What does “having it all” mean to you? Is it attainable?
“Having it all” can be a dream, but having it all – like literally with regards to everything – isn’t quite possible. Being realistic and working towards what you wish without being greedy can however bring contentment and joy.
The richest people you have heard of don’t have it all as well. They have the money, the resources, the reach… but they don’t have time.
Joy can come from the simple pleasures of life. And once we understand this and are able to explain this to our kids, the world will be a much happier place, for everyone. It’s like you take your kid to a toy shop. Say the kid is in a cranky mood and wants a few toys from that expensive shop. You don’t or can’t buy everything. Neither does any kid ever demand having it all from the toy shop (they know better than us!). They just want one of two things. Eventually, it could be just that little floating boat on water that could bring tremendous joy to the kid. That could mean having it all for him/her at that moment. And during the moment when your child was insisting on having a particular expensive toy that you couldn’t afford, momentarily you would have wondered if you had it all to buy whatever your kid demanded. But then, you wouldn’t have the leisure/time to spend with your kid in such toy shops.
So don’t focus on having it all in terms of everything. Yes, one can be ambitious in life (like having a great score in all subjects, hitting all the goals in a match, making a reasonable bucket list and ticking it all…) but just don’t cross the greed line!
How do you tell yourself or your kids to be happy with what you/they have? Let me know in the comments! Do follow my YouTube channel for little joys of life.
Well, we had a busy day today. So I asked my 4-year-old daughter in the evening if she would like to make me a Mother’s Day card today, or she could do it tomorrow if she likes. She made this in 10 mins… 🥰 What a beautiful concept, totally her idea💡
Watch our Mother’s Day special video below to see how little beautiful minds work ❤❤
My 4-year-old daughter’s summer vacation begins today! While I am researching and making a list of all the things, trips and activities we want to do during these hot 7 weeks, I have come up with the following list to help her be a better human being.
Feel free to use this list as your reference if you like to teach the same (or a version of this) to your kids. Of course, many more things will follow.
1. Understanding the basics of what kids/friends with autism, ADHD, asthma and other mental/physical challenges go through and how to be understanding and compassionate while around with them without letting them feel any different.
2. Be kind to animals, birds and nature. Plant some seeds, place water for thirsty birds.
3. Be nice, kind and respectful to all people and kids.
4. Share and help willingly with a smile.
5. Be compassionate with those who are sick.
6. All people are different. Respect everyone’s opinions, preferences, beliefs in their Gods/Atheism. Don’t say someone is wrong if their beliefs are different from us.
7. Never hurt anyone. Apologize when you are wrong. Forgive those who hurt you.
8. Sometimes there are some bad people, be careful and look out for your friends too.
9. Believe in yourself. Stand up for yourself and your friends, you are strong.
10. Don’t use bad words or do name calling. Calling someone mad/pagal is a very bad thing to say. It is a serious mental illness.
11. Don’t make fun of anyone. Be funny to make people happy but don’t laugh at anyone.
12. You can tell everything, every single thing to your parents. Especially, when someone says not to tell the parents something (mostly for younger kids).
Well, we all have different opinions and ways of thinking. But the above is just our way of raising her. This is just a checklist so that I ensure that with examples or stories I make her realize and understand the above.
So while summer vacation will be loaded with lots of fun and activities, I also intend to help her be a good and kind human being. Baby steps towards a better future of humankind.
Did you know that building blocks can be used for many more play ideas apart from just creating towers, vehicles and castles? Sharing some of our favourite ideas with Lego Blocks here. Watch our YouTube video till the end to know why blocks are an important learning toy for preschoolers.
IDEA: Teachers love ♥️ us and give us Stars when we do good! We will always try our best and Teachers will need a lot of stars to give to us ⭐⭐⭐ Hence the ⭐ Star-Sprinkling Magic Wand! Happy Valentine’s Day! Love all, be kind!
Finding mold in cute wooden toys can be so upsetting! Mishika was gifted these beautiful and colourful dominos on her birthday. But when we decided to open the packet a few days later, we were shocked to see that it had developed some white spots… MOLD was set to ruin these toys!
How to remove Mold from wooden toys and bath toys
Oh I love dominoes, probably more than my kid and obviously these could not be used for playing… at least until we bud adieu to that mold. So I decided to remove the mold right away. It’s a very simple process, takes a few extra minutes to ensure that each piece is clean, but by the end of the day we had very clean and fun wooden toys to play with!
Watch this detailed video on YouTube where I explain the step-by-step mold removing process without using any harmful chemicals and just two things!!! You can use this idea to clean and disinfect all the small toys of your kids, including bath toys, animal toys and of course, wooden toys.
Please check out our YouTube channel Mom and Ideas that I am regularly updating with useful household hacks like this, easy recipes, DIY activities for kids, stories and rhymes for children, our fun moments and my motherhood journey. And please let me know in comments what else you would like to read about in this blog!
So my father’s BP suddenly increased to 180+ in the middle of the night. He had a bad stomach ache too. We stay 30 minutes away and I missed my mom’s missed calls. I am dealing with severe headache since 10 days and had been able to sleep after taking a painkiller only after 2 am. Can’t explain how terrible I felt when I awoke really very late on the morning to see her missed calls.
Anyway, we spoke to some doctors on the phone. Mishika’s friend’s mother, who is also a good friend of mine now, is an excellent doctor. She was so sweet of guiding us through over the phone and prescribing a medicine for blood pressure to help my dad until we reached him. She also made me feel less anxious.
We finally got a doctor’s appointment in the evening. His BP is still high but the doctor suggested that he might be having a preexisting but undiagnosed blood pressure issue. Thankfully, my mom checked his BP when he was sick and it helped detect it. Anyway, so the current thing is to get his stomach ache sorted with the prescribed medication while his BP meds have also been started.
Meanwhile, I am still struggling with really bad headache and mild fever, so I could not take him to the doctor and felt terrible again. My husband went with him while I stayed back with my mom and 4-year-old. Since I couldn’t move much, we decided to have a nailpaint session. I always think that a haircut or self care or small indulgences can make one feel little better on the toughest days. During my severe depression phases, I always get a haircut and somehow it helps me feel better. So we had a quick nailpaint application – all three of us – my mom, I and my daughter! She felt so good and happy. I kinda lifted our spirits a bit. I even uploaded our little 3-generations video on YouTube!
3 Generations trying to feel better on a tough day!
I think small things like this can always lift someone’s mood on a gloomy day. What do you do to feel a little better and make people around you feel better on stressful days? Let me know in comments.
Ever thought of making a finger puppet? Or a Christmas Tree Finger Puppet? Well, we made one last evening 🌲 Check out how we did it in the video below!
The idea popped when I was thinking of using a toilet paper roll and green pipe cleaners for our Christmas Crafts and we didn’t have green pipe cleaners at home! I looked around to find something green and found the dot stickers! Voila… A cute Christmas Tree was ready that also doubles up as a finger puppet!
Please tell me in comments if you like this activity. Would you like to see some more ideas? Do Subscribe to our YouTube Channel @momandideas as I keep uploading fun learning, recipes and fun stuff out there on a regular basis!
Easy DIY Christmas Tree Craft – X’Mas Tree Finger Puppet
Learn how to make a sheep costume (or lamb costume) at home. Perfect for fancy dress competitions, costume parties, Halloween and Domestic Animals Day celebrations at school. This is a low budget costume and very comfortable for kids.
HOW TO MAKE SHEEP COSTUME: DIY FOR HALLOWEEN AND FANCY DRESS
I have uploaded the video on How to make Sheep Costume on YouTube and I am also embedding ot here.
How to make Sheep Costume: DIY video on YouTube
Remember to save this video for future reference. Like, Share and Subscribe if you find this video useful 😊
Please let me know in comments how did you like this homemade costume. Would you like to see more such DIY videos?
This cute DIY cupcake / muffin costume is very easy to make and requires easily available items from around your house or the local store. It is super low budget and it involves very little time to make this Fancy Dress / Halloween costume. Perfect for toddlers and grown ups for fancy dress competitions, theme parties and of course, Halloween!
Mishika dressed up as a Cute Cupcake
So, I made this cupcake costume for Mishika for a Fancy Dress event for kids in our housing complex. She is almost 4 years old and this was her first every costume wearing event. I wanted her to enjoy participating instead of focussing on winning. So I didn’t tell her that there will be prizes involved and all. Getting kids involved in creating something that they will wear, eat or use is always a good idea. She wore the cupcake costume without any hesitation and didn’t ask us to remove it until the fancy dress competition was over and prizes were distributed!
Making of Cupcake Costume for Halloween / Fancy Dress
Creating this cute Muffin required very basic items: Cardboard, Wrapping Paper, Glue, Scissors, an old Tutu / Dress with Frills that the kid has outgrown, Lanyard/String/Ribbon to hang the cupcake base bit.
I have uploaded a DIY video on YouTube on how to make this comfortable cupcake costume for Fancy Dress, Halloween, etc. Do check it out! Feel free to share with friends who might find this useful 😊 Save it for future reference as well. It is so super easy to make!
DIY CUPCAKE COSTUME VIDEO
Do let me know in comments if you try this or if you have any queries regarding this cupcake costume. Remember to Like, Share and Subscribe to Mom and Ideas channel on YouTube.
DAY 1 Snack Box Idea (check both images to see what I packed and what came back) 😇
June 22nd was Mishika’s first day of school! They have one snack break and no need to mention that I was worried if she would eat anything at all. But she surprised me when she came home with an empty tiffin box and said she loved everything! So I am very happy for the first day. Thankfully, she finishes her tiffin every single day and it’s been over a month now 🙂
Scroll till the end for a video on 12 days of tiffin ideas.
I will keep sharing her daily lunch box / snack box ideas for every parent like me who is confused about what to pack everyday!
Let me know if you would like to see more tiffin ideas for school kids and I will continue this series. I will also share what she ate and what came back so we know what works and when and how!
Wish this nervous and excited first-time-school-going-kid-mom luck 😊
In the box:
1. Homemade pancakes with jaggery 2. Cashew nuts 3. Roasted salt and pepper phool makhane / fox nuts 4. Kishmish / raisins
So I am very happy for the first day. Thankfully, she finishes her tiffin every single day and it’s been over a month now 🙂
I will keep sharing her daily lunch box / snack box ideas for every parent like me who is confused about what to pack everyday!
Let me know if you would like to see more tiffin ideas for school kids and I will continue this series. I will also share what she ate and what came back so we know what works and when and how!
Wish this nervous and excited first-time-school-going-kid-mom luck 😊
In the box:
1. Homemade pancakes with jaggery 2. Cashew nuts 3. Roasted salt and pepper phool makhane / fox nuts 4. Kishmish / raisins
I spoke to Deepa Anand, an artist mom who shares about her journey as a mom and an artist. Check out her Instagram page @deepa_artwork to see her amazing nature-inspired paintings.
Tell us something about yourself
I am an abstract artist and a mom to a 10-year-old boy. I create abstract paintings, mostly using acrylic paints. Recently, I have started making natural colours that can be used for painting. I also organise workshops like mud play for kids as well as grown-ups. It brings us so much closer to nature and it is kind of meditative. You can say that I am all about the love for nature.
How did you manage career and motherhood?
Honestly, I struggled a lot and ended up taking a long break that was not my initial plan. It took me years to strike a balance but I had to prioritise. Every mom’s circumstances, health, struggles and support system are different and I believe no one should compare moms. For me, it was not quite possible to manage full-time work while raising my kid in his early years.
Tell us about your journey to motherhood and beyond!
I studied art, came to Mumbai for post graduation in Fine Arts and then started working as a web designer for some time. However, deep inside I knew paintings were my true calling.
I left my job when I was eight months pregnant because my workplace did not offer maternity leave. At that point, I was certain that I will start working again once my baby turned one. But, I ended up being at home for three years. I just wanted to be with my child in his early years but also missed working at the same time.
It was a tough phase and I eventually started working part time. I picked a job that was close to my house. I would drop my kid to playgroup, rush to work, rush back to pick him in time and go home. I was perpetually running all the time, it was insanely exhausting with all the household work as well. I used to earn well when I worked full time but the compromised pay of this job was highly unsatisfying. I kept feeling I deserve better, much better.
Eventually, when my kid was seven years old, I stopped working part time as well. I guess it just wasn’t meant for me. I wanted to focus on him rather than doing a job that neither paid me well, nor seemed interesting anymore. The painter in me kept nudging me to paint instead. My husband also encouraged me and supported me in pursuing my passion.
So did you start painting and exhibitions immediately?
I did start practicing my painting skills initially. I also started networking among artists and taking advice from them. I also visited several art galleries. It didn’t take much time then to stock up on my art supplies. The good thing was that I had the liberty to paint as per my convenience and from my home or studio. This way, I could be with my child and give him sufficient time while also focusing on my passion while he was in school.
So we can say that you gradually ‘brushed’ away your mom-guilt!
Yes, of course! It took me a lot of time to strike a work-life balance and follow my true calling, but I am here now. I think life teaches you a lot with the challenges it throws at you.
What tips would you like to give to moms who took a break from their career but are just not able to restart even after a few years?
See, I restarted my career after a gap of some three to four years. Before that I worked part time as well. I had never thought that I would take a break like that. It somehow led me to what I should have always done – painting! I would like to say that don’t lose hope if things are not going as per your initial plan. Keep the spark alive. If and when you think it is possible for you based on your personal circumstances, give it a try again! Don’t worry thinking if you could ever work again, that is if you wish to resume working. It might take a few months or years, but stay positive.
Remember to:
Never give up
Follow your dreams
Start networking
Start writing your goals (be it work or personal)
If you had a full-fledged career before having a child and don’t wish to start working again, that is okay too. You are a good mom raising a wonderful person, that is what matters the most!
Such an inspiring story, right? Personally, I haven’t been able to give more time to income based work since the birth of my child and was worried if and when I will be able to get back on track. Her story does make me feel better, hopeful and motivated! How about you?
You can check out her paintings on her Instagram page @deepa_artwork and for enquiries about paintings, commission work or workshops, email her on deepaanand.artist@gmail.com
Milliseconds after telling Beth that The Command was waiting to have Keith under its control, The Voice suddenly disappeared or was rather inaudible.
Morning was just a few hours away, so Tim, Holly and Dev decided to leave while Daphne and Evelyn stayed back at Beth’s place to comfort her.
Much to Daphne’s surprise, Beth did not wish to talk and headed to her room after ensuring that they were comfortable in the guest bedroom.
Memories are mysterious things – one never manages to forget the bad times that keep haunting forever, but when a life is at risk, the good memories gently arrive making one feel that life isn’t that bad.
Much of Beth’s night was spent reminiscing about the happy moments with Grace, Keith and Rohit.
Meeting Rohit, her ex-husband, five years ago was one of her fondest memories as they couldn’t take eyes off each other at a common friend’s wedding.
“My God Cassie, he is the most amazing single dad! You should have seen how he takes care of his one-year-old baby Keith. You will see, I will marry him someday,” Beth had told her best friend the day she met Rohit; they married only after a few months.
Maternal instincts had kicked in the moment Beth had held Keith in her arms for the first time and they had bonded instantly.
“Mom, I love you,” Keith used to tell her daily until Grace was born.
“Mom, I love my baby sister the most. I love you and dad also… a little bit,” he was the most loving and caring brother to Grace.
Maybe if she and Rohit had not separated she could have spent more time with Keith, Beth thought as she regretted managing to meet him only on weekends.
“Married or not, we will always try to spend weekends with both the kids and be the best parents ever,” it was Rohit’s idea who still was her 2 a.m. friend.
Misfortune always seemed to find Beth, but this time it was about the safety of her kids and she decided to do everything possible and even impossible to keep them safe.
“Might as well put our superpowers to good use, let’s give our hundred percent when The Voice trains us. I don’t know what exactly my superpower is but I will definitely not let that Command hurt my kid or anyone else’s. Daphne, don’t worry about Evelyn, I will take care of her,” Beth surprisingly sounded positive during the breakfast, much to Daphne and Evelyn’s relief.
“Meet me at the Andheri stadium at 11.59 pm tonight, you will have no trouble entering,” both Beth and Evelyn heard The Voice speak into their ears.
“Man, what is with The Voice and number 59? He always makes me count till 59!” Evelyn said.
“Me too,” Beth replied and continued to narrate the turbulent plane incident; it was about time the superheroes knew more about each other.
The story continues tomorrow in the next post. Did you notice that I managed to start each sentence of this chapter of the story with the letter M (I have managed to do the same from B to L posts)! This is my 13th post for this year’s A to Z Challenge (#atozchallenge). Head to my previous posts to read the entire story. Read all my posts for the challenge in the A to Z links below: A ➡ B ➡ C ➡ D ➡ E ➡ F ➡ G ➡ H ➡ I ➡ J ➡ K ➡ L ➡ M ➡ N ➡ O ➡ P ➡ Q ➡ R ➡ S ➡ T ➡ U ➡ V ➡ W ➡ X ➡ Y ➡ Z
Before I proceed with the story, I would like to thank Aparna Nayak for helping me weave the gluten part in the story. This point onwards, the story has some parenting / motherhood angles so will also cater to the main theme of this blog – Mom and Ideas. I hope you enjoy reading.
“Go to sleep now Grace, we can finish the painting tomorrow,” Beth told her four-year-old daughter again.
Gone were the days of being insanely adventurous, going on a solo trips, trying some super powers… all Beth needed now was a peaceful nap.
Grace’s gluten intolerance was not making things any easier and Beth spent any free time researching about it so that Grace could enjoy food like all other kids.
Gluten, a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye, finds its way in the junk food that kids love – pizzas, breads, cakes, etc. wherein extra gluten is added in form of powder to increase the strength, rise, shelf life, and texture of the baked goods, which are not good for their health.
Google would tell her everything except where she could find a treasure of gluten-free foods for kids.
Getting your little ones to eat is like climbing the Everest, but when Gluten sensitivity comes into picture, it’s a whole new challenge!
Grace finally fell asleep as Beth added some gluten-free items to her online shopping cart and decided to check her mail before calling it a day.
Gmail showed her 20 notifications of which three emails were from Daphne – someone who had disappeared when Beth needed her the most.
Getting no replies from her and The Voice despite several desperate attempts had left Beth disturbed for many months after the flight incident six years ago.
Gradually, she had stopped thinking about it and a year later she fell in love with Rohit, an Indian entrepreneur, married him and moved to India.
Grace was born a year later and the couple separated after her second birthday; there was no drama, they realised that they were just not compatible and decided to raise their daughter together in Mumbai.
Going forward, her focus would just be her daughter, Beth had decided unaware that six years after the incident the ghosts of her past would come knocking at her door.
God knows why she is contacting me after so many years, should I read the mails or just delete them, Beth was confused.
———- Thanking Aparna for the inputs on gluten! She is also participating in the A to Z challenge with wonderful posts that you can read here.
This story continues tomorrow in the next post. Did you notice that I managed to start each sentence of this part of the story with G, the letter of the day (I have managed to do the same from B to F posts)! This is my sixth post for this year’s A to Z Challenge (#atozchallenge). Head to my previous posts to read the entire story.
I’ll be posting daily except Sundays all through the month. Stay tuned. Read all my posts for the challenge in the A to Z links below: A ➡ B ➡ C ➡ D ➡ E ➡ F ➡ G ➡ H ➡ I ➡ J ➡ K ➡ L ➡ M ➡ N ➡ O ➡ P ➡ Q ➡ R ➡ S ➡ T ➡ U ➡ V ➡ W ➡ X ➡ Y ➡ Z
MOM AND IDEAS 