Rains in Mid December 2012

I simply love the Month of December,for no reasons. If there are any, it could be silly, that my birthday falls on this month.Generally, its the dawn of winter, the nice breeze, it makes everything bright like the trees, plants, people even. Winter in UAE is even more interesting! its like the Fairy after the Devil. Desert, extreme climates. Me and me Husband enjoyed it the last time, in 2009. But now, with kids, winter is quite challenging. We have supermarkets here, run by Malayale's. You get almost everything there, which we get in our home. I was looking for this "Karupatti" Jaggery made from Palm tree, to make "ChukkuKaapi" - My mom's instant medicine for relief of anything like cold, cough, head ache, body pain. Unable to find, i asked the mallu guy in the counter, to show where was it. Couldn't find why he always sends the Filipino Guy to Jaggery, everytime, i ask him "KARUPATTI". This time, i went back and told him, if you don't have, tell me you cannot provide, or when can you make an order of it. Dont just show me Jaggery instead of Karuppati. For almost a week, everyone in the family were sick, with the winter bound illness.Me and my Husband, were irritated, because Christmas was nearing, and many works were pending. Frequent hospital visits added our pressure, and fuel to the fire is our Ped. Doctor was on emergency leave, that we had to visit the other lady ped. doc. who was kind of irritating. With only one doctor in the clinic, and too many patients added up our Greif. My Husband never intereferes in the household. any small help asked for, he will do. Else he loves to be lazy at home. And My bad habit, i will do anything, for my kids and Husband, and when it comes to me, i feel bored or not interested. Almost a week, my kids were down, and me with watery eyes, nose and cough, taking care of them. And this "Karupatti" we were so unlucky, we didn't get it. Sometimes, Anto does things so Simply, he bought a pack of readymade instant chukkukaapi and said, this is for you. That evening Review Cons. was due for our son, with the lady Ped. Doc. Anto asked me to start from 4 in the evening, an when we started it was 6. Red was his face, still, he didn't show it. To the Surprise of eveyone, the whole Clinic was crowded with Ped. Patients. When we registered, we were the 25th Patient. Nearly around 3 hours, we were waiting, we saw 2 young girls aged 14 and 10. the elder one sat beside me, and the mother made the younger one sit the elder's lap. I thought, may be because of space constraint, then i recognised, the younger child is wth special needs when i saw her pulling the elder's hair badly. the elder one, was smiling on the younger, i knew it would pain very badly. then the parents came. looking closely the spl. baby was wearing diapers and socks. she couldn't walk and no shoes hence. Three hours, with our twins, and they were with the spl.baby. Everytime, i go to the clinic, the other parents, would look at me, with Pity, to see me running a the back of two, everywhere around the clinic. This time,the spl. Kid draw the attention of everyone. I just thought, if i am little taxed, what would i tell about the girl's parents. They were happy looking after her, not only the parents but also the young sister. we know how much a 10 year old will weigh, i was carrying my son, while the father,of the kid was carrying her, walking in the corridors of the clinic. I saw the mother feeding the little one with sipper, just as i do, with my kids. I simply smiled at the parents, just to hide, whatever emotions i had inside. Met the doc. and returned home, but my heart was little Heavy. Blessed be the Little girl, the elder sister and their Parents.

Taming Emotions and People

I dedicate this blog to Sister Doris, Professor, Literature Department, Holy cross College, Nagercoil. Sr.Doris, is the one who seeded for this thought, in a class, few years ago. As learners of Literature, when she said " Do you know all your dreams can come true?" It looked like a myth and a mystery, yet was so happy to hear. we were all 19 years old, real dreamers in life and career, Her words was more than a Milkshake for the day. we all wish wish for something big and small, realistic and hypothetical.I believe Sr. Doris's thought of dream coming true, is for persistent people, whose focus remains the same all the time. I remember, she said, when you aim something and you believe you get it, with more positive thoughts, when years pass on with a single focus, you will certainly reach, what you had dreamt for. well, I was Sr. Doris's favourite student, that she might have thought, I was focused and persistent. But I wasn't There are a set of people, kind of Niche; we generally are like a camera, we focus on something, taken away by something else, miss the actual focus. Again we focus on something else and try to focus on it. There is no perseverance on the focus. But atleast there is a short term focus. The entire discussion, is for people who are not stronger enough, yet planning to focus and try their luck of making their dreams come true. Coming to the crust"Dreams coming True" I believe taming your emotions and emotions of people, with whom your dream has an effect with, would help you focus more and reach the destination. Taming your emotions, I mean, adapt yourself with the changing situations yet having focus on what you want. Many times, I have realized that i tame myself so badly,that I feel,i will be flexible like a rubberband, with so much pain, i adapt myself to focus. But, whenever, i do so, i end up with depression. focus will fall nowhere here. It is meaningless to tame yourself like a rubberband, while the people connected with your focus, remains unaware of it. Taming people, the coined words looks notorious. isn't it? Taming people alone, without any effort from your side, is like preaching without practising. Like a Hitler, it is trying to have control on others. Controlling other's emotions is a mere silly act. But somehow, you have to win their confidence and support to attain your focus. Intelligence like finding common interests and benefits out of the goal dreamt and Patience, to wait for apt situations would help reach your dream and make it happen. To be more precise, when you look at your mirror with a mindset, that you are ugly and tired, you are. While you look at the mirror with a mindset, that you are beautiful in a unique way, you ae beautiful too. Relationships, is also like a mirror, when you approach them with positive attempts with patience. At the right time, you will reach your dreams. With people it is always, you reap what you sow.

Schedule for the day 1st August 2012

Crazy! Crazy! Crazy!!! Still I want to pen it down just to record, how God is driving me all these days by his grace in parenting my sweet and naughty twins. Morning 4- woke up for Andrea and put her back to sleep 6- woke up in a hurry, thinking I could be late for the day, and yes, I was very late. Started cooking for the day, with coffee for my husband, as he had to be in office late at least by 7.20. Made dosai, lemon rice, capsicum fry. And it was 8.00 already. So he took permission for an hour. Andrea woke up by 6.15, switched on the tv, for less disturbance, for me to cook. I was pampering, as and when she returned kitchen. 8- sharp he left for office, I started with milk for both my twins. 8.45- dusted the shoe Rack and sprayed pest control in it while they where busy with toys, few minutes with them inside the house and very few minutes with the shoe rack outside. 9.30 - started preparing dosai for kids and chutney for kids, anto had it with yellu podi. 10 - started feeding my kids 10.30- started to hospital holding both my twins on my hands and a bag. 10.50 reached hospital and finished the formalities, then hired a taxi, back home by 11.15 Relaxed, and then 11.30 into the kitchen for making pappu rice for kids, with the help of brainy baby CDs. 12.30 - again feeding them 1.15 - put them to sleep. 1.30 - back to shoe rack, 2 - lunch 2.30 - lied down to rest 3.00 - maid called the bell. Assisted her with vessels and kids woke up. 3.30 - made tiffin for them, and 4 - again feeding. 4.30 - playing and dancing with them for rhymes sometime. 5 - made chapaties 6- my hubby came, gave him some snaks 6.20 - made my kids ready for the hospital visit 7 -started to hospital 8.15- back from hospital, relaxed for a while 8.30 - went to kitchen, to make Channa masala, dual roles in the night, since anto left to fix the cable tv issue I was trying to put Andrea sleep and Leander watching tv and cooking, all at the same time, while Leander also fussy for sleep. Made them sleep At 9.00 Finished my cooking at 9.30. 10.00 - I fed kids, while they were half awake. 10.30 anto was back, started with food 11.30 gave medicines and 11.45 at rest. Again on 2nd August morning 5.20 into the kitchen. Without God, I knew I can never do this....

Moving forward !!! - ???

My prayer always used to end This way " God I wish to be a.better person, a good one, probably a 25 % of a human being, of how you want to be. As days I spend in this world passes on, I wish to be a better person and in the days of my end, I should be good enough to see you" Well, like most humans, when I give a glance on my past, I grump on my mistakes and sins, a list of things if would have avoided and another list of things I failed to do. Meaningless emotions yet, a self analysis. Leaving the long past, even the present past, though I have become better in issues, which I thrived to be good all my previous days, I see I am still bad, in new ones. Become a little more rigid with ego, a little stubborn and self conscious. Couldn't stop laughing a myself, and my hardwork of erasing my bad habits from my list, the new ones popping up at various dimensions. More prayer and more focus, would be of a much help. I am moving forward, yet a step back and then two steps in the front again a step back and forth. I know I will be good one day,I understand, I have more lessons to learn here. Guidance from Heaven is what helping me everyday, so will it ever be.

Binary thoughts

With Internet, we are easily track able. like where are we, what are we doing etc. an advancement with iPhone and I pad, even without installation, both worked, listed out all our contacts, imp info - our private details are in the air. Though an advantage and a pride, of being popular.... An important truth lies deep inside. With these gadgets, we can be caught, anywhere anytime. Not only myself, but my entire contact list. Scary, without doubts, we are in the very last stages as mentioned in scriptures. And people just love to record everything in the Internet, autobiography as and when things happen. Very dangerous..... I could nt even conclude this, coz, dono what mysteries are yet to come. Anyways it looks like an vizualisation, of what the scriptures have mentioned.

God teach me what is Patience

Patience in action is the most difficult task, for frequent irritating Circumstances. To talk about it, looks easier, though, it is not easy either, by the concerned person. Still, bursting out would not solve issues.but certainly it will give a sense of temporary relief. Now here are some ideas, to remain patient for a long time. 1. Just ignore 2. Leave the place 3. Think as if you are a different person, who doesn't know anything about the issue 4. Try to have a deep sleep 5. Think of some real stupid things you did in life 6. Go to washroom and relax ;) 7. Do not pile up anger , drink water and release it 8. Go to a mall and use the massaging chair 9. Think of the worser situations and console 10. Eat, wash face, dress up, do something I know these are just some tips, still patience is real tougher task For instance, early in the morning my daughter wakes up @3.30 and god knows how she ll identify me, She ll come and start to bite me... No words for the horrible morning, but now I am still sleeping after she does it for hours together. May be my skin has turned to be tougher these days ;)... Still it requires patience

Good one

Chetan Bhagat’ s Article in TOI this month : Specially for Indian Women. Do Read it and share it with all the women in your life Alright, this is not cool at all. A recent survey by Nielsen has revealed that Indian women are the most stressed out in the world: 87% of our women feel stressed out most of the time. This statistic alone has caused me to stress out. Even in workaholic America, only 53% women feel stressed. What are we doing to our women? I'm biased, but Indian women are the most beautiful in the world. As mothers, sisters, daughters, colleagues, wives and girlfriends - we love them. Can you imagine life without the ladies? For now, i want to give Indian women five suggestions to reduce their stress levels. One, don't ever think you are without power. Give it back to that mother-in-law. Be who you are, not someone she wished you would be. She doesn't like you? That's her problem. Two, if you are doing a good job at work and your boss doesn't value you - tell him that, or quit. Talented, hard-working people are much in demand. Three, educate yourself, learn skills, network - figure out ways to be economically independent. So next time your husband tells you that you are not a good enough wife, mother or daughter-in-law, you can tell him to take a hike. Four, do not ever feel stressed about having a dual responsibility of family and work. It is difficult, but not impossible. The trick is not to expect an A+ in every aspect of your life. You are not taking an exam, and you frankly can't score cent per cent (unless you are in SRCC, of course). It is okay if you don't make four dishes for lunch, one can fill their stomach with one. It is okay if you don't work until midnight and don't get a promotion. Nobody remembers their job designation on their dying day. Five, most important, don't get competitive with other women. Someone will make a better scrapbook for her school project than you. Another will lose more weight with a better diet. Your neighbor may make a six-dabba tiffin for her husband, you don't - big deal. Do your best, but don't keep looking out for the report card, and definitely don't expect to top the class. There is no ideal woman in this world, and if you strive to become one, there will be only one thing you will achieve for certain - stress. So breathe, chill, relax. Tell yourself you are beautiful, do your best and deserve a peaceful life. Anybody trying to take that away from you is making a mistake, not you. Your purpose of coming to this earth is not to please everyone. Your purpose is to offer what you have to the world, and have a good life in return. The next time this survey comes, i don't want to see Indian women on top of the list. I want them to be the happiest women in the world. Now smile, before your mother-in-law shouts at you for wasting your time reading the newspaper. Cherish Womanhood!! Pass this to every woman you know....

Why Pedisure? a Mother's Fears as well as Satifaction

This is actually a mail, i am trying t bring in this blog Regarding Pediasure, i am giving my kids the same. I just prayed while reading, that the product shouldn't contain anything harmful. Grace of God, i didn't find anything wrong about it. Being Natural is always best dear, i Agree... But which product/ vegetable is natural - that is another story... lets not discuss this now. i am not so sure, that this product contains DHA/ Omenga 3. I also agree that this product is becoming very popular these days. But My twins, when they just turned one, they were smaller than a one year old kid should be. an marketing executive from the child care section of a supermarket advised me to give pediasure. I reconfirmed this with my ped. Doc and started giving it. (we do get fresh milk, fresh from the cow's only from India, here we get fresh milk, but we are not supposed give it to kids, and i believe it is not so fresh as it should be -- so Doctors here advise to give powdered milk like similac, dexolac, naan etc. when compared to it, pediasure was little more priced) Again i am not so sure, that only because of Pedisure, we saw little improvements in kids. But after Pediasure, they felt full than any other product like naan... All these i am just trying to find out the real intention of the writer, who wrote this... And if you come to know, anything harmful about the product plz let me know... _________________________________________________________________________________________________ Pediasure is the product of Abbott Company which is in USA. The manufacturing unit is in Singapore. So the product is imported from Singapore. The product claims "Mothers around the world trust and use pediasure to fill nutrition gaps arising out of their child's fussy eating behavior. This trust is a result of pediasure superior product formulation with 37 vital nutrients fortified by Prebiotics and Probiotics and Choline and Taurine. PediaSure also meets 100% of the requirements * of vitamins and minerals for children above 2 years when consumed in adequate amounts." Our take on this: The calories for per 100g are 470 Kcal. Per serving as mentioned is 50g and it should be taken with water. But if you meet the marketing head of pediasure he will advise to take pediasure with milk. All of us have seen pediasure advertisement where a kid goes to school because of pediasure. Do you think a kid attends school just because of Pediasure? The product claims that it has all the essential nutrients i.e. complete balanced nutrition to grow taller and also make the kid go to school? For kids not only the physical growth but mental growth and activity growth also is necessary. Per bottle is 900g and costs Rs.760. This is pretty costly!!! Any other brand like bournvita/horlicks/complain also claims the same things but they cost from Rs.300-600 for 900g. I have these things in mind: 1.What's so special about pediasure? 2.What does adequate amount mean, when amount is already mentioned? 3.Why is it so costly? 4.Can a kid really drink 5 scoops (50g) of powdered water/milk? 5.Can this drink really replace a breakfast? 6.Will this product make children to get ready and go to school? 7.How would flavors play a significant role in growth? 8.Why take pediasure with water? Our take on the nutrition front: I do not find any nutrient difference from any others brands. It is imported so it's costly? Can any child consume 50g of powder with milk/water at a time? Wouldn't it be heavy for digestion? Any liquid can't replace the nutrients of breakfast. Activity of child depends on food also but not on any supplement. There is nothing special about Pediasure. It's all the marketing skill of the medical representatives and we as customers fall for it. We love our children so want them to get the best and nutrition is no different. We fall for bad marketing and spend for it which it is not worth of. For the brain development of the kids the complex carbohydrates, DHA ((Docosahexaenoic acid) and omega 6 fatty acids are necessary. Pediasure has not mentioned if they are complex/simple carbohydrates. It doesn't contain DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) and omega 6 fatty acids. Omega-3s help improve general brain functioning and restore memory. Foods high in Omega-3 include: fishes like salmon, mackerel, sardines, herring, as well as flaxseed oil and walnuts. Complex carbohydrates digest well, there by keeping the bowel movement of kids clear. Foods high in complex carbohydrates include whole cereals, pulses, peanuts, dried apricots, dried beans, yogurt, and oat bran. When you can find all the important nutrients in natural foods why buy a supplement? I am sure money is not the concern. But let your child learn eating natural foods than depending on supplements for its growth. Pediasure can just give height and weight growth which is a natural process in any child. Height or weight of a child not only depends on eating, but also depends on activity level, hormones, genes, birth weight etc.

Give your kid the best and natural. Contact your dietitian to know more about the nutrition for your kids.