Mutton roast and love, the Pramadh way

 

I love all the designated random celebration days every year! The days dedicated to chocolate, coffee, books and idli; the days dedicated to fathers, mothers, daughters and sons. I also like Friendship Day and Women's Day with equal gusto :) 

This Women's Day threw our way some learnings for Ira and me, thanks to an eventful metro ride. 

It also turned out to be  a beautiful day of being loved, made to feel special and building sweet memories. 

While Ira and I came from Babas home, Prashant picked us up from the metro station. We enter home and were welcomed with mint & tender coconut cooler! For the record, it is one of my favourite mocktails. This was followed by gifts! I love surprises but am myself terrible at keeping surprises. Ira and Papa had planned and got me new books! They had planned this for a while and i had no clue at all! Ira sure can keep secrets, like her Papa :) They just know what makes my heart melt <3 Papa also got Ira a card game. 

While we chatted away about the metro ride and the experience that morning, a sumptuous lunch awaited us. Mutton roast speaks love and comfort in every way. 

A beautiful day, spent basking in all the love and care. 

To the years of little celebrations ahead, to being the women we want to be and to be loved the way we are. 

#WomensDay # IraAndMamma #IraAndPapa #Iraisms #IraAtEight #EffablesAtEight #LoveSurprises #MuttonCurry #LoveSpeaks #Gratitude #Happiness #LoveBooks #Us 

What's in a Name-board?

We shifted to a new place near Kanakpura beginning of the academic year. While setting up home, began the quest for a name plate. We wanted Pramadh's either drawn or inscribed or embossed. We were open to the medium be it metal, tiles or canvas. 

We wanted something that would define us. During that process one day, I realised that we had a blank canvas at home. And well, ideas erupted. 

Ira and I decided what's our common favourite colour. Purple, magenta, burgundy made it to the list. Then we thought that we wanted to connect it to earth in some manner. Ira means earth and so the green with tinges of yellow to show grass. We used acrylic paints and sketch pens and also did a comb texture.  I wrote the name while Ira coloured it patiently. 

And voila, we had our name board. Papa was entrusted with the job of getting it framed. This is us, simple and experimental :) 

A lot of times all it takes is small ideas,  being open to possibilities and little actions to make us happy. This name board makes us truly happy. Pramadh means rejoicing and that moment when we decided to make that Ira's second name will always remain the most special. 

Did you ask, "What's in a Name-board?"

#Ira #Iraisms #IraAtEight #EffablesAtEight #IraAndMamma #ArtProject #ArtByIraAndMamma #Pramadhs #NamePlate #Us #Love #Happiness #Gratitude 

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 

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 

Papa's Birthday, Secret Mission and Mango Juice, the Ira way

Ira: Happy birthday Papa

Mamma: Happy birthday Sweetie

Papa: Thanks Girls

When regular conversations make it to the birthday card that also references your age, because Ira loves birthdays and the corresponding numbers :) 

Papa celebrated his birthday recently. We did a pre-birthday dinner, with some friends, where Ira cut the cake on behalf of Papa. It also marked Ira completing this year at school. 

A short camping trip in a valley amidst the hills where we basked in the heat, lost ourselves in nature, ate food made from locally sourced vegetables and camped below the stars. Prashant loves the mountains and slowly, we are also falling in love with them. 

This year on his birthday, We veered a little away from our regular tradition of going to Blossoms as both Papa and Mamma were working. Ira accompanied Papa to  a work meeting and then we did a yele oota lunch at one of our favourite places in Ooru. 

The day began with Ira and Mamma surprising Papa with a well planned breakfast, a birthday card, a menu card and some gifts. Ira and Mamma went on a secret mission the previous day and somehow Ira let it slip that they had gone out :) As always, Papa gifted us too on his birthday. Books for me and a dress for Ira with reversible sequens (she loves them since she was little)! 

Closed the evening with a lovely dinner and memories to count. Guess who was happiest? Our little human being who relished both the pork belly starter and her mango juice with equal gusto <3 

#Pramadhs #Us #Love #HappyBirthdayPapa #Treking #LoveMountains #TravelTrails #Ira #Iraisms #IraAtSeven #StoriesAtSeven #LoveFood #Happiness #Gratitude #SecretMission #MangoJuice 

“T for Tuberculosis”- word building and life-defining, the Pramadh way

 

                             17th March 2022, The evening we will always remember and be grateful for

“T for Tuberculosis”, said Ira thrilled that she could remember the word she had learnt from Papa.

This blog piece has been a difficult one to start writing. Difficult because too many thoughts, the dilemma of how much to share and how to share. Also, is there a need to share so much personal information? But then, I decided to write this in the hope that this will help someone be cautious, be aware and understand, because there may be others like us. Can a mere 1500 words sum up what we went through, the fears, the pain and the moments when we told ourselves, “One day at a time”. We are immensely grateful that we lucked out at going to the doctor at the right time. We are immensely grateful for the doctors who were with us the last year, grateful for family and friends who were there to joke and laugh with, wonder and share, be that immense silent support on tough days and help us find semblances of normalcy on days which seemed uncertain. The storm has passed, some unruly waves remain and we are tiding through them, one day at a time. This blog is my account, what I felt as a partner, what I saw him go through and how we dealt with it. Prashant is a man of few words, but silences speak too.

It is a year since Prashant and I got our first bout of Covid and isolated at home, while Ira stayed with my Mashi-Mesho and my Parents for 17 days. We had not imagined that the roller coaster ride had just begun. Ira got covid In April and recovered at home, with adequate rest, a summer camp to keep her occupied and distanced games.

Beginning of May, Prashant felt some pain, a slight discomfort in swallowing and a bit of a sore throat. A person who never does OTC meds, he met our ENT doctor. An ultra sound later, they discovered that he had inflammation of the thyroid and some nodes in the thyroid and a prominent one in the neck. Doctor said that they are seeing this in post covid recovered patients and gave him medication for the pain; and was advised a follow up scan in 4 weeks. I am deliberately not going to write the medical terminologies that were shared with regard to the diagnosis because every case differs and I know we all love google.

Four weeks later, he had to undergo an Ultrasound of the neck, followed by a CT scan of the Neck, Chest and Pelvic region, along with a range of blood tests. The CT scan showed nodes in thyroid, neck and lungs. He underwent a biopsy to confirm certain possible diagnoses. When we sat at the hospital looking at that CT report, Prashant began counting the nodes and after a number said, I think I should stop and walked into the biopsy room. I was with him at the hospital and I remember carrying Jahnavi Barua’s Rebirth to read. I must have read about a page or 2 while he was undergoing the procedure. Post the procedure, he told me how they took about 12 samples, how he was aware of what was happening, how he felt a bit woozy at that point due to the anaesthesia and then drank Appy that the hospital gave him. My throat was parched and I sat listening to this man, bewildered at his strength and worrying I may begin to bawl at any moment. However, let me take this moment to tell you an inside information. I am an experienced care giver and can manage hospital formalities like a pro, including negotiating with nurses and asking probing questions to concerned doctors. My Baba’s surgery and Prashant’s three knee surgeries are witness to that. Post the biopsy, Prashant came home with bandage patches on the neck and spoke to Ira about what the doctors did. She knew that they had found some nodes in his neck. What followed was 5 days of excruciating waiting period for the reports.

The reports confirmed that Prashant had Tuberculosis. A close friend said that this was a good thing, given the other possibilities. Guess we all try to find that silver lining in the cloud. His ENT did say that we had to continue to closely monitor the thyroid nodes over the next few months and referred us to an infectious diseases specialist. We thought ok, let us meet the doctor start medicines and that’s it. Little did we know that these medicines were for minimum 9 months, we had to test if the TB was resistant type because then the course of treatment would differ; there were expected side effects, he had to undergo multiple tests every few days, some vital functions had to be closely monitored. Ira and I also had to get a Chest Xray done and an important blood test for Ira immediately. Thankfully, our tests were clear. Prashant underwent some more tests and then his medications began. He had to immediately isolate for the next 4 weeks. This was really tough. We had just come out of two isolations but nothing prepares you for moments like this. It was when Ira also began her school, an alternative learning community that we found. Her initial days and she would be excited to share it all with Papa. The long distance conversations and games with N95 masks began. Prashant had some side-effects with the medicines. However, we have a brilliant doctor who had prepared us well. The round of regular tests and appointments began. The initial few weeks it was stressful when the results had to come. We tell ourselves it will be okay, but then we fear to feel too hopeful also. We celebrated Father’s day while Prashant was in isolation. It was during the course of this time that one day while playing word building, Ira said, “T for Tuberculosis”. Post the reports, Prashant had a conversation with Ira and prepared her for the months ahead.

10 months down the line, Prashant’s tests and scans are clear and the TB is cured. There are smaller follow ups on some vital aspects to be done, but like I said, one day at a time. All these months, he consulted the doctor online. This time we finally met her in person. She helped us understand how this may have been triggered with the immunity going low post covid. She also was cautious as we got the second bout of Covid this January. She has asked us to be wary and observant for the next two years as that is the remission period for TB. So, crossing all fingers and toes. The evening we got to know this, we went out for dinner to celebrate this moment of relief, hope and happiness over some Italian food and desserts.

The course of these ten months have been emotionally exhausting for us in different ways. We were shocked to see that there was so much going on inside, while he had no visible TB symptoms. But we will always be glad about how aware he is of his body and that he went to the doctor that morning. For someone like him, who is very rational, pragmatic, follows instructions; and believes and chooses to only share very few things; he even went for all the intermediate scans and doctor appointments alone. For someone like me, who every moment was on high alert, wanting to know if he is feeling ok. A little sneeze, cough or clearing of throat, a bit of tiredness and I would keep asking if he was ok. I may have even become like a helicopter spouse. There were nights when I woke up to just hear him breathe, and if someone snoring gives you immense happiness, I was there because I felt he was soundly sleeping. I had many quiet days and what kept me sane was work. Will always be glad for friends and colleagues at work- both my training space and college. Not many knew what we were going through and we hold on to the ones who did and stood by like the strongest pillars of support possible.

Prashant has a huge pain tolerance and I know this was hard for him. The number of medicines that he had to take, the effects they had. But he never cribbed, not once. He (I guess) found solace in his work, the carefully planned holidays we did, in the books he read and all the netflixing. We all have our ways to fight our battles and He did it his way. One of his friend said that why were things happening to him one after the other and all we could do was wonder. Prashant had no co-morbidities or health issues prior to the covid bout which was quite bad for him. But post-mortems in moments like this don’t help, it is important to look ahead and deal with it. Having said that, I did all the post mortems in the head and out loud too. Didn’t I say, we all have our ways to deal with things. Ira was concerned for him and she knew somedays he was in discomfort. But after a point, she almost forgot that he had TB till we did the final set of tests and he told her he is cured.

So, next time we play word building and she says, T for TB. We will only be glad that it doesn’t define our present but is a time in the past.

#Pramadhs #Us # Love #Gratitude #Ira #Iraisms #IraAtSeven #StoriesAtSeven #Conversations #Covid19 #TB #Reflections #ExistentialThoughts #PragmaticHim #PostCovid

Love Speaks, the Pramadh Way

                              Love speaks

Love is in the little notes tucked away in books, 

Love is in those small gestures, in minute moments

Love is in that mug of hot coffee, perfectly brewed

Love is in sharing a gooey chocolate cookie 

Love is in that plate of biryani, with the desired alu

Love is in that silent nudge, to be a better you

Love is in sharing that podcast, telling a story you may like

Love is in that new book, wrapped in nothing, bought specially for you

Love is in that quiet moment, absorbing your tears and fears, unequivocally

Love is in the stated belief, 'you yourself are the wind beneath your wings'

Love is in knowing without even speaking

Love is in that smile, all because it is you! 

Love is in your little human, finding love in a fallen leaf

Love is the romantic me, the pragmatic you and our magical little girl. 

Love is the way we see the world, in love ❤

Happy Valentine's Day! 

#Love #Us #Pramadhs #HappyValentinesDay #Happiness #Ira #Iraisms #IraAtSeven #StoriesAtSeven #Gratitude #Poetry 

Let the love and gratitude, go 'viral', multifold. #CovidSeasonTwoAtPramadhs

 

 Sunshine, smiles and Us on a Sunday Morning

"Mamma... 3 years of this now. We should just get used to it and deal with it😊"

- Ira Pramadh, 2nd February 2022

March 2021 and April 2021 was our first tryst with covid. Prashant and I caught it in March and Ira in April. Covid has impacted our lives in many ways and there are things that we are still dealing with one day at a time. Someday, that may also make it to a blog of mine. 

For now, let me jump 9 months ahead and talk about catching covid again in the 3rd wave. 

We have been super cautious about meeting people, going out. We have not attended any gathering barring one that Ira and Prashant attended when there was calm before the 3rd wave storm hit. I cannot even remember the number of meetups I have said no to. Like I have mentioned earlier, friends have been very kind and understanding. The rest of the world can wait :) We did a few holidays in the jungles and places with very little human contact. 

This time the scenario: we both are double vaccinated and we both continue to double mask when we go out. I even wasn't sure about going to college to sign my attendance. I was just so scared. Yeah, am working on that fear, still and slowly. 

Ma, Baba and Joy were covid positive around the 11th of Jan. Ma began showing symptoms first with just a headache, then in 2 days Joy had  a cough and Baba had itchy throat. They slowly got other symptoms. Thankfully, they tested immediately and began medication. It was a rough ride for them. One of Baba's blood markers were high and we had to go to the hospital for a chest scan. While he went in the covid ambulance, I took a cab and went to do the paper work. I was double masked, maintained 10 to 12 feet distance from Baba at all times. Yes, I was in a hospital environment and there was only so much I could control. 

On 17th evening, I had an itchy throat and woke up on the 18th with terrible throat ache and a no voice situation. Cancelled my classes and immediately met an ENT on video consult. He gave me some meds, asked me to watch out for symptoms and test. That morning I did the RAT at home and it was negative. The doctor said that sometimes if we test too early and the viral load is low, test comes negative. So, isolate, mask and monitor. The next 24 hours, I felt like I was hit by a truck. Had severe body ache and headache too, no fever and mild cough. I was already isolated in a room, monitoring temperature and SPO2. Ira suddenly developed fever and it went up to 101.7. Prashant isolated her in another room and monitored her vitals. 

From sending food to my parents who were still recovering, here we were suddenly battling with what seemed like covid and no, it is not like 'just the flu'. We all got tested(RTPCR) on 19th and were positive. Prashant developed a mild sore throat and was feverish. We consulted the doctor in the same hospital where we had shown the previous year and also consulted Ira's paediatrician. Her fever abated in about 36 hours. She did mention about her throat and head hurting. So, the gargling and steaming began too. We isolated for about 7 to 9 days. We recovered without any further adventures, thankfully. The exhaustion is there at times, but from past experience, we know it takes time. We are seasoned covid-ians ( can I coin that term?)

What kept us sane and helped us through this phase:

1. We knew from the last time what we had to do. So, the mental preparation was better and swift. 

2. Isolating as  a family is actually easier than just one member isolating. Seems like a silver lining perception but honestly, we can cook together, manage home chores and entertain each other. 

3. Friends sent us care packages that included food, books and some gifts too :) 

4. Ira learnt another aspect of being independent. Prashant taught her to take and monitor her own temperature and keep  note of it. She also continued with her classes. 

5. Prashant and Ira began working on a project to build a truck from little lego pieces. And finished it in about 10 days! 

6. We also did some knitting with yarn, some craft, made a necklace with wool for a pretty pendant, lots of reading and some family movie time too. 

                    Care comes in all forms

Some lessons learnt and some controversial thoughts:

1. The variant is very contagious. You may double mask, take all precautions and still catch it. 

But still continue to follow all covid norms and mask post that. This also doesn't mean you have immunity and may not catch it again. 

2. The rapid test may not depict accurate results if you test too early or when the viral load is low. Best to follow up with RTPCR. Thankfully, in Bangalore there are many labs where they have home test services. Eternally grateful for many such facilities. 

3. Many people said this is just like the flu. But what we often forget is that with this virus, no two bodies react the same. So, best to get tested, consult a doctor and do what they suggest. We have not earned that medical degree. 

Joy had to manage everything with regard to their medical care and it was the promptness that helped us get Baba on a specific medication to help the blood markers come in range. Ma also has been dealing with some post covid effect and we are monitoring as per the doctors suggestions. 

4. It has been annoying to see people with symptoms not test, not isolate, self medicate and put other people at risk. Everyone am sure had their reasons but a part of me couldn't help feeling even angry at such times. I am sure I also sound very judgemental, but basic sense is not that common! (I contemplated if I should write this, but if I didn't, it would be dishonest of me). 

5. The medical fraternity has had it extremely tough last few years. Nothing we do can express our gratitude enough. So, we need to trust our doctors, reach out to them and follow what they say. 

6. I am back in my cocoon. I went to college for  a couple of hours to sign. I did step out with P and Ira for breakfast and we went to a place that would not be crowded, roof top and all that jazz. But yeah, am going to continue to decline invitations for a while. 

One of those evenings, when we decided to step out all masked to buy a few things, Ira gave her little gyaan just the way a little human being can. 

"Mamma... 3 years of this now. We should just get used to it and deal with it😊". She is waiting to get back to offline school soon. 

Guess, like Ira says, we need to get used to it and am sure we slowly are. But till then, continue to care and also reach out. The moment we finished our isolation, we began sending care packages to friends who were unwell and also to friends to share our love and gratitude. 

Covid is a harsh reminder of how helpless it makes you feel when you can't be with someone to help them. So, pay forward the kindness that you receive. Let the love and gratitude, go 'viral', multifold. 

       Life skills, Craft and some entertainment

#CovidSeasonTwoAtPramadhs #Pramadhs #Ira #Iraisms #IraAtSeven #StoriesAtSeven #LittleHumanBeings #Us #Pramadhs #Gratitude #Love #Kindness #ReachOut 

41, accepting and liberating.

                 My first attempt at Gond art- 

                  'A woman seeking Liberation'

The birthday gone by! 

Blessed in many ways, grateful for many things. 

The year gone by has been trying and the focus has been to find space for myself amidst all the chaos. 

Had a quiet birthday with Ira and Prashant. He made some delicious food like always, I ate and took an afternoon siesta. Had a quiet birthday. Some would even term it boring and getting old :). Ira made a beautiful card and wrote, "I hope you are happy to be 41 years old today. " 

A friend dropped by and made ambodes for the birthday girl, another sent boxes of cakes and another boxful of sinful chocolate delights. The next afternoon, a nice lunch at home with 2 friends who have been our pillar of support constantly. 

I spent the afternoon attempting a Gond art. Learnt the basics as part of an interaction with Ira's school art teacher the previous evening. 

The heart was overwhelmed but the mind continued to be in chaos.  Some days, actually many days have been a battle for me. A person who stepped out at the drop of a hat today gets cold feet. I have almost stopped meeting people, I haven't met people for socialising in group larger than 6 to 8 (just one meet up with 8 people including us recently) in the last 2 years (not considering the days I go to MCC). I did not meet one of my closest friends who was leaving town. That is how deep the fear was. May be even irrational at some point. I have cancelled plans, postponed them indefinitely and have learnt not to make plans too. I have at times stopped even trying. 

I have had more quiet days than I have had in the last many many years. I am no more the person who sent the Good Morning message on groups diligently everyday (not random ones, but the ones with close friends). I hardly do calls and I hardly have stayed in touch with many friends. Friends have been kind and understanding. I have also lost friends and acquaintances and learnt that life goes on. 

I have learnt not to have the need to be wanted, to be seeked. I am still here, but I am learning to make peace with not existing, for people. Difficult for an extrovert who derives energy from being amidst people. 

What has kept me sane are my reading , my work, cooking,the two amazing people I live with, Baba, Ma and Joy; and some friends.

'He' has been my anchor. The acceptance, the hugs, the unconditional love and the difficult conversations when I most needed them, some random plans to push me beyond that comfort zone, the understanding of the silent and weepy moments. My little girl has been a star. She has seen me dazed, losing my cool and just not being in my element. She has helped me be stronger and push myself in these dark moments. She has helped me be a mother who takes care of herself first, so that she can be there ready for the day ahead. 

So, to the year to come. The challenges may continue, the road continues to be rough. I hope to find moments with myself, focus just on self. Do things for myself and my well-being. And find the acceptance of these fears, thoughts and actions liberating. 

Happy 41 to me. <3 

#HappyBirthday #41sBirthday #Happiness #Gratitude #Acceptance #Love #Pramadhs #Ira  #Us #Family #Parents #Liberating 

Hope, Anticipation, Gratitude and 2021

 

2020 is a year, that all of who have survived it, will talk about for years to come. A gratitude list from the Pramadhs for the year gone by. The list is selfish, because the list is about our survival. The list is with an acknowledgement that we had some privileges to count. The list is knowing that just listing it is a mere token for the deep gratitude that we experience. 

1. Thankful for the fact that we three and our close family and friends were in decent health, despite some small hiccups. 

2. Thankful that post an initial dip, both our work, my freelance and consulting and his business stayed afloat. 

3. Thankful that we love cooking and used this long stay at home time to create some culinary storms, providing the cathartic moments. Our plates and bowls of happiness and gratitude are testimony to that. Ira does wonder why am always taking pics. 

4. Thankful that our little girl is as much a foodie and became a part of all experimental pursuits and also did her first pakoras and helped Papa to bake some goodies. 

5. Thankful that the little human being was safe, followed the stringent no play rule for weeks on end and found ways to be creative and do her play at home. She flaunts her mask and the rules to anyone who would care to listen. 

6. Thankful that we embarked on this homeschooling journey to only discover new things about us as parents and how we parent Ira. Revelation is an understatement. 

7. Thankful that Ira took to homeschooling the way we hoped for. A total roller coaster ride, filled with high emotions, and some challenges too. But we wouldn't do it any other way. 

8. Thankful that being in each other's face, all the time, we managed to still find the me-time and the we-time. The coffee that he made with freshly ground beans and our reading time ensured a fairly good start to most of the days. 

9. Thankful that we were able to have lockdown celebrations in our own way, venture out for 2 short holidays and some treks on weekends. Our 4am routine is here to stay! 

10. Thankful that we focused on self, let go of what we couldn't control and helped the ones we could. In a year of 'no touching', we had friends who touched our lives in measures that can't be quantified. 

The picture above, taken a few days ago sums up the hidden joys, the anticipations, the wholesome drama and the hope that we feel as we embark on 2021.

2021, be kind. 

Happy New Year! 

A Pic taken on our outing the last Sunday of 2020.

#Us #Ira #Iraisms #IraAtSix #StoriesAtSix #Love #Happiness #Gratitude #Health #Hope #Survival #LoveDrama #Homeschooling #HomeschoolingParents 

Lockdown Celebrations, the Pramadh way

Celebrations in the time of lockdown have actually been special in their own way. While we all get accustomed to what is being called the 'new normal', the biggest thing for me is that we have all found a way to make things happen. The dishes have been tweaked, gifts have taken on a new form, entertainment has gotten transformed. Wiithin the confines of home, we have discovered a new world.

Papa celebrated his birthday on April 13th when it was lockdown 1.0. Ira made him a card and helped Mamma put together a birthday special breakfast for him. Ira's biggest worry was whether there would be the birthday cake! And ofcourse there was, thanks to Baker by the night. Papa cut his keto cake and got a fabulous Italian keto loaf, while Ira also got a chocolate cake with ganache. Papa cooked dinner which comprised a special chicken curry for his girls.

A month and more and it was the lockdown 4.0. Mamma and Papa celebrated their 12th Anniversary. Thanks to some relaxations, Papa was able to go out and get chocolate cup cake for Ira and Mamma. We all cooked together, played games, went for a walk on the terrace in the evening with our black tea and some pakodas made with potato, onion and spinach. Ira through the day kept showeing us with hugs and kisses and wished us. This ofcourse followed a few thoughts about how her birthday should be the coming week. Our little one has begun dropping happy hints :) We also did some craft work that evening and made her current fave, Unicorn. Papa managed to arrange a surprise gift for Mamma- a wireless headphone that will help her with all her webinars and Ira tested it and said, it was awesome!

The day went by and we were grateful to be together at home and make the most of it! So, Happy 12 to us and to many more! Many more years of love, adventure, madness and surprises.

#Happy12 #Us #Love #Celebrations #Ira #Iraisms #IraAtFive #TalesAtFive #Happiness #Gratitude#LockdownConversations #LockdownMoments

Love is a lot of things

Love is a lot of things
Love is knowing exactly how she likes that alu sabji
Love is knowing exactly how he likes the chicken curry
Love is knowing that panch phoron is her spice of choice
Love is knowing that jeera is his indulgent sprinkle
Love is knowing that she cries to express multiple emotions
Love is knowing that silence is his solace when the mind is in a whirlwind
Love is knowing that dark chocolates can just solve all her problems momentarily
Love is knowing that cooking and cleaning are his problem solvers
Love is knowing that when she talks nineteen to a dozen, she is fine
Love is knowing that when he is at his sarcastic best, he is fine
Love is knowing that she smells the pages of every book she reads
Love is knowing that when he plays a video game, the thrill he heeds
Love is knowing that she will always be a die hard romantic
Love is knowing that he will be the pragmatic one, scoffing at the overtures
Love is knowing that she will make those little notes
Love is knowing that he will send her the cutest gifs
Love is knowing that she mastered the art of making imperfect chocolate dipped strawberries
Love is knowing that he can just conjure a perfect coffee on even an imperfect day

Love is a lot of things
Love is seeing that 'our precious' loves her sweets and devours books just like her
Love is seeing that 'our precious' loves her treks and presents arguments just like him

Love is a lot of things
Love is writing a mushy poem on a day that celebrates love
Love is taking a pic of the moment, even though we all look exhausted
Love is making sense of random love filled moments
But the fact is love needs no reason and no day

Love is a lot of things
Love is for everyday!

#Love #Us #We #HappyValentinesDay2020 #Happiness #Gratitude

"Happy New Year 2020", the Pramadh way

This pic quite sums up 2019 at the Pramadh household. A year filled with gushes of uncertain winds, challenges- big and small that came our way. Moments of perseverance that kept us grounded. This little human being made us believe even more strongly that there is happiness in every little thing- collecting stones, twigs and dispersing seeds alike. We all pushed our boundaries, learnt in leaps and bounds. We discovered new things- the joys of reading for the first time, finding the superhero in us, making a new dish, finding a new way of life. Daily conversations about how our days went with Ira asking us existential questions and then times of crazy, mad laughter. Little holidays, big joys. Grateful for all the precious moments with family and friends- celebrating milestones, random chatters and memories of the years gone by.
As we stood on this hill top after a trek year end, the experience was as exhilarating as the year gone by. The smiles say it all, one step at a time.

Happy New Year 2020 everyone!

#Ira #Iraisms #IraAtFive #TalesAtFive #Happiness #Gratitude #Love #Us #We

The 'Us' and the 'Me'

We found the 'Us'
while we searched for the 'me',

We love the 'Us',
and continue to empower the 'me',

We want the 'Us',
and know it is a package deal with the 'me'!

#Us #Love #Happiness #ValentinesDay2019 #MushAlert

"Go Maddie"...."Am trying Prashant"

When a Facebook post you write transforms into a longer blog post. today is one such day!

Two articles, both about birthing, both about choice, both about motherhood. Period. #stopjudgingmoms #stopjudgingbirthchoices

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/07/10/opinion/sunday/get-the-epidural.html?referer=http://m.facebook.com/

https://www.babble.com/pregnancy/jessi-klein-new-york-times-essay-tells-women-to-just-get-the-epidural/

Each birthing experience is unique just the way each of us are unique. I have heard from friends with two babies that for a mother, no two pregnancies are alike.

But what baffles and saddens me is the amount of judgement that is there about pregnancy, birthing and motherhood. To be honest, I have also been guilty of them, of endorsing what I thought is right. While I may be partially right, the fact is there is another side to every story always.

Some things that were told and signalled to me by various people:
Delivery is difficult when you are fat
Delivery is painful, the normal one...they meant the vaginal birth.
Fat women usually have c-sec and complications.
You are on the heavier side (polite way to say things), you will have thyroid and gestational diabetes.
You will never lose that pregnancy weight
You will become 'loose' with normal birth, choose c-sec ( please do not ask what this even means)
You are over 30, expect complications

Sometimes, I wanted to scream but I was almost always very polite, curt to very few...at times, I really couldn't care what anyone said...I was enjoying my pregnancy too much ( read "in a heartbeat" post...evil grin..my ploy to make you read my favourite post ever). Enjoying it because I treated it normal, did everything that I could, some mad things too...thanks to Prashant who was super supportive and my family and friends, who were a part of this madness in their own way. A big shout out to all of them.

I was 33 1/2 years (exactly) when I had Ira at 40 weeks and two days. I had to be induced because I had no pain. My doctor at a super speciality birthing hospital was very pro-normal and even the nurses kept encouraging me to hang in there. I had to be induced thrice, was in labour for over 8-9 hours; and I chose to take the epidural, just before the window closed because the pain got unbearable for me and for Prashant whose hands had marks thanks to my clenching them. I had a vaginal birth. I had a filmy moment amidst all the pain, the sweaty - bloody me and my enthusiastic partner shouting, "Go Maddie" in the labor room...and I replied with a contorted face, "am trying Prashant"! We did provide full entertainment to the medical experts there.

Life changed, my body changed, we changed and so did our world. And end of the day, this is what defines that moment. It must not be normal vs c-sec, naturally conceived vs ivf, home birth vs hospital birth, breastfeeding vs bottle feeding. These are not categories to be pitted against. These are not competing medals of honour, each of them must have their place in our hearts, our lives and this world.

Let us stop judging moms, let us stop judging birth choices.

In a Heartbeat

The most defining moment of understanding that you both have created someone is when you hear that first heartbeat! Your hearts skip a beat in unison, the eyes fill with tears and all you can do is smile. It is overwhelming in every sense of the word!

The 37 weeks gone by have been fascinating in every sense of the word. Filled with anticipated moments, times when our hearts skipped a beat, evenings spent at the hospital for the innumerable checks and scans, the endless list of queries that we posed to the doc, the strange and sometimes funny questions posed to us, the excitement of searching for a ‘name’, to doing all the neutral colour shopping for the baby and crosschecking every moment whether that expansive to-do list is nearing completion!!

These weeks have been a journey in itself; we have stumbled, read up lots of things, had some fabulous discussions with friends and found our ground. We have prepared ourselves for this moment of ‘parenthood’ through processes possible and learning dictums available! However, like everyone says, you can never be fully prepared… we also do not claim to be ready for a perfect ride, but we are excited to be on the ride and experience it as things come along.

Pregnancy like we have experienced has no prototype and every woman explains and experiences it differently. What though were common were the words of caution about being careful, slowing down and even lines like, ‘wait and see, life is not the same, you will have no time for yourself.’ This line is of course true but isn’t that what we have signed up for. Both of us movie buffs, have ensured that we go to as many movies as we can, socialise as much as possible because things will take a backseat for a while and we are good with that.  I was warned by a well meaning friend that I should slow down, not travel too much…and all my partying and else can wait and focus on the baby while I was just 6 weeks pregnant. She also said, “you do not want to cry over spilt milk!” While am sure she meant well, I do not agree with the manner in which she put her words across. It almost rang, you will be responsible for your miscarriage if you are careless. In another instance, we were not invited for a dinner because I was in a delicate condition…really!! I mean, haven’t women for centuries borne babies and survived it in the harshest conditions. And here I was doing fine going by my reports and my doc, but people were beginning to make presumptions on my behalf. Always being a strong headed person, this surely did not go down well with me. I was irritated, angry and amused at the same time. Now, when I look back, am amused at their thinking and my reactions too, but I do not think I would have reacted any other way.

We have always lived life by our own terms and are glad that we both think alike on such aspects. We announced the ‘good news’ on a social platform (Prashant is to be given complete brownies and brickbats for it) and were astounded by the multitude of reactions. Most people felt we had announced it too early while we were in the ‘risky’ first 3 months still; some thought we were crazy, and some like us loved it, were happy for us and showed it!! My poor mom bore the brunt of family friends and relatives telling her what have we done to which she said, ‘they are today’s modern thinking people and am sure they know what they are doing.’ While my mom may have herself liked to break the news later, she respected our stand on it. 

There were days in the initial three months when the morning sickness came on with full mighty force, but the deal was to walk out of the bathroom and tell yourself this too shall pass!! Pregnancy is not easy and neither is it impossible, each of our bodies react differently at different times and the challenge is to accept and learn to deal with it. I travelled by bus and auto to work almost till the 33^rd week and with a little care and lines like, “bhaiya, dheere chaliye/ swalpa nidhaana hogi…all was fine!” I admit that I have been an avid auto user for years and have never really had complaints. The last few days at work, I got chauffeured by my significant other and while a part of me thought this was too much trouble for him, I admit, I loved all the pampering!

While being pregnant does mean making small changes in your lifestyle, these changes can be implemented one step at a time. Being on the higher side of the weighing scale, we had to ensure that I eat healthy and in time and get the metabolism to work better. Did this with about 6 small-meals-a-day, which I still try and do. Have to admit, this has helped my metabolism and also kept the weight gain at a desirable pace and number. The agenda was to listen to doc, stop unnecessarily fretting and enjoy the process. Both of us being foodies have ensured that I eat all cuisines during these weeks. While books say that by about the 21st weekish, the child begins to taste the food you eat through the amniotic fluid, honestly, just feels good to eat different things during Preggy phase. However, one question that kept cropping up was, “So, what cravings are you having? What do you feel like eating? Do you feel hungry middle of the night?” While all this did sound fascinating, my response was in the negative. I DID NOT have cravings or mood swings, Prashant missed the opportunity of having to run to a 24*7 ice-cream/dessert store to pick up desserts for me…guess we did miss this experienceL. A friend of his told him he was having it easy and my BIL quipped, “Prashant is lucky. You have not been difficult to manage.” We would like to believe that those were compliments. However, what we all need to remember is when women go through this, it is a combination of both the physical changes and the mental state. So, I say, the ones with ‘special’ cravings, make the most of it and the ones like me, who do not have cravings, kuch bhi kha lo yaar! Chill karo!

Apart from the quintessential cravings question, the other most common question is on ‘movement’. “So, you can feel it? Such a good feeling naa.”; “It is like football being played, left to right, top to bottom.” “Wait till the movements begin and he kicks (most people would say he), then your sleep will also be troubled”. To my dismay , these questions began about the 22^nd-24^th weeks itself and all I then felt was a little gas-bubble-kinda feeling, even wondering if it is acidity!! A conversation with my doc and some reading up revealed that this is how you initially feel. Did I have a sigh of relief or what? What is interesting is how women often recollect moments from their pregnancy and do a comparative note with you. I many a times, couldn’t identify with the overzealous attitude towards kicking and movement and put it on the fact that “my parental gene must be little slow”, as I still wasn’t feeling all motherly, in any sense of the word. I have begun feeling, understanding and appreciating the movements may be a little later than most people. You can feel the twists and turns, you can feel the fist in the mid-30^th weeks and you do feel the blob of head and the bum! So, we finally concluded that our baby after all wasn’t that lazy. While making this statement, we realised how unconsciously we all begin to compare notes on pregnancy, parenthood and baby aspects! And then consciously remind ourselves the beautiful thought from Dr. Spock’s book, where it is said that we all may have an ideal baby in mind, but our baby is going to be one of a kind, who may not adhere to our standards of ideal. So true, so profound and so simple; yet, so easy to let it pass by.

One of the most exciting moments has been the ‘name hunt’ phase!! What is in a name? You ask us and we say, lots if the parents to be have some defined thoughts and ideologies in mind. We had a few things- the name should not have a religious connotation or be a synonym for any god’s name from any religion; the second name/ surname should not connote the community, the name should be short and have an abstract meaning- could be based on any element, nature, qualities etc. The reason the search became difficult at some level was because the criteria were abstract in the sense, most name sites gave names by nation/language/religion/gender. We realised that some of the most common names across countries had something to do with god, holiness or purity! We were being a little particular and also trying to see how the name sounds, whether it fits in with the second name in mind; whether we want a middle name based on a personality who has influenced our thinking/ ideology. Bongs have nick names/ pet names; our identity revolves around it and this was obviously one of the things that we discussed. Finally, after weeks of discussion, we have decided not to keep an official pet name but if the grandparents want to use a name of their choice, they may. 

We are consulting at a premier birthing hospital in the city that is extremely pro-active at making you feel like this is the best experience of your life. Our choice of this hospital was guided by the fact that the gynac we knew was consulting here and she had been recommended by my parents family doc of 25 years!! The trust was the deciding factor and of course the fact that we liked what the hospital was promising. We have had workshops and sessions where antenatal aspects were discussed, birthing stages were told; the role of the partner was discussed, breathing exercises were taught; basic activities with the baby have been discussed and we have been taught how to do simple baby things. Many naysayers may say, this is fancy marketing gimmick, we have moms and massage ladies at home for all that knowledge and age-old-gyan. However, our experience was that we came back home with a lot of learnings, feeling confident about being involved parents and feeling good about the entire process. What we personally like the most is that they are very particular about the husbands being involved at every stage of the pregnancy, including witnessing the birth of the child. Prashant sure is excited and has warned me of a ‘selfie’ soon after. There are many people who may also raise concerns about the rate cards at this hospital and how today young couples want to pay for fancy pink and blue balloons and decorated rooms, all I can say is this is a very personal choice for a couple and financials are comparatively similar to other top hospitals. We cannot comment on any other hospital and their services because this is our first time; all we can share is we are happy with what we are parting with and the services and personal care we are receiving in return. The learning has also encompassed debunking many a myths. I was asked to have ‘kesar’ with milk everyday because that is what women who are pregnant must do but I did strongly refuse it. The reason kesar is advocated is because it is believed to ensure a ‘fair’ / ‘white’ child! Also, eating papaya can cause heat and miscarriage.  Scientifically, this is not proved (thanks to the nutrition session from the hospital) and so a myth that we succumb to. I did enjoy some ripe papaya during my pregnancy. So, eat the melons and the papaya. The more colourful that plate of food in front of you, the better it is. 

We all grow up seeing our parents, other parents, friends as parents and take away some of the things that we would like to do like them, some learning we would like to emulate. These are all ideal situations because no two children are same and no two parents are same. But where there is inspiration, you lap it up. We have seen around us some of the most doting parents, indulgent parents & chilled out parents!! Hoping we shall also find our connect and our style of parenting as we brace ourselves for the little one to arrive. And like a very dear friend, very practically responded to one of my innumerable questions, “Massage ke liye olive oil use karungi. Kaun sa loon?” and pat comes the reply, “wahi, jo buy one, get one free ho!”. 

As a work life balance researcher, it is a completely different ball game to read all the fancy literature and then see your friends living it 24*7. I have women friends who are fabulous moms. The working moms work literally multiple shifts ensuring their careers grow and their children still get all the attention; friends with two kids who are like super-moms literally!! While there are moments I may be cynical about their advices, I do admit that they are speaking from their experiences and choices and I respect that. 

Whoa…that is been a lot I had to say about my thoughts and our experiences. I have saved the most precious account for the last. Being married for almost 6 years (oh yes, we are wondering what if the little one is born on the 6^th anniversary date that is in a few days…wicked smile) to my best friend (sounds cliché I know, but no other way to say it), who over the years has filled my life with love, happiness, excitement, adventure and madness…this phase has also been fun and fulfilling. He is as involved, excited and eager as I am and has made me feel precious every moment of the way. The changes have been easy to embrace, I have felt confident about the roundness that I have become and absolutely loved every moment of this Preggy phase. Yes, there have been moments when I have been a tad bit low on the enthu-meter but am not gonna be harsh on myself about that. Prashant is currently on a ‘baby-break’ and this possibly is one of the best things that has happened. Yes, the reactions have been aplenty, from what is the need to why now, when a baby means more expenses and people absolutely missing the point! We chose to do this because this gives us time together and nothing can beat those initial moments. And like I always tell him, his parental gene is surely more active! So, here we are in the 38^th week, looking forward to the next few days and eagerly awaiting the arrival of our little one!! Life will change; it will be 24*7; routines will go haywire; lot of things we plan and will for, may never happen…but we are set for that journey, we are ready to make those choices and enjoy this lifetime of an experience.  Life comes a full circle in a heartbeat!