Reflections down from memory lane!

Times have changed and so the way we live!

Down in my memory lane when I go I remember how things were different for our family. Take any aspect of life and see the change whether its the eating habits, shopping pattern, social circle pattern, or  the   family pattern. Definitely changes are positive and in our favour only.But there are some things which we really miss.

 Malls  have changed the concept of shopping.It has made it more glamorous, more entertaining and more interesting as you have so many shops to go through before making your first choice. I remember with my family we always went for shopping around festivals and there were limited shops to explore. Eating out at that time was not in fashion. Those outings which used to be monthly or on the occasion of birthdays or marriage anniversaries have been replaced by weekend outing.Nobody sits at home during weekends. We can say that its because may be our spending power has increased but still the feeling which we got at that time of having family get together in some restaurant was incomparable.Nowadays kids don’t get that feeling as thats a usual thing for them. May be the feeling of having a proper dinner together with whole family at home has become a rare commodity as most of the couples are working.

I miss those vendors who used to go around places carrying their cart of chats, or pop corns, and even ice creams. I know my son will never get that charm of suddenly hearing the street vendors call and rushing towards the gate and demanding his parents to get a ice cream cone for him. We can say that nowadays its not safe as per health point of view.

That Day while chatting with my friend she told me that she has joined stiching classes just for the sake of continuing the tradiition of stiching at home by her mother and grandmother.Sounds interesting! Our mothers kept themselves busy by stiching, sewing, cooking, knitting, preparing all those delicious pickles, papads, sweets. She was always delighted and I always observed a feeling of fulfillment on her face whenever she did such creative work.Wether it was making a dress for me, or preparing delicious food for us. Today everything is available in the market. Pickles, papads, sweets, there are so many brands selling packaged food. We can say that this has made life easy for working woman.As she is always in crunch of time , such  availability of packaged food in the market has saved her family to be deprived of so many tastes which they deserve. For homemeakers we can say they  have to devote very less time in kitchen now , and this has really helped them to create out niche for themselves out of home boundaries. They can enjoy other things in life as they have more free time with them. But what I think everybody should inherit these talents to prepare such delicacies, and stiching, knitting hobbies from their mothers. Its there choice to prepare it or not but atleast this way such talents will not come to verge of extinction. Otherwise the future generations will here these talents as once upon a time  happening talents. That will be really shame ful for us.

Change is the necessity of life. But with time if some things never change and such small pleasures always remain with us then it will help us to make life full of life. Otherwise we will forget to feel the happiness in such pleasures and in a way become the techno robots who is always looking for materialistic pleasures in life.

 

My Kid’s First Day at School!

I missed him so much!

Today was my son’s first day at his new school. He went in a school bus and came back in school bus and there he was standing, smiling at me. I was wondering how he will behave, how he will eat without me, and how he will go around without me.! What a relief for me.He is a big boy now.

 For last three years motherhood has given different meaning to my life. Since I conceived motherhood was in a way full-time job for me.Surfing Internet sites about baby’s proper development, following all the do’s and dont’s, then after delivery enjoying the bonding with my kid. As he was growing up it was so exciting to wait for all his new activities. The first words, the first walk, the first talk, the first smile. I still think  I could have filled his scrap book with so many first’s which I realize now. I was always worried about his eating habits, his potty training, was always searching for friends having same age kids  so that we can share our experiences and learn from each other. All  anxieties about his falling sick, of his fussy food habits were managed by assurance of such friends  only , besides guidance by the elderlies of the family.. Going through all the new emotions, body changes, relationships changes and routine changes it was a journey full of new experiences. I have changed a lot after this experience.

And now here is my darling kid full of confidence to deal with the world in my absence and is prepared to live his life. I am happy also and sad too.I have enjoyed every moment of motherhood in his first three years. And suddenly life has changed. On my part I tried my best to give him the best. I must say its not easy to be mother. Its a 24hrs job which demands lots of inputs. You are  responsible for your kid’s health, his personality development, his social activities, his intellectual growth and above all his emotional development. Lots of books are their about parenting are there which can guide you about the right concepts of parenting. Every mother should read those books. You will never realize yourself that how your behaviour, your reaction to his activities, your own behaviour can effect your kid’s personality in long term.

I hope  and I pray that my kid grows out to be wonderful person and he enjoys the best things in life. I will never forget these three years of my life in which I build up a special bond with him. May God bless him!

 

Zero figure fantasy!

It appears every female is talking about her waist size nowadays and is following her dream to achieve the so called zero size tag for her apparels!

Whenever I have interacted with a group of females the topic of weight reduction has always been there. Somebody wants to start swimming, the other wants to go for jogging, or gym also seems to be good choice for some. Kareena Kapoor’s recent  looks in new film Tashan has given boost to the zero figure craze.

Well, in a way it is good as such fantasies at least motivate females to go for a healthy lifestyle. The mere thought of weight reduction prompt them to go for some exercise routine that is good for their own health. But the desire of attaining slim figure becomes dangerous when it is resulted in an obsession and leads to hazardous consequences for the ladies. Some gals go to that extent that they simply stop eating and survive on water or juice. Earlier I used to mock such gals but recently when I have started comparing myself with the glamour media around, where every leading add protagonist is shown having such a slim and trim body, that compels you to workout to achieve those vital statistics. It gives you a sense of satisfaction that you are going along  with the world.

Going for activities for weight reduction purpose will prove helpful to you only if you are regular with it. I have seen girls having lots of enthu before going for their weight reduction programme but its very tough for them to follow the routine religiously. Moreover till the period they are controlling their eating habits under some trainer its helpfull to them in reducing their weight. But the moment they are out of the trainer guidance all control over eating habits vanishes and then they eat more and hence put on more weight.

The motto is not only to have a good figure but also to have a healthy body also. Just check and be aware of what you are eating and how much is the quantity. Weather you are working or not lifestyle effects all the segments of the society. Try to follow the healthy lifestyle, don’t follow sedentary life. Involve yourself  in some activities.Nowadays media has spread so much awareness regarding healthy lifestyle that nobody needs the guidance. The need is to actually follw the guidance and enjoy the benefits of healthy lifestyle.

Its a very common reaction when we meet some friends after a long time and comment on her looks that how slim you are looking or how fat! These comments also become the reason for our slim figure fantasy. So just see if you can change your comment to ‘How Healthy are you looking!’ Then the motivation will be to look healthy not to starve yourself for figure zero. So work out for healthy looks rather than zero looks:)!

Maids factor!

I never knew it will be  interesting to observe work culture in maids segment in India, until I experienced the way of life in some other countries!

Life is somehow easy in India for working females as they can have so many helping hands around them to manage their homes with office.Its quite interesting to see how easily you can have different maids for different work , like one for cooking, one for cleaning,other for looking after kids and home. This can give you relaxation of mind which can help you to devote more time to your work. This scene is not same in other countries. Its not affordable to have maids as they are employed through maid agencies on contract for two years.Some work part time also,  who charge you exorbitantly at the rate of per hour. This is the scene in eastern countries. In western countries this system of hiring maids is not available and if is present then unthinkable by the common man.

To have maid or not, its your personal choice.But I must tell you its quite interesting to see the difference in attitude everywhere. In Singapore  part time  maids  are very professional. They will do their work diligently and they will be always punctual. Full time maids are trained for their work and they know very well how to carry out their work properly. Nobody can guess by their dressing sense that they are working as maids as they carry their working dress separately which they bring to their employer’s house along with them. One of the very entertaining facts about maids which I observed during my stay in Singapore was that some homemakers, in families which had maids of Malaysian and Indonesian origin, were having strange problem of confused identity by the surrounding neighbourhood as by looks maids appeared to be the boss and vice versa. Therefore they never preferred going out with their maids.

In India its not tough to hire a maid. There are several options available around you to click for a maid.though its not tough to get maid as you can get through word of mouth.You can just inform the guard of the society or your neighbour, you will easily receive number of maids knocking your door for the job.But the guarranty is not that you will be happy with her performance. She might have her own demands from you before accepting your work conditions. Some may ask for monthly breaks, some maybe techno savvy and may ask to use yr PC once a while for chatting purpose with her son. Some will like to take their work orders through SMSs.

There is lots of Union baji in maids group of any society.They decide their own rates, if anyhow you had some differences with one maid then it will be tough to get some other maid in that society. Everybody will be against you and then you have to compromise on thir demands.

Whatever be the experience! May be today’s generation of maids are also changing their workculture as the other segments of the society. Otherwise once upon a time maid of any family was just like the other member of the family who was given due respect and she herself was very loyal by nature. Happy Maid hunting!