.

Again on a bright and sunny day, the bird on its routine search for food, could see the rain cloud at a farther distance. The bird tried not to have any hopes that it would come closer, as it didn't want to feel that pain again. But this time, the rain cloud came and showered beautiful water drops on the bird. The bird has never ever felt such love, and it was wonderful. The bird felt that the rain cloud travelled so much for her.

The rain cloud disappeared from the place with a powerful pull of his dark grey robes. Poor bird couldn't understand that there are millions of people looking forward for the rain cloud and he didn't come for her alone. She understood that a little late, erased her memories of the rain cloud and began to live her life.

The rain cloud came again! She saw him and she flew fast to get rid of him, though her heart told her to stop. The rain cloud moved faster and came over her.

She could see that the rain cloud was just above her. He had pulled himself, his robes over to become like a small umbrella over the bird. The bird understood that he was here only for her, and the bird danced with her feathers in joy. Rain cloud was so happy to see her in joy and once again poured on her, his love in the form of beautiful rain drops.

The bird realised that the rain cloud was for her, but he had a more higher responsibility of taking care of so many people. She promised that she would wait for him to return, after he completes his responsibilities. But she doesn't know how long she should wait, it could be for days, months and years! She even enjoyed waiting, for she would think of the happy moments she had with him in the past. These moments would have got lost if he was always with her. The bird enjoyed waiting and enjoyed more on his return. The rain cloud would tell her the stories from different land, with her in his arms. She would stay for days in his arms, with just love and fresh air!

Its all about "Stealing"

"Stealing the moment"
"The stolen boat ride"

So many! but not considered as a theft..
I read somewhere that 'what' stealing is for people. It is only about stealing 'Money'.
The other things are ok with us... And everybody 'STEALS'

'The stolen boat ride' poem of William Wordsworth remains fresh in my mind, after 13 years of learning. I did a similar act, drove the car, without my husband knowing it.

'Stealing somebody else's moment' is one thing I would never do. But it kind of happened without me knowing, in a treat hosted by somebody else. And I still regret attending the treat till today.

How does it feel after the act of stealth? William Wordsworth describes it all in his autobiographical poem,

There in her mooring-place I left my bark,-- 

And through the meadows homeward went, in grave 

And serious mood; but after I had seen 

That spectacle, for many days, my brain 

Worked with a dim and undetermined sense 

Of unknown modes of being; o'er my thoughts 

There hung a darkness, call it solitude 

Or blank desertion. No familiar shapes 

Remained, no pleasant images of trees, 

Of sea or sky, no colours of green fields; 

But huge and mighty forms, that do not live 

Like living men, moved slowly through the mind 

By day, and were a trouble to my dreams.

SMS speaks...

Hi, This is the story of how I died. No, No, this is the story of my life. Once upon a time, .....No, No, Not that way. Ok..

I was born on 31st August 2012 out of a beautiful mobile. I was born out of happiness and sweet memories. My creator, 'Mia' gave me few seconds of her life, few moments of her happiness and her feelings. I was created very carefully. I still remember her happiness when she created me. She picked the receiver's name, 'Ryder' and clicked the send button. I was unwilling to go away from Mia and my mobile mother. But I will make them more happy if I performed my duty. I bid my mother and Mia 'Good bye' and went on my journey. I was carried by some powerful waves. It was a long journey indeed, passed through many towers. As an infant message, I was initially scared to see the outside world for the first time. But I saw millions like me travelling through the same journey. I comforted myself.

I heard stories from my fellow travellers, the stories of happines, love, agony, pain, panic... In those moments, I understood what Mia like people are undergoing in their lives. I got few friends on my way. But we couldn't share our thoughts for long, for our carriers were strong and we had to part ways. I finally reached the destination, 'Ryder'. I was waiting in his mobile for few hours before he opened. Then he read me. He was happy to see me, but he didn't reply. My life ended there. My life would have extended if he had resent me with his reply. But my portrait is still there with Ryder. I was lucky to be maintained atleast as a portrait.

On my journey, I heard stories that many fellow SMS like me would be killed and moved to trash even without being read, many had been opened with hatred and many had caused unhappiness to the receiver. I am happy that Mia was also happy when she sent me, and Ryder was also happy when he received me. I feel little sad for lovely Mia, that she doesn't know how Ryder felt on receiving me. If only I had been given extended life by Ryder, I would have told Mia his happiness, even if Ryder has not composed it that way!

Would somebody want to know who I am ?? I am similar to the messages you all create everyday. I was a special message from Mia to Ryder and I read 'I  love you!'.

Shruti - 3 years

Children become more naughtier each passing year, and also learn new things. Parents also learn a lot during the child's learning process. Shruti has now crossed 3 years.

Language differentiation:
She is able to tell some of the words in whatever language (currently 4 - English, Tamil, Bengali, Hindi) we ask. Children can learn lot of languages at this age!

Count Numbers:
She can count numbers, chocolates, pictures from 1 to 20. She has attained perfection in this. She can show the numbers using her fingers. She was trying with her fingers earlier and was difficult to maintain the particular set of fingers and now she can manage. Very cute! and you would want to ask her to show more numbers with her fingers.

Alphabets:
Thorough on her capital letters. Not so good with the small letters. Learning.

Household work:
She wants to help me in all the household work, whether it is cooking or cleaning. Yesterday she tried rolling a chapathi and actually did pretty well. But it doesn't stop till that. Playing more with that, and finally brought it back to the original ball shape :-(. She wants to do everything, clean the floor, clean vegetables, dry clothes. Hope she maintains this interest when she grows big so that I can share my work.

Memory Games:
I started playing games with cards, in identifying similar pairs when I was in second or third standard. I have seen my mother teaching Shruti the games with cards in identifying the pairs, when the cards are turned upside down. I didn't know she understood the concept. There is a similar game in laptop - purble place. Two days back, noticed that she could easily complete the beginner level on her own (5x5). She is yet to try the intermediate and the expert level. She can also easily navigate using the laptop touch pad.

Looks like i didn't learn much when I was three??!!

Learnt to make good paneer!

Always wanted to make paneer myself. I am very fond of soft and fresh paneers. Finally learnt it. Learnt it through Google. Wanted to share the way of making paneer - to get good compressed one so that you can cut beautiful cubes.

1. Boil milk
2. Squeeze lemon into it (avoided vinegar - as advised by my husband!)
3. The water separates out
4. Take a clean white cloth and drain the paneer in it
5. Remove the water completely
6. Make the paneer into a flat rectange, by shaping the cloth
7. Now you have to keep heavy weights on top
8. I placed a cooker (clean one) with water on top of the cloth
9. Kept it for around 5 hours
10. Nice compressed soft paneer is ready
11. And you can cut it into nice cubes

And after which I made a paneer dish - a simple one with onions, tomatoes, garlic, coriander leaves.
I think it was good.

Satisfied a long desire of making paneer.