blogcontest – Page 3 – That Madras Mom

April 4, 2020April 3, 2020

#BlogchatterA2Z D what to and what not to teach

We’re into the fourth alphabet D for which is like to mention qualities like dedicated, dependable, determined, decisive, delightful and a dreamer to be taught and practiced.

What to teach

Dedicated – Being dedicated would mean complete involvement in an action. To succeed in any task the first and foremost thing would be the dedication. The willingness that comes from within to spend the time and energy into something is what is termed dedication.

Dependable – Being dependable is being a person on whom we can be sure of or be confident of. This makes you a person on whom we could count on or rely upon. That level of confidence that forms a personality trait is being dependable.

Determined – Being determined is having a strong feeling to complete or succeed in a task. It is a feeling that will not allow anyone or anything to stop you from doing it. The firmness in resolution gives you that drive towards completion.

Decisive – Being decisive would mean the ability to decide and come to a conclusion. It is based on this trait you continue to accomplish the plan to proceed with the task. It doesn’t mean that you decide things in a hurry. It means you have enough knowledge on what you decide to proceed further on.

Delightful – This would mean becoming a liking for all. A character that would be loved and greatly appreciated and look forward to. It is that when someone describes you as delightful it means you bring in happiness or joy to the surroundings.

Dreamer – Being a dreamer would deem you a person who always imagines things you would like to happen but is impractical. But in my point of view if your aren’t a dreamer, you wouldn’t be a doer. It is dreams that often give you suggestions or solutions to existing problems in life.

What not to teach

Deceptive – Being deceptive would mean giving a false impression. You would not want your kid to be a person who makes you believe that something that is not true. You see them building up excuses for their mistake however believable that might be, cut it out right away.

Dishonest – As we know this is a characteristic of a person who cannot be trusted. We obviously do not want our kids to be this way. Make them act fair right from the beginning.

Domineering – Domineering would mean gain control of the situation in an inappropriate way. People with this characteristic try to thrust what they decide without having empathy. They feel they decide everything and that’s the end of it.

Despondent– Being despondent is having a low feeling or losing hope . It’s something like losing confidence or getting into depression.

That’s it with D and see you next week for fresh start with what you should be teaching in E and what not to . Until then have a great weekend.

April 3, 2020April 3, 2020

#BlogchatterA2Z C what to and what not to teach

The third alphabet usually taught as c for cat, cake or cup for the kid. For us we would teach them to be cheerful, compassionate, confident, courageous and charismatic. What should we not teach would be cunning, choosey and childish.

What to teach

Cheerful – Being cheerful would mean being chirpy energetic. Somebody who brings joy and happiness would always be welcomed to any surrounding or gathering. Such a person is always someone who everybody looks forward to .

Compassionate – Would mean someone who would empathize and be kind to others. A child should learn to think before they act and know the possibility if their actions would hurt someone. The child should be kind to all. A compassionate person is someone who could alleviate somebody else’s stress. If you want to lead a happy life or your child to lead a happy life teach them to be compassionate.

Confident – Being confident means being firm and absolutely right about what one wants to do. Being confident can make a kid sure of their abilities and their views and perceptions.

Courageous – Courage does not attribute only to physical bravery. It makes a person stand up against all odds without any fear. Nobody is born courageous it take practice.

Charismatic – A person who is charismatic helps others that feel the confidence in addition to the self. They bubble with confidence and that’s something that’s not egoistic.

What not to teach

Cunning – A person who is cunning is clever but usually unacceptable since the way of approach was dishonest. The person is very much capable of manipulating others thoughts to get what they want.

Choosey – A kid should be taught to accept whatever he /she gets and not be choosey for each and every thing offered. This in other words is easier if the kid is able to adapt well to what they are being offered.

Childish Being childish means immature and ignorant act. Crying to achieve what they want, blaming others are some of the actions a childish person does. We must teach them not to cry over small things.

So you now know what to and what not to teach in C. See you tomorrow for D.

March 30, 2020March 30, 2020

#blogchatterA2Z Theme reveal . A to Z of what to and what not to teach toddlers

Bringing up a child involves a lot of effort not only from the parents but also the people whom the child interacts during early years.

I’m still in the phase of bringing up my toddler step by step but life did have other plans that destiny wants me to refine the tuning i did in bringing up baby number one. Yes I’m expecting baby number two in the next few days and I hope I get to complete this challenge as well.

Coming to what I was initially writing yes bringing up the toddler is not always an easy task that just requires you to read out from a manual and do as it says.

What works for someone might not work for you. But the qualities or traits you wish to imbibe in them can be done if bring practiced from the very beginning.

The same goes with my posts as well. I’m not going to be writing about how you bring up kids and what to do. Rather, I’d just list out the qualities or traits that we could wish to cultivate in them and if they do, you’d be satisfied and take a comfortable seat watching them grow up and handle the challenges and situations life throws at them.

I’d be writing about the qualities in each alphabet and their benefits on how it would help mould them.

September 24, 2019September 24, 2019

Review of words from my window: A journal by Ruskin bond #myfriendalexa

BLURB
I need a window to look at the world without; for only then can I look at the world within. A room without a window is rather like a prison cell, and the soul is inclined to shrivel up in a confined space. … Car horns, children calling to each other as they return from school, a boy selling candyfloss, several crows chasing a hawk! Never a dull moment. And the magic mountain looks on, absorbing everything.

MY REVIEW

Ruskin bond, a personal favourite right from childhood, and was a fan moment when I got the journal words from my window. 📝 A lovely collection of all his thoughts from the various windows that have shown the author some picturesque views.
📝Some that show busy streets, some on the roof with a top view, some opening to wide mountains. 📝They all have played a major part on influencing his writings which we have been reading in the past.
📝 Complete collection of a number of short verses and lovely watercolor painting to support them hand in hand.
📝A cherished possession for all Ruskin bond fans and a wonderful gift to anyone who loves books and picturesque views.
📝Loved the note signed by the author that left a personal touch.
📝The lined pages that give you a feel to compile some of our own experiences is definitely making the book a special one to combine memories from his and our lives together.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ruskin Bond’s first novel, The Room on the Roof, written when he was seventeen, received the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957. Since then he has written a number of novellas (including Vagrants in the Valley, A Flight of Pigeons and Mr Oliver’s Diary), essays, poems and children’s books, many of which have been published by Penguin Books. He has also written over 500 short stories and articles that have appeared in magazines and anthologies. He received the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992, the Padma Shri in 1999 and the Padma Bhushan in 2014.

Ruskin was born in Kasauli, Himachal Pradesh, and grew up in Jamnagar, Dehradun, New Delhi and Simla. As a young man, he spent four years in the Channel Islands and London. He returned to India in 1955. He now lives in Landour, Mussoorie, with his adopted family.

Dan Williams (Illustrator)
Dan Williams lives and works in London. Since graduating from the Royal College of Art in 1989 he has worked with many distinguished clients in the publishing world. In 2018 Dan illustrated a short prose poem by Khaled Hosseini entitled Sea Prayer. An emotional response to the current refugee crisis, it has since gone on to receive international acclaim.

I am taking my blog to the next level with blogchatter’s #myfriendalexa.

September 20, 2019September 20, 2019

Review of The happy fruit adventures #myfriendalexa

BLURB
What if happiness was a fruit and life a jungle, one had to cross to find it? Two nineteen-year-old boys set about a journey through a jungle called ‘life’ in search of the happy fruit. They both take different paths. On their way, they come across various challenges and distractions, myriad beasts and men. From insight-the owl with a unique power, to monster pessimism-the giant snake with legs to stand on. The boys find it the most enchanting place but an evil outcast named doctor Diablo forms an army to take control of and annihilate the jungle. But a chain of sudden events puts the teens between him and his fiendish objective. The boys find support from master experience, who reveals what lies ahead; commander courage, who leads the way into battle; and princess envy, who brews a mysterious, pulpy potion. Will the boys win the war and find the happy fruit? The happy fruit adventures is an exciting, allegorical tale about the journey of life.

BOOK DETAILS

Format : paperback

Publisher : Readomania

MY REVIEW

A book that describes life and the challenges it throws upon us . How do we survive? How do we tackle them? Wait this is not a non fiction self help book.

It’s a fictional book but also one that can make you learn things about life.

The comparison of happily as a fruit and life as a jungle is mind-blowing setting a solid plot. The two 19 year old boys who set out on a journey to find happiness is greatly explained in an enjoyable fictitious manner.

The challenges that are thrown at these boys and how they tackle is what we learn from the book. Most often we take the road that people take very often, the one that is well-known and easier.

I loved the meaningful naming of each character and the subsequent thought that went behind it.

A simple and an engaging narration while teaching you the life lessons makes this a great book to read .

The Uber cute illustrations are definitely a plus and kudos to the cover design and the map.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
P. K. Hari Ram Narayanan was born in Bangalore, India. His father got transferred often, so he grew up in a variety of places ranging from the tranquil Kavaratti Island in Lakshadweep to the buzzing capital city of New Delhi. Hailing from a family of eminent writers, he was exposed to the classics of literature from a young age. His first published article, ‘Mouse click for a toothpick’ appeared in The New Indian Express when he was at school. He went on to write in other renowned publications such as The Hindu, India Today and The Economic Times. In 2017, he won the NaNoWriMo challenge and he was also one of the finalists of the ‘Write India Contest’ held by The Times of India. The Happy Fruit Adventures is his first book. For his day job, Hari works as a marketer for Zoho, where he writes about leading teams and managing work in the modern office. He has travelled extensively across the United States, Europe, Australia and of course, India talking about how Zoho’s offerings can help businesses work better. He lives in Chennai with his wife Krithika. When at home, both have their noses buried deep in some form of writing or are busy planning their next getaway.

I am taking my blog to the next level with blogchatter’s #myfriendalexa.

March 4, 2019

Forgive and forget #writebravely#celebratewritetribe

To err is human, to forgive is divine.

We have all heard this phrase quite often making rounds. But what does it intend to convey really. We all know it is human nature to commit mistakes. I’m just talking about the minor one’s here. All human cannot be 100% right all the time. They might say I never make a mistake, I always think and act. But that cannot be possible all the time because we do know that one more saying ‘Great homer sometimes nods’ means an accomplished writer such as Homer could also make mistakes. There is nothing wrong when you realize and confess that you made a mistake.

Forgiveness is often compared to being divine. This is put forth in Tamil (my mother tongue) in another way which is more or less similar. Someone who makes mistakes is human and that someone who forgives the mistake done is above human. Such high is the quality of forgiveness given a place in the world we live in. Forgiveness shall not be given for namesake and later being subjected to repeated recap episodes of the error committed. When someone confesses their mistake that it is an unknown error, we could empathize their situation or understand what made them commit the mistake and forgive. But this is only for errors that could be forgiven and not any major blunder or something that is done of major negligence.

For instance, a doctor cannot perform an error while operating a patient. The full concentration should be only on the surgery, leave out whatever personal problem they might be going through, the doctors should be diligent in the duty conferred on them. They cannot seek forgiveness since the mistake is purely medical negligence. Since forgiveness is compared to divinity not all errors could be forgiven, there is clear cut boundary us humans should draw as to what could be forgiven and what cannot be.

Being selfish and keeping ego in mind we shouldn’t make decisions and let the person who seeks forgiveness suffer. After all we are humans, so the quality of love in soul would creep out from the hiding place that is deep down inside us. It was better said by Zora Neale Hurston,

“Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place.”

I’m Writing Bravely for the Write Tribe Festival of Words – March 2019’

September 25, 2018September 25, 2018

Review of on the open road by Stuti Changle. #myfriendalexa

On the open road

BLURB:

Myra wishes to break free of her cubicle. Kabir wonders what life would be to build on his own. Sandy drops out of college to work on the next big startup idea. Ramy inspires millions of his generation on his travel blog – on the open road.

on the open road – THREE LIVES, FIVE CITIES, ONE STARTUP, revolves around the lives of these restless and dreamy 20-somethings as they battle their inner demons and the societal taboos to live life on their terms. It is an emotional journey of following one’s heart. The journey entails undying friendship, love and loss, happiness and depression, fear and conquest, dreaming and achieving.

Will they be able to embark on the hard yet empowering journey to their true selves? Or succumb to the hardships on their road to freedom?

MY REVIEW:

The story revolves around three people- Myra, Kabir and Sandy. We have the struggle part described for all three of them. Myra is fed up of her 9-5 cubicle life but longs to startup a business with friends. Kabir is a rich gyu who has his family business, but he wants to have a business of his own. Then we have Sandy who is Kabir’s friend, who’s a college dropout and has his own startup creating apps but is not very successful.

We have another Character Ramy(Myra’s friend) to whom people look up to. He is a traveler and a blogger. Kabir and Sandy draw inspiration.

The plot is something that every single person in the corporate rat race can relate to. It has elements of love, friendship, dream, travel and success. The writing is simple and crisp. I completed the book at one go. The book is mentioned as unputdownable on the cover, since its fast-paced. But seriously, it did not let down my expectation and has lived up to it.

Stuti, coming from the corporate background herself has brought out the experiences just as it is in reality.

The one liners and the quotes will inspire anyone with ambitions but has inhibitions to proceed with it. I have listed out some of the one-liners I liked.

I loved the cover and how the title aptly suits the plot. I loved reading the second half especially. The characterization was done brilliantly with no sugar-coating. They were genuine in their portrayal.

Anyone who has a dream of owning a startup should give this book a read. I felt people from other walks of life could find it a little difficult to relate to the experiences noted by Stuti. Though the book is a light read, the amount of experience and self-motivation we gain is a lot. The book makes you self-introspect to think ahead of career and make decisions.

BOOK DETAILS:

Book name: On the open Road
Author: Stuti Changle
Paperback:188 pages
Publisher:Invincible Publishers & Marketers (2 March 2018)
Language:English
ISBN-10:9387328465
ISBN-13:978-9387328464

The book is available on Amazon https://amzn.to/2zqBsZY

MY RATINGS:

Cover: 4.5/5

Title: 4/5

plot: 5/5

Writing and Presentation: 5/5

Overall: 4.5/5

ACCOLADES:

Winner of ‘Notable Mentions’ in Amazon Kindle’s Pen to Publish competition

‘Unputdownable, lively and fast-paced, it promises to inspire the youth to pursue their dreams.’- Ashish Kashyap, founder – Goibibo & redBus

‘The book reflects you and me. A great group of characters who bring life into a great story. It’s a must-read.’- Neha Hinge, Actress & Miss India 2010

Quotes from on the open road:

“Somewhere between the right and the wrong, the past and the future, there lies a now. Don’t let it go. For ‘now’ often leads to a new road!”

“Life proves to be one hell of a ride. All you’ve got to believe is that the things that do not work out lead to the ones that do! As the journey goes on, there’s a lot more to learn.”

” Citylights seem glorious at night, the high rises stand in splendor, in my mind I have a fight,what do I want in life? I wonder! ““Whenever you have a problem, try to enlarge your perspective, look at the sky and the stars.”

“If you feel that the cubicle isn’t for you, build some for others!”

“We belong to a generation full of broken hearts and wandering souls, just blank from the inside, in a constant search for ourselves, looking for something we don’t know yet, in the empty spaces of life. It is not that we can’t do great things, but we’re raised to believe – we can’t!”

“When you work on what you love; it acts like meditation. If each one of us does what we love and pour our heart and soul into it, we would not have to meditate elsewhere at any point in time.”

About the Author (in her own words)

A minimalist at heart, with every passing day, I find myself moving farther from the never-ending quest of owning material possessions and a step closer to owning a vast ocean of experiences. In 2016, at twenty-three, I packed a rucksack and left Mumbai, in search of my true self. I met people with extraordinary stories – the travelers, the entrepreneurs, the artists, the visionaries and the saints, who inspired me to the core and gave a new direction to my life. on the open road draws inspiration from my real-life experiences and I wish to inspire my readers to follow their dreams.

Share your thoughts about the book using the hashtag #OTOR

She interacts with the readers’ community through Instagram Live and Facebook Live. @stutichangle

About the Author

A post-graduate in management from the prestigious B-school IMI, New Delhi and a graduate in Computer Science and Technology.Winner of Notable Mentions in Amazon Kindle’s Pen to Publish Competition.

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September 21, 2018

Never ending list of pregnancy myths #myfriendalexa

Pregnancy is deemed the best phase of being a woman. Being born a woman attains full glory when she becomes a mother.

But it’s also the timeline where you get to hear a lot of myths. Not only in our Country, it happens all over the world. So let me list them down for you and you can comment if you came across something more. So let’s get those myths busted.

It starts with the date you conceive. Add the month of conception to your age, the total is even it’s a girl else you’re in for a boy.

Then comes morning sickness, if you have it throughout your first trimester then it’s a girl else if you don’t experience it you have a boy.

Pregnancy glow People have different versions here.

Indian:

“You’re glowing you definitely will have a girl” is what you hear and if it’s the other way , you look tired and dull they say you are having a boy , since the male child draws out all the energy.

Rest of the world:

If you’re dull it means you have a girl, since she takes up all your glow. And if you are glowing and look fabulous you will have a boy.

Carrying high or low, wide or outward:

If you are carrying low and belly is outward, you are probably carrying a boy.

If you are carrying high and belly is wide you are carrying a girl.

Food habits:

If you crave sweets and dairy rich stuff, you are probably carrying a girl.

If you crave salty and spicy food, you are probably carrying a boy.

Doesn’t it depend on what the woman usually wants to eat?

Fetal heart rate:

If it is over 140 per second you are carrying a girl and if it’s below, you are carrying a boy.

Swelling of nose:

They say if you have a swollen nose it’s probably a girl.

But the actual fact our noses swollen up due to increased estrogen levels.

Wedding ring myth:

Tie a strand of the father’s hair to your wedding ring and swing it over your belly, you are probably carrying a girl if it goes in circles; if it swings back and forth then it’s a boy.

Doesn’t it depend on wind direction?

Stepping over ropes:

It’s considered that stepping on a rope results in umbilical cord coiling around the fetus neck.

In modern days, now it extends to electric chords as well.

Usage of hands:

Ancient days people say If the pregnant woman is seated on floor and when she tries to get up, if she uses her left hand first it would be a boy; if its right you would be carrying a girl.

I don’t think that would change once a woman becomes pregnant. Even when she was ten she would have been using the same hand to get up.

Whatever the above points seem to convey what all mothers want is to have a healthy, cheerful baby. Gender discrimination should not be taking a priority here. No mother will want to abandon a child just because she was expecting the other gender. In the end, he/she is another tiny living human being created by her and who is now dependent on her.

Keep having positive thoughts, surround yourself with loads of happiness, positive vibes and most importantly people with positive vibes. Keep yourself well hydrated and well-fed. And that is all that takes to see your little dude/duddette.

Let’s hear those myths coming and keep nodding heads; get the myths busted. I will always love my baby no matter he/she. A baby is a baby.

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#sindhusblogs #myfriendalexa

September 17, 2018

Motherhood Mantra that keeps me going #myfriendalexa

“I am a good Mother; I do my best as a Mother.

Each day I am getting better, life can’t get any better.”

Mom and daughter

This is my mantra these days. I keep saying this to myself. No, I am not under any pressure or depressed.

Repeating this gives me a boost; a sense of accomplishment and gives me a push to go that extra mile and do whatever it takes to keep my daughter happy.

A great start for the day is a lovable hug when she’s up. Though I am up early, (okay let’s say just a couple of minutes or rarely hours), before her, that wait for her hug is so special.

When there are so many things running in your mind and your running here and there, that monosyllable “MAA” from her makes me forget everything.

Mom and daughter

Though I get angry with things lying around, after she’s left at my mom’s place in the morning I do enjoy replaying stuff in my mind- the tiny blocks or alphabet chunks lying around, the vessels and Tupperware boxes misplaced, that cute teddy inside my coffee filter. All these make me forget that this is part of a household chore that I am doing.

Those teeny tiny hands mixing an empty bowl with spoon and feeding you, pulling your hair is all instances that need to linger around in mind always.

Even if you try concentrating hard at work, a corner of your mind just keeps thinking that she is okay. Those blank phone calls or the beep beep sounds from the keypad when you call her is all a bliss.

When you reach home and you know she is there waiting for you, and watch her eyes glow in excitement on seeing you makes you the happiest person in the word.

Listening to her stories of what she did throughout the day (okay technically not stories) I mean even if it is gibberish, it’s good to hear.

Cuddling her, getting her dressed to bed, making her sleep and falling asleep with her is indeed the best way to end my day. And so the next day starts, yes with the same mantra.

“I am a good Mother; I do my best as a Mother.

Each day I am getting better, life can’t get any better.”

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September 11, 2018September 13, 2018

Review of Sneak peak by Krishna Kumar nair

BLURB:

THIS BOOK IS FOR ALL THOSE DARING HEARTS, WHO HAVE SECRETS OF THEIR OWN AND WOULD WANT TO CONFESS A FEW IN FRONT OF OTHERS. Sneak Peak will take you through a time when APPLE was still a fruit, children spend time playing with each other rather than in front of computers and a time when people rescued a dying person instead of taking their video and posting on Facebook. There was a simpler time in the 80’s and 90’s and those who lived those times and who didn’t, will equally love what you are going to read here. It’s not my story but it is yours too! The hero of this story is not Dhyankumar but the story itself. Here Dhyankumar closely post-mortems the various phases in his life, how he felt and how different it would have been, or should have been, had he thought in a different way. The book deeply emphasizes the values of friendship and how it can change one’s life and sometimes destroy the same.

MY REVIEW:

The book is of a different genre from the current trend that prevails. I felt like reading out from a diary of kind born in 90’s, keeping in mind I am one such. It brings out numerous nostalgic incidents.

It speaks about an era of no social media intervention. Yes, that’s right no mobile phones, no tabs. Leading a simple life enjoying a vacation with no social media check-ins, hanging out with cousins, TV series and cartoon and most important of all staying with our grandparents. Isn’t that a wonderful feel, staying as a complete family with many people and relatives, helping each other out, laughing, sharing. This I feel is something that the current generation is missing out on.

Though we have several advancements in technology and comforts at all levels, the concrete jungle can never equal the above mentioned joys.

The book is about a protagonist Dhyankumar who introspects the various phases of his life. The narration portrays his life filled with love and affection as a boon of staying with grandparents. A couple of mischievous events and few confessions make it an interesting read.

The pace of the story seems to be slow at places and characterization needs betterment. The cover design could have been improved. With no surprise elements the narration is pretty good except for the slow-paced parts which seem dragging. The language is simple and crisp making this a good choice for one time read.

MY RATINGS:

Cover: 3/5

Title 3.5/5

Plot: 4/5

Writing and Presentation: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

BOOK DETAILS: