Reflections Of A Desi Mom

Kem Cho? Kevi gayi chokrao ni rajao??  Didn't understand? Its simple Gujarati. If you cannot read Gujarati ..sorry you cannot read further.  Puzzled?  Don't be! It's coming from the bitterness that I experienced this week.  I took almost a month long sabbatical from blogging, I had thought when I write after school re-opens it will be fresh and  energetic just like I was feeling.  But this experience not only hurt me as a Mother but also a resident of this prestigious society I am living in.  Since the time we came and lived here in Pune, I experienced caste discrimination.. Yes in a metro city like Pune!!! After  living abroad, you tend to get into the habit of greeting people in public places, even if you don't know them. I used to  unknowingly do the same. But I was often answered by stern glances and worse tilted necks. Slowly I gave up. Gradually  I understood, it was not me. It was my NON-Mahara...

Summers are here.. and so will be the mangoes along with the camps for little and big children thronging the nooks and  corners of the city.  Its almost thrilling to see soo many options to entertain and keep our children busy through the scorching heat. Growing  up I never saw/read/heard something like that in my then small city.  As a new Mom, I was fascinated by the dearth of options I had to choose from. Be it phonics, swimming, craft, quilling,  dance etc etc.. I literally had just about too much to choose from. And mind you - it was overwhelming!! I remember the first summer that we were in Pune, I was just happy that my mermaid could enjoy in the tub and pool  with her cute lil flower swim suit. Of course, finding the right Playgroup was on the top of my mind..It seemed such a  huge decision then!  Then came the next summer. When we both had got used to 2+ hours of structured time in play school. Yes I was happy...

Remember the Art Mela that was orchestrated in the movie Taare Zameen Par?  I, J and my mom had the privilege to experience that in its full glory and charm at my daughter's school concert today.   The teachers and their team broke the monotony of performing in the auditorium and brought the thrill of performances in their own Open Air Amphitheater.  What a charming atmosphere we were welcomed to!  But wait - this sounds a little abrupt. Let me start from the last month or so when N began talking about the concert practice.  Initial days were the same old routine "Bore ho raha hai Mom.. Same old practice we have to do so many times.. Can I skip school today? etc etc. " (Honestly, even I was dreading less routine and more practice) It slowly progressed to exciting sharing of practice anecdotes. Toward the end of the month long practice sessions, her version had completely transformed to excitement, thrill and can't-wait...