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Daughter

Say Cheese!

I believe that photos are very important part of our lives. They preserve our memories, our happiness and also our sadness. Some photos remind us of what we have left behind. Others show us how far we have come. They hold in themselves a lifetime of love, happiness, tears, joys, events and so much more. Those who know me, know that I love taking photos. Selfies and nature and people, all I need is a camera and light.

My first camera was a Kodak KB10. With a reel of 36, it gave me the chance to capture all the moments I wanted to. I have albums full of the photos I used to take. The precise way we had to take a picture because the reel was limited and the excitement of having the photos developed was an altogether different experience.

That was soon replaced by digital camera, specifically the camera in my mobile phone. With an unlimited opportunity to take photos, I took photos everyday, everywhere. These were the memories after all.

This habit of taking photos continued and when Little Miss was born, I just went click-click-click everyday, with her every smile, every movement, every new dress. If you chance upon looking at my phone gallery, you will find hundreds of photos of the time when she was little.

But as she is growing up, I am finding it so difficult to click her pictures. She is not exactly camera shy but to find her in the right mood is turning out to be more challenging than I expected. I try to coax her, bribe her, shower kisses, whistle to her, sing songs but it is proving to be one impossible task these days.

The moment she realises that the phone is poised to take photos, she either goes away, turns her face away or gets too close to the camera. When she was younger, all it took was the word “selfie” to get her to look into the camera and smile. And now, it takes whole lot of patience and few dozen prayers to the Gods to help me take one decent picture.

But then, we all know she is a special child with an enchanting smile and big beautiful eyes, so all the hard work results in some great photos that we cherish and it’s totally worth it 💕.

Categories
Daughter

Observation is All it Takes

Over the last few years, as entertainment has spread its roots through digital means, various platforms have multitude of programs for children. I know we are not supposed to expose our kids to mobile phones and stuff. Screen time is not good for them. But sometimes you just have to give in.

In our case it’s nursery rhymes and pre-school educational shows on YouTube whenever Little Miss wants. Quite recently, she has also started showing her interest in musical videos with children. When she enjoys a particular song, she laughs and always turns around to look at whoever is with her to share her liking.

Since Little Miss is not yet speaking and cannot operate the Tab yet, she is dependent on us, the grown ups to turn it on and play songs for her. One day she was playing with her toys when she suddenly went to our room and started crying. She would try to go to the corner where the tab was charging and make her Grandma understand something. When she would not understand, Little Miss would start crying again. It took her a few minutes to realise that her grand daughter was asking for her tab but when she did, Little Miss got her wish to watch some of her favourite songs. Then came the happy smile. Aah! It’s so wonderful, you could sit and watch her smile whole day.

When you have a child who doesn’t speak or points at what they want, you start picking on their gestures and behaviour. There is always a tell as to when they are getting hungry, thirsty or sleepy. Same way, we observe and we know what Little Miss wants or likes or dislikes. It’s exactly like when your child is small and won’t go to a certain uncle or aunt no matter how hard they try. It’s just a simple fact that your kid does not like that person. You just have to focus on the gestures.

So for now, we focus on her activities and one day I know Little Miss will start making demands and we will fulfill all the genuine ones happily.

And if you want to know my favourite, it’s “All the animals are playing in the band, they’re having so much fun..” 😊

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Book Review Books

Book Review: The Conference of the Birds

A prophecy, a girl who needs to be saved from an unknown danger and lots of action, the fifth book in the Peculiar Children Series, The Conference of the Birds is another riveting book.

Starting from where we left off in A Map of Days, we follow Jacob as he rescues Noor and takes her to Devil’s Acre with him. Finding herself for the first time in a place full of peculiars, she is overwhelmed and overjoyed at the same time. She meets the wards of Miss Peregrine and they accept her as one of their own.

What follows is a brainstorming session to find and understand the meaning of the prophecy which makes Noor so important for survival of the peculiars and how to get her to safety. At the same time, Jacob is sucked into the dissent between the peculiar clans of America even as the Ymbrynes try to sort it all and bring peace in Peculiar America.

Ransom Riggs creates another masterpiece and does justice to every character of his book. Jacob and Noor may have been in the spotlight but he ensures that every one of Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children get their share of storyline. Also, Ransom Riggs gives a lot of focus on importance of friends and family. Even though Jacob acted impulsively and left Devil’s Acre to find Noor alone, his friends followed him to help, giving him a lesson that family always stands for one another even when they are angry at them. They also accept Noor as one on their own without any questions because she is Jacob’s friend.

The story is full of action and where A Map of Days had seemed a little slow to me, The Conference of the Birds moves ahead full throttle. Jacob, the only hollow-hunter left to help the peculiars, is again set on the task of finding a hollow and wights after they escape from their prison in Devil’s Acre. The discovery of a new Loop of what I would call “Dead People Walking” is wonderful and eerie. There is also the budding romance between Jacob and Noor as they find themselves coming closer amidst all the chaos.

The ending paves way for another sequel and I’m sure with the return of the ever powerful and super evil villain, Caul, the next book too will be full of action and adventure.

My rating: 4.9/5

Categories
Daughter

Smile.. It’s Contagious and It Helps

Every morning I wake up with the hope that today will show some progress. Over the last three years or so, I have felt heartbreak and been clueless like very few can even imagine. But, I have also felt joy in little things to the extent of being overwhelmed.

The other day, a funny incident happened. Little Miss had recently started getting down from our bed to the floor without any help from us. This particular evening, she is playing on the bed and spots something on the floor that needs her immediate attention. So, she turns around and starts sliding down the bed.

Normally, what she does is after turning around on her belly, she holds on to the bedsheet and slides down till her feet touch the floor. Then she takes her hands off the bed, sits on the floor and crawls to her destination.

This time, she turns, starts sliding down on her belly but somehow she does not manage to get a grip on the bed and goes slipping down the bed on to the floor, landing on her bum. Generally, such a misstep brings about a crying episode from any child as this constitutes a classic “I fell from the bed”.

But she doesn’t cry. She just looks at the floor, looks at me and then starts laughing. She has found this sliding and slipping down the bed quite funny and I can’t help but start laughing with her. Her laughter is so joyous that I still find a smile creeping up my lips as I reminisce the moment.

Parenting Little Miss is full of such unadulterated happy moments. All we, as her family, do is enjoy life with her as she does. We have let go of all pre-conceived notions of parenting and childhood. And I have realised that once you let go of the yardstick set by the world, life becomes easier and happier.

Until next time, Little Miss and her Mom say Bye.

Categories
Daughter

Hello from Little Miss and Her Mom

Motherhood doesn’t come with a book. There are no answers at the back, no cheat codes, no shortcuts here. All you have is you, your baby and the moment. That one moment where you go through the worst imaginable pain and the best imaginable feeling. That moment when you change from a pregnant lady to a Mom is the best moment.

When I look back at the time Little Miss was born, a lot of memories are hazy but I do remember the pain and the joy when I looked at my new born daughter’s face. Ok, even that’s a little hazy but it’s mainly because I hadn’t thought of asking one of the nurses to carry my spectacles with her. That may have given me a clearer vision.

If you were to ask a mother how her child is doing and she will be full of awesome stories of the child’s latest antics. Ask a mother of a special child how her child is doing and the answer will depend on the kind of day the child and mother are having. If it’s a good day, her stories too will be full of laughter. But, if the day has not started well, there will be no story. Only a sentence or a non-committal shrug.

Joys of motherhood really is dependent upon how your kid is doing and this is something I’ve come to realise over the past few years as I watch my kid grow, or as I hope that she grows.

My kid is just one month shy of turning 4 and as you may have guessed by now, she is a special needs child. It is Autism Spectrum Disorder but complete picture may not be clear for some time. Questions like how and why have no answers here. It is as it is. Something random like the cards you are dealt with in a game.

After almost a year long deliberation, I have decided that I am going to take you down this path with me. I will share with you this journey that has happy and sad moments. The special days that we spend with our special child who just has to smile to make our day perfect and lives just a little better. When she looks at the picture of a lion or tiger and roars, the hardwork of roaring everyday is rewarded. We have our little joys, they may be few and far between but they are sweeter than anything. I will celebrate my little triumphs here and may share my frequent failures too.

Until next time, Little Miss and her Mom say Bye.

Categories
Book Review Books

Book Review: A Map of Days

The fourth part of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, A Map of Days by Ransom Riggs does not disappoint. Having finished the first three parts back in early 2017, I came to know of this fourth instalment only last year. Since then, I have been meaning to read this but never actually managing to squeeze this in my never ending TBR pile. But this July, I finally managed to read the book and enjoyed it.

A Map of Days starts where Library of Souls left, the Peculiar Children appearing at Jacob’s door to save him from his parents who were about to commit him to asylum. The Peculiar Children are now ageing at a normal pace, just like normals and they wish to use this advantage to blend in with the others in today’s world.

What starts for Jacob with a commitment to help the children and the ymbrynes soon transforms into his desire to be a hollow – hunter like his grandfather. He now undertakes a mission to help another peculiar with some of his friends.

A Map of Days, like it’s previous three books is very interesting and full of unexpected twists. Ransom Riggs has continued the story in the same engrossing way and the pictures he uses add perfect surrealism to the story.

Transition between years as the children and Jacob move from one time zone to another is seamless and attention to details of a particular era is commendable. Emma & Jacob’s relationship is also worth mentioning. Though Jacob had loved his grandfather, Abe, ghost of dead grandfather as Emma’s lover is still haunting him & Emma as deep down Emma is still not over Abe.

Personally, I think the book could have moved at a faster pace. The attention to details is important here specially when you are “loop” travelling but it also slowed down the plot a little. A little more action would certainly have given the readers some more fun. But, other than that, I can find no fault in A Map of Days. It is a must read series for all.

Two of my favourite quotes from the book:

“All my life, normal people had mostly baffled me-the ridiculous ways they strove to impress one another, the mediocre goals that seemed to drive them, the banality of their dreams. The way people rejected anything that didn’t fit their narrow paradigm of acceptability, as if those who thought or acted or dressed or dreamed differently from them were a threat to their very existence.”

“it’s a lot of cheese.” “It’s the pinnacle of human achievement,” he declared seriously. “I thought Britain was an empire. But this—this—is world domination!”

My rating: 4.8/5

Categories
Book Review Books

Book review: Thirteen Reasons Why

“You don’t know what goes on in anyone’s life but your own. And when you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re not messing with just that part. Unfortunately, you can’t be that precise and selective. When you mess with one part of a person’s life, you’re messing with their entire life.” – Hannah Baker in Thirteen Reasons Why

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. In the month of mental health awareness, I picked up this book. Having heard so much about the book, I was quite excited to read Thirteen Reasons Why. It’s about Hannah Baker, the girl who committed suicide and her tapes that she has left for some of her “friends”, 13 people who are in some way responsible for her final act.

The story begins with Clay receiving a shoe box full of tapes which he realises are from Hannah who has been dead for a few weeks now. In the tapes, she talks about all that happened to her and why she took such a drastic action.

The author, Jay Asher has built an amazing story with a continuity that forces one to turn to the next page to know what happened next. Hannah’s account along with Clayton’s narrative of the same time period makes this a very intriguing read.

Though you know what happens in the end, the story grips you because it’s not about what happens but about how it happens. The mental trauma that certain acts can have on others is depicted in a very real manner.

Hannah declares in the first cassette itself that she is making the tapes for people who were responsible for her suicide. From that moment on Clay is intrigued and worried because he liked her and can’t figure out when and how he hurt her so much.

First person narration of both Hannah’s and Clay’s stories is what makes this one a different and intriguing experience and really leaves a mark. I feel that this book is a must read.

My rating: 4.9/5

Categories
Book Review Books

Book Review: The Autumn of the Patriarch

The Autumn of the Patriarch by Gabriel García Márquez. The story starts with the people of an unnamed Caribbean nation finding their tyrannical dictator withered and dead in his house, alone. The man who used to have people killed at his whim and children drowned without any remorse has died a humiliating mortal death.

The story goes on about the atrocities committed by the General and how he ruled over the people with an iron fist. In his own style, Gabriel García Márquez depict autocrats, autocracy and the conquest for power in general.

Most of his story-telling has been through the realms of magical realism and in The Autumn of the Patriarch too, he explores the world of deep politics in the same manner. He describes a tumultuous world being ruled over by greed, corruption, and abuse of power.

Márquez has not given a name or nation to the autocrat, thereby making him a universal entity and the country could be anywhere in the world and the situation could allude to any human being.

“…but he learned to live with those and all the miseries of glory as he discovered in the course of his uncountable years that a lie is more comfortable than doubt, more useful than love, more lasting than truth,…”

There are words like these that have made Márquez the wonderful story teller that he his and this is the reason people love his books.

The narration of Márquez is as always brilliant but the extremely long sentences are quite bothersome in the beginning. Sometimes, a sentence goes on for pages and the book certainly requires a high level of concentration. I grew quite restless at times while reading the book because at times it felt like nothing was moving forward, but then I made myself continue to read it and I’m quite glad I did so.

My rating: 3.9/5

Categories
Book Review Books

Book Review: Little Women

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott is a book that I have been meaning to read for a long time. And finally, this March I picked up the book for March prompt of Reading With Muffy challenge. Little Women is about four sisters and one of the most trying years of their lives where they learn to love, share and face the trials and tribulations of life together.

The story begins with the girls preparing for Christmas without their father, who has gone to the war. The girls, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy are amiable young ladies with the oldest 17 years of age. They discuss their hopes and dreams with each other and their mother. In the course of the year that progresses, the four girls learn to love and cherish each other and their home even more as they learn more about life through the various experiences.

The eldest, Meg dreams of living a lavish, comfortable life like they used to before their father lost all his money; Jo is a headstrong girl who writes stories and is highly passionate; Beth is the quietest of all who takes care of all and has a passion for music; Anne is the youngest and the most pampered.

As is common in reading a story written more than one and a half century ago, many decisions of the characters may not make sense to the readers of the 21st century. But, what I found in this book is that nowhere is it preachy or confines ladies to the domestic world. Jo is the biggest example who makes her decisions and is not shy to earn money by selling her written work. Little Women is a beautifully written story and I’m glad I read it.

My rating: 4.8/5

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Women's Day

I am a woman

I am more than the surname given to me.
I am more than the prefix attached to my name.
I am more than the gender category I fill out on the forms.
I am more than the daughter who is princess of her dad.
I am more than the girlfriend who is pampered by her lover.
I am more than the wife who is loved, cared and cherished for by her husband.
I am more than the wife who takes care of every need of her husband.
I am more than the mother who knows the meaning of her child’s “I’m fine”.
I am more than the perfect homemaker who does it all and always smiles.
I am more than the career loving lady who breaks the glass ceiling daily.
I am more than the woman who gossips away with her best friends.
I am more than a man’s daughter, friend, lover, wife or mother.
I am more than the two letters attached to man.
I am more than just a name.
I am a woman.