Siya and her stories...

Siya and her stories....
Siya - Mom, why are you leaving office?
Purwa - So that I can take care of you.
Siya - But you said boss uncle is like your father!
Purwa - Ya, he is but u need me right?
Siya - Why do daughters have to always leave their fathers !

:-) Siya darling, everything does not have to be so much in literal sense!

Bid you a grand farewell 2011!

As the year end, time to look back and enjoy the good, learn from mistakes, make vows, make resolutions, make plans. This time itself is just so exciting, it gives me time to spend with myself :-).

2011 overall was a pretty stressful year for me but coming to think of it, when has it not been :-).
On family front - lots of challenges handling Siya, on office front - major challenges in handling people, in coping up with people, had not so happy situations, on Siya's front - she is turning more and more demanding day by day, her commitment towards skating, gymnastics and now cycling too is making sure that I am on toss always. However, when I look back, I realize that this is one of the years which has surely made me a far more stronger person emotionally. I was able to handle far more threads of execution as compared to last year. All I can say, life in 2011 was different than all other years so far and by far the most challenging. So, thanks to all those who made it so exciting for me.

Just a few hours and this year shall come to an end.. Before I can wish you all a Happy New Year, I just wanted to say to all the people who made my life worth living this year,
Thank you - for everything you helped me and stood there for me
Sorry - for whenever I hurt you or let you down, I am sure I did'nt mean to

Happy New Years and Cheers to 2012!

Siya and her stories...

Siya and her stories...
Siya - Nani never does like this to me and you always...
Purwa - I am Nani's daughter and am like her. What is the difference between me and Nani Siya?
Siya - 35+ years :-)
Why does she take everything so literally.....

Effortless Parenting

Just yesterday in office, I was having a conversation with my bosses about "Many a times parent enforce their dreams on their child which is the worst thing ever to do and how things for kids now a days always seems to be in a rush". They were indirectly letting me know that I was rushing up with Siya which is stressing me as well as Siya out :-).

So thought I should write about "Effortless Parenting" today. I am often asked - how can you do so much with Siya inspite of having a more than demanding job and of course husband and household to take care off. To which most of the time I say - I am awesome :-). But the truth is I am able to manage all of it only because of my husband. We have some rules been defined for us and the first rule is that we do not really break the following rules:

1) Teach kids to be self-sufficient - All kids first learn how to pick up things, then how to brush, how to have bath, how to feed themselves so on and so on. At the beginning of every new skill she learns, it requires requires a little patient teaching. But once the teaching is done, our job are a parent is a lot easier. I do focus a lot on teaching every new skill she learns.

2) Teach older kids how to take care of younger ones - This rule works beautifully for people having more than one kid (unfortunately this rule is ruled out from my rule book).

3) Teach them how to solve problems - We should focus a lot on teaching our children how to solve a problem and not make them learn facts or skills. We always describe everything as a problem and then have her find solutions. e.g. I want to run faster than the fastest runner I see on Marine Drive on Sunday, her solution was I will skate every Sunday. Addition of two digit numbers with carry forwards - teach me this skill is just on entertained. But the problem identified was - we have 10 fingers only and 10 fingers of legs, if I need to add more than this then?

4) Show them how to be passionate - Besides teaching them how to solve their own problem, we also need to teach them how to be passionate about something. If they know this, they will do work they're passionate about just like adults. How do you teach them this? By modeling it yourself. By doing projects with them where you’re passionate about something. Kids learn an amazing amount by watching and mimicking.

5) Play with them outside and be active - Spending time with your kids is best way to show them that you love them. I keep my evening completely free for Siya. If there is some office work to be followed up is either after she is off to bed or early next morning. Playing with them and playing outdoor games with them shows them how to be active and have fun being active.

6) Give them free time - We need to give our kids a good bit of unstructured, unscheduled time. They need to figure out what they have to do with that time. This is a very important skill to learn.

7) Don't dote - I’ve seen lots of parents that dote on everything their kids do, who are worried about every little thing their kid might touch or that might cause a fall. Back off, and give them some space. They need attention, but they also need some time alone to explore, to fall and get back up, to scrape their knees, to figure stuff out on their own. Go do something on your own, and leave your kids alone sometimes.

8) Dance - We dance a lot together as a family. We just play loud music and go crazy. Life for us is too dull without dance.

9) Read - The first thing I wake and do in the morning is turn on my laptop and read about topics of my interest. For Vipul, he picks up the newspaper and starts around at the same time. Soon we observed that Siya would pick up her book and sit with us. Reading is one of the best loves you can instill in kids.

10) Be inquisitive - Ask questions about everything and encourage your kids to do so. Don't give them answers as far as possible, encourage them to find out using their sense organs. Kids are naturally inquisitive, because everything is new for them, see the world through their eyes and you will enjoy.

Hopefully, this will make a useful read....

Business is all about professionalism - what is this word meaning (Siya and her questions)

Inspite of working now for 10 years, yesterday when Siya asked me "what do you mean by professional", I was really put to thought on what does it really mean? I was always taught on how to work in office but never taught what does it take to be a professional. So thought should write about it today "My definition of professionalism" which Siya can surely refer tomorrow.

Whether you are running your own business or you are working for someone, there is always an expectation that you will be professional in the course of business. I broadly treat the following as attributes of professional :

1) Respect for others - Being courteous and having good manners, being fair in all dealings, being on time for meetings and respecting others time, being prepared for meetings, keeping personal opinion of people private, doing what needs to be done, not leaving it for others, acceptance of constructive criticism, dealing with sensitive issues privately, being faitr and gentle when giving feedback, keeping confidential details and confidential, listen(and not hear) to others, accept your mistake and apologize and finally communicate (and not speak) to others.

2) Responsibility and Integrity - We must present ourselves always in a way that you earn (not demand) respect for yourself. All professionals need to take responsibility of themselves and their work. Honesty is crucial – avoid even the smallest of lies at all costs. Commitment is a commitment -If you commit to something, then follow through with it. If there is a delay, let the person know that there is a delay - timely information is better than no information at all. be respectful about competing businesses or people - try pointing out your benefits rather than their faults. Be impartial - keep personal bias and intolerances out of the business world.Be reliable and dependable. Demonstrate self-control and avoid public arguments and disagreements.

Is this good enough Siya? :-)

Siya and her stories...

Siya and her stories....
Yesterday on my way back from outstation, we were listening to radio where they were playing old songs. The song was "Tohfa Tohfa, laya laya". The lyrics were something like:

Tohafa Tohafa Tohafa Tohafa, laaya Laaya Laaya Laaya
........
pyaar Ka Tohafa Tera Bana Hai Jeevan Mera
dil Ke Sahaare Maine Pa Lie
jeene Ko Aur Kya Chaahie

The moment the line "jeene Ko Aur Kya Chaahie" was over, Siya says "Mumma chahiye" :-)

Love you darling!

Siya and her stories....

Siya and her stories....
Siya - Mom, its Sunday morning, let me please sleep for sometime.
Mom - Siya, early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
Siya - Mom, if healthy like you then I better sleep, "wealthy" I am chotu to worry about it, "wise" what does that mean! So I better sleep now....

Ok guys, guess good saying dont work with our kids any more :-)