Got this article as a forward mail...worth sharing....
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 neighbour 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.
Well...I am becoming a fan of this guy....
Monday, July 25, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Baby Quotes
Some of my favourite baby quotes which I came across today... Dedicated to my kids..
A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bank balance smaller, home happier, clothes dirty, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.
Having a baby changes the way you view your in-laws. I love it when they come to visit. They hold the baby and I go out.
A father is someone who carries pictures where his money used to be.
The best thing a Father can do for his baby, is to Love his mother.
You spend the first 2 years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next 16 years telling them to sit down and shut-up.
The only thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping child.
There is only one most beautiful child in the world and every mother has it.
- And I have two.... :)
A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bank balance smaller, home happier, clothes dirty, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.
Having a baby changes the way you view your in-laws. I love it when they come to visit. They hold the baby and I go out.
A father is someone who carries pictures where his money used to be.
The best thing a Father can do for his baby, is to Love his mother.
You spend the first 2 years of their life teaching them to walk and talk. Then you spend the next 16 years telling them to sit down and shut-up.
The only thing worth stealing is a kiss from a sleeping child.
There is only one most beautiful child in the world and every mother has it.
- And I have two.... :)
Friday, May 20, 2011
My first car..
As I have complained many times here, it takes almost four hours a day for me to travel from and to office. One fine day, since I had no other reason to argue with hubby, I raised this topic. “Dude…don’t you feel bad, since your wife is spending so much time for travel everyday? Why don’t you get me a car?” – “And who will drive it?” – pat came the reply! Now, this was a challenge to my potentially unknown driving skills. I had to prove myself, atleast for the sake of winning the argument. So, I started the operation – “How to learn to drive a car in 1 week?”
Driving a car is not easy. Especially, if you have a male tutor who is an expert in driving sitting next to you, and issuing instructions, all the time. And it becomes even more difficult, if the said tutor is the darling husband! You can’t even shout back at him and quit the course in the middle, because, your prestige is at stake. It’s a pain in the neck, I tell you! “Don’t do this! Fuel consumption will be more!” “Don’t do that! Fuel consumption will be more!” The even best way to save fuel would be to switch off the engine and walk back home. I many times doubted my own ability and even thought of quitting, even though I would have obviously blamed him for his inefficiency in teaching me! But, lucky for me, the said tutor and husband motivated me enough to drive successfully, without the engine getting turned off. Self-confidence pays!
And successfully enough, I learnt to drive, and even better, I also succeeded in making him get me a new car. Yep! I am now, the proud owner of a brand new Wagon R, although by now, it is a week old. Two days into getting the car, I started to drive to office, mainly to show off to everybody, that I can drive, more than to show off that my husband bought me a new car!
First day, driving in the bypass – God knows, how nervous I was, clutching the steering so tight, that I did not release it, even to reduce the AC which was in a freezing third level. Second day, my confidence increased to the level that I was able to drive back in the highway at 9 in the night. Just for your information, in case you don’t know, lorry traffic in the highway is high at that time. Third day, since I was an expert in driving by then, I decided to take over the responsibility from husband and leave the car in the shed – all by myself, after getting proper instructions – “Do not leave the accelerator, once you have reached the elevation. ” As instructed, I raised the accelerator, to leave the car inside the shed. After a second or so, the car did not move, no matter how much I raised it, only to realize that my husband was screaming like hell, outside the car. No, I didn’t drive over him. He was safe – but the car was not. I had crashed the side door of the car in our shed gate. It got stuck with the gate. Neither could I take it front, nor could I reverse it. After hearing some extraordinarily nice words from him, I got down of the car, and retreated to my room silently, like a kid, who breaks a toy, and silently vacates the place. As I was wondering in my room, as how to make a drama and back-blame him, he luckily came and pacified me, saying that insurance claim is still possible! Good for him, he escaped from my drama. Finally, his friends came to the rescue, and with the help of all mechanical instruments possible, they released the car from the gate. Not much damage – just a big dent and all scratches in the back door. Over-confidence also pays!
I know, I am eligible for all the appreciations, from near and dear for this, but where’s the thrill, if my car doesn’t have even a single scratch?? As our tamil poet has rightly said,
“Dent-odu ottuvaaare, nalla driver aavar,
matravar ellam otta theriyaadhavar!”
Driving a car is not easy. Especially, if you have a male tutor who is an expert in driving sitting next to you, and issuing instructions, all the time. And it becomes even more difficult, if the said tutor is the darling husband! You can’t even shout back at him and quit the course in the middle, because, your prestige is at stake. It’s a pain in the neck, I tell you! “Don’t do this! Fuel consumption will be more!” “Don’t do that! Fuel consumption will be more!” The even best way to save fuel would be to switch off the engine and walk back home. I many times doubted my own ability and even thought of quitting, even though I would have obviously blamed him for his inefficiency in teaching me! But, lucky for me, the said tutor and husband motivated me enough to drive successfully, without the engine getting turned off. Self-confidence pays!
And successfully enough, I learnt to drive, and even better, I also succeeded in making him get me a new car. Yep! I am now, the proud owner of a brand new Wagon R, although by now, it is a week old. Two days into getting the car, I started to drive to office, mainly to show off to everybody, that I can drive, more than to show off that my husband bought me a new car!
First day, driving in the bypass – God knows, how nervous I was, clutching the steering so tight, that I did not release it, even to reduce the AC which was in a freezing third level. Second day, my confidence increased to the level that I was able to drive back in the highway at 9 in the night. Just for your information, in case you don’t know, lorry traffic in the highway is high at that time. Third day, since I was an expert in driving by then, I decided to take over the responsibility from husband and leave the car in the shed – all by myself, after getting proper instructions – “Do not leave the accelerator, once you have reached the elevation. ” As instructed, I raised the accelerator, to leave the car inside the shed. After a second or so, the car did not move, no matter how much I raised it, only to realize that my husband was screaming like hell, outside the car. No, I didn’t drive over him. He was safe – but the car was not. I had crashed the side door of the car in our shed gate. It got stuck with the gate. Neither could I take it front, nor could I reverse it. After hearing some extraordinarily nice words from him, I got down of the car, and retreated to my room silently, like a kid, who breaks a toy, and silently vacates the place. As I was wondering in my room, as how to make a drama and back-blame him, he luckily came and pacified me, saying that insurance claim is still possible! Good for him, he escaped from my drama. Finally, his friends came to the rescue, and with the help of all mechanical instruments possible, they released the car from the gate. Not much damage – just a big dent and all scratches in the back door. Over-confidence also pays!
I know, I am eligible for all the appreciations, from near and dear for this, but where’s the thrill, if my car doesn’t have even a single scratch?? As our tamil poet has rightly said,
“Dent-odu ottuvaaare, nalla driver aavar,
matravar ellam otta theriyaadhavar!”
Thursday, May 5, 2011
05:05:2011
Dear Swathi,
You are turning two today. Though I am getting tired of saying the same thing again and again, it still remains the fact that you two are growing really fast. Until you came, your sister was supposed to be the naughty brat, but you have proven her wrong. You are the naughtiest kid;
I have ever seen or heard, next to your dad of course. To have your fore-head stitched twice, in a span of three months, is something, which even your dad could not achieve. So, you are the topper in the family, darling.
About this year, where do I begin? The moment you became a year old, you got used to staying away from me. Almost immediately after your previous birthday, you went for a vacation to your grandma’s place, for about 10 days, and you didn’t even remember that you had parents. You were having such a nice time there. And the moment, I came to see you after those 10 days, imagine what you did!!! You ran AWAY from me, to my mom. And the moment your dad came, you immediately ran to him. Dad’s girl you are…huh!This is something, which I will never forget. I shall get you at the right time for this, girl!!!
Even as I am writing this, you are pillow-fighting with your father, and it is your sister, who is defending you from your dad, in the fight. It is such a pleasant scene to watch you sisters being paasa-malargal.
How I wish, you two be the same all the time! But, most often than not, you both become rival enemies, literally breaking my head. You keep fighting with your sister, for almost each and every thing she has or does. Only, when you require her assistance, and if your sister is in a good mood, can I witness the paasa-malar scene. You want to do whatever your sister does, be it studying, cycling, playing, dancing, whatever…irrespective of whether you are familiar with the act or not. But the moment, your sister gets hurt, or she starts crying, for no reason of yours, you are the first one to go and wipe her tears. You immediately become upset.
You are such a affectionate little sis to have.
Your biggest achievement this year, apart from breaking your head twice, has been your understanding, when I had to stay away from you for one and half months. I could not handle the separation as good as you two girls. I kept on brooding all through the separation time. Honestly speaking, more than the fact that I missed you, I always had the fear that you would forget me, in my absence, given your level of affection to your father. But, thank god, you atleast remembered me, when I came back.
You are the perfect little sport, when it comes to outing. You enjoy the maximum extent, you can, whenever we go for dinners, or any outings. Even when we recently went to Coorg last month, you and your sister were the center of attraction. Am glad to see you enjoy, and that in itself, wants us to take you out always. You easily socialize with everyone.
All it takes for anybody to get friendly with you is just a chocolate, and you easily go to them. But still, why you never allow me to take your photo is something, I cannot understand.
I am simply awed to realize that my naughty little kid is going to become a pre-schooler from next month. You are so much excited about going to school, and comfortable with your school ambience, that until now, for you, going to school is like going to a play-park, because that is what you have been doing every time, we go to visit your school. I only hope that you don’t keep pinching and biting all the other kids in your school, like you do to your sister.
You are going through so many phase transitions, all so very gradually, that I am not able to realize when my child is slowly becoming a girl… There is so much to say, that a single blog is not enough, for it go for pages together.
As always, we love you more than we loved you last year, and this will be the same every year…..
Loads of love and kisses,
Your mom & dad.
PS: Your dad would have definitely written more than this, if he had the patience to sit in one place and write a blog, and this applies not only for you, but for your sister as well. So, consider these letters as coming from both your parents. Love you darlings.
You are turning two today. Though I am getting tired of saying the same thing again and again, it still remains the fact that you two are growing really fast. Until you came, your sister was supposed to be the naughty brat, but you have proven her wrong. You are the naughtiest kid;
I have ever seen or heard, next to your dad of course. To have your fore-head stitched twice, in a span of three months, is something, which even your dad could not achieve. So, you are the topper in the family, darling. About this year, where do I begin? The moment you became a year old, you got used to staying away from me. Almost immediately after your previous birthday, you went for a vacation to your grandma’s place, for about 10 days, and you didn’t even remember that you had parents. You were having such a nice time there. And the moment, I came to see you after those 10 days, imagine what you did!!! You ran AWAY from me, to my mom. And the moment your dad came, you immediately ran to him. Dad’s girl you are…huh!This is something, which I will never forget. I shall get you at the right time for this, girl!!!
Even as I am writing this, you are pillow-fighting with your father, and it is your sister, who is defending you from your dad, in the fight. It is such a pleasant scene to watch you sisters being paasa-malargal.
How I wish, you two be the same all the time! But, most often than not, you both become rival enemies, literally breaking my head. You keep fighting with your sister, for almost each and every thing she has or does. Only, when you require her assistance, and if your sister is in a good mood, can I witness the paasa-malar scene. You want to do whatever your sister does, be it studying, cycling, playing, dancing, whatever…irrespective of whether you are familiar with the act or not. But the moment, your sister gets hurt, or she starts crying, for no reason of yours, you are the first one to go and wipe her tears. You immediately become upset.
You are such a affectionate little sis to have.Your biggest achievement this year, apart from breaking your head twice, has been your understanding, when I had to stay away from you for one and half months. I could not handle the separation as good as you two girls. I kept on brooding all through the separation time. Honestly speaking, more than the fact that I missed you, I always had the fear that you would forget me, in my absence, given your level of affection to your father. But, thank god, you atleast remembered me, when I came back.
You are the perfect little sport, when it comes to outing. You enjoy the maximum extent, you can, whenever we go for dinners, or any outings. Even when we recently went to Coorg last month, you and your sister were the center of attraction. Am glad to see you enjoy, and that in itself, wants us to take you out always. You easily socialize with everyone.
All it takes for anybody to get friendly with you is just a chocolate, and you easily go to them. But still, why you never allow me to take your photo is something, I cannot understand.I am simply awed to realize that my naughty little kid is going to become a pre-schooler from next month. You are so much excited about going to school, and comfortable with your school ambience, that until now, for you, going to school is like going to a play-park, because that is what you have been doing every time, we go to visit your school. I only hope that you don’t keep pinching and biting all the other kids in your school, like you do to your sister.
You are going through so many phase transitions, all so very gradually, that I am not able to realize when my child is slowly becoming a girl… There is so much to say, that a single blog is not enough, for it go for pages together.
As always, we love you more than we loved you last year, and this will be the same every year…..
Loads of love and kisses,
Your mom & dad.
PS: Your dad would have definitely written more than this, if he had the patience to sit in one place and write a blog, and this applies not only for you, but for your sister as well. So, consider these letters as coming from both your parents. Love you darlings.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
This day...That age...
Yeah,he forgot. As usual! He never remembers this day. Or may be he wants to forget this day.... May be! But this time I have learned enough not to ask him about this day. Every year, like a dumb idiot, it is me who goes to him and asks if he remembers this day...but this year, I didn't. I DID NOT ASK HIM. The temptation was high, though!
Even if I had asked, I know the reply. The conversation would have gone somewhere similar to this...
He: *watching cricket / reading paper / sleeping*
Me: Darling...
He: mmm.....
Me: Daaarllingg......
He: mmmmmmmmm.....
Me: I want to ask you something...
He: mm...
Me: *silent, thinking if should really ask him, in this going-nowhere-conversation*
He: what??
Me: *surprised that he responds*
He: What?
Me: Do you know what day today is?
He: Sunday.
Me: *Irritated. What a brilliant answer! My daughter could tell that.*
He: What about it?
Me: Nothing...so shall we go out?
He: Its 6 already...why bother?
Me: Whatever!!!
Darling, if you still don't remember, just to remind you....last sunday was our "Ponnu Paartha day." - the day we first saw each other...I still remember and am very happy about this event. How about you?
Happy Ponnu Paartha day to me.... (Poor me!)
Paartha nyabagam illayo....
Even if I had asked, I know the reply. The conversation would have gone somewhere similar to this...
He: *watching cricket / reading paper / sleeping*
Me: Darling...
He: mmm.....
Me: Daaarllingg......
He: mmmmmmmmm.....
Me: I want to ask you something...
He: mm...
Me: *silent, thinking if should really ask him, in this going-nowhere-conversation*
He: what??
Me: *surprised that he responds*
He: What?
Me: Do you know what day today is?
He: Sunday.
Me: *Irritated. What a brilliant answer! My daughter could tell that.*
He: What about it?
Me: Nothing...so shall we go out?
He: Its 6 already...why bother?
Me: Whatever!!!
Darling, if you still don't remember, just to remind you....last sunday was our "Ponnu Paartha day." - the day we first saw each other...I still remember and am very happy about this event. How about you?
Happy Ponnu Paartha day to me.... (Poor me!)
Paartha nyabagam illayo....
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
The institution called Marriage
Why can't I have my life the way I want it to be? Why do I need to be the one who always has to adjust to everything and everyone - right from nandu-sundu to all the olds and golds? (Even the husband - for that matter) Why can't others compromise for my sake atleast once in a while? Why does getting married means compromises only from the daughter-in-law? Why do we have to give up all our past desires and become a adjust-o-meter for other's sake? Why should I be the one who has to give-up and talk first, for his sake, for her sake, for their sake....whatever.... Who cares about 'my sake'????
Marriage is not always the bed of roses, I agree...and am experiencing this too... (for the first time in 6 years)
Marriage is not always the bed of roses, I agree...and am experiencing this too... (for the first time in 6 years)
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Happy 4th...
Time is really running very fast, dear. Its already your 4th birthday. My baby is slowly becoming a girl. In the past year, you have been a combination of all that a mom could possibly ask for – 
the cute girl, naughty, mischievous, impossible, arrogant, funny, affectionate sister, and what not! You have been your sister’s best friend and worst enemy.
In the past year, you have faced a lot of hardships from your little sister, especially during the past 6 months. She is literally using you as a punching bag, whenever she is angry, happy, sad, irritated or whatever. You gracefully accept all her pinches, and come crying to me.
Even in such a situation, you never beat her. The maximum you can do is not give her the things she asks for, which again leads to more fights. But never once, have you attacked back. Is it because, you have a soft corner for your sister, amidst all the fights, or you are not that way? I don’t know, but still, I love you for this too. The sibling rivalry between you two is reaching its peaks, obviously breaking my nerves, at every instance possible. In good times, when both of you are in the same room and still the house is very silent, I can understand that you two kootu kalavaanis are upto something. Its either this way or that. As the tamil proverb goes “Vecha kodumi saracha mottai”. On the whole, you both can never let me be in peace.
In the past year, you have come to know what feelings are. You get really hurt, when I say that I won’t talk to you, or when I remotely say something like “get lost!” You tell me not to tell you things like that. I am learning from you, but still, the joy I get, when you care that I won’t talk to you…its bliss, I tell you.
Your biggest achievement this year has been your maturity level in handling the absence of your mom for six weeks, when I had to travel abroad. You fully understood the situation and never once gave trouble to your father in my absence, and yet you missed me like never before. Ever since my return, you are glued to me all the time when I am in home. I can realize how much you have missed me, my darling. I know how hard it would have been for you, yet you managed wonderfully. I promise you that I shall never again put you in such a situation. Never, ever!
Academics – you are getting better all the time, and even in your current school, you have become the teacher’s pet. You are becoming a good artist, you color very well.
You gave a couple of stage performances too. You were also given a special invite for your previous play school’s annual day, taking into consideration, the extraordinary performance which you gave last year.
Dear, just to remind you again, you have become 4 now. Can you please stop that stupid habit of stuffing cloth in your mouth while sleeping, and also, can you start drinking milk by the cup. I would be very glad if you do so.
There are so many more things, which I want to write about, just that I am not able to phrase them. As always, love you more and more and more.
Can you believe, you have grown from here …..
To here….
Happy 4th birthday darling.
Loads of love and kisses,
Your mom
the cute girl, naughty, mischievous, impossible, arrogant, funny, affectionate sister, and what not! You have been your sister’s best friend and worst enemy.In the past year, you have faced a lot of hardships from your little sister, especially during the past 6 months. She is literally using you as a punching bag, whenever she is angry, happy, sad, irritated or whatever. You gracefully accept all her pinches, and come crying to me.
Even in such a situation, you never beat her. The maximum you can do is not give her the things she asks for, which again leads to more fights. But never once, have you attacked back. Is it because, you have a soft corner for your sister, amidst all the fights, or you are not that way? I don’t know, but still, I love you for this too. The sibling rivalry between you two is reaching its peaks, obviously breaking my nerves, at every instance possible. In good times, when both of you are in the same room and still the house is very silent, I can understand that you two kootu kalavaanis are upto something. Its either this way or that. As the tamil proverb goes “Vecha kodumi saracha mottai”. On the whole, you both can never let me be in peace. In the past year, you have come to know what feelings are. You get really hurt, when I say that I won’t talk to you, or when I remotely say something like “get lost!” You tell me not to tell you things like that. I am learning from you, but still, the joy I get, when you care that I won’t talk to you…its bliss, I tell you.
Your biggest achievement this year has been your maturity level in handling the absence of your mom for six weeks, when I had to travel abroad. You fully understood the situation and never once gave trouble to your father in my absence, and yet you missed me like never before. Ever since my return, you are glued to me all the time when I am in home. I can realize how much you have missed me, my darling. I know how hard it would have been for you, yet you managed wonderfully. I promise you that I shall never again put you in such a situation. Never, ever!
Academics – you are getting better all the time, and even in your current school, you have become the teacher’s pet. You are becoming a good artist, you color very well.
You gave a couple of stage performances too. You were also given a special invite for your previous play school’s annual day, taking into consideration, the extraordinary performance which you gave last year.
Dear, just to remind you again, you have become 4 now. Can you please stop that stupid habit of stuffing cloth in your mouth while sleeping, and also, can you start drinking milk by the cup. I would be very glad if you do so.
There are so many more things, which I want to write about, just that I am not able to phrase them. As always, love you more and more and more.
Can you believe, you have grown from here …..
To here….
Happy 4th birthday darling.
Loads of love and kisses,
Your mom
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)