Special Days...

           Mother’s day is always celebrated on 2^nd Sunday in month of May…

Valentine’s Day on 14^th Feb, women’s day 8^th march etc etc…

But whenever these days like mother’s day, father’s day, valentine’s day, daughter’s day, rose day, women’s day, friendship day, grandparents day etc etc comes a thought always crosses my mind…”why do we need these days?”

          Previously we didn't have all these specific days, but still we loved our parents, grandparents, lovers & spouse… then why only on these specific days do we need to  tell them that we love  them or care for them… Children’s day is celebrated to mark birthday of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Teacher’s day for Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan’s birthday. These days are celebrated as a respect to these great men…

          Why only on these specific days should we make them feel that they are special… why not all 365 days can we make them feel we love them & we care for them??

          Making them feel special doesn't mean spending money & buying expensive gifts… we can make them feel special by just finding some time from our busy life, & spending with them…

          Or just giving them a hug, or cooking for them or just spending some time with them or by just telling them that how much we love them… aren’t these small things which we miss doing it for them…

          Previously when we didn’t have these all specific days, & the idiot box demanding our attention, nor the workload or stress, these small things were normally done… But with this advanced technology in our life, work load & stress sometime we tend to neglect our families & feelings…

          These days were made popular by western countries wherein kids are made to leave house & earn as soon as they become 18 & on these days the family comes together… But in India wherein we live in a close knit family, do we need specific days (except birthdays & anniversaries) to make them feel special???

          Only people who are benefited are Cards Company, chocolate company & florist who makes a profit business on these days…

          Whole year we treat them as if they are not important, & on that specific day treat them as a VIP, again to be forgotten till next year…

          Can’t we treat our people, people whom we love, people we care about, as special all year round…If not year round at least once a month, week or day…

          Come on, we all love our parents, spouse, kids, grandparents & friends…then why only on a specific day we should express our love…

          I feel each day as special day for one we love J

 I know many of them are going to hate me for this post!!!

Mangoes ...

“MANGOES”, those golden words & everyone, from toddler to teenagers to old people go weak in their knees….

          Yes, today’s blog is about king of fruits, fruit of summer Mango…

We wait for an entire year, for summer only for arrival of this fruit…And once it arrives all hell breaks loose…the sight of it in those neatly arranged rows, tempt you, the aroma, drives you crazy & when you bite into its sweet golden juicy flesh…ohhh… you go mad…

 

Housewives think of all the recipes that can be made, aamras, ice creams, milk shakes, smoothies, aam papad, jams, juice, sweets you name it… their brains work overtime so that she & her family can savour the fruit till the season ends.

Kids go crazy by just seeing their parents bring the fruit home.

I don’t remember when exactly I feel in love with this fruit, maybe when I was a kid…

My Aayi, made an unspoken rule, that on each one’s birthday, their favorite will be cooked… so on my birthday (I am born in month of May) its “Aamras poori”…hmmm I can imagine many drooling…J

Maybe that’s when I feel in love with this magical fruit… no wonder mango is called king of fruits… its colour yellowish with orange tinge, the sweet aroma, the sweet tingling taste…

With so many varieties available, the king of them Alphonso rules the no 1 position. You can’t match the taste of this naturally ripened fruit with anything in world…

But due to its high sugar content people with diabetics can’t eat it… Also excess eating of mangoes results in outbreak of acne…L. One way of reducing its heat is that before eating a mango its better if you soak it in cold water for ½ hour & then relish the fruit. Soaking reduces its heat…Also some say drinking in form of milkshakes reduces its heat.

I remember when we were kids, every summer we used to go to our native place Udupi, at my cousin’s place, who had many mango & cashew trees. The sweet aroma of the blooming mango & cashew flowers, small tender mangoes hanging on the overloaded branches, threatening to fall off, if wind blows… Competing with cousins, who climbs the tree first to get to those ripe cashew or mango, who collects maximum number of mangoes, who’s stone hits the target… Those were our childhood memories which sadly kids of this generation miss.

Mango can be used either raw or ripe. Raw mango or kairi when cut into wedges, sprinkled with salt & red chilli powder…hmmm…mouth starts watering just by thinking about it… it is also used in making of chats, chutneys, salads, curries & subjis… 

 

Mango leaves are considered to be auspicious. Any functions or any pooja ritual is incomplete without its leaves…

Really, mango, be it fruit or leaves has such vast use…

So am off to relish my aamras made by my Aayi & enjoy the ice cream I made…

Enjoy the King of fruits till it returns next year J

HOW I MET THE SUN-My 1st Indiblogger meet

          When we say Sun we are reminded of blazing, glowing hot & yellow ball in sky spitting fire & giving sunshine & light…

          But on Sunday 7th April when I attended my 1^st Indiblogger meet, sponsored by Neutrogena Ultra Sheer & they told us to blog about our experience of the event under the above title, all I could think of 2 ladies looking glowing hot in their yellow dress…One was our anchor whose name I forgot to catch & other was actress Tara Sharma… both were glowing … I said "WOW"…

          This was my 1^st bloggers meet & I was bit nervous inside but I had my friend & blogger Janki with me so I felt bit relaxed… Basically I am little bit shy person who doesn’t open up easily… But once I reached the venue the atmosphere caught up on me…I got to meet new people, get acquainted with fellow bloggers. After initial welcome & all, the games started, which was basically for the newbie’s to get know others, then came the anchor spreading sunshine in the hall (spot light following her as she walked )…

          During the session of games, I came to know the youngest blogger was a 13 year boy & a 14 year girl & oldest was a 63 year lady…Also a boy who did a social service by blogging about movies (uploading pirated movies)…I got to know, people blogged about anything under sun…personal blogs, fashion, art, crafts, food so on & so forth…

After session of games mainly associated with getting to know the product, one in which my group (Sun of Sardars) won, tied with another group(Sun-sunny) wherein we had to create an Anthem or a Slogan with “Sun” in it. Then came tea break…snacks by J W Marriot…wow what a spread…cheesecake, choco mousse, sandwiches, jalebi, rabri, corn & cheese balls…

Then came another sunshine, actress Tara Sharma, who was also glowing in her yellow ensemble, telling about her experiences about her kids, her blog & her show…Then a dermatologist explaining Neutrogena Ultra Sheer product, how is it different from other sun blocks & sunscreens available in market… we felt like suddenly we have been transferred to a chemistry lab where our teacher is performing chemistry experiments…

Then finally came the time to say goodbye with Neutrogena goodies, Indiblogger T-shirt & also lots of happy moments, with group photos & Harlem shake video…

The noon was spent in Sun (lots of yellow lights & umbrellas & yellow decorations), protected by Neutrogena & lots of fun, masti & sunshine...

Thanks Indiblogger team & Neutrogena Ultra Sheer for making my 1^st meet a memorable one…




http://www.facebook.com/NeutrogenaIndia

FRIENDS....

            Now-a-days thanks to advanced technology, & also due to busy life,I had started communicating with my friends through SMS, social networking or online chatting…

But then I realized that’s why maybe I was feeling lonely and left out… so I called up my friends to wish them on their b’day or just to say “Hi" or to just catch up from where we had left...

And trust me it did make me feel better…

So this blog is dedicated to all my friends who have been with me through thick & thin, who always encouraged me, who stuck with me when I was feeling low, who didn't complain about my long silence, but were always there when I needed a shoulder to cry on, pepped me up when I was feeling low, told me to not to lose heart when I felt defeated & lost, corrected me when I was wrong, so on & so forth…the list is pretty long…

To cut long list short… to all my friends thanks for being my friend …

I won’t name anyone, as others might feel left out…

But as they say “Har ek friend jaroori hota hai”

I am so lucky to have friends like you…

Baby Girl...

Yesterday morning woke up reading shocking news in paper, how a 3 month baby girl has been battered & landed in hospital with skull fracture & brain injuries, whereas her twin sister had died on 12^th day after birth.

Which set me thinking why do we hate “Girl Child”???

Why do we forget that if we don’t have baby girls, we won’t have mom, sister, wife or girlfriends…?

Why do we forget that if girls aren’t there how will the family grow, as there will be no one to give birth to kids??

Secondly how can a mom, forget Dad, how can a mom do this???A mom who being a woman herself, who for 9 months nurtured that child in her womb, who gave birth to her, suffering so much pain & trouble, have the heart to batter her own child that way???

Why so much hype for a male child???? As it is said “A son is a son till he gets a wife, (though there are some exceptions, I agree) but a daughter will always be a daughter”.

How many sons’ now-a-days look or care for their parents? Compare the ratio with daughters... Daughters’ inspite of getting married look after their parents as well as in-laws, no matter what...

Being a woman I am not biased, but isn’t it the truth???  I don’t say all sons are like that…some do care for their parents.

But why the longing for a male child, in this century!!!

Who turns your house into home sweet home, who cooks hot, piping food for you, who looks after your kids & parents, who looks after you when you fall sick????It is a woman, either in guise of your mom, wife, sister or your daughter…

How can parents be so cruel & heartless to batter a 3 month, 3 year or a 7 year old girl??? Aren’t we reading this news every other day???Every other day in some corner of the country a girl foetus or baby is found in some drain or a dustbin… how can a mother do this?? Instead of throwing these kids or killing them why not give them for adoption…there are many childless couples who are waiting for a girl to adopt.

We need to wake up...Don’t forget Laxmi, Parvati, Saraswati, Kali, DurgaMa, Mother Mary along with others Goddess are also woman.

Terms & Conditions!!!

It’s been long time since I last wrote my blog… Today I thought to bring about another problem which we parents always face…

          “School Admission & their terms & conditions”

          I & many of parents have face this problem…no matter in which area we stay we always find it difficult to get our kids admitted… Today am not talking about normal school…they have their own dikats while admitting our wards...But this time it’s about some special schools that put this stupid conditions & call themselves a “Special School”.

          Some schools when we go to enquire they ask whether our child walks &/or talks...if the answer is no then they frankly tell sorry we can’t take your child…If you call yourself special school how come you can put this condition to parents…then what’s the use of special school… if our kids were able to walk & talk won’t we get them admitted to a normal school…why would we go in search of special school????

          I mean what is the meaning of special child??? Many of parents have faced this. First of all we parents face shortage of school for our kids. Secondly, often we have to travel a lot for such schools as they are not many schools for them & then finally we get it we face such terms & conditions… What’s the use of being called as SPECIAL SCHOOLS?????

I am not telling about all schools but some…there are some schools who out of way for such kids…but they are either far off or very costly…

Aren’t our kids also entitled for education like other kids??? Why do they always have to struggle???

Rememberance....

18 years …but even after so many years till date, thus day brings back lots of memories which changed our life forever.

          18 years…is a long time but still not a day passed when we didn’t miss you, dear Bro….

          It's been 18 years since you left us, but still I feel you are somewhere near, watching us.

          Your passing away changed our life forever.

          My parents, whom I thought are very strong, were heartbroken & shattered at their sudden loss…

When you were there not a single day passed when we fought like dogs & cats (that’s what mom used to say). We were named as Tom & Jerry by them because we always fought but we couldn’t do without each other.

          Those last 6 months before your demise were the best. We became close friends. You shared every secret with me, we fought less, from a fighter bro, you became a possessive but protective bro (which I miss a lot even 2day).

          Initially for some years I felt you’ll pop out from somewhere & say “I’m back”. My eyes kept searching for you wherever I went. But now I know you won’t but dil hai ki mantha nahi…..my eyes still keep searching for my lost brother…

          An elder brother is irreplaceable. No matter how much you move on further in life, how many friends you make, how many new relations you have, a void created by the loss of a near & dear one be it a sibling, or parents or spouse or child,  is forever irreplaceable…

Miss You DADA…

Love you …………

Few tips which I think all parents must follow be it a special child or a normal child....

Human Nature...

Just the other day when I was having a chat with my daughter’s therapist about the pressures & stress that mother’s have to deal with, when I came to know some of shocking facts which I thought till now was seen & hear only in TV & novels…

She told me about a mother who committed suicide last year with her Autistic child only because her husband told to abandon that special child & look after the other 2 normal kids they had….He put so much pressure that she unable to bear it committed suicide with that special child as she knew that anyone will look after her other 2 normal kids but not this child…

A doctor who has given birth to an autistic child was left by her husband because she gave birth to a child who is not normal….

          I also remember 1 mother who was assured by her husband & in laws that they would take care of 1^st born who was a special child, until the 2^nd child is born…that mother trusted them & went ahead … but until 2^nd child was born & mother was fit to continue with the child’s therapy, the child’s therapy & treatment was discontinued.

There are many instances where in I have heard people telling mothers of special child to abandon them leave them & go for another child…. There are many fathers who have left their wives & special kids because they wanted a normal child & not a “damaged/abnormal” one…

Why???? Aren’t those kids also humans??? Don’t they have the right to live??? Don’t they have the right for their parents love & support??? Is it their fault or their mother’s fault that they are not like other normal kids????

Why do humans behave like this??? Even an animal who can't talk will wait by its offspring if the child is injured or hurt….then why do humans expect us to abandon out offspring’s if they are not normal???

Why is it that always a mother is blamed for all that goes wrong & a father is praised for all that goes right??? Whereas it's the mother who sacrifices all her wishes, life, career for her child & family…

When will we people change our attitude towards these special kids & their mothers????

          Also I would like to ask God, people say “children are God’s Gift”…..if this is true why does he not give all normal gifts….why the special gifts??? Which makes the receiver suffer life long????

I know people who’ll read this may feel what a person I am…but these are what we parents especially mothers of special kids go through…

What we suffer, what we experience is far more different from what we show or tell…….

Who is to blame???

Last year on same day 1 incident changed our life…..

While crossing road to catch an auto to take my daughter school, I was standing on the divider waiting for the vehicles to pass. As soon as the vehicles cleared I put my leg to cross, something hit hard on my leg & I blackout… after a few sec I realised that I had fallen on road & Prerna was not in my hands. Usually I carry her with my left hand, but she had fallen on my right side & she was crying loudly…

With crowd gathering, I could hear a biker pleading “I my sorry, I had been to ATM, have to go to hospital”. By the time anyone could catch him he sped away...

All I was worried about my daughter who was crying, lying on hot road (it happened at around 2 in afternoon)…

I picked her up; luckily people helped me pick up my bag, umbrella & purse & also my daughter who was howling badly out of fear…

Since her therapy clinic was nearby I somehow managed to go there…. Luckily she was not hurt…

I thanked God… (Later I realised I thanked God a bit early)

Though I was hurt badly & my hubby being a cameraman was busy with IPL at that time somehow I reached home…

Next day morning at 5 I woke up with a strange sound on switching on lights I realised my daughter was getting convulsions (fits)…

Prerna who being a special child didn’t have the fits problem until then…I went in to shock… I felt totally helpless…

What followed then was hospital, doctor follow ups, increase of medicines etc…list is endless….

BUT MY QUESTION IS WHO IS TO BLAME FOR THIS?????

The biker who was on wrong side & came on full speed with out honking, or me who was looking at right side of traffic & not the other way while crossing….

Even now I am not able to sleep peacefully at night in the worry that has she got a fit???

Who is to be held responsible for all this tension & worry??

A single fit can cause lots of problem for a special child. It makes the child go few months or years back… Who is responsible for it??? It was a plus point for me & my family that Prerna was not getting fits till now… but that 1 incident turned that plus point of our life into the most negative point of our life…

My friend’s husband told me “I India while crossing we must look on both sides & then cross…this is India.”

Though he jokingly said it I followed it seriously… whenever Prerna is with me I fear crossing the road…who is the cause of this fear???

So many road accidents occur here, so many lives are lost here due to mistakes of the drivers….sometimes the sole earning member is lost, some handicapped for life so on & so forth…. One mistake of the driver but punishment for those who are hit or killed!!!

But who is to be blamed…one who drives or the ones who happen to come unfortunately in their ways??? Does the driver ever realise the aftermath of his mistake???

Who is to going to answer this question???? When will people learn to drive with responsibility?

Responsibility towards people walking on the road, responsibility towards their family…..WHEN?