So what does a kid (Tejas) pick up if he is left free in a store with a shopping basket-
2 Treat Jim Jam
2 Tropicana tetrapacks
B Natural 1 l pack for Dadda
1 Lays Spanish Tomato Tango
1 Lays American Sour Cream and Onion
Kurkure
Gems
Dry Fruits
The Scorpios
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
On The Same Page
Of Live Mint sharing our thought so bloging about our kids, posting their pictures and whether or not we violate their privacy that way.
I reproduce the article here also.
The baby bloggers
From the time their baby got potty-trained to his first scrawl to any number of photos of his growing years--blogging parents can’t seem to stop talking about their tots. Is this an invasion of a child’s privacy? Or is it just the baby album updated in the digital era? Four bloggers tell us what they think:
Seema Chowdhry
It is a virtual scrapbook of a child’s growing years
Riti
http://itchingtowriteblogs.blogspot.com
I have been blogging about my twin sons for eight months now. I find it easier to type what I feel rather than write it down in baby scrapbooks or journals. Writing a journal can be limiting, but with a blog I have been able to do so much more in
terms of pictures, recording events etc. I don’t think writing a blog about your children is an invasion of their privacy. For me, this blog is more about me as a mother and the person I am as I bring up them up. I want my sons to know me as this woman 20 years down the line when they read the blog and are able to understand all that went into bringing them up. Also, this is a platform for me to connect with other mothers.
NM*
http://anirudhsworld.blogspot.com/
This is my way of making a memory scrapbook for my son. It is a record of his antics, his conversations with me, his images and all the little things he does. If it were not for this blog, I would have forgotten these stories. I used to worry about uploading pictures and about sickos seeing them, but now I believe that you can’t always live in fear. Also, with a blog you have the option to put checks in place. If I don’t like a comment, I can delete it; if at some point I feel that the blog is attracting the wrong kind of traffic, I will make it private.
*Name withheld on request
It is an invasion of a child’s right to privacy
Sowmya
http://shallowthgts.blogspot.com/
I am, and always have been, against blogging about one’s kids even though I am a parent. It is a violation of their privacy. Once they grow up, how will you tell your kids not to post their pictures online when you have been doing that? Are these mothers really unaware of paedophiles lurking on the Web? You keep only 10% of your child’s identity private by not revealing his/her name and your address but violate the rest 90% by posting pictures. Paedophiles do not need names, they need pictures. Remember the times when your parents asked you to sing a song in front of the guests, but you wanted to go hide under the table? Some of these blogs are just that, but in front of the whole online world.
Sridala Swami
http://spaniardintheworks.blogspot.com/
I have one child and I feel that my life with my child should not be up for public consumption. I blog to have another life from the one I live every day. If I continue to bring my child into my online world, I would have no reason to blog. Parents have a responsibility towards their children and must decide how vulnerable they make them to stalkers or to those who might use images without their consent.
Also, if you blog to create a memory scrapbook, keep it offline. I think anyone who starts a blog wants readers and that’s why private online journals don’t work for them.
I reproduce the article here also.
The baby bloggers
From the time their baby got potty-trained to his first scrawl to any number of photos of his growing years--blogging parents can’t seem to stop talking about their tots. Is this an invasion of a child’s privacy? Or is it just the baby album updated in the digital era? Four bloggers tell us what they think:
Seema Chowdhry
It is a virtual scrapbook of a child’s growing years
Riti
http://itchingtowriteblogs.blogspot.com
I have been blogging about my twin sons for eight months now. I find it easier to type what I feel rather than write it down in baby scrapbooks or journals. Writing a journal can be limiting, but with a blog I have been able to do so much more in
terms of pictures, recording events etc. I don’t think writing a blog about your children is an invasion of their privacy. For me, this blog is more about me as a mother and the person I am as I bring up them up. I want my sons to know me as this woman 20 years down the line when they read the blog and are able to understand all that went into bringing them up. Also, this is a platform for me to connect with other mothers.
NM*
http://anirudhsworld.blogspot.com/
This is my way of making a memory scrapbook for my son. It is a record of his antics, his conversations with me, his images and all the little things he does. If it were not for this blog, I would have forgotten these stories. I used to worry about uploading pictures and about sickos seeing them, but now I believe that you can’t always live in fear. Also, with a blog you have the option to put checks in place. If I don’t like a comment, I can delete it; if at some point I feel that the blog is attracting the wrong kind of traffic, I will make it private.
*Name withheld on request
It is an invasion of a child’s right to privacy
Sowmya
http://shallowthgts.blogspot.com/
I am, and always have been, against blogging about one’s kids even though I am a parent. It is a violation of their privacy. Once they grow up, how will you tell your kids not to post their pictures online when you have been doing that? Are these mothers really unaware of paedophiles lurking on the Web? You keep only 10% of your child’s identity private by not revealing his/her name and your address but violate the rest 90% by posting pictures. Paedophiles do not need names, they need pictures. Remember the times when your parents asked you to sing a song in front of the guests, but you wanted to go hide under the table? Some of these blogs are just that, but in front of the whole online world.
Sridala Swami
http://spaniardintheworks.blogspot.com/
I have one child and I feel that my life with my child should not be up for public consumption. I blog to have another life from the one I live every day. If I continue to bring my child into my online world, I would have no reason to blog. Parents have a responsibility towards their children and must decide how vulnerable they make them to stalkers or to those who might use images without their consent.
Also, if you blog to create a memory scrapbook, keep it offline. I think anyone who starts a blog wants readers and that’s why private online journals don’t work for them.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Tiny Thoughts- Evolution
Does it mean we will progressively lose the muscles required for writing and develop further the ones require for typing?
Thursday, November 20, 2008
A Story of 2 Pujeris
A Decision Has Been Taken
So We Evoke The Lord 
So We Evoke The Lord Take Some Teeka
Apply On Our Foreheads
And Then Some More
And Look Mighty Pleased At Our Good Work
Apply On Our ForeheadsAnd Then Some MoreAnd Look Mighty Pleased At Our Good Work
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Coffee, Tea and Us
One afternoon, 4 ladies vanished from their respective workplaces. Giggling like truant teenagers they met at Cafe Coffee Day looking over their shoulders, just to meet a certain lady from Kolkatta.
To their credit, they behaved quite decorously, save for the fact that they bullied the servers to move the luxurious sofa to accommodate one of the ladies as they were meeting at a time when "nobody would (bunk work and) come" and chatted extremely noisily.
They got talking like old friends, for old friends they were after having met each other atleast 3 times and having been in constant touch over a Certain Talking Team group...or otherwise. Anyone would have thought these were a bunch of mad old friends meeting each other over coffee, tea, cakes and sandwiches and not caring at all about decorum and talking of breast feeding, being bad mothesr and getting ready to become even worse MILs especially the mothers of boys.
They talked right through the afternoon until family and duty called. At 5.30 pm the truant Cinderellas were ready yet so reluctant to leave the party.
Clearly sharing tales of rearing the kids are as satisfying as the actuals.
To their credit, they behaved quite decorously, save for the fact that they bullied the servers to move the luxurious sofa to accommodate one of the ladies as they were meeting at a time when "nobody would (bunk work and) come" and chatted extremely noisily.
They got talking like old friends, for old friends they were after having met each other atleast 3 times and having been in constant touch over a Certain Talking Team group...or otherwise. Anyone would have thought these were a bunch of mad old friends meeting each other over coffee, tea, cakes and sandwiches and not caring at all about decorum and talking of breast feeding, being bad mothesr and getting ready to become even worse MILs especially the mothers of boys.
They talked right through the afternoon until family and duty called. At 5.30 pm the truant Cinderellas were ready yet so reluctant to leave the party.
Clearly sharing tales of rearing the kids are as satisfying as the actuals.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Home is Here and So Also the Heart
Long long ago, 9 years ago to be precise, I came to this city to join my first job. Completely clueless on how to find accomodation for myself and most important, where to stay while I looked for accomodation. I was told in no uncertain terms at my office that I need to find a place to stay on my own when I come over to join or atleast find (unearth) some relatives to accomodate me. Which I finally did- approached the relatives, stayed with them, moved over to another set of relatives, spent my first salary on them in gratitude until finally outstaying my welcome and moving over to my own Paying Guest accomodation.
That was the time I made a pact with myself. I will always keep my doors open for any guest to Chennai and if it has not been already asked, I will make the first move to open my home and heart to them.
Because I know how tough it is in a new city, how expensive a decent short term accomodation is and how little it is going to cost me to accomodate them.
So whether it called for approaching my landlady for providing short term accomodation for friends who were in town for an entrance exam or having friends looking for a job as house guests even when I was pregnant or never refusing whenever someone expresses a wish to come home.
I may not be the perfect hostess, I may not cook large meals- I may just serve Maggi or bread, I may not be able to provide a proper bed but lay out mattresses in the living room even or may not be able to provide an exclusive bathroom and I may not even be home if I am unable to get leave of absence from work- but my doors are open for my guests to make themselves comfortable in my home.
I have never been able to refuse people when they want to come over, no matter how much it may inconvenience me. It might be bedtime for my kids or a lazy weekend with family or I might be going out. But I have faced situations when I have called up friends or even relatives just to check if they are home and if it is comfortable for them if I come over, I have been outright refused without an alternative meeting occassion being suggested. Somehow, everytime this happens, my faith in warmth of relatives, friends and society takes a beating.
Once upon a time, before the kids were born, Hubby and I made it a practice to host atleast one dinner every month- for us it was a chance to call people home, socialize, take out the new crockery and cutlery, show my cooking skills (?) off and generally have a good time. The motto being, if you want to be invited, invite first! Well, I can finger count how many times we got invited!
A lot of people complain when they come to a new city especially a city like Chennai where language is a problem- I know nothing about this place, I only know my office and home and Gemini Flyover. I wonder, why they hell did they not even feel like picking up the phone and giving me a call? A few minutes into the conversation and I would have been calling them over to my home or planning to meet during festivals or weekends or I would have definitely offered to help them shop! Only a shopaholic like me will know what it is like to go to a city and not be able to shop or explore and as much as possible, I make it a point to help my guests to shop!
Enough said- the point is that this is no shameless self promotion but just a statement of facts that I have not forgotten my past- the desperation I felt when I had to "ask" for help and to wait with bated breath until I get an answer and this nagging feeling that there is a shade of reluctance lurking somewhere. The helplessness I felt when I knew I had no alternative and I had to make do with it until I could find a roof of my own over my head and them hold my head high. I have faced hesitation, reluctance and refusal and have been scarred for life and even now I am uncomfortable about staying in someone's home and try to ensure that I give as less trouble as possible! Wonder where the world is heading towards- we dread it when people come home to see us!
That was the time I made a pact with myself. I will always keep my doors open for any guest to Chennai and if it has not been already asked, I will make the first move to open my home and heart to them.
Because I know how tough it is in a new city, how expensive a decent short term accomodation is and how little it is going to cost me to accomodate them.
So whether it called for approaching my landlady for providing short term accomodation for friends who were in town for an entrance exam or having friends looking for a job as house guests even when I was pregnant or never refusing whenever someone expresses a wish to come home.
I may not be the perfect hostess, I may not cook large meals- I may just serve Maggi or bread, I may not be able to provide a proper bed but lay out mattresses in the living room even or may not be able to provide an exclusive bathroom and I may not even be home if I am unable to get leave of absence from work- but my doors are open for my guests to make themselves comfortable in my home.
I have never been able to refuse people when they want to come over, no matter how much it may inconvenience me. It might be bedtime for my kids or a lazy weekend with family or I might be going out. But I have faced situations when I have called up friends or even relatives just to check if they are home and if it is comfortable for them if I come over, I have been outright refused without an alternative meeting occassion being suggested. Somehow, everytime this happens, my faith in warmth of relatives, friends and society takes a beating.
Once upon a time, before the kids were born, Hubby and I made it a practice to host atleast one dinner every month- for us it was a chance to call people home, socialize, take out the new crockery and cutlery, show my cooking skills (?) off and generally have a good time. The motto being, if you want to be invited, invite first! Well, I can finger count how many times we got invited!
A lot of people complain when they come to a new city especially a city like Chennai where language is a problem- I know nothing about this place, I only know my office and home and Gemini Flyover. I wonder, why they hell did they not even feel like picking up the phone and giving me a call? A few minutes into the conversation and I would have been calling them over to my home or planning to meet during festivals or weekends or I would have definitely offered to help them shop! Only a shopaholic like me will know what it is like to go to a city and not be able to shop or explore and as much as possible, I make it a point to help my guests to shop!
Enough said- the point is that this is no shameless self promotion but just a statement of facts that I have not forgotten my past- the desperation I felt when I had to "ask" for help and to wait with bated breath until I get an answer and this nagging feeling that there is a shade of reluctance lurking somewhere. The helplessness I felt when I knew I had no alternative and I had to make do with it until I could find a roof of my own over my head and them hold my head high. I have faced hesitation, reluctance and refusal and have been scarred for life and even now I am uncomfortable about staying in someone's home and try to ensure that I give as less trouble as possible! Wonder where the world is heading towards- we dread it when people come home to see us!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Ojas Tejas Begin to Write...
...Right on Dawaat Puja evening.
Tejas has started putting strokes which resemble an A without us teaching him.
So we praised him and clapped him while Ojas looked on. He got very annoyed that we were clapping for Tejas and took his slate and began drawing. He drew a banana, a strawberry and a brinjal and they were quite close to the real thing!
The new cycles are a hit. They do double riding also and carry a lot of toys in the basket.
They are familiar with both Hindi and Tamil vowels. I am trying to speak more and more in Hindi with them to hone their skills and get them comfortable with the basics. So instead of saying fish I say machli or pankha for fan and so on...I have become used to talking in translational language- talk in Hindi followed by English or English followed by Hindi so that they understand both.
Music-
Put the CD of Jaane tu and the first strains of guitar(?) played. Ojas immediately said- billi waala song- that was kabhi kabhi Aditi...
Snippets of their conversation
Nani- go on cycle and buy me chips & chocolate
Ojas/ Tejas- no, only tomorrow. It is spicy (teeta) na.
Nana- Give me some chips (from what you are eating)
O/T- first say please
Nana- Please
O/T- now wash hands
O/T- no its spicy
Nana- please give
O/T- now its over, how will I give
Nani- Tejas what are you doing
Tejas- tum baat mat karo (don't talk)
Ojas- Nana don't move
Tejas- Nana move karo
Nana moves a bit
Tejas- looks at Ojas- dekho move kiya
Ojas proceeds to hit Nana for moving
Tejas has started putting strokes which resemble an A without us teaching him.
So we praised him and clapped him while Ojas looked on. He got very annoyed that we were clapping for Tejas and took his slate and began drawing. He drew a banana, a strawberry and a brinjal and they were quite close to the real thing!
The new cycles are a hit. They do double riding also and carry a lot of toys in the basket.
They are familiar with both Hindi and Tamil vowels. I am trying to speak more and more in Hindi with them to hone their skills and get them comfortable with the basics. So instead of saying fish I say machli or pankha for fan and so on...I have become used to talking in translational language- talk in Hindi followed by English or English followed by Hindi so that they understand both.
Music-
Put the CD of Jaane tu and the first strains of guitar(?) played. Ojas immediately said- billi waala song- that was kabhi kabhi Aditi...
Snippets of their conversation
Nani- go on cycle and buy me chips & chocolate
Ojas/ Tejas- no, only tomorrow. It is spicy (teeta) na.
Nana- Give me some chips (from what you are eating)
O/T- first say please
Nana- Please
O/T- now wash hands
O/T- no its spicy
Nana- please give
O/T- now its over, how will I give
Nani- Tejas what are you doing
Tejas- tum baat mat karo (don't talk)
Ojas- Nana don't move
Tejas- Nana move karo
Nana moves a bit
Tejas- looks at Ojas- dekho move kiya
Ojas proceeds to hit Nana for moving
Friday, November 14, 2008
Tiny Thoughts- Solitude
While I love to help, just somedays, only a few days in a month on average, I don't want company in my car. I want to drive alone. Stop anywhere at whim, shop anywhere at leisure, take a detour if I so wish...I might have to pick a friend mid-way, I might want to meet my husband somewhere and we would be going off for a drive...I simply may have other plans which I don't want anyone to know.
If you are there with me, I am obliged to keep you posted, obliged not to take a detour and feel apologetic if I have to go shopping and hence request you to get down several stops ahead of your desired stop!
Well, I am just building on the good karma.
I am just saving the earth by helping in having one less vehicle on the road.
If you are there with me, I am obliged to keep you posted, obliged not to take a detour and feel apologetic if I have to go shopping and hence request you to get down several stops ahead of your desired stop!
Well, I am just building on the good karma.
I am just saving the earth by helping in having one less vehicle on the road.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Tiny Thoughts- Bunking
So I bunked office and went off for a lunch at City Centre with a friend. And I wondered why it was so full of shoppers. Young girls, mothers, men even. What were they doing on a working afternoon in City Centre?
Were they sales people bluffing their way in their offices and coming here on pretext of a client call?
Or were they people like us who simply bunked office? Why the heck is everybody bunking office the same day I am doing so?
And that brings me to the point that why the hell all bunking population are seemingly going to City Centre via the same route I am taking- judging by the crowd in my lane and in my direction?
Were these shoppers college goers with an afternoon off? Great Life!
Were they housewives with kids in college or school and a free afternoon off for shopping?
Or were they travelling personnel taking some time off and doing shopping just like what I do when I travel?
I begin thinking - what potential India has. A huge percentage of employable people shopping on a Tuesday afternoon? Go to a Nallis or a Pothys and judge the potential.
I look at the buzz at the coffee shop, a guy dozing on the bench, the Security idly looking at the crowd and my friend typing furiously on the laptop. Same place, different pace, Single system, different players. I am reminded off the Physics problem (theorem?) wherein a ball thrown vertically upwards in a horizontally moving train falls back into your hands because you and the ball and the train are a single system and there is no net individual horizontal motion. I feel the same as if I am outside this system, observing each player. I take in the scene, smile to myself and walk in to join this system.
Were they sales people bluffing their way in their offices and coming here on pretext of a client call?
Or were they people like us who simply bunked office? Why the heck is everybody bunking office the same day I am doing so?
And that brings me to the point that why the hell all bunking population are seemingly going to City Centre via the same route I am taking- judging by the crowd in my lane and in my direction?
Were these shoppers college goers with an afternoon off? Great Life!
Were they housewives with kids in college or school and a free afternoon off for shopping?
Or were they travelling personnel taking some time off and doing shopping just like what I do when I travel?
I begin thinking - what potential India has. A huge percentage of employable people shopping on a Tuesday afternoon? Go to a Nallis or a Pothys and judge the potential.
I look at the buzz at the coffee shop, a guy dozing on the bench, the Security idly looking at the crowd and my friend typing furiously on the laptop. Same place, different pace, Single system, different players. I am reminded off the Physics problem (theorem?) wherein a ball thrown vertically upwards in a horizontally moving train falls back into your hands because you and the ball and the train are a single system and there is no net individual horizontal motion. I feel the same as if I am outside this system, observing each player. I take in the scene, smile to myself and walk in to join this system.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Detectives Galore
Just read Alexander McCall Smith In the Company of Cheerful Ladies & Sunday Philosophy Club back to back. These books are about Women detectives, no thriller crime to be uncovered but normal, everyday, garden variety problems and incidents that need a piece of detection and logical thinking. Detection is the backdrop but the story is the offering actually. A light book with simple characters and their simple problems, reminiscent of the school day English Readers. They drag in the beginning but per up towards the second half. Once develops a rapport with and a liking for the protagonist very quickly. There are funny moments scattered about. I will definitely go for more in the series.
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