Birthday Goodies for School

Anya's birthdays leave me jittery. They are exciting, fun but oh-so-demanding.

To celebrate her big day at school, I wanted to give a little remember-me-by to her classmates. Now, this something had to pass a few tests. It had to be:

• Useful
• Eco-friendly
• Fun
• Artsy and craftsy

Whenever I'm seeking such ideas, I always check with Sarika, my dear friend who is a goddess of birthday-celebrations. Her daughter's birthday parties are the most fun I've ever attended. Her goody bags are the holy grail of birthday favors and I tremble with excitement while opening them. I'm more excited than kids and have requested her to keep a bag for me even if I'm seven seas or many moons away.

I, errrr...emmm, Anya, had received a homemade bookmark from her a couple of years back. I totally fell in love with it and had wanted to try it out myself someday. 

This birthday, we did it!!! (A loud, proud pat on the back!)

I bought these craft sticks from Dollar Store. Since colored sticks were out of stock, I bought poster colors too. Rest of the stuff was found at home. 

I halved the sticks.

We painted them.

Then did the hair with wool, bows or whatever spare thread we could find. 

Googly eyes are an option for eyes but as they are plastic, I didn't use them. I wanted the bookmarks to be eco-friendly. 

We drew eyes and lips with sharp pointed marker pens. Used the same to write names.

You can write a message or names of recipients. 

25 bookmarks took 4 hours of work!! It seems a lot but I did that  over 3 days - while taking calls and chatting. 

At times, Anya helped me so it was like an art and craft lesson together. It was fun to match bookmarks to classmates. I got to know a bit more about her classmates. 

I loved her excitement and pride when she distributed these amongst her classmates. One friend said "Oh, I wanted a bookmark. Otherwise I was using a torn page as one."

All in all, it was time and effort well spent. Already scouting ideas for her next birthday :)

First Day at School : Our Photoshoot Tradition

As the first day of school dawns, I find myself a tad emotional. I sense the passage of time with a twinge of sadness and plethora of clichés. Oh it was only yesterday when we were researching schools, then enrolling her in a nearby montessori. How time flies! How she has grown! How we have grown.....sigh.

This year, Anya started first grade. I did a photoshoot for her at a herb garden outside our apartment. She wasn't the most cooperative kid around but a promise of TV time elicited required poses for a few precious minutes. 

I would like to maintain this tradition of first and last day of school photoshoots till she graduates from college.

The photoshoot set me thinking about her first year at school. We had celebrated it with a 'Vidyabhyas' at Bua's home and later, a 'School beginning party' at our place.

Do you have any interesting traditions around first day of school? Do share.

The power of stars and smileys

Since the time Anya has started school, I have discovered the power of stars and smileys. One day when I went to pick her up, she was bursting with excitement. "Look, Mamma! Teacher Aunty gave me a star. She thrust her fist triumphantly at me to admire, where her teacher had drawn a smiley with a marker. She was evidently proud of it. I hugged her and joined in her exultation.

Now she gets smileys and stars for her classwork and homework. She has started to understand that if Ma'am underlines something, then it's not good and her chances of getting a smiley are bleak. Whenever she does her work at home, she gives herself a smiley as a mark of self-approval.

In the US at Costco, the receipt checker draws a smiley on the receipt. It is such a simple gesture, but one that thrills her no end each time! 

She looks forward to it. If the person takes extra effort to draw her sketch with wavy hair or make her hold a balloon, she is on cloud nine!

It warms my heart to see how a simple gesture lights up a kid's world! Maybe that's the reason people smile at babies and kids. They really take it to heart and respond with the sweetest genuineness!

Be a Big Green Warrior, My Little One!

Dearest Anya,

Every parent wants his/ her kid to imbibe all possible good qualities and repel bad ones. I am no different. While this is humanly not possible, we can definitely strive to maximise the goodness. If there is one thing I would like to inculcate in you, it would be love and respect for nature. Be it majestic mountains or deep oceans, dense forests or sparse deserts, a mighty tree or a puny blade of grass, there's nothing more beautiful in the whole wide world than nature. If you love nature, you will never be lonely and if you choose to be alone, you won't get a better companion!

My dearest, I have been very fortunate to grow up in lap of nature. Aravalis were my backyard. Wilderness, fields and canals were my playground. I have spent innumerable evenings strolling amidst these wonders. The silhouette of a tree, the sharpness of a rock, the smell of a crushed leaf, the rustle of grass, all of them left a lasting impression on me.  A mango tree would lend its sturdy branch for hosting a swing, canals would  give me a quick dip and merrily transport my paper boats, jhadberis would share their sweet and tart berries if I braved their thorns and hills would provide fantastic views if I made an effort to climb them. They all became my dear friends. 

Now, I live in a metro and don't often get to meet these friends but their love has left a deep imprint in my heart. Wordsworth expressed my very own feelings when he said in his famous poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud":

     "I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

     what wealth the show to me had brought

For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;"

I want you to get high and rich on such wealth. When I take you for those walks to a nearby lake, it's for you to make such friends. I want you to love nature because one strives to protect what one loves. Our planet gives us everything. From the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the food we eat, we are totally dependent on our planet. And yet, it pains me to see that, we destroy what sustains us. We have littered the whole earth for our convenience. We have cut forests and mined resources to fulfil our whims. We have pumped toxins in our water, filled air with pollution laced our food with undesirable chemicals. We are basically sawing away the very branch we sit upon. I want you to pause and think. "Do I really need another doll? Do I want one more pencil box?" It might sound ridiculous right now but I hope these questions would graduate to "Do I need another pair of shoes? Do I need another gadget? Do I need more, more and more of everything?" Be sensitive. Be protective. Wherever you are, whatever you do, do it in a way which is least harmful to the planet. 

You definitely have learnt a few things and it makes me so happy and proud when you act as my monitor. 

"Mamma don't waste water" this, if I keep a tap open for a second longer. 

"Mamma, why did you leave the light on?" this, if I walk out of a room without switching off light. 

"Mamma, have you taken a bag?" this, when we go shopping.

Keep it up, sweetie pie, because the world needs more such green warriors to make it a better place. 

Love,

Mom

This post is being written for #MomsforaBetterWorld Project

Three little trekkers on Nandi Hills

Anya has got two gorgeous little sisters as friends - Preksha and Sharanya. Their parents, Nidhi & Varun, have become good friends of ours too. It so happened that I mentioned my love for outdoors and trekking to Nidhi. Varun being  a nature  enthusiast, planned a trip to Nandi Hills the very next week. I lauded them for their courage. It's not often that I meet such enthusiastic and well-synced couple who both share this interest. Often, the lady or the kids aren't enthusiastic enough. With two kids, most people would say that they have put such activities on hold till the kids grew up. So I was mightily surprised to see them not only plan but also execute a trip within a week of our conversation. I am always on a lookout for such opportunities. So I ditched my weekend plan to take Anya to a carnival and decided to go along on the trek.

It was decided to start at 6:45 am from our place. Another couple (Vidya, Rahul) was to join us. I was in for further surprise when they all were ready at sharp 6:45. By ready, I mean seated-in-the-car ready. I was still wrapping stuff at home when Nidhi called. I sheepishly told her that we would take another 10 minutes. When we went down, the kids just went wild with joy and hugged each other. All 3 kids wanted to be together and came in our car.

Nandi Hills is a hill on the outskirts of Bangalore. For Bangaloreans, it's a popular day outing spot.
After a stop for breakfast, we reached the foothills around 9 am. The weather was pleasant and the morning chill had almost disappeared. We parked our cars, took our backpacks and our spirited group of 6 adults and 3 kids started the climb.

Now, it is not a natural trek. There might be one, but it was not for us. There is a pathway with stairs, which we had to take. The kids ran ahead in enthusiasm, we all chatted and laughed. The challenge was to keep the kids going. We took breaks every few steps and kept them occupied with snacks of biscuits, nutrition bars, chips, juice etc. We pointed out interesting plants and insects to them. On one of the steps we saw a big, fat scorpion. It was a scary but a truly amazing sight. I don't think I had ever seen such a magnificent scorpion before.

After climbing one fourth of the way, while we were taking a short break, Varun went to a side path and found a nice, rocky stretch with lovely views of a valley. We decided to stop there for a while and enjoy the beauty. We also used this time to fuel ourselves up with homemade sandwiches. We all had a great time at this place and wanted to stay there longer but we had a climb ahead, so we gathered our gear and marched on. After another climb of 10-15 minutes, we reached an old fort wall and climbed it up. Little S had gotten hurt and I was quite impressed to see Nidhi take out a very well stocked first aid box. Kudos to their planning and organisation. Anya had scratched herself with a branch and she also wanted a piece of action (read bandaid). Nidhi took care of their bruises and onwards we marched.

On way, we saw a big group of NCC cadets. Some of them were carrying garbage bags and picking up wrappers, bottles and cans littered around. What a heart-warming sight it was! We still have hope!
We reached Tipu Sultan's fort and took some time to listen to the NCC group leader who was explaining historical facts to the group.We were about to reach the top when finally stairs gave way to a hiking trail. We enjoyed this break from stairs and reached the top. The kids had done it!! Apart from occasional protests and asking to be carried at times, the kids had climbed all the way up. There must have been 700 plus steps. We were so proud of them!

Once on top, we saw a huge play area and kids could have spent a lot of time there but we were eager to see what else was on offer. We went to a temple and enjoyed views from various view points. There is a restaurant on top but we didn't find it very appealing and decided to drink tea from a kiosk instead. It was starting to get a little cloudy and chilly. Soon we decided to descend.

Going down was more challenging because kids were already tired. After walking for a little while, Sharanya wanted to be carried. She soon slept off in her father's lap. Seeing her, the other two girls wanted to follow suit. But we told them stories, kept them occupied and they plodded on. It had become a little chilly. In the morning, looking at the warm and sunny day,  guys had left their jackets in the car. Now, they were regretting their decision! On popular demand, we stopped again at our favorite spot. We sang songs and chatted. Promising to revisit, we said goodbye to this place and started our final lap. We reached down soon and this last stretch, Anya did in her Papa's lap.

We were quite happy with the way the day had panned out. Three cheers to the planners and stars of the trek - kids! Looking forward to the next trek soon.

How to raise a nature loving kid?

In the last post, I mentioned why I find it important to instil a love for nature in my daughter. Here are little ways in which I do it.

• Nature walk: I prefer taking Anya to a nature trail anyday than to a mall. Fortunately for us, a couple of lakes are close by. At times, we go for a walk around the lake.We collect leaves and pods. Once home, we put them in a jar. Anya pries them open, looks at seeds and paints them. I like to see her playing with natural stuff. The touch and feel of different textures, observing shapes and colors must be leaving an impression on her.We also walk around in our apartment complex and I tell her names of different trees and bushes. She doesn't remember them all, but at least it's a start. She collects fallen flowers and leaves and never returns home without a little collectible these days.

• Bird and animal watching: Kaikondrahalli lake is a lovely place for bird watching. Many activities are also organised there. A few months back, we went for an animal and reptile census and saw a mongoose, eight toads and two newly hatched water snakes! She remembers these things vividly and narrates them later on. It's always better to learn about birds and animals in this manner than just from books. A visit to a zoo, aquarium, farm is also a perfect choice for kids.

• Climbing trees: There aren't many opportunities for tree climbing in an urban setting. The lake comes to our rescue here as well. Kids are natural at climbing. What better way to interact with nature than to perch atop a branch and feel like the queen of the world! Anya remembers this walk and gets excited when she is about to reach her throne.

• Weather game: I am planning to talk about weather to her everyday. Whether it's sunny, windy, rainy.... basically any excuse to discuss natural phenomena like where do clouds come from, where does the rain go? My brother lives in the US and we have told her that in evenings, we send the sun to him and he sends the moon to us! So she knows about time difference. 

• Watching sunrise and sunset: I feel that sunrise and sunset are biggest natural shows on earth, screened once a day, free of cost! Just imagine, if they were not free events, how much would we have been ready to shell out to watch them.We take them for granted just because they occur everyday. My apartment has two balconies and one balcony is witness to a lovely sunrise and the other to a gorgeous sunset. I admit, we hardly watch sunrise, but sunsets are enjoyed more frequently.

Sunrise balcony- getting ready for the show, behind the coconut trees

Sunset balcony- a color splashed goodbye to a sunny day

•  A vacation close to nature: At least once a year, I like to set off for a holiday close to nature - be it beaches, mountains or nature reserves. I haven't found any camping option with kids in India otherwise that's one of the best ways to bond with nature. 

• Watching Discovery, Animal Planet and NatGeo: I am quite conservative when it comes to screen time. I would like to keep A away from iPad, TV and phone as much as possible. She does demand to watch a 'baby channel' everyday. Sometimes, I try to play Discovery, Animal Planet or National Geographic. She is very fascinated with animals and birds and even asks me not to switch channels when she is watching them. Hope this continues. 

• Grow a little Gardener: I have a few pots in my Sunrise balcony. I let Anya dabble into gardening with me at times. When it is time to sow seeds, I involve her. Sometimes, she waters plants.  It does get messy and I don't do it very regularly, but she has a concept and knows a few plants and their uses. For e.g. if she has a little scrape, she comes asking to apply aloe vera from the garden:)

These days, whenever Anya comes back from outdoors, she invariably carries a pod, pebble or leaf for me. It warms my heart no end. She seems to be on the right track and hopefully a nature lover is being nurtured in my home :)

Growing-up-too-fast pangs!

As a parent, there are innumerable moments when you utter 'Oh no, my little one is growing up too fast!'

One such moment was yesterday when Anya came from school and announced solemnly ' I have got homework to do!'. Now she got homework in her Montessori too but it was more like cutting and pasting pictures, coloring and tracing alphabets et al.This time, she had to write numbers 1 and 2 in a proper square shaped blocks which somehow looked more homework-ey and I had that unmistakable feeling that my little girl was growing up fast!

The first time I felt this pang was when at 5 months, she outgrew her 0-3 months clothes. "It was just yesterday that she had arrived in this world and now she is already too old for 0-3 months clothes?" gaped I incredulously and with a stab of sadness. Another instance was when she started walking. I was ecstatic but then the crawling diminished and one fine day it dawned on me that my little baby only walked and did not crawl any more. She had metamorphosed into a toddler :(

Now when I think about those moments, they come marching...

• That moment when she started cooing at other babies rather than other people cooing at her. 
• That moment when she told me that she would go to the play area with her friends and big people were not allowed. She actually started crying when I insisted on following her.
• The first time I caught her under a blanket with the iPad.

It's only the parents who get these pangs because the little ones are extremely happy basking in the glory of growing up. 'I am bigger than you!' is her constant reminder to us these days. A little message to her:

"Grow up into a lovely lady

Just don't grow up too fast

For I want to enjoy these moments

And make them longer last!"

What have been your 'growing-up-too-fast' moments, dear reader? Do share.