Rashmi's Space

Mansi was sitting with little Arjun at the study table for the past one hour. Arjun was doing his homework while she repeatedly erased his untidy work, making him rewrite neatly what he wrote carelessly. As she sat there patiently, the child kept fidgeting and playing with anything he could get his tiny hands on – pencils, eraser, even the sharpener that he didn’t need! Mansi was already tired after a whole day’s work and trying to beat deadlines. She worked from home; and only she knew the discipline and the tiptoeing-around-every-one-else’s-schedule it took her to complete her tasks at home as well as her office work on time. However, oblivious to her suffering, Arjun continued with his antics and Mansi was almost ready to tear her hair out any moment now. Just then Arjun did a Math sum – correctly, but in an untidy hand – and she began to erase it. It irked him as he was already hungry and waiting for dinner. “The sum is correct Ma! Why are you erasing it?”...

This is a sponsored post for Surf Excel's #ReadyForLife Campaign and was first published on MyCity4Kids.com  A firm believer of positive parenting, I know that excellence is a habit, not an act; and that it takes practice and perseverance. That is why I am constantly on the lookout for opportunities when I can teach my little one something new and valuable. Many times I have used his outrageous demands, or the petty squabbles he has had with his friends as examples to teach values to him that I feel are important to be #ReadyForLife. However, my little one being an only child, I have had no opportunity to teach him one of the most important values of all – sharing! So far, that is, until last week; when one such opportunity presented itself! Its summer and the schools are shut. With the temperatures soaring to way over normal, children are now forced to stay indoors on extremely hot afternoons – no doubt a boring prospect for energetic seven – eight year olds! So th...

This is a sponsored post for Kellogg's Chocos #Khuljaye Bachpan Campaign and was first published on MyCity4Kids.com  "What do you want to become when you grow up?" my friend asked.  "I want to become a secret agent, like James Bond!" my little one proudly replied! Yes, at the tender age of four, this was what my little one aspired to be – James Bond!  Needless to say, my friend was shocked to know his lofty aspirations. Clearly, she had expected him to say ‘astronaut’ or ‘doctor’ or even a ‘fireman’. But no matter that he was also introduced to the usual Mickey Mouse, Mowgli, Mr. Bean, Spiderman; and more recently, Iron Man, the Avengers et al; it was somehow James Bond who had caught his fancy!  Honestly, at that time I just thought it to be one of these "phases" that children go through – you know –the I-shall-only-wear-yellow-socks-everyday phase, the I-shall-only-sleep-to-a-certain-music phase, the I-don't-suddenly-like-milk...

This is a sponsored post for Kellogg's Chocos #Khuljaye Bachpan Campaign and was first published on MyCity4Kids.com  It’s a beautiful Saturday morning and the much awaited weekend is finally here! As I open my eyes to this blissful realization, I turn to look at the time on my phone and end up looking at the date. In an instant I am awake and my anxiety levels are soaring!  There goes my weekend; and the week after that; and the weekend after that too!  I almost cry. It’s the weekend before my little one’s exams are to begin! And while he continues to sleep, oblivious to what I am going through, I panic, thinking how I am going to cram the entire portion – four chapters each of six subjects – in just two days! Yes, only six subjects; and only with four chapters each. My little one is only in Grade II. But if you are a parent who has a child in the same age-group or older; I am sure you can probably understand this better. You see, it is much easier...

It is 6:00 am. She wakes up to the alarm and before anyone else gets disturbed by it, puts it off and lies on her back for five minutes. It's a brand new day! And she has been especially looking forward to starting her day as she has a creative writing assignment to complete today. She needs to write, in detail, about something that makes her truly, honestly happy . And she is looking forward to writing about her passion, her  writing! It is 6:15 am.  She is thinking about her assignment as she enters the kitchen and, being one of those people who are incapable of kick-starting their days without a steaming cup of java, brews a pot of fresh coffee. As it brews, she starts organising her thoughts in her mind; and the ingredients she will need for cooking the breakfast and lunch for the men in her life, on the kitchen counter.   It is 6:30 am.  She has been in the kitchen for a quarter of an hour now, and her prep for the cooking ...

This is a sponsored post for Kellogg's Chocos #Khuljaye Bachpan Campaign and was first published on MyCity4Kids.com We are all looking for a harmonious relationship with our family, especially, our children; and every now and then, we attempt to do something about this. But alas, more often than not, we get caught up in our work and there is always that one email, phone call or urgent message that takes us away from our children for just a few minutes, and then that moment is lost! Obviously, later, we fret about how we can spend more quality time with them. I know the feeling; been there, done that. Time, we all know, is the best thing we can give our children; and I have always looked for ways to spend more and more quality time with my little one. Then one long weekend this January, I found this easiest and the simplest way to (try to) make it up to him! Now, this may not be a fool-proof method I agree, but it is enough for me that I am trying, to begin with. ...

Parenting is a choice. It is an informed decision that changes our life! Parenting is also the process of promoting and supporting the physical, emotional, social, financial and intellectual development of a child from infancy to adulthood.   We all know this. We also know that parenting is a responsibility, that we accept willingly; although we have no clue how we are going to bear it successfully, for the results come much later in this game; and by then it is too late to change our play! So we all do what we think is the best, and hope that things work out the way we want them to.  Earlier, when we did not have the internet or the many resources we have today, we depended on our elders for guidance; but now we depend more and more on parenting books, parenting support groups, parenting websites, and friends and family who are in a situation similar to ours for insight. All this helps us get a larger perspective of the whole parenting hu...

This is a sponsored post for Kellogg's Chocos #Khuljaye Bachpan Campaign and was first published on MyCity4Kids.com Last weekend was a long weekend for us and we were inspired to go for a quick trip. So we rounded up a few friends and set out on a weekend outing with three kids in tow! We chose a destination not very far from home; since we were driving down there and we did enough of that on weekdays anyway. So we mapped out the route to and from the destination in advance; and decided to rely on the GPS for local sightseeing. We reached the hotel after a pleasant drive; and promptly set the kids loose. Next, we told the good lady at the reception to give us a list of all the local places worth seeing that the kids would enjoy. And by the time we had put away our bags in the room, she had come through! The kind receptionist had sent up maps for us that listed the names and directions of the said places, along with our welcome drinks and the invites for lunch. Ble...

This is a sponsored post for MooShake's #MilkJustGotSooper Campaign and was first published on MyCity4Kids.com  We Indians are a remarkable mix of the old and the new, the traditional and the modern. Our culture teaches the young to respect the old and the modern to stay connected with the traditional. There is always the new, but it doesn’t replace the old – in our culture, it co-exists.  Emails might have become the norm, for instance, but we still prefer to visit our elders or at least call or Skype them regularly. Our attire might have changed, but we still wear ‘respectable’ clothing when in the presence of our elders.  Ma  and  Baba  might have become ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’, but most children still sleep in their parents’ bed. Food, and the ways we cook, might have seen a lot of changes, but when it comes to festivals and weddings, we still prefer to cook the traditional recipes that have been in the family for generations! Our mothers raised...

This is a sponsored post for MooSHake's #MilkJustGotSooper Campaign and was first published on MyCity4Kids.com  We have all heard fantastic stories of superheroes helping people in distress. Children love superheroes for their super powers, but we parents usually take these stories with a pinch of salt; knowing fully well, that these stories are just that – fantastic! But today, I am here to tell you that superheroes are awesome! Yes. They are awesome, they have amazing powers and most importantly – they help people when they are really in need! Surprised? Read on to find out my story of how the "S ooperMoo"   of MooShake helped me in my hour of need – My little one and I are best buddies. We do everything together. We eat together, read together, play together and even work together (yes, she does her homework when I work…) We even hit the bed together at night! (Okay, the truth is, when I go to tuck her in for the night, she always asks for a hug and a c...

This is a sponsored post and was first published on MyCity4Kids.com  Mom:  “Oh, my little baby is learning to ride his bike! I can’t believe it! Look, I know you are all grown up and all; but be careful okay? No, don’t remove your helmet! And it’s okay to cry if you fall down, I am right here okay, sweetheart? I will come pick you up right away! There goes my little rider…” Dad:  “Helmet strapped on? You remember what I said about the brakes? Okay, then, off you go, buddy!” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mom:  “Rishi! You haven’t brushed your teeth yet! Come on, brush your teeth before you go to sleep….no, don’t pretend to be asleep now! Come on! I am waiting, Rishi!” Dad:  “Choo-choo…hey Rishi! There’s a train here! Its shaped like a toothbrush and its going on the tracks that are my teeth…oh look! Its leaving foam in its wake instead of s...

This is a sponsored post for Aviva Life Insurance's #EarlyStartersInitiative and was first published on MyCity4Kids.com  The pursuit of economic stability and financial freedom is what keeps the world going. And we have, as a nation, contributed towards this goal by churning out many a doctor, engineer, CEO and chartered accountant! For decades, these have been the most respected vocations in our country and every parent has aspired to have their children pursue one or more of them. But times are changing. Today,  India is the fastest growing and the 3rd largest start-up ecosystem globally , and with the availability of this new career option, we parents now have our task cut out for us. Conforming to the norm of our country, we all now wish to raise little entrepreneurs in our very homes! But this is easier said than done. With so many qualities required for an entrepreneur, where do we start? I'll tell you where, we start at the very beginning with our...