A first crack and some hacks, the Pramadh way

 

                                First crack!

We often talk about milestone moments and firsts concerning our little human being! It could be a new learning, a new experience , a new thought ...a first for us!

I have had my share of fractures and casts and Papa also has had a hairline fracture in the rib during his all India ride, almost 15 years back. 

This week, on Monday while going to school, Ira jammed her thumb in the car door. Prashant was dropping her and some of her bus friends to school that day. 

She had a cut and it began bleeding. Prashant asked her to wash it and while she was going to the kitchen area to do that she felt dizzy due to the pain. She asked for Papa and then he had to slap her ( those are her words) to make her conscious. She was in severe pain and they rushed to a hospital close by. Ira generally has good pain tolerance and often brushes off cuts and bruises and gets back to play right away. This time there were tears. 

Papa asked them to give her a pain relief while they waited for the xray technician. The xray showed a small crack in her thumb! Ira had her first ever fracture! They gave her a splint and some pain meds. She insisted on going back to school and Papa dropped her back. 

All that you read so far is her narration of what happened that day. When Prashant messaged me and I called Ira from work, she said , "it is paining a lot!". I could hear her sniff but I knew she had her hero with her and Papa is the best at managing crisis moments like this. 

Offlate, I have been quite panicky about small things and that evening saw me get all worked up about the pain med, make calls to the Paediatrician and then find some strange peace of mind. All unnecessary drama. 

                  Goofing around with Mamma!

This is also the first time Ira has had to have a tablet and she has officially progressed from the world of syrups. She found it a struggle and it was a learning for all of us. We broke it, powdered it, water first, water later....tried all hacks. 

A few days now and Ira is much better. She has to keep the splint for a few weeks and now we are cracking jokes about it, literally. 

We are off for our year end break and she knows she has to be a little gentle with the hand, letting adventurous moments take a backseat,but just for a short while. 

#Ira #Iraisms #IraAtNine #NovelsAtNine #FirstCrack #FractureMoment #Parenting #Pramadhs #IraAndPapa #Gratitude  #FirstExperiences

BFC BFC BFC, the Pramadh way!

 

Ira ke Papa always comes up with new things to do with Ira. 

October marked another milestone moment, another first for Ira and Papa.

Papa took Ira to the Kanteerava Stadium to watch their first Football Match in the ISL.  BFC vs East Bengal. It was the first match for BFC at home ground.

While Mamma was at Mumbai on work, Ira during their morning video call said, Am busy today evening. You could call but I will be at the stadium.

Ever since they had booked the West Block A tickets, there was palpable excitement at home. Ira has begun to play football and school and is beginning to understand the game better. 

Post school, they headed early to the stadium. The Match was to begin at 8pm but they were there a few hours early. 

They soaked in the festive fervour, saw the team bus come in and Ira was super excited that one of the players even waved at her :) . Papa follows the West Block Fan page on Insta and was aware of the slogans. For Ira, this was a whole new experience. She was amused at some interesting words in the slogans. BFC won that evening. Ira showed mom the backflip kick by the footballer, J Hernandez that ensured the win.

They were also accompanied by a friend, who is a football player himself. Ira was thrilled that he won some coupons and gifts on showing some football moves at the Jockey arena. 

Post match, the two of them also went for dinner to a drive in place where they sat in the car and food was served on a plank. Our little girl is quite adventurous and loved the food experience. Also one of those rare times when she slept at 12am and Papa said it is ok to miss school the next day.

Mamma came home to listen to everything that transpired that day, with big grins and excited chatter.

Three weeks later, Mamma accompanied them for another BFC match and understood all the excitement and where it emanated from. It was an electrifying first experience for Mamma too. 

Ira is already gearing up for the next match with Papa! Post one of her football games during sports class at school, she also came home and spoke about the nutmeg move! That day, Papa and Mamma learnt something new :). 

So, to discovering new things and to new experiences with our little girl. 

BFC BFC BFC....forever!

#Ira #Iraisms #IraAtNine #NovelsAtNine #IraAndPapa #FirstFootballMatchInStadium #Pramadhs #Parenting #Happiness #Gratitude 

111, the Ira way

                     Ira and Paata, been together for seven years now.

Ira completed 111 months yesterday. Last year in September , we celebrated her completing 100 months at Kali Adventure Camp, doing her favourite things and eating gulab jamun.

I like to think of these milestones and remember them. I also realise that her 9th Birthday Blog is still a wip (in the mind). The last three months into Fourth grade has been quite a revelation. The learning curve seems to have jumped with her wanting agency for her decisions and wanting to feel empowered. She is navigating complex moments in her friendship and peer circles with some silent confidence and sometimes vocal thoughts.

Last evening, she came down with a cough and we decided to get some rest today, stay home.

Paata in her old dress, sitting beside Ira as she reads.

She has rested but has also done some new things today. She worked on some Maths and spent lot of time reading. Also, helped Papa make Serradura,the Goan dessert in the morning. We then began work on another craft project and did step one of it ( more hopefully in another blog). 

                         Serradura happiness

The cough is  still there and she may need some more days rest. But she remembered that I had promised to help her make a dress for Paata, her first doll :)

So, we got to the task. She had a favourite dress that was upcycled to a skirt and today we upcycled that to a dress for Paata. Taada!!

Ira happy, Mamma happy!Our little human being is 111 month and 1 day old and calling the shots ,perfectly. 

                        Being Ira 

#Parenting #Pramadhs #Ira #Iraisms #IraAtNine #NovelsAtNine #Love #Happiness #Gratitude 

Work-Travel and Parenting, the Pramadh Way

Our Morning routine while I travel <3 

I love my work and I look forward to my work travels. It is the time where I also get some me-time, I meet new people and am constantly learning in diverse social milieu. My work week is divided between days I teach at my alma mater, Mount Carmel College and days when I facilitate learning sessions for Corporate clients across the country. 

The last 5 weeks, I have travelled a lot and my next few weeks also look similar on my calendar. 

Over the years, there are things that I have discovered and learnt, support systems that am grateful for, a partner who is an equal parent and more and an adaptable little one who has learnt that when Mamma works, we still catch up about the day, at least twice through video calls. 

What has worked for Prashant, Ira and me while I travel has been some meticulous planning which translates to seamlessly functioning life , home and work environments. Are there adventures? Are there mishaps at times? Of course there are and what would life be if not for them. 

So, while I blog to share what we have done, I am sure many many women, many families have all found their own way to find this balance and integration. The fact is, we do what we can do. 

1. Plan and see how the month looks for each of us and also review how each week looks every weekend. If one of us is travelling, we usually know it in advance to plan. I make  a note mentally and in my notes and Prashant meticulously calendars it on an app on his phone. 

2. If we both are in Bengaluru, we also plan who will pick up Ira post school which day of the week. Prashant given his more flexible work schedule does this almost 95% of the time.

3. When one of us is travelling, we always prep Ira about the travel. Check if there are important school interaction days etc where parents are meant to be there. The last time I travelled, the school had a workshop on Sexuality Education for Parents and Prashant made it on behalf of us.

4. In moments like the above, in the last year we have slowly eased Ira into the idea of being home by herself, for a few hours. This is preceded by some safety dos and don'ts and also a set of activities that she does in that time. This could include some reading, some art & craft, drawing or writing and some tv time. Her snacks and meals are prepped and kept accessible for her. 

5. Sometimes, that may not happen as the duration could be a full day. At that moment, we have reached out to her next favourite adult (we like to believe we are her top two). Read Joy. He has come over and been with her. They play games, go on bike rides, watch movies , fight and play, while eating all their fave food, all with equal gusto! 

6. While we travel, we also cross check our groceries, veggies, fruits essentials. This may seem like common sense, but it always helps us. The reason being when I travel, Ira and Prashant eat some of their favourites, some food that we may not make too often because am allergic to and also all things cheesy! When Prashant travels, the menu involves all the veggies that are on his dislike list and also some comfort food like alu bhaate (Mashed potato with rice) for example. I am always curious to know what's cooking when am travelling. The two of them experiment, Netflix and have a chill time. 

7. We are also grateful to have a house help, who mostly heeds to the request of not taking leaves when one of us travels. 

8. Prashant and I have been equal parents and in many instances, he is Ira's primary care giver. The fact that he loves cooking and makes excellent food definitely makes life a colourful palate. 

9.  Set a routine where Ira knows that she will get to speak to us and share about her day. This is to also make sure that she doesn't miss out. This is apart from the innumerable messages, gifs, voice notes and even video messages that happen. Of course, once the travelling parent is back, there is mega chipku movement. 

10. The final thing is to normalise that working parents travel and not to gender the action as belonging to one parent. This helps us make the most of our work travels, set context to the fact that work is part of who we are, along with our role as parents. 

This morning, as I got onto the video call with Ira, she first told how Papa has made some crispy buttery toast and yummy omelettes and so she is having an omelette sandwich. She also showed me a neckpiece that she was wearing. I had bought this in 2008, on a trip to Pondicherry with Prashant. My little girl was thrilled with the stone pendant. I looked at her, smiled ear to ear and my heart skipped a beat. The joy of these calls while travelling is precious. 

So, to parenting and to new learnings, every step of the way. 

#Pramadhs  #Ira #Iraisms #IraAtEight #EffablesAtEight #WorkTravel #TravelTales #Us #Love #Gratitude #Parenting #NormaliseWorkingParentsTravel #IraAndPapa #IraAndMamma #IraAndJoy #SoloParenting

First School Excursion, the Ira way

 

Ira and we had another First moment in our lives recently. She went on her first school excursion. What an exciting few weeks it has been from the prep to it actually happening. This blog post is my way to capture and archive this 'First'. Remember, I live in hope that Ira will some day read all my blogposts. Ok. At least some of them. At least those that are about 'Her'. 

18th December 2022 marked an important milestone for a group of eight to nine year olds and their parents. The little human beings were going on a school excursion, a first for almost everyone. Some of them had stayed away from parents but with grandparents for a while, like Ira did for 17 days when we had Covid. But this was a whole new ball game. 

While the children were mostly excited and making a lot of noise, the parents through humor, conversations and smiles were expressing the tumultous journey of the butterflies in their tummy. A parent even said how there was last minute separation anxiety. 

The concerns ranged from it being the first train travel for some, to whether they can live in the rural set up to can they adjust to an Indian toilet. Will they be able to board and alight the train safely, manage the food and for me specifically, hope Ira doesn't have any reactions to insect bites! Some of you may brush these concerns aside calling them silly, but trust me, they are real, they are big concerns and they do seem like huge mountains to cross. Some, like Ira ke Papa were of course pretty cool and chilled out.  I am extremely emotional as a person and was quite worried that I would end up bawling as the train left. But much to Prashant's amusement, that didn't happen :) 

The underlying thought across was will they be all fine, without us- the parents. From the train coming to the two meticulous lines disbanding in chaos because the coach moved further than where it had to halt, the kids all climbed on to the train in 2-3 mins of the halt along with their teachers. We said our byes, walked home with our partners and braced ourselves for the next few days. We were to call only in case of an emergency and a whatsapp group was created where pics would be shared every day. The ask seemed very rational given the teachers had to manage fifteen children. 

Circa, 23rd December 2022

The little human beings completed their wonderful trip and were back home. Each of them full of stories, arising from new experiences and wonderful experimental moments. 

Ira came home along with a dear friend and then through the course of the day shared little stories about her trip. She spoke about liking her train journey and meeting a Dr. Satya on the way to Talguppa in the train and how the Dr. was very familiar with the route.  Ira has earlier done a train journey only twice, once to Trivandrum and once to Mysore. She liked the middle berth and even slept quite well, in her words :) 

The kids shared some chores at the home stay where they were divided into groups and they had to serve food on plaintain leaves, ensure no food was spilt, wrap their bedsheets in the morning, get the firewood going for hot water. The home stay was in Talguppa and had a single bathroom that a large group shared. So, bath time was divided and the groups took the ownership of getting things ready. The trip involved nature walks, where they encountered different insects and ants; visit to a dam, a power generation plant, a fort, some temples and even Jog falls. For posterity, a printed photograph of the group made it's way to our home and our hearts. Eating a meal of rice, rasam, brown chana and payasam at a temple was a whole new experience for Ira. She liked the streams too but didn't want to wet her head below them, just her hands. They also went on paddle boats and some children danced in the bus with disco lights. 

Ira said that Parvathamma and Thatha at the home stay were very nice people and took care of them. Srilakshmi and the teachers helped make the meal that the children had and they had different types of food everyday. Just before boarding the train back, they had dose for dinner, which is quite a favourite with many kids. 

We asked Ira how she felt and she said that on the first night she was home sick and in tears. Some of her friends also went through that the next few days. We asked her what happened at that time and she said that Madhu (her class teacher) told them that this is her 7th excursion and she also misses her family very much. A common chord was struck and that helped them cope, I guess. 

Our little girl is quite a foodie and loves non veg food. The morning at home began with some hot bournvita milk and biscuits and dose and alu sabji for breakfast. Lunch was Chicken pulao and dinner was egg fried rice. In spurts, we got little stories and am sure for the next few days, they will keep coming. The exhaustion had set in and long naps happened. The joy of being home, enjoying her holiday and also being told how she was missed by her Mamma and Papa. 

She quite  a few times called me Madhu and then we had to tell her, you are home and it is Mamma and Papa now. Till the next time and the next excursion. 

These last few days are  a reminder of many things, we take for granted and things we must be grateful for. 

1. Children can always adapt to new experiences, the apprehensions and fears are with us adults. 

2. Children have a strong sense of Independence and given that space, can manage themselves, take some small responsibilities and ownership of tasks. The forgotten items, mismatched clothes and shoes, scrambling for things doesn't really matter in the long run. 

3. It is alright to feel homesick and to miss home. The acknowledgement of that moment is important but also to know that the other children and the adult with you sails in the same boat makes it easier. To know that you are not the only one with that overwhelming feeling. Children learn to cope. 

4. To know that not everything, everytime will be perfect but to work around what is possible and make the most of it. 

5. As parents, we have to remember that we can only facilitate certain experiences for them and then let go of that moment as the experience unravels (ok.Prashant and I were having a conversation on Parenting one of the days while Ira was travelling and this is a thought he shared and is being given due credit for). What we can do best is to teach the little human being to be open to all experiences. We are so glad that Ohana had these excursions and see it as a wonderful way to help the little ones get an understanding of the world beyond their comfort space. 

6. To know and remember that people are kind and helpful. The world is filled with generosity that makes its way to us if we keep an open mind. 

7.  We love our little ones and the best way to love them more is to give them the independence and the autonomy that their heart desires and their mind seeks. 

8. Make the most of these times as parents. We made the most of these four days meeting friends, binge watching Netflix, attending my favourite exhibition- Dastkar and even doing nothing! 

9. A big shoutout to Madhumati, Sneha, Arun and Sreelakshmi for making this happen and our little human beings for giving us Parents so many moments and memories through their little travel stories. 

10. Finally, Kudos to us parents. A small step for our little ones, but a mega leap for us for sure :) 

Ira also wrote a bit about her trip in her journal. And for years, these pages will always remain super special, the Ira way. 

Note: Permission was sought from all the parents before the group picture was posted in the blog. 

#TravelTales #Stories #Ira #Iraisms #IraAtEight #EffablesAtEight #Love #Gratitude #Happiness #FirstSchoolExcursion #Pramadhs #Us #Parenting #Ohana 

Thrilled to bits for little things, the Ira way

 

Dearest Ira, 

You are almost 8.5 years now. The last year has seen a surge of very interesting observations and questions that you have asked us. Some easy ones, some fun ones, some not so comfortable ones and some for which we had to find answers. Somedays, we wondered if you ae really just Eight and the next moment, you did something with child filled wonder and chaos that assured us you are still eight. 

You asked us about the need for caste. Why if we are born equal, do people then follow caste. You read the story on the Dalit boy and wondered about how mean people can be. You felt sad when you read about the atrocities the families went through. 

In our little travel, you have begun noticing the diversity around and also asked us what does it mean to be locals and who is an outsider. 

You have begun showing curiosity on practices and questioned them, food habits to expressions of faith. 

You have also wondered why adults are allowed to do some things and children can't. 

You are curious about growing up and we have had some interesting and deep conversation on the physical and mental changes that you have to embrace yourself for. 

You have navigated difficult interpersonal moments, sometimes chosen not to share with us and sometimes seeked our help. 

We have tried our best to have the conversations in simple ways, seeked the help of books and in some cases, even friends to quench that curiosity. You were sometimes happy with the answers, sometimes asked more questions and may be sometimes even wondered why simple questions had long drawn answers. 

You continue to assert yourself, find yourself and celebrate yourself in your little ways. 

You have shown us how small things thrill you to bits and your expressions have been loud and clear. Be it the lady bug pattern nailpolish , eating your favourite dessert, doing the fevicol craft, playing virtual games or making your own stories. Making rangoli art or trying some Science experiments. Choosing your new spectacles and then flaunting them with panache! 

On Sept 27th, you completed 100 months of being 'You'. We were at Kali adventure camp and you closed the evening eating Gulab Jamun. The thrill in your eyes and the smile said it all. 

You also learnt about budgeting a few weeks back when you shopped for books from two bookstores, keeping a budget in mind and managed to save a few tens! Thrilling indeed. 

Yesterday, you went for your first ever Karate Championship and won some medals. While the thought was to have fun, we also saw how you were thrilled holding onto those medals. 

So, to those questions, to that bowl of Gulab Jamun, to magical and mystical moments, to celebrating every small and big milestone with childlike innocence and wonder! 

We do have a surprise for you this evening and I can already hear that squeal and see that shine <3 

Happy Children's Day! 

Love, Hugs and Kisses, 

Mamma and Papa

#Ira #Iraisms #BeingIra #IraAtEight #EffablesAtEight #Pramadhs #Us #Love #Learning #ChildrensDay #LetterToIra #Questions #LittleHumanBeings #Parenting 

Independence and you, the Ira way

A little crafty endeavor to mark Independence Day (Idea courtesy: Deccan Herald) 

 Dearest Ira

Happy 75th Independence Day! 

As we celebrate this special day, read about the freedom struggles and be thankful for what we have, here are little thoughts on this big word, Independence

You assert your independence when you.... 

Share your thoughts with us, unfiltered

Eat what you want, with glee

Dream the path of your choice, unhindered

Choose the love of your life, with fierceness

Sing and dance in front of the mirror, uninhibited

Draw a rainbow hairstyle on the figurine, with pride

Speak what's on your mind, unabashedly

Walk away from the norm, with little heed

When you stand up for self and say 'No', unhesitatingly 

Read books, write stories, make random crafts, sleep, eat and repeat the same, with happiness

Fail, fall and learn to rise, unscathed

Be yourself and dance to your own tune, with courage

Be kind to self before others, unthinkably

Travel the world and be a part of it, with empathy

Wear your adventures on your lips, unlocked 

Be that little speck that will shine through, with gratitude

Question every injustice, unshackled

Stand up for what you deem is right, with fearlessness

Go, our little girl, assert your Independence every step of the way! 

Love, 

Mamma and Papa 

#Ira #Iraisms #IraAtEight #EffablesAtEight #LittleHumanBeings #Parenting #Pramadhs #HappyIndependenceDay #Love #Kindness #Gratitude 

Back to School, the Ira way

                       Day 1 of School, with Vira

Life last few days has been about many changes. One of the biggest one has been Ira going back to full day school, embracing Grade 3 with full gusto. 

The week has been about sharing what she did with her friends. Key words are talked alot, played a lot and had fun. Being in an alternative learning environment, we have realised much of the learning is latent and springs up in moments of eureka. She loves the bus ride and is getting acquainted to her new Coordinator and new grade. She was super excited to make her own class timetable with her friends which had timetable on one side and calendar on the other side, with some glitter work too. We closed Day 1 with her favourite Chicken pulao made by Papa. 

                    New routine, here I come

     Chicken pulao to mark the Big day

Ira asked me few months back why dolls never have glasses. Thanks to a dear friend and her resourcefulness, I got this crochet doll called Amigurumi dolls customised for her from a doll maker in Trivandrum.

So, introducing Vira and welcoming her to all adventures and travels with the Pramadhs. 

We did the mandatory Day 1 pic while we dropped her to the pickup stop, which is now a walking distance from home. Afternoon pickups also mean some butter milk before we set out to walk home. Mornings are back to being really early and Ira tries to catch up on some reading while eating her breakfast. 

                                  Day 1 Selfie

The week closed with a Parent Teacher Interaction at school. Saturday morning well spent understanding how our little human beings will learn this year, the thoughts they will embrace and all the milestone moments they will carve for themselves. Prashant and Ira also helped serve the sumptuous snack made at school. Of course, we are super excited to get our kitchen rota and also be a part of other activities at school. We took pictures on the lanes Ira will call home for years to come. 

The parent teacher interaction and some yummy tiffin

So, to Grade 3 and to her Ohana experience, filled with love, compassion and discovery. 

#Ira #Iraisms #IraAtEight #EffablesAtEight #Parenting #Love #Happiness #Gratitude #LittleHumanBeings #Parenting #Pramadhs 

Plantain leaves and Negotiation, the Ira way

 

Bangalore has been seeing a lot of rains and some gloomy weather. Just perfect for Papa to make his famous Chicken Dum Biryani. 

What ensued this Thursday was some good planning and prepping. 

Mamma was in a session and Ira and Papa went to Yeshwantpur to buy plantain leaves. Given the traffic and hassle of parking, Ira was given the responsibility to Buy the plantain or 'yele'. 

Prashant told her to buy 5 leaves and it would be about Rs. 25. Gave her 100 Rs. He also primed her to converse in Kannada with the shop keeper. 

Our girl went and asked him for the yele and the cost of it. He wanted to knownif they are buying just one or a bunch of it. On knowing her requirement, he said Rs.30. She got back to Papa and told him about the ask, then went back and told him, "Ayidu yele, 25Rs". He agreed, she paid, got back the change and happily walked back to the car. 

She came home and told me that she negotiated while shopping today. 

A small experience but an essential one. To understand that it is important to ask and ensure fairness. I do hope she hones this skill going ahead and takes this to different aspects of life. One chapter of being independent, assertive and outspoken. 

And yeah, the dum biryani was yummy. Coal was used to give the smoky authentic flavor. We enjoyed the biryani, while continuing to savor the hillstation weather in Ooru. 

#Ira #IraAtSeven #StoriesAtSeven #Parenting #LearningNegotiation #Us #Gratitude #Happiness #ChickenDumBiryani #IraAndPapa 

A Mother's Day letter from A Perfect Mother to her Daughter

                   The cheek to cheek pic <3 

 

Dearest Ira, 

Writing to you after a long time. Someday, I hope you read all these letters and blogs and see how you brightened our lives, every step of the way. We have ofcourse shared the challenges too. You will have memories of some and some would have faded into the convoluted paths of the brain, but then these pieces of writings will remain. 

This Sunday, 8th May 2022 was Mother's Day. I love these innumerable days, the over the top celebrations, the subtle acknowledgements, all of it that we see around us. 

For me, the day was quiet in my head. You made a beautiful card for me, with flowers of my favourite colour and  a pop up inside the card. Then, you and Papa said I should buy you ice cream. We also cooked a meal together. For us, food is and has always been an expression of love. You spent the evening at your Dadu bari, while we went for a play. 

The day with these small moments was remarkable for me. But there was a realisation of many things as the day passed. 

The last one year, there have been moments when I have found parenting hard. 

Moments when you wanted to do something with me, but I was just too tired to be a part of it. 

Moments when you seeked my attention, but I was too preoccupied with everything that was happening in our lives. 

Moments when I raised my voice on you for something so small, only to later realise that I was displacing my anger and it was not fair on you. 

Moments when I felt inadequate and felt may be am not doing enough for you. 

Being your Mamma is one of the best things that ever happened to me, but being The Perfect Mamma is hard, because in our heads, we create an image that is almost impossible to match. 

So, this year, I did things that will help me be The Perfect Mamma for you. And to be that, I had to put myself first. 

I acknowledged that there are moments when am tired and it is ok to not be able to do anything with you. Like I told you, "Mamma is tired. Can we do something else? "

Moments when I realised that I wasn't listening and then asked you again what you were saying, accepting that I was distracted. I know you felt bad but then the moment was such. 

I have been more emotional and more angry in these last two years than I have ever been and it was unfair to lose my cool on you. A little voice raised and you would be in tears and it broke my heart. I felt guilty for days. I now make the effort to not do this. Am not there yet, but am trying. 

I love our moments together. Reading, visiting family and friends, doing art and crafts together, your school works and those nature walks. However, there were times when I felt it wasn't enough. So, I had to take  a step back and think. Thankfully, your Papa balances the pragmatic side of parenting. 

In these two years, I realised how easy it is to succumb to what we think is expected of mammas. To put ourselves after our children. I learnt that only if I put myself first, can I be the perfect mamma for you. 

So, to my mental and physical health, to saying no, to finding peace in not being perfect. 

I love you and will always be there for you. But to be there for you, I have to be there for myself. And that will be The Perfect Mamma for you. 

So, Happy Mother's Day to me. 

Love you always, 

Your Mamma

#Ira #Iraisms #IraAtSeven #StoriesAtSeven #Love #Happiness #Gratitude #HappyMothersDay #Parenting #Us #BeingAMother #Pramadhs 

Art and Story on World Wildlife Day, the Ira way

 

Today is World Wildlife Day. Papa asked Ira if she would like to make a drawing on wildlife and she decided to draw her favourite animal and write a poem. 

Later in the day, she read the following article on Mongabay India- https://india.mongabay.com/2022/03/fantastic-beasts-and-why-plastic-is-bad-for-them/

Post that, she did another drawing and this time there were dialogues, just like she has seen in comic books. 

Discussions on every day things and what is happening in the world when seen through the eyes of an almost 8 year old can seem very fascinating. Sometimes the strongest messages come out through the simplest words. 

#Ira #Iraisms #WorldWildlifeDay #IraAtSeven #StoriesAtSeven #Parenting #Pramadhs #Learnings #EverydayConversations #Reading #ArtByIra #PoetryByIra #StoryByIra 

The Realm of the 4Rs, the Ira way

  Busy weekdays- reading time as we eat lunch

A Conversation at the Pramadhs this morning, while we chatted about Republic Day. 

Ira: "Mamma, when you are talking of young Ambedkar, say Ambadvekar. When you are talking of old Ambedkar, say Ambedkar. Because his surname changed! "

How does our little girl know this? 

Well, we introduced her to Dr. B. R. Ambedkar almost 2 years ago when Prashant began speaking about the Preamble of the Constitution. The discussion was about understanding equality and freedom of speech. 

Much to our delight, her school introduced Humanities to them few months back. And they began the discussion by talking about the preamble of the Constitution and the three Rs- Roles, Rights and Responsibilities. They also drafted the 3Rs for their school  under different categories- Transport and Kitchen for eg. They are understanding discrimination, untouchability, along with the pivotal role of Ambedkar in drafting the Constitution. 

While she continues to understand about the life and works through these Humanities session, at home she is reading the ACK on Babasaheb Ambedkar and Prashant and I keep getting quizzed on his life. Waiting for the day when our little girl will also read, The Annihilation of Caste. 

Today, as we celebrate Republic Day, Ira read the article in the paper that spoke about his contribution and also cut it out to show it to her friends in the next Humanities class. 

We also got a beautiful painting of Babasaheb done by an amazing artist, Priyanka Rohan who specialises in his portraits and also creates thematic magic on canvas. Do checkout Rainbow Creations on Facebook. 

So, to hope, to understanding the crux of the Constitution and to upholding those values. 

Happy Republic Day! 

#Ira #StoriesAtSeven #IraAtSeven #Iraisms #Pramadhs #Parenting #Constitution #Preamble #RepublicDay #Roles #Rights #Responsibilities #IraReads 

Poke that Puri, the Pramadh way

                      Looking up to the sky

There is a lot that the last two years have taught all of us. For the ones who parent little children , it was about embracing the chaos and changes that were beyond our control. 

We at home realised even more through all this, the importance of giving our child experiences to remember, doing things together as a family. The key was appreciating what we have, anticipating a new experience, savoring it together as a family and making random, little memories that you will someday remember and it will bring a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your lips. Just like one fine morning while driving to school pick up spot, Papa talking about potholed roads and teaching Ira the concept of the path of least resistance! Each time we drive through that road in question, this conversation will be etched in our memories. 

Have actually listed some of the randomest and not so random things we did. Random because many a times these were unplanned, some of course planned keeping covid and safety precautions in mind. 

1. Cooking together- Get Ira to help with sorting greens, sauteing onions, cracking and beating eggs. We also progressed to having Ira make one Sunday breakfast a month. Simple sandwiches to pancakes from ready mixes. The idea was to enjoy the process. Being  a foodie, she did like it but was exhausted cooking for 3 people! 

2. Game evenings- Uno Flip, Ludo, Scrabble, Taboo, Pictionary Online topped some of the games we played at home this year. Most Mondays of the year were no screen days and we ensured we played a game together. But again, that was not the only day we played games. 

3. Drawing, colouring and some craft too- we drew, coloured and made things together. Independence Day evening we did a picture with our hand prints. Prompted by a family activity from school, we also did a dot art. We learnt some origami finger puppets and even butterfly bookmarks. We spent an evening this week colouring cupcakes and just imagining the different possibility was so much fun! 

       

4. Treks, parks and more- The last two years when covid was in control, we also managed some early morning treks. Read- waking up at 4am and leaving home by 5am. Ira loved being the trail leader and would pack her trek bag with all essentials, including first aid kit and her whistle. How do we manage such early mornings? We are all early risers and some time in nature is motivation enough. We also managed to visit cubbon park a few times. Walk in the park with friends and fur friends just made our day. 

5. Reading together- While our mornings begin with coffee and books, some recent happenings meant we changed our coffee time. But the reading habit continues and now is punctuated across the day. Ira got introduced to Harry Potter books this year and what a ride it has been. She is on the 5th book now, as I write this blog. And has also begun reading a book titled, The Vedas and Upanishads for Children by Roopa Pai, gifted by Mr. Chatterjee, who she recently met. 

6. Cycling with Papa- Ira also transitioned from a balance bike to a normal bike recently and Papa taught her some bit of road cycling. Wearing her helmet and mask and following directions, navigating traffic with Papa right behind her, she did rides upto 2.5 kms distance. 

7. Adventure, Climbing and Skateboarding- Ira had begun climbing classes but they were disrupted due to the second wave. Those 2 days in the week made her super happy. She has a fabulous coach and we hope to resume that soon. She of course continues her Karate classes. Ira has also begun learning skateboarding by herself and recently, we took her to a skateboarding workshop where she was coached. She now wants to join classes and we are figuring that out. Post that session she said she was hapiest to be out of home and do all this kind of stuff. And yeah, she skateboarded and enjoyed bum-boarding too :) 

     Fun bum-skateboarding

8. Travel- We managed to do some holidays within the state and all of them were in the Western Ghats. Perfect place to relax, do nothing and just be. Some of these places we managed long walks, short treks, a trail walk through paddy fields where we fell and feet got stuck in deep mud too. We also played in a creek and looked up at the open sky and counted the clouds in the mornings and stars at night. 

   We love travelling and love to pose in style

9. Pretend play and Do nothing days- The year was challenging for the Pramadhs in many ways and we found solace in little pretend plays with Ira. A restaurant scene, solving a mystery or travelling in an imaginary place. Also, do nothing days at home when we do nothing much. Sometimes, cook up a storm of dishes literally because foodies love such days. 

10. Journaling your experiences- writing happy chits to writing her little journal, the thought was to capture what am feeling, how am expressing it and why am feeling that way. This is a wip and our little human being reminds us constantly that there is so much happening in that little mind. 

So, as we brace ourselves for 2022, we look up to the skies and hope that this is a better year for everyone, we have experiences we learnt from, make the most of and cherish, also experiences we create because life is precious. So, next time you eat that fluffy puri, remember to poke the puri to make that little hole and then enjoy the goodness of it all, the Pramadh way! 

             Puri poking is serious business 

#Ira #Iraisms #IraAtSeven #StoriesAtSeven #Pramadhs #Happiness #Gratitude #Blessings #Experiences #LoveCooking #LoveTreks #LoveNature #LoveHolidays #LoveTravels #LoveAdventure #LittleHumanBeings #Parenting #Covid19 #Random #Memories 

Healium, a story by Ira

                            Ira with her art

Ira has been learning about plants in her Science class and her teacher encouraged the children to write a story imagining that they are a tree. She gave the little one prompts every week and they had to build on the story. Along with writing this story, there were nature walks, observations and experiential learnings galore. 

This Children’s Day, am sharing Ira’s tree story. 

******** 

I am a Tree

I am a healing tree, I have wide branches and a medium trunk. The colour of my leaves are white. White I feel is the colour of Life. My leaves have and give the healing power. If you are hurt, pluck a leaf and squeeze the water. I live on a short hill, surrounded by grass. I have birds that sit and make their nest. I also have rainbow coloured fruits.

My name is Healium.

My bark is a medium share of brown and it has wavy patterns. It feels hard and nice. Animals, birds and humans eat my fruits. My seeds are heart shaped. They are covered by my fruits, which are floret shaped. They taste sweet. 

I was a heart shaped seed. Someone planted me but I did not see. I was also happy when the birds made my fruits their feast.

Monkeys share my fruits with the whole animal kingdom. 

(Message to Humans) Take care of yourself.

Illustrated by Ira

#Ira #Iraisms #IraAtSeven #StoriesAtSeven #ExperientialLearning #ScienceStories #Observation #NatureWalks #ArtByIra #StoriesByIra #Parenting