The School Opens

Can you guess the day on which Anya's school started? It was 5th June- World Environment Day. I was so delighted. Green beginnings?

There was a lot of excitement on first day of school as little ones turned up in their new uniforms and gear. The school was only for an hour for the first couple of days. After leaving the little ones with teachers, we parents waited outside and befriended each other. Anya's friend had accompanied her so she happily went inside. When they came out after an hour, they were quite excited to have received a toffee and a sticker.

For a week after that, the school functioned for only a couple of hours. We used to take the school bus in mornings and come back by auto. After dropping the kids, a bunch of Moms used to hang out in a closeby garden and it had become a nice two hour interaction session. Though mornings were a madness, I used to look forward to these two hours of socialisation.  Then came the book collection day. We all got busy in covering and labelling the books, drawing lines and margins in copies. The almanac was filled and handed over, bus routes finalised, phone numbers exchanged. It was a busy week.

Now, regular school hours are in place and Anya has started commuting both ways by bus. She has been going happily till now. Every day, she comes back and regales us with her new learnings and experiences. Her observations invariably start with 'B(P)ata hai....' '(Do you know?)'. Recital of a rhyme, chanting of a mantra, sharing of an anecdote - all this delights me and my husband no end. To add to her charming ways, she now has a new thread of questions for us. She asks "Jab aap chhote the to aap kaunse color ka bag le jaate the?" "(When you were little, what was the color of your bag?" The same is repeated for snack box, water bottle, mode of transportation, contents of snack box....This series is asked once to Mamma and then to Papa. It does transport us back to our own school days.

My darling daughter, as you embark on this journey of fun and learning, I wish you a very happy, fun-filled and stress-free schooling. May the process of learning always be enjoyable.

Back-to-school supplies

After an enjoyable summer break, it's already time for schools to reopen. When the summer vacations started, I was a little apprehensive of keeping Anya engaged. But it turned out to be ok. I didn't enrol her in any summer camp, yet she managed to stay entertained by visiting friends' places and inviting them over, by going to a beach vacation, by playing Mom to her dolls (and even me) and taking them for a vacation, painting and coloring and listening to lots and lots of stories.

Now that it's time to go back to school, we have to start collecting supplies. Anya would be joining NPS-K and we are very excited about her new school. We have already bought her uniform and shoes. Now it's time to take stock of other necessities.

1.Steel snack box- Though she already has a couple of lunch boxes, I am looking for a steel one. I am concerned about packing hot snacks in plastic boxes. So while it's ok to pack a cold sandwich, fruits, nuts or biscuits in a plastic one, I need a steel one for dosa, poha or paratha. I think I will go for a Milton SS casserole style box I saw at a friend's place.

2. Steel water bottle - Last year, I used to give a BPA-free Nalgene or Thermos bottle to her but sometimes she couldn't put on the cap properly. This would leave spillage in her bag. To avoid this, plus to make a switch from plastic to steel, I would like to buy a new steel bottle. I searched a few shops here but either the bottle was too big or the brand unknown. Then I spotted this Thermos Funtainer with her fellow bus mates. It is the perfect size and doesn't leak. Those kids have been using it for an year now. I have to wait till someone gets it from the US because it is very expensive in India.

3.School bag- Planning to reuse the ones from last year till I gauge the full requirement. 

PS: We got a very good deal at 70% discount sale at Mom & Me. maybe, buying after the rush was over, helped us get a good deal.

Indian Birthday Parties and IST

If you have been to an Indian birthday party and if you've been punctual, congratulations and sorry. Congratulations, because you've just entered the Limca book of records and sorry because you've nothing much to do other than to twiddling your thumbs or yup, gazing into your mobile screen.

We have a system in which punctuality is punished and unpunctuality, rewarded. Those who are on time have to wait for the unpunctual ones as games or performances can't start till the host has a full house.

People who are unpunctual get the best of both worlds as they don't miss a thing plus they get more time to get dressed or finish a few chores. Plus they look fresher while you've wilted like an unwatered flower during that wait time. In fact, if you are the last one, you have to wait the least! No doubt after a while, even punctual people switch categories.

The interesting part is that every mom struggles with the same issue when she is hosting a party. But all is forgotten when she is the guest. 

How to put an end to this menace? It's very deep rooted and quite difficult to end but we have to start somewhere. My suggestions:

1. Keep the time realistic. Speak to friends to know when they can actually make it.

2. When giving an invite, mention the start as well as the end time. 

3. Have some activities or games planned for punctual guests. Hand out prizes after late comers have arrived so that they know what they missed ;)

4. Declare a very appealing early bird prize. I always keep a prize for the one who arrived first. This creates quite a flutter and even the laggards are seen competing!

 

5. Don't forget to thank the punctual ones for their punctuality in thank you notes. This will encourage them to be punctual at your next party too.

The culture of unpunctuality is steeped so deep that even hosts don't take themselves seriously. A friend told me about a party where the hosts invited their guests at 6 pm. She reached on time only to find that even the hosts hadn't arrived. When they arrived after a while, my friend helped them set up and get ready! I wouldn't blame that friend to go late to parties after that! 

Pull up your socks and banners, people! Unpunctuality is uncool.