How to Nurture Super Kids?

Ok, from the moment I read the article, I was waiting for Kiran to do a take so that I could link that and write something. She was also part of the BBC panel on this topic. A thought provoking post there if you could please go to the link first.

And my take-
1. Super kids are not kids who score A across or can do everything, every activity. Super kids to me are good human beings first. They first need to learn stuff like sharing, empathy, caring, feeling for others, understand emotions- whether happiness or sadness or anger. My proud moments are those little moments when one kid of mine brings a set of night clothes for his brother or puts his brother's shoes back into the rack, or stop my hand when I try to dress a wound because according to him I might hurt his brother, or when they insist that they must share the lollylops with their friends. Yes, these are my proudest moments as a parent, because some where I know their heart is in the right place if they are able to do that.

2. Superkids do not just do academics. They also play. They also listen to music, learn music, watch TV, dance, or chat or just do nothing. I believe that for an all round development, kids must be exposed to different types of activities. Otherwise they will never discover what they may be good at. Ojas dribbles the football like a pro. At one point we were desperate that he doesn't coordinate well. The music teacher almost gave up on Tejas but today Tejas has been asked to sing a few lines in the assembly. I don't care what he does there- but atleast the teacher found him good enough to sing in front of the school.
What I like about their school is that they insist everyone participates. Perhaps I did not have a good face, or maybe I was too tall, or fat or didn't have a loud enough voice... whatever maybe the reason, I was not part most stage functions in school. I am glad my kids do not face that problem. Next year the kids take up theatre & dance as co curricular activities. And I am excited about it because theatre or dance is such a great medium of expression, it enhances your comfort with your own body. To me it is not just about academics- it is more than that.

3. Moms of superkids feel proud about their kids' achievements but they do not believe it is a matter of life or death if they do not come first in a race or such things and they never ever base a promise of reward on that. Parents of superkids also feel proud of any other kids' achievement infact.
To me it is more important that a child is sportive and accepts the fact that others may be as good or better than him in some aspect. I will never tell my kid that you are the best. I always say that I am happy you have done well. Once when a child was going on and on about how he is the smartest in his class because he got so many stars, I had to cut him off saying that so did others. Everybody gets stars. The fact was that his mom made him believe that he is the smartest and others are not. Which in my opinion is wrong. Because then, these kids cannot take failure.

4. Parents of superkids do not compare- You first compare among your children, then with classmates, then neighbour's children in other schools....and so on- it is endless. To me what matters is that as an individual is the child meeting all milestones. I face a problem at home. Both my kids achieve their milestones at different phases. It is natural and unavoidable that I go on high alert and start comparing even though I make a conscious effort to not do it.
But it also helps in a way that I know where to put my efforts because I do not want them to miss a chance of enjoying a pursuit because they are ready to give up at this stage. Ojas hated reading. He would falter at even the simplest words whereas Tejas just amassed words into his vocab. I pushed Ojas relentlessly and today he is hungering after books. My main concern was, I did not want him to miss the joys of reading, which was the reason I pushed- I used techniques, I used word spotting games, I used kindersite stories to make it fun. Basically, I followed his style of approach towards learning.

5. Superkids do not always score 100% in school - my husband did not, and neither did he get recruited in campus- he is a CEO today.

6. Superkids are not bookish- superkids apply. Superkids do and learn, not mug up and learn. Superkids imagine.

7. And discipline- superkids are disciplined, not regimental. As a parent, I do not encourage missing school. Because my focus is on building a lifeskill of self discipline. Today you miss school, tomorrow you go lax in college because of your "chalt hai" attitude and later on you miss deadlines in office, and do not take your responsibilities seriously.

8. In Life, it is not enough that you are a gold medallist and all that. What is the life skill that you have imbibed at the end of the day? Who cares about a degree that is locked up in your drawer. What do people perceive you as?

Mere itne deewane

3 male cats stalk the only female sitting on the car roof- the one on the left of the tree is the female.

She stares at any cat that dares to move towards her

Alone at last..the 2 contenders on the wall move away disappointed and our stud is back to staring at her....

Honey Oranges

Can you guess the size of these oranges?

Now?

What do you think?

And how about now?

Honey oranges is what the store calls them. Very very sweet, kids love it and so do we.

My Little Helpers err Self Made People

Mamma's babies can totally bring themselves up now.

They have been insisting that they make their own rotis in their own chakla belan set.

Ojas makes about 2 in a session, he being more focused on gobbling up the raw dough.

Tejas is very quick, 6-7 and still going strong in a single session

He is faster than me in terms of numbers I guess and in fact one session, his rotis puffed up while none of mine did!

Both of them helped me with shelling peas this weekend.

Ojas insisted he do the entire thing on his own- said to Tejas- tell Dadda, I don't need your help. You go. I will do it fully.

Where Did That Come From

Ojas wakes up one morning, brushes, sits on the floor and says- kahan hai mera banana leaf? Banana leaf do (where is my banana leaf, give me my banana leaf)

Me- why? for wearing?

Ojas- No for eating?

Me- why do you want to eat a banana leaf?

Ojas- no to eat on eat.

Now where did that come from?

Was it something he dreamt?

Or was it the result of the Dinner we had with Boo family in on banana leaf in Banana Leaf Restaurant ?

Sarcasm

Ojas- Mamma, don't put (your heavy) leg on me
Mamma- Ok, then shall I put vomit on you (and other unmentionables)
Ojas- kyon, tumko accha things pataa nahin hai?(why don't you know how to do good things?)

Mamma - What is the meaning of treasure

Tejas- anything that is found and should be kept at home

More Paintings by Hubby

The Ganesha that is mounted on the high wall that houses the loft in the kitchen 3 Paintings that cover the wall behind the TV.

My house is truly full.

Perhaps I will encroach the garden and build more walls to hang them paintings

Slayer of Kamsa

Cannot believe Kansa's story is huge enough to fill a book.
Ashok Banker's new series on Krishna & Mahabharat- the second book is slotted for next year btw.
The book backgrounds on Vasudev's peace treaty with Ugrasena and subsequently Kansa's pooh poohing of the same- his demonic rise to power after allying with Jarasandh and the arrival of Krishna to slay his evil Mama.
I would love to add that in reality, the Mama is not always evil. Sometimes there are nephews and neices who have the capability to put their most loving Mamas to shame.
Ah well, coming back to the book, according to me the book is too big- well more pages to read and all that but some descriptions made me switch off. The same problem was there in the Ramayana series.
Otherwise it is good enough to want to read the rest of the series.

Dangerous Mamma

The other day when the kids drove me to my limit of patience I threatened them with words and happened to wave the knife with which I was chopping onions (which is currently a prized pricy vegetable) I had in my hand.
Overheard after that-
Tejas, don't go into the kitchen, Mamma might poke you with the knife.

For 2011, I Pray...

-That I reach ideal weight in 2011

-That the creative juices keep flowing and I write more and more posts in 2011 and that I get many many comments on my blog posts- c'mon guys, you owe it to me

-That the maid does not bunk for so many days without notice

-That the flow of books do not stop for me and the reading never stops for the kids

-That the vicious cycle of account receivables get cleared - much depends on that Godji-Give the husband as much persuasive skills as possible

-That the salary goes up by...err you know how much I want God, just start thinking beyond needs and consider the wants also dear God.

-That only the good remain with us, the bad, the ugly, the stupid, the rubbish and the evil are totally weeded out and that they too get their just desserts - you know what I mean God?



Hey!!!! Are you listening God?