"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

A Resolution I met in 2019!

2019- one of the resolutions I made was to read more and read atleast one new author every month! Some months, I read two new authors . What a fabulous year it has been discovering new authors. Also read lot of debut novels and some sequels. 6 books of Haruki Murakami <3 p="">
29 books this year.

#BooksIn2019 #LoveReading #Happiness #OneNewAuthorEveryMonth #DebutNovels #Sequels

#

"Mamma, they have such a beautiful garden"

"Mamma, Lotus!! They have such a beautiful garden." When Ira accompanied Mamma to work today at this beautiful institution!

While Mamma met her students, Ira did some drawing, played with her super heroes and then went for a walk with one of Mamma's students.

Post lunch, before we left, we walked a bit more in the garden and took some pics ofcourse.

This is a child who loves gardens and parks and leaves and flowers! She helped untangle two flowers and then collected some stones while walking to the gate.

#IraAndMamma #Parenting #WorkTales #BeautifulGardens #Happiness #Smiles #Ira #Iraisms #TalesAtFive #IraAtFive 

Menndi, the Ira way

It is a rather gloomy day in Bangalore and am working on some behavioral analysis report for a client.

Sudden urge to look through the phone gallery and i see some pictures that captures something new that Ira and I did this month.

Ira has had mehandi put on her hands during some festivals at school and from a neighbour aunt. This holiday we got a mehandi cone when we met Aruna aunty and Trisha didi. Ira also learnt about the fascinating fevicol strip with glitter from Trisha and slept with that strip the next few days.

Mehandi cone was gifted and like Ira said, "Mamma, you have to put menndi for me"! We appointed a specific day and time for the activity.

So, Mamma tried her best. We made a spiral web and flowers, love symbol and pine tree leaves. While a part of me was worried about the crooked lines, Ira loved it and showed it off to friends and families alike.

We already have decided that we need to buy mehandi next holiday too because we love mehandi hands. Papa who has no love for the mehandi aroma was made to sniff her hands and tell her how awesome it is and well, Papa obliged!

Parenting makes you do things and parenting makes you feel you are the most artistic person in the world, thanks to those glimmering eyes and happy smiles.

#Ira #Iraisms #IraAtFive #TalesAtFive #LoveMehandi #Happiness #Parenting #HolidayActivity

When Ira drew her way through her first 'real competition'!

This time during the Durga Puja celebrations at Prabaasee Pandal, Ira participated in her first ever competition- Drawing Competition. The children could draw whatever they wanted. First ever because while her Montessori has activities on sports day, they give a common memento to all kids. No concept of 1st,2nd,3rd and consolation.

Ira pleasantly surprised us with what she drew. For all of you who have been reading my blogposts, you would know that our little girl is quite a firm decision maker. She decided she will take part in the drawing activity. She used the colours they gave and safely guarded the colours she had carried in her dino bag.

She drew a rainbow, flowers, mountains, sun and the rain. When I asked her to explain, she said only when there is sun and rain, will the rainbow appear. The rainbow was the main element of her drawing, depicting the range of happy expressions on her face.

Ira actually won the third place in the age category 4-6 years. The terminology didn't matter to her, what she was excited about was that she got chocolates.

The little joys in life. Let us all discover and be thankful for such rain, sun and rainbow filled moments that our little human beings bring into our lives.

#Ira #Iraisms #IraAtFive #TalesAtFive #DrawingCompetition #IrasFirstEverCompetition #Happiness #Rainbow #Colours #Parenting #LittleHumanBeing

"I want to colour my hair blue!"- 'Wishes', the Ira way.

                        Our little 'Rebel Girl'!

Being parents to a little human being is one of the most adventurous things that has happened to us! Every day is an adventure, every conversation has adventurous elements and every little wish of our little girl is adventure personified.

This weekend she suddenly out of the rainbow said, "I want to colour my hair blue!".

The parent in me reacted.
Mamma: "what, why?"

Ira: (calmly) "I want to colour my hair blue, like Coy."

While I was still in my head figuring out who she is talking about, P realised she is talking about Coy Mathis.  We read about Coy in the book 'Goodnight stories for Rebel Girls' and she is one of our favorite 'Rebel Girls' . We are currently on the 37th story reading a few every week.

And then the conversation continued.

Mamma: Ira, you cannot colour your hair. You are too young and it has chemicals.

Ira: But why can't I, when Coy can.

Papa: Because it is allowed where Coy is. Her school allows it.

Mamma: Yes Ira. She lives in America. It is fine there. Here we have strict rules. May be you can colour when you are 12. But only the edge of the hair.

Ira: when I can choose my own dress, why can't I colour my hair.

Mamma: well, that is a simple decision. But colouring hair is about putting chemicals which may not be safe.

Ira: But I am also allowed to make big decisions and do things that I like. Choose what I play, what I watch, what I eat.

Mamma: yes, we have given you the independence to make your decisions about certain things. But some things...

Ira: But I want to colour my hair.

Mamma: ok. We can talk about this later again. And like I said, when you are 12 may be.

Ira: (Getting her negotiation face on) no, when am 7.

Mamma: Naah. 7 is too young to make this decision.

Ira: But Coy is also that age.

Mamma: yes, but like we told you there are some rules in schools here and we have to follow that. Also, we are ok with you colouring your hair but at a particular age. Not before that. (thinking of some solution for now). And you can ask Nash (Her hair stylist whom she worships, literally).

Ira: (in tears) Ok . But I can make my own decisions.

This was followed by some tears, some hugs and we decided to get back to this conversation. Till when this conversation thread picks up again!

Parenting is often not about the big things, major changes. It is actually about small conversations that our little human beings want to have with us,small ideas, the tiny steps towards freedom and decision making and how do we help that growth story.

There are no easy answers and we didn't have one either. But yes, we acknowledged how she felt, we understood the context where this idea came from. A part of me feels proud that she is internalising some learnings and a part of me wonders, where does she pick up these 'rebel' ideas from.

The rebel gene must be largely from Papa because she even sounds like him a lot of times. People who have intercated with her closely can vouch for that.

For now, P and am happy to raise a 'Rebel Girl'. So, raising a toast to rebel parents too!

And yeah, today is Daughter's Day and we did wish and hug and kiss and do things together.

#HappyDaughtersDay2019 #Daughters #Ira #Iraisms #TalesAtFive #IraAtFive #HairColour #Decisions #Conversations #CoyMathis #ColourMyHairBlue #Parenting

Ira is a Harry Potter Fan now!

"Hermione is smart. I love Hermione".

Two lines that made my heart leap with joy. Ira loves her super heroes and magic. We recently introduced her to the Harry Potter Movies. She was glued to them as we saw them in instalments over the past few weeks. Yes yes, P and my movie times are now about super heroes, animation, magic and all things children.

She wanted to constantly know what next. Expecto Patronum became her favorite spell and she went on a journey with some characters that have been my favorite for years. We have told her that she can in sometime begin reading the books. Yes, am super tempted to read them to her, but I think I will wait for her to read them on her own. Am also wondering if she should read the books that we have or we must buy her the children's illustrated one.

She is fascinated by the friendship of Harry, Ron and Hermione. But apart from them, also Neville Longbottom, Luna and Ginny are her favorites. There were moments during the course of the movie when she was in tears and sad, moments when she cheered the trio on and she actually clapped when Voldemort dies.

This Saturday morning, we decided to print some line pictures and colour them and this time the pictures had to be from Harry Potter. She has added her splash of colours to the pictures. So, we have a colourful hedwig and Harry, Ron and Hermione are also multicoloured.

When a little human being colours the world the way they see it, you sure are to get a spell-binding canvas.

Ira is a Harry Potter Fan now!

#Parenting #Ira #IraAtFive #TalesAtFive #Happiness #HarryPotterFan #Iraisms #LittleHumanBeings

Happy Teacher's Day 2019 - What I learnt from my students!

                        #MondayMotivation

We meander a path and we get lost and we find ourselves again. There are some things in life that give us immense joy. The joy that cannot be quantified and explained in tangible terms. I get that joy from teaching.

From taking short presentations in college in PUC to teaching different classes and different schools as part of NewsPaper in Education.

From doing MDPs with my guide during my PhD days or even teaching English to CLAT aspirants.

From teaching Masters students from Management, Design, Electronics, Public Policy or even Psychology to teaching new recruits, home grown managers, senior leaders or change agents.

Teaching has been a mosaic of experience for me. While everyday this year, I remember my teachers and share my gratitude and love, this year, I will share what I have learnt from my students and am eternally grateful to them. Teaching at my Alma mater is ofcourse like homecoming.

For two years now, I have been teaching in academics and also training in corporates. Each new corporate training session is a whole new world with different organization's and their niche cultures and employees. Each new academic batch is a new challenge because it is learning to teach an almost similar syllabus in a new way to keep your interest and to invigorate the young minds.

Each day, I take away something new from my students and I learn in leaps and bounds. I have met students with so much grit and determination, some finding their paths, some determined about their goal, some battling big challenges, some breaking stereotypes, some creating their own destiny. I listen to their growth stories and am in awe.


1. Always be up to date on the topic you are teaching. Use current examples.
2. Build a bank of examples, anecdotes and stories.
3. Know your books, your movies and your series. Comes extremely handy working with a young crowd. Instant connect guaranteed.
4. Contextualise the examples to the group you are speaking to.
5. Work with ground cases to understand the importance of practical solutions.
6. Respect every voice and Empathise with the narratives that are shared.
7. Encourage the listener in everyone, the talkers are often plenty.
8. Get the silent ones to speak up, they often share the deepest wisdom.
9. Think there is no box to bound your creativity or theirs.
10. Interactive teaching works across academia and industry.
11. Games work even in academic set ups (Tried and Tested)
12. Case studies are a great tool to use.
13. Story telling is a fabulous technique and a must have skill.
14. Ask questions, reflect their thoughts, ask again. Let them do the larger share of speaking at times.
15. Distractions happen. Don't make it personal. Make things relevant.
16. Attendance is only a small part of the larger picture. (I have once taught a corporate session with 6 participants where 30 were expected. I respected the time and commitment of those 6 participants).
17. Exhibit energy and enthusiasm. The participants or students will reflect and mirror the energy you show.
18. Not all beginnings are perfect. Never let a minor hitch cause a crease on your forehead.
19. Sometimes planned things fail. Let go and move on.
20. Sometimes you will have that one person who just is not there. Let it be. May be the person is having a hard day.
21. Plan a session such that it is amenable to change, to accomodate different moods, different narratives, different weathers and different days.
22. Do not enter a class or a room with pre conceived notion about the batch or the city or the organization. Be the blank slate that will absorb everything.
23. Every growth story inspires someone in the room. Encourage participants to share.
24. Retain the curiosity, retain the awe, it can only make the journey better
25. Be kind, be honest, be pragmatic, never give false hope, be optimistic. And smile because it only guarantees a smile in return.

#Gratitude #Happiness #LoveTeaching #HappyTeachersDay #DoWhatYouLove #GrowthStories

Sunday at Swakruta

Sunday was special thanks to Swakruta, an NGO that empowers women embarking on their entrepreneurial journeys. A big thank you to Nirupama Chirmade for the invitation and Malavika Chatterjee for connecting us. I spoke to a bunch of energetic enterprising women entrepreneurs about work-life integration, the necessity to cut ourselves some slack while essaying multiple roles at home and beyond, and the importance of me-time.

I could commit my time on a Sunday to an event because I have the support of my family and my significant other. HE accompanied me to the talk and thereafter, we did manage a lunch date too, while Ira spent the day with her Mashi Dida and Mesho Dadu.

 #OneWomanForAnother #WLB #WLI #MeTime #Gratitude #Happiness #FamilySupport

"I knew it would be Puliogere"

August began on an august note for us with 1st August being our 'Home Lunch' Day. Yes, that day of the year when we get the opportunity to cook for Ira's class mates and her teachers too. 

Our main course every year is guided by what happens to be Ira's favourite at that time. So, we have made peas pulao, Millet khichdi with veggies and carrot broccoli fried rice over the years. The Class Teacher works with us to finalise the menu to ensure no repetitions and also very strict on no fried items and no store bought items.

This year our menu had cucumber corn and pomegranate salad, puliogere, curd rice, curd and banana. Puliogere is one of Ira's current favorite dish. We kept it a surprise for her and as every year, she was super excited about home lunch. 

P made the puliogere ofcourse and we were at school promptly by noon. Apart from cooking, the  most heart melting part of home lunch is how the little human beings greet us with their namaste and thank you, tell us how they liked the food, ask for second helpings and also discuss how many colours are on their plate. 

We loved the experience as always and when Ira came home post school that day, she said, "I knew it would be Puliogere". That big toothy grin is worth every grain of effort. 

This year, we get the opportunity to cook for the class twice. Looking forward to the second time and already wondering what do we make next. Ofcourse, Ira's current fave will guide that choice. She does make our world go round :)

#Ira #Iraisms #IraAtFive #TalesAtFive #HomeLunch #Happiness 

 

Our 'Cover' Story, the Ira way

Ira is now in Mont 4. Recently, we were given her first set of school books and appraised on how the kids are now slowly going to be prepared for their transition into a bigger school. It is called the Classroom Class. They sit on benches, look at the board and learn to write. Ira has just recently exploded into writing.

So, we were entrusted with the task of covering her books. We had decided to use newspapers. Considering all the time we spend talking about Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. We figured this was the another time to practise what we preached :)

We covered them in the glossy newspapers that came from her Dadu's place. We also had many sticker sheets at home that her Papa used for work. We made labels out of them. I wanted to customise them and so decided to have a line picture of the earth and then colour it. Why Earth?! Ofcourse, you know why!

Two hours of covering, colouring and labeling and she was all set to take them to school today.

So, this was our 'Cover' story, the Ira way!

#Ira #Iraisms #SchoolBooks #NewspaperCoverForBooks  #CustomisedLabels #IraAtFive #TalesAtFive #ReduceReuseRecycle #Happiness #Gratitude