Obsessivemom

12/01/201515/04/2017

No more happily ever afters

I have a question today. But before that listen to this story that I shared with the children of The Book Club this Sunday. I’ll keep it short I promise.

The story (The Book Keeper)

… is set in the year 2042. It talks of a scenario where books and writing are extinct. ibooks, laptops, computers, tablets and phones are everywhere. However, there is this one poor Bangladeshi boy, Santanu, who possesses a book (A Bengali adaptation of Matilda). He doesn’t understand the Bengali script so he uses it as a diary, address book, notepad and a scribble pad all in one.

One day the Internet crashes. The parents are angry and the children, restless. They are forced to play outdoors and stumble upon a dilapidated building which happens to be a deserted library. They start to love the place. They read, run around and learn to make up stories. Then one day the Internet comes back and the kids all disappear again back to their electronic world leaving Santanu alone but happy with the books. You can read the full story here. (While you’re there you might like to check out the site. It has some amazing stories from around the world).

The question

So tell me now, does the ending bother you? It did bother me. Would you have thought of altering it before you shared the story with the kids?

I was sorely tempted to do that. I’ve tampered with stories earlier, mostly the so called ‘fairytales’, when the kids were younger. I did away with the gory and the unpleasant, evening out the rough patches making it perfect as it could get.

This time however I let it be. For one, this ending might be more near the truth than the one I have in mind, two – changing it would amount to trolling someone else’s story, three – maybe it’s time to let the kids figure out the situation for themselves. I sure was curious to see their reaction – would they accept it like it’s inevitable or ‘normal’ (Yikes!!) or would they feel saddened like I was?

What the kids had to say

The kids completely loved it – the whole story. There were exclamations of ‘cool’ and ‘awesome’ at the idea of all kids having phones and tabs. But there also were ‘haws’ at the idea of no books. They accepted the story in a way more positive manner than what I’d ever imagined. Rather than a black and white approach they found many angles to it. Most said they liked the ending for Santanu’s sake. They liked that Santanu could enjoy being by himself with just books for company. Some said this wasn’t ‘the end’ at all and that finally the kids got bored of their computers after getting a taste of the good stuff and came back.

It’s such joy to watch children think and talk and discuss. Yet one more time I was made to realise how I underestimate the way they think.

07/01/201515/04/2017

One last 2014 post

Happy New Year folks!!

I find I cannot get on with my posting without one last 2014 post even if we’re already sitting in the second week of the new year.

Of course, this should have ideally come at the year-end but it never did happen. Seriously, I always wonder how most bloggers manage to post bang at the right time – right before a big day or after a celebration. Never ever have I managed that – which is why most festivals and birthdays sail by without a mention.

Sigh! That’s one of my resolutions then.

On with the news now..

Our Christmas play went of wonderfully and was much appreciated. That the audience was made up half of doting moms and dads and half of people who were simply glad to see the kids kept out of their way, may have something to do with it. Since many parents didn’t arrive in time, it being a working day, we had two runs of the play back to back for those who missed it.

What’s more, the kids brought out the Christmas spirit in our fuddy-duddy apartment members. An ‘uncle’ brought cake for everyone – enough to feed an army, an enterprising mom turned up with homemade chocolates, at least two others brought more bunches of chocolates and still another one got tiny gift wrapped ‘Christmas trees’, real plants, for each of the kids. One of them dressed up her little daughter as Santa and there she was – distributing sweets to adults and kids alike.

And the best part – none of it was planned, other than the play. Each of the other acts were individual acts of affection and camaraderie in true Christmas Spirit. The children of course felt on top of the world and went on to have quite a party.

Preparations are already underway for Republic Day.

By the time 2015 rolled along, I’d turned another year older and we rounded off with a wonderful family get-together at Goa.

I’ll leave you with some pictures and hope to get back really really fast.

Looking forward to a wonderful New Year.

21/12/201422/12/2017

Finding Santa

Dear H and N,

Christmas this year, is going to be different for it was only this year that you discovered Santa wasn’t real. N, how you cried! It broke my heart. I had no answer to your ‘you lied to me‘. It’s true of course. It did. It was I who ate up your cookies, I who put the gifts and I who read the letters I’d helped you write in the first place.

I’m sorry I should have done it differently, perhaps.

I know you’ll miss him. That smiling, silver-haired presence bearing gifts, the one who made everyone smile – he’ll be missed sorely.But wait. What if I told you there really IS a Santa – nope, not a make-believe one in a red suit, a real one. There’ll be no more lies, I’ve learnt my lesson. He’s a bit different, this one, from the one I told you about.

He doesn’t live at the North Pole to begin with.

So where is he? You ask. I can see the disbelief in your little faces. Hear me out then and be patient.This Santa is all around us. What’s more, he’s far more generous than the one you’ve known all along. He doesn’t wait for Christmas to give us gifts. He comes unannounced any day, anytime, sometimes many times a day, bearing precious gifts. You’ll have to look carefully though for he’s in disguise – no red suit, no silver beard.

‘So how will we know him?’ I hear you ask, suspicious still.Well, first, wipe off those disbelieving looks then listen on my little doubting Thomas’ – here’s how you can see him.

Shut your eyes.

Go on do it.

Now open your hearts.

And think.

Did someone make your face light up with a smile?
Did someone do anything to make you feel special?

Did someone make your heart swell with happiness and fill with warmth?
Did a hug, a kiss, a compliment make you feel like the happiest person on earth?
Did someone make you feel so happy you wanted the whole world to smile with you?

Well.. hold on to them, that right there is your Santa.

The friend who stood up for you, the teacher who said ‘well done’, mama who surprised you with your favourite tiffin, grandma who saves up a new story for you everyday, dad who came home early with your favourite sweet – they’re your Santa.And your gifts? – the smile, the warmth, the happiness – aren’t they all precious? Way more precious than that remote controlled car, that crashed within a week of it’s arrival, right H? Or that Barbie buried somewhere deep in your toy cupboard N.

And you know what? You are a Santa too.

Remember that one time I came home all tired and you ran to give me a hug? I so needed it then, and you were my Santa. And that cake in a cup you made for me – you were my Santa again. To tell you the truth, you became my Santas the moment you were born.

There’s a Santa in all of us. He just hides away sometimes under the stress of homework and housework, the arguments and the anger. This Christmas let’s dig him out and give him a new life, shall we? Let’s all be Santas this Christmas – real live Santas.

Love and hugs,

Ma.

16/12/201415/04/2017

A play, a letter and some cards

That’s exactly the kind of a headline that would have drawn the nastiest of frowns from my editor way back when I was working. How cool is it to be your own editor! While on headlines, even the biggies get stuck sometimes. Why else would Shakespeare call one of his works “As You Like It”.

Anyway it’s Christmas and there really is no time for rambling. Since you already know the three things on my mind – a play, a letter and some cards read on..

First – The Play

I haven’t been posting about the Book Club for sometime now. That’s not to say we’ve been idle. There has been plenty of activity. In fact that is exactly why I haven’t found time to post.

Yes, finally the children are putting up a play this Christmas. In the spirit of the festival and in trying to keep everyone happy and involved I’ve gone over the script scores of times to weave in parts that each child wanted. Finally, everyone is pacified and reasonably happy. We now have …
– two narrators (because two kids would be nothing else),
– a number of good fairies (ALL girls wanted to be fairies),
– a bunch of evil goblins (Yeah, you’ve guessed it – the boys would be nothing else, much as I hate stereotyping!)
– and two leads!
Whew!

My door bell hasn’t stopped ringing with queries and complaints. The evil goblins are proving to be really evil and the fairies are giving them fair competition. However, I would like to look at the positive side – the kids ARE working together despite it all. There are walkouts each day and yet the next day they are there again trying to practise, with barely much adult supervision. That’s something that makes me very very proud of them.

Look at the lovely invites they readied.

We’re waiting for D-Day with crossed fingers hoping there are no casualties along the way.

A Letter

This year H and N discovered that there’s no Santa. And so there was much protesting when during a book club meeting I suggested everyone write a letter to him. After some cajoling (encouraged by the pretty printables I downloaded from here) they came up with some interesting ones. I did tell them to think of intangible things. (I heard one of the older ones explaining to a younger one – write about things that are ‘untouchable’ :-)).

I loved what some of them wrote. Much venom was directed at the security guards of our apartment building, who are all just doing their duty, poor souls. Among other requests for craft sets, chocolates and good grades we also had some for a neater country, more respect for girls, help in making their grandma’s room Christmasy and even one for snow in our city!! Awww!!! Isn’t that really sweet.

Do try to get your kids write a letter to Santa. It’s just so much fun and makes for a wonderful read when they grow up.

And finally the cards!

In case, like us, you have lots of cards to make and are struggling with a deadline you could try this. All you need is some coloured paper, stars to go at the top and a ribbon or simply some more paper for the stems. Cut out triangles, stick them overlapping each other for the tree. Put up the star and the stem and you’re done. Ours are all ready. Don’t they look great?

We’re all set for Christmas. So what have you got lined up? A craft, cooking or baking or carol singing? Do share with us here.

If you’re short of ideas you could check out some of the posts from my fellow bloggers. Do take a look.

Come join a set of fabulous bloggers sharing their Christmas moments – Easy Holiday Crafts, DIY ideas, Recipes , Decor ideas and book recommendations with you .

Starting from today till Christmas and beyond, each one of us will be writing a post related to Christmas.
Participating blogs
ArtsyCraftsyMom – munniofalltrades – hfareensspace – roohiscollections – hellomommyhood – attachedmoms – totschooltotallyawesome – Themomviews – bumpsnbaby.com –
rugsoflife – oneandahalfminutes – shishuworld – ruskandtea – aspoonfullofideas – orangekitchens – obsessivemom – rachnaparmar – parentingmantras –
onboardthemommyship – kwikdekoblog – thekeybunch – momzspace – whatscookingmom – coloursdekor – happypeopleevents – fantastic-feathers – beingzoesmom

So sit back, relax and check out all the fabulous Christmas Bonanza posts from our participating blogs in the linky. Support us by sharing our posts using the hash tag #ChristmasBonanza

This Linky is for participating blogs only, but We would love to see your Christmas Crafts too. Come and link up your Christmas post at ArtsyCraftsyMom.com

An InLinkz Link-up

28/11/201415/04/2017

Pigeon mums don't quite make the cut

I am just so glad my mum’s not a pigeon. No offence to the pigeons but I’ve been watching one of them and I don’t think I would have made it with a mum like her.

This year the children painstakingly painted a bird house hoping to have some of them make it their home.

However ignoring the birdhouse totally (and rather rudely) one day, a lady pigeon laid an egg in our Tulsi planter.

The ‘nest’ was just two or three haphazardly placed twigs. Such careless parenting, I thought. Even if one doesn’t have the dexterity of a weaver bird one can certainly do better than this. Check out the picture below and you’ll know what I mean. Perhaps, hearing me rant and rave she dutifully placed a few more twigs after laying the egg. Some mother, this!

I was pretty outraged on behalf of the unborn offspring but then I thought maybe pigeons just didn’t make nests (at least it was better than laying your egg in someone Else’s nest), or maybe this one was exceptionally lazy. Or, thought I (when in a charitable, non-judgemental mum-to-mum frame of mind) maybe she was a single mum – which would explain a lot, including the absence of any kind of a father figure hovering around the ‘nest’.

She would periodically fly away presumably in search of food, leaving her egg totally exposed to crows and mynahs. That might have been forgivable, but she also took off each time we went even close to the balcony, heartlessly deserting her egg. While such shoddy mothering annoyed me no end she seemed pretty satisfied with it. So much so that the next day she went and laid another egg!!

The eggs would have long gone had I not taken over her mothering duties. It was I who tiptoed into the balcony, I who told the maid to stop watering the poor Tulsi, I who left piles of grains for her and I who shooed away myriad predators including two excited, clueless but very curious children and their bunch of bird crazy friends. One of them wanted to stroke the bird, another wanted to ‘just touch’ the egg and yet another wanted to check if she would eat from his hand. Whew!

All I didn’t do was sit on those darned eggs to hatch them. No sir! That easiest bit was all madame ‘real mum’ did. For over three weeks she sat on them when the fancy took her, while we waited, looking out each day for the new arrivals.

Yesterday, finally, we saw some activity beneath her wings and out peeked one tiny pink headed chick. The kids (mine, not the pigeon’s) literally went berserk oohing and aahing. H ran to call his friend, an aspiring vet, and N chucked her books, while I rushed for the camera. There really is no sight more wonderful, more heartwarming than that of a newborn baby – human or bird.

And today there was another one. The mum in the pigeon finally seems to have awakened. She is refusing to leave her chicks now even when I go out into the balcony or when I sit right next to the planter. When I trained the camera on her for a longish time she moved over in a proprietorial manner to take the chicks under her wing, hiding them from view like they were all hers, like I had no hand in their existence! But I couldn’t help going Aww!!! I just wanted to hug all three of them.

Check out how they feed. At first, given her mothering history, I thought she was eating them up. But she was just feeding them. I wish I could upload the video but for some reason that’s not happening.

I am now waiting eagerly to let my (almost) first set of twins fly the nest with a little help from their pigeon mum.