The birthday favor with a difference…

Planning birthdays…

It is such a daunting task. Being a creative mamma that I am, I am expected to raise the bar with every passing year. It’s the kinda of pressure I put on myself and I frankly enjoy the appreciation   that follows.

This year we were gripped by the Minion fever and hence the whole party revolved around the minion theme. Instead of a traditional party host or an over kill play zone, we hosted the party at home. The living room was transformed into a carnival. The idea was to get the kids involved. We laid down 15 game stations where kids could come and try their luck out. The activities ranged from coloring minion pictures to counting away candies.. From putting together a minion puzzle to fishing out minion cut outs from the pond.

For every activity they do well, the kids would earn a minion currency. This currency at the end of the day could be exchanged for prizes at the goodies counter. The living room was alive with activity with moms going gaga over the concept and the kids trying to do their best to earn more.. The party was a great success…

But my most favorite part about the party was the return favor each child took home along with the goodies they earned for themselves. Choosing a birthday favor is a different task in itself. A stroll down the Crawford Market and you understand how the Indian economy is being brutally murdered by the giant Dragon.

You are spoilt for choices, take your pick from toxic Tiffin boxes or substandard stationery. Just as I was trying to find the perfect gift in the mere budget of 100 rs. I stumbled upon a store selling pots. Just then I knew what I wanted to give away as a gift to these 5 year olds. I picked those pots up for 25 each, a steal I reckon.  

On my way back I made a quick stop at the local nursery bought, 7 bags of fertile soil, along with two packets of seeds for the cherry tomato plant. I was elated with my decision that in the world of BPA free only, I didn’t invest in some lame toy but instead bought something more valuable for the kids.

each gift bag contained a pot, some soil and tiny Ziploc with some seeds. The pot had the following label:

Vedant plated some seeds of his own on his birthday… Watering his plat is his duty which he gladly does every day after he gets home from school. At times I’ve caught him talking to the pot, asking the seeds to grow fast.  I still remember the day when the first green shoot broke out of the dirt. He practically got the entire 4^th floor to come and check the new member of the Ramani family. Now that’s Real togetherness…

Other moms’ too had similar stories to share… 

Now we are all waiting to see our first batch of cherry tomatoes on out sills. Kissan too has a similar initiative, check it out and be a part of it…

                                                         

A parent’s travel cheat sheet!

“There is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing”, 

In other words, a little planning goes a long way. If you are a parent then you know exactly what I mean. Traveling with children can be overwhelming. There is an endless list of things to carry. Not to mention an entire pharmacy and a grocery store that needs to be accommodated within the 23kg baggage limit. Long flights can be daunting and the lay-over’s can bring you closer to a breakdown.

I’ve traveled to 4 countries with my son, starting off when he was just 9months. Our last trip with him was only a few months back and now, after a bazillion mistakes am finally getting it right. So here I am sharing my gyan that I’ve gathered after some really bad stumbles.  

#Location. I thought it was a bright idea to travel to Dubai with my one and a half year old. Big mistake. He got claustrophobic in his stroller every 5 minutes. All I did was chase him down the mall like a crazy woman. Can’t remember a single thing I shopped for during the ironic shopping festival. It’s very important to plan a destination with keeping the child in mind. Like for instance our last trip to Australia was a super hit, visit to the zoo, theme parks and beaches, holiday personified . So if you want to pleasant holiday, chose your destination wisely. Make sure your destination has a little bit of something for everyone.

#Flights. Happy child, happy you. Make sure you keep them occupied. A sucker during takeoff and landings helps relieve the pain. A favorite snack helps calming the tantrum. Few toys keep them company and when all fails, a little jog in the aisle dose wonders. Don’t bother no one’s judging.

#Packing Hacks. One great tip I can share is I don’t make individual bag for each one of the family member, but for each day of the trip I have my husband’s, mine and my sons clothes packed into one neat bag. This does make packing a little tedious, but you will bless me for the time you save every morning when you don’t have to run around wondering what to wear.

#Plan every last detail. Your carefree bag-packing days are passé when you traded your trainers for a stroller. Meticulous planning helps you cover more distance and help you explore potential things that might keep you and the kids happy.

Once you get the hang of it , children make the best travel companions ever. It’s surprising that even by the end of a tiring day  they have heaps of energy to do more. Their innate sense of curiosity is something we all can learn from. They put the fun back into vacation. They remind you that sometimes all you need is an in room service, where you kill the wake-up call, hit the pool and just relax. P.s. don’t forget the sun block.

From A Mother to Another, Lessons in Parenting.

A question got me thinking ,
What are the 5 things that you would want to gift your child for their secure future and why?


Parenting is tough,

There are good days,

And then there are days when you just feel like a failure,

I can’t do this Maa,

A million calls that go to my mom when I feel like am crashing.

My mother has been my guiding light whenever I felt I was not doing enough as a parent,

Form my conversations with Ma , I’ve put down a list of to-do things that every parent in today’s day and age should follow ,

This might just be the best gift, you as a parent could give to your child.

From A Mother to Another,

#stop being a helicopter mom! Don’t suffocate him, let him fall, let him bruise, he needs to learn to brush himself up and carry on. He needs to learn to stand up to bullies. Don’t fight his battles for him, he is more capable then you give him credit for.

 #Do you realize that smart phone of yours is taking away the time and attention from your child. You spend more time on your cell , when would could invest in figure painting or playing pretend.
She had a point, I realized I spent more time Face-booking,  WhatsApping , Candy-crushing and Instagramming .The very next day I cleansed my phone of all the unnecessary apps that were cluttering my life.  It’s about time I cared more about connecting to my child than my friends across the globe.

#it’s not the end of the world if he doesn’t top his class, embrace his limitations. But make sure he is well read and well informed. Help him fall in love with books, and see the magic take over. Marks don’t matter, at the end of the day the man who holds a good conversations steals the show. Give him enough opportunity to shine at what he does best. Imagine Einstein figure-skating, now that would have been a disaster.

#tell him that he is loved, a million times and more. It’s important to express.  It’s important that he knows he is not judged, it’s easy to stray once you grow older, but it’s that love that will keep him grounded.

#help him empathize with those who don’t have. That’s the only way he will cherish whatever little he is blessed with. Help him see the world beyond his tinted windows.

#Learn to invest, learn to save, for yourself and his future. Your grandpa couldn’t peruse his dream of studying medicine cause he couldn’t afford the 1700rs fee back in the 50’s. Make sure your son never faces that. Cut your expenses if you have to , but make sure you save up so that he can spread his wings. A well planned investment plan with an insurance cover could be a smart option. Life is uncertain so its wise to plan ahead.

#don’t take your job too seriously, remember to have fun along the way, you don’t want to raise an uptight, boring adult. Make it fun, goof up, laugh over silly mistakes and remember not to magnify their faults ,especially not in front of others.  Remember you were not born perfect, so keep your expectations realistic. parenting is a tow way learning process , you will be surprised the kind of things you can learn from your child. My three year old know more about my smart phone than me !

You could give your child everything that money can buy , but  there is no substitution for a parents  love and time.
But apart from above if you are looking something more material then consider ,

A toy that will help him learn while have fun,
A good set of colours  that will nurture his imagination,
A pet that will help him love and be loved unconditionally,
A gadget , used under supervision could do wonders,
An occasional free pick treat to reinforce good behavior . The child could decide how he wants to be rewarded, it could be his favorite game, a trip to the mall or a treat of his favorite dessert, all cause he has been a been a good boy and to let him know he is appreciated.

Happy parenting :)