Back to blogging

I have imported my wordpress blog to blogger for a while  . Just to get a feel of Blogger and to get a fresh start with my blog .

Some where in last year I had lost touch with my subtitle 'parenting and child driven learning ' . Kids were busy exploring themselves . It took us some time to get accustomed with the new curriculum and to find out some 'our time ' .

I plan to return to our simple projects and see where it takes us . So , setting out again for a blogging journey with Ruby and Pearl !

The travel bug - Trip to Colombo & Kuala Lumpur

Even though we have been on a traveling spree in and around Kerala , the international travel bug hit us a bit late . As they say , better late than never and every journey begins with a small step . Let this be ours.

Last Tuesday ( October 4 th ) we set out on a 5 day trip to Colombo / Kuala Lumpur . As this was my first trip over seas , frankly , I did not have a clue what I should carry and all. So the pre - trip preparations were a bit hectic . Especially with two over excited kids under your feet grilling you with every kind of questions . By the time I reached the airport on Tuesday morning , I was already exhausted .

At the airport we were delighted to see three other families with kids almost of the same age as that of Ruby and Pearl. Three ten yr old boys , three five year old girls , one toddler and one infant . With in no time they all became inseparable and set the right momentum for a rocking trip.



The tour was on behalf of ICAI ( Institute of Chartered accountants of India ) Cochin Chapter and was arranged by Akbar Travels.



There was a city tour of Colombo on our way to Ramada . Sri lanka is almost similar to India , especially Kerala and Tamil Nadu . But a lot cleaner . We were intrigued by the similarities in the way Sri Lankan ladies drape their sarees . It has a far resemblance to our ' chattayum mundum' . Even when they drape it in Indian style the 'pallu' of their saree reaches their ankle . And I liked it .

(courtesy google )

The streets are similar to our Fort Kochi . I dozed off in between . It has been some time since I got chance to listen to any lecture . The guide's description acted as a good lullaby ;) I managed to get some snaps though .


One thing that I noticed is almost every other building has a statue in the front . So after taking one or two snaps we lost the thrill . The beach side road is very beautiful and we passed through that spot at the right time of sunset .



We came across a snake charmer on the premises of The National Monument . I was looking forward to see the snake dancing to the 'pagdee' . Even though India is known as the snake charmer's land I haven't seen any until now. But the snake charmer turned out to be a bit tactless and right away started asking for money making conditions and clauses and we lost the interest . Anyway I managed some snaps.

For shopping the Guide first took us to some cultural and ethnic shops which we found very expensive and not worth for the money . So later he gave in and took us to House of Fashions which was a good shopping experience .

We reached Ramada Hotel by 9.30 or so . And after food headed right away to sleep .

The Srilankan cuisine included ' idiyapom' , 'stew ' , ' chutney ' and a whole lot of dishes similar to ours . Just like Kerala the Portugal influence is more than that of the British .

Ramada is okay when your are in transit . Be sure that you have every thing you may need with you. The crew is not that keen on service .

We headed to Kuala Lumpur very early the next morning .

An excellent recipe for Chicken Biriyani

I pray most earnestly when the family is huddled around with hungry - eager- hopeful faces and plates in their hand while I try my luck with some new dish .

'Chicken Biriyani ' is one of those dishes which always leaves me depressed for all the effort taken. But today I came across this easy recipe in Paachakam and it came out very well .



I am posting the recipe here . All credit goes to the original recipe .

Ingredients for Chicken Biryani -

For marinade of Chicken Biryani: Chicken - 1/2 kg Yogurt/Curd - 1/2 cup Coriander leaves - 25 gm Mint leaves(Pudhina) - 25 gm Curry leaves - 10 gm Cumin seeds(Jeerakam) - 1/2 tsp Coriander seed powder - 1 tsp Aniseed(Perinjeerakam) powder - 1/2 tsp Green chillies(chopped) - 25 gm Garlic - 20 gm Ginger(chopped) - 2 tsp Turmeric powder - 1/2 tsp Lime juice - 1 tsp Poppy seeds(Khashakhasha) paste - 1 tspFor rice: Clarified butter - 1 tbsp Cinnamon(Karugapatta) - 5 - 6 pieces Bay leaf(Vazhana/karuga ela) - 1 no Cardamom(Elakka) seeds - 4 - 5 nos Curry leaves - 4 - 5 nos Cloves(Grambu) - 4 - 5 nos Onion(chopped) - 1 no Broken rice - 250 gm Water - 1/2 litreFor Biryani masala: Clarified butter - 2 tbsp Cinnamon(Karugapatta) - 5-6 pieces Bay leaf(Vazhana/Karuga ela) - 1 no Cloves(Grambu) - 4-5 nos Cardamom(Elakka)seeds - 4-5 nos Nutmeg(Jathikka) - 1 no Onions - 100 gm Tomato(medium) - 1 no (cut into 4 pieces)For garnishing: Boiled egg - 1 no Cashews & Raisins(Onakka munthiri) - roasted in ghee

Preparation Method of Chicken Biryani - Kozhikode Chicken Biriyani Recipe

1)Mix together yogurt, coriander leaves, mint leaves, curry leaves, cumin seeds, coriander seed powder, aniseed powder, green chillies, garlic, ginger, turmeric powder, lime juice and poppy seed paste and marinate the chicken in it. Keep aside for ½ an hour.

2)Heat clarified butter or ghee in a pan.

3)Add cinnamon, bay leaf, cardamom seeds, curry leaves and cloves.

4)Add onions and saute, till they turn translucent.

5)Add washed and cleaned rice.

6)Cook, till rice turns translucent.

7)Add water and allow it to boil.

8)When the water comes to a boil, lower the flame and cover the pan.

9)Cook on low flame for at least 15 minutes, after which the rice would be done.

10)Heat clarified butter or ghee in a pan.

11)Add cinnamon, bay leaf, cardamom seeds, nutmeg and cloves.

12)Add onions and sauté, till brown.

13)Add tomatoes and saute`.

14)Add marinated chicken.

15)Cover the pan and cook for at least 5 minutes on a medium flame.

16)Remove the cover and cook on low flame for another 10 minutes to allow gravy to thicken.

17)Layer the serving bowl with alternating layers of rice and the chicken masala.

18)Garnish the top with a boiled egg cut in four pieces, roasted cashews and raisins.

:- Malabar Chicken Biryani is ready.

:- Enjoy the chicken biryani.

:- Serve chicken biryani with raita and papad.

Simply follow the recipe . I did not have coriander , mint leaves and nut meg powder .

Also I added 1/2 tsp perinjeerakam (aniseed / saumph ) and 2 nos Thakkolam (star anise ) for the biriyani masala. ( About 3-4 small green chillies and 8-10 garlic cloves for marinating . Two onions for masala .

After layering it microwaved for 5 minutes. Then mixed it lightly .

Added fried onion rings also for garnishing .Try it out .

Songs take you back in time

It is a sweet romantic melody and not at all melancholic . But when I hear this song a sadness grips my heart so tight that I cannot even breath . It takes me days to come out of it . Earlier I thought it was depression . But now I think it is just a trance . A bittersweet longing for a period of time which I will never visit again unless in my dreams .

Strangely I found out I like that feeling . It gives me time to think . Makes me silent. I get to finish the pending chores . And allows people around me some peace and quiet ;)

Enjoy !



Like most of my favourite songs I do not play it on my Player . I wait for 'coincidence' to bring it to me .That is why FM is my favourite . I don't use a ipod or  walkman . I like to absorb the music that fills the space around me , like I am floating on the lyrics and the tune .

The last year I was in a very restless mood . It has reflected on my blog too. A few weeks back my father gifted me his tape -recorder and cassette collection to listen to while I am in my kitchen  (er.... and destroyed my plan to buy a new generation MP3 player and radio :P )  .

It has effortlessly connected me again to my  best friend of all time , Music. And for the first time in the last few years I feel at home.

'Balakarunyam - 2011' Donate an Onakkodi to a child

Appeal for support

More than dreaming and chanting about the beautiful days of Maveli, let’s all take a small step towards attaining it !

Onam is here at our door steps and every soul in Kerala is getting ready to welcome it in style.All around us we can see only Discount boards , Mega sales and Exchange offers which make us feel we need everything in those ads to be content while partaking our ‘Onam Sadhya’. All we can think about are the goodies that will fill our houses, the new dresses we will buy, the trips we are going to make and the parties we will attend on behalf of Onam.

But spare a moment to think of those desolate children who neither have a home or parent. No Onam – Sadhya or any happiness to look forward to. Think of the smile that will fill their faces to know someone is out there to hand them an ‘Onakkodi ‘even when fate has abandoned them.

[caption id="attachment_3623" align="alignright" width="189" caption="Image courtesy : Google"][/caption]

If goodhearted people like You can lend us a helping hand these children will not have to spend their Onam in gloominess. Each of them will have an ‘Onakkodi ‘like any other child in Kerala and they will also have a grand ‘Onam Sadhya’ .

'Bala Karunyam'  is an humble endeavor with a vision to make it possible for the young inmates of Bala - Balika Ashrams across Kerala to celebrate Onam just like any other child in a family . Viswa Hindu Parishad- Sewa has been conducting Onam Celabrations since 2004 co-coordinating all the Bala-Balika Ashrams in Kerala. 

Their motto is " A home away from home " . The vision is to provide destitute children belonging to under privileged section of the Society with Food, Clothing , Shelter , Education, Healthcare and Everything needed and thus give every child an opportunity to soar high into the sky .

Website : www.balasramam.org  

To Donate an Onam Sadhya or an Onakkodi to a child and to spread the smile of love :   

Donate ‘Onam Sadhya’ for a child - Rs 75
Donate ‘Onakkodi’ for a child - Rs 500

Contact : Sree Poornathrayeesha Balasramam ,

Balasramam Road,Near Palace High School, Kottakkakom,

Tripunithura., Kochi (Cochin), India

Phone : 0484-2775866, 9447658178 , Email : balakarunyam2011@yahoo.co.in

Beware of Fraud Parcels and Couriers

We had registered a company last week . On Thursday we received a message from the post office about a VPP courier awaiting us in the Company's address . It was given at the office and staff signed it  . It turned out to be a parcel of books from Mega Book Co, Delhi .



We do get parcels from book companies and that too also from Delhi and other North Indian states but we hadn't started using the Company name and address yet . It was registered only a couple of days ago .

Hubby got suspicious and asked me to check the net for Mega Book Co's phone number . He wanted to clarify it with them before sending some one to collect the parcel.

Instead of the phone number I stumbled upon these links and lo.



It is a Mega fraud friends . Check this site for reports from other people .

Indian Consumer Complaints Forum .

( Please do check it . You will be shocked to see their 'modus operandi' and the long list of people who got cheated and thier comments .)


Be careful about accepting any parcel or courier .

Clay Modelling

I think it is the season for clay modelling and Harry Potter .  Yesterday Ruby made some excellent clay models that I was forced to pull out the long forgotten Canon from the depths of my bag :P

When he is not making clay models he is reading Harry Potter . And Pearl is busy with all her activities .  My favourite is her girly stories with loads of pictures in it .

Musical Monday

Songs mark a period of your life in a way nothing else can . More than the songs themselves it is the memories that we hold on to .  Just  close your eyes and listen, and you will be there . Back in time . Like in some strange time machine .

Isn't it for the same reason that we all love songs so passionately ?

This is one such song . It reminds me of our college trip to Kodai . The time of life when every thing was beautiful , sweet and merry . The time when the biggest problem  was choosing the next day's salwar and finding a plausible excuse for being late .



What are your memories ?

Thursday Challenge ( Pouring , wet ,dripping , splashes...)

'Don't walk away if you intend to stay ' . This is roughly one of the updates I recently saw on FB updates . Whoever posted it , can claim it  :D It is a really nice one !

Anyway this is exactly my case with this blogspace . One day I stepped aside and now I can only wonder what I have been posting for two years . I just can't find any thread for a post and I just can't find any words .

Today morning I have been reading some of the blogs ( A habit I had shaken off with great effort in the past month )  and I realised I don't want to leave this cute little space of mine .

So , here comes the 'Thursday Challenge " for the week.

"LIQUID" (Splashes, Pouring, Dripping, Waves, Wet,...)

Next Week: WOODEN (Ship, House, Furniture, Carpentry Tools, Trees,...)

Without knowing what this week's challenge is I had clicked a single snap . The only one that came thru my cam in the last month . It was clicked after the initial torrents though .



I was waiting for Pearl to come and was immensely enjoying the rain . The swishing wind which reminded me of that nostalgic sound inside a sea shell , swaying banyan  trees , dark clouds , heavy down pour and not a single soul around . A rare chance to come by .

Edited to add

[caption id="attachment_3515" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Monsoon through my window"][/caption]

Books

To mark the last leg of vacation we made another visit to the used - books - store Blossoms at Convent Junction .

Ruby now spends most of his time with his nose buried in Secret Seven . As I am lazy and forgetful when  it comes to routine I have asked Pearl to remind me to read to her one book every day . This has been going on for almost a month now and I am happy about it .

As any other parent I too find it tricky to select books for the kids . What are the guidelines you follow ? Please share :)

Thursday Challenge : Pets

[caption id="attachment_3456" align="aligncenter" width="345" caption="Ruby and Pearl with Leo on Smart kid magazine"][/caption]

I am a very very lousy pet owner . Even then , we have a dog , two rabbits and some fishes .

My favourite is the aquarium . As Shilpa has said beautifully in her blog , I cling to the Feng Shui belief when it comes to pet fish . Thanks to Feng Shui to making us feel good by saying it is not a bad luck when a fish dies . It just take your bad luck away . If I go by Feng Shui then I really have some bad - luck- spell on me which my fishes are taking away with them enthusiastically .  Any way I neither give up nor brood . I just go and buy another pair :D



Guppies are my favourite . They also remind of a child hood friend who had a huge collection of Guppies in an inbuilt tank . When we come back home after vacation we would beg him for some guppies and he would give us one or two pairs after many swapping . We used to put it in a bottle with some holes on the top and bring it home on bus all the way from Alleppey to Ernakulam . Now , I can appreciate fully my mother's patience ;)

I read some where, it would be better if people with strong water element keep away from having pet fish . It doesn't suit them well :(  May be there is some truth in it . While I was searching for that article which I did not find I came upon this  beautiful article on Feng shui Front door. 

Here is a video which kids made on their aquarium . This is their first attempt . And they did it themselves when I asked them to go around and get me some snaps of the pets for the Thursday Challenge .



I really wanted to ask them to do another video with some modifications and some more zoom ins and zoom outs . A more presentable one ;) But I consciously controlled the temptation :)

I feel parents shouldn't interfere to guide and correct the children every now and then . Even though parents do it to make kids do better and also to avoid failures and mistakes I feel it affects the child's imagination . It also draws a line of limitation preventing the child from jumping into the unknown to explore . Remember , A parent who is eager to  prevent the child from making the same mistakes they have made in their life and is all set to improvise the child is just trying to relive/rewrite their own lives in a perfect way .

Let them fail and let them do it imperfectly . Then only they can learn to win and improve themselves .

I am proud of the video they have done :)

[caption id="attachment_3454" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Our aquarium"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_3455" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Our fish bowl"][/caption]

No tears to well up in my eyes

It has been a while since I have cried contentedly . My eyes always get in between . All the time they are swollen like two onion bulbs that I cannot even whimper to my heart's fill  .

I have been keeping myself away from the Kajol and eye liner that even I can't recognise me on the mirror :( and I have been visiting the ophthalmologist on and off . Any way , now they say I have Blepharitis ( which simply means there is inflammation on my eye lids   ) and Dry eye syndrome.

So I am weaning myself away from the computer for a while except for the NaBoPloMo. Meanwhile here are two articles which explain about Blepharitis and Dry eye Syndrome .

I want my eye liner back if not my tears !

Playing dough

Yesterday night itself we decided it is going to be a 'Play- dough ' day tomorrow.  In the morning , somehow it turned out  Ruby and Pearl would do a guest post for me .They didn't do much writing or typing actually . But they came up with a great clay model . They take it from here :)

My sister and I love to play with dough. We make flowers,mushrooms, diagrams and animals.When we went for summer camp they showed us how to make dough.Today we are making a scenery.It has a horse ,boat and a mushroom.

They outdo me when it comes to ideas and making models . So I just sit with them and enjoy their work . Clay has been a great help in bringing out  Ruby's ideas.  They didn't right away start making super- duper clay models . A great deal of clay has been lost in that journey . All Colours  got  mixed  up and  there was always a lot of mess . One fine day they started to make  nice models  and I don't know when this transition really occured . Now they keep it  separate in their respective boxes after use and don't mix up colours . Here are some other clay models done by them .

[caption id="attachment_3432" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Butterfly mask"][/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="300" caption="Snail garden"][/caption]

And this is an interesting link about clay and children .

Microwaved Jack fruit Jam

Vacation brings along with it the sweet smell of all those ripe fruits in the back yard . Even though now there is no back yard and no friends to roam around the smell of all those preserved foods are enough to carry us back to that time .

I remember the taste of mangoes , coconut slices (kopra ) , tamarind , lemon ( vaduka puli ) drying in long sheets under the sun . We used to steal them in the afternoon when every body would be busy taking naps :)  And all those smells are invariably associated with the word ' Vacation ' !

One of my other favourite smell is that of Jack fruit jam or in other words 'Chakka Varattiyathu ' . And I made some a few days before . I followed the guidelines given by my Aunt . She is well known for her short cuts . My mother and my Aunt are my Gurus when it comes to culinary skills . They are as different as they can be . Yet , I always try to combine both their skills in my kitchen . My mother's dedication , passion and overflowing love when she cooks and my Aunt's efficiency , time management , short cuts and orderliness .

Here is an absolutely easy recipe for making 'Chakka varatti ' . An alltime favourite of Mallus.



Things you would need

Ripe Jack fruit flesh ( as much as you can get )

Scraped jaggery

ghee

eliachi ( cardomom )

Method

Grind the jack fruit in a mixer . Microwave it with lid on in High for 3-4 minutes . Mix the scraped jaggery . Microwave for another 2-3 minutes ( with out lid ) . Add ghee and powdered eliachi and mix well . Microwave in Medium for 5-6 minutes or even more according to the consistency you need . Take out and mix it with a spoon in between .

Enjoy as such or as bread spread . Store in refrigerator for further use .

Mathru Devo Bhava !

On this Mother's day I salute all the single mothers and all the working mothers who try hard to keep the balance !

Last year I tried to note down what my mother means to me . She is the person who has influenced me most . I have wondered at times if she is some angel . I have never seen her take any selfish decisions . Frankly, it would have had done her much good :)She is the most sweet person I have ever met in this world.

This year , I would like to share with you the joy of being a mother . Yesterday I fell on the road while trying to ride the scooter and scraped my knee and arms. Hubby and Ruby was there . They said all the appropriate words , checked if I was injured badly and after being assured every thing is under control they went off  with their own chores . But when my daughter came to know about this she came and hugged me tight . Told me it is alright and that I don't have to worry . She checked how bad it is . And said I am lucky that my other arm is not injured. She stayed with me till I applied the medicine . And all the time patted me and said all the soft words she knows.

Ten years I have only been on the giving side . Taking care of every one and also taking care of myself. Now I feel , I can sit back and take a breath. And it feels good to be taken care of . She is like that with every body .

At night she lulled me to sleep with lullabies she has learned from me . Only my mother has cared me like that :)

In the morning though , she claimed she slept very late after taking care of me and needs some extra time to sleep :D :D And after checking the bruise told me she thinks I am not doing enough prayers . Otherwise it is time for it to heal :) :) She suggested I should light the lamp and pray for some time . And all this very seriously :D :D I can't wait to see what a wonderful girl she would be when she grows up !

On another note today we had a  ' free medical camp ' and one mother came to me after being posted for cataract surgery . She doesn't even know her full address . Apparently she lives with her son and DIL , but she came alone for the check up.  When I asked for address she gave me her ration card . I opened it and some  rice fell on my lap . She don't have anybody to accompany her to the hospital and so cannot do the surgery even if it is done free of cost . She is not in a position to share their mobile numbers with us. And she started to cry saying she don't have anybody who cares for her and why she should get her sight corrected .



All the fuss we make on Mother's day suddenly flashed in my mind . And I stared at her blankly thinking about the '  Mother's- day -special -post ' I was editing in my mind while taking down the details .

Why do we yell at our kids ?

A few weeks back Shail Mohan shared some thoughts on her blog as a reply to one of my comments .

@Krishnaleela,

If we recognize our own confusion and fear as an adult, we will stop shouting at children for things beyond their control. The screaming and shouting can be kept as last resort instruments for more productive purposes, when they disobey our just demands for example. Don’t you think so??
But sadly most parents I have found shout when they are scared and confused. What signal does that send to the child??!

I was thinking about it for a while and delaying my response as it is one of the biggest problems confronted by young parents like me.I am noting down the random thoughts that crossed my mind .

Just take a look around you. Every where you will see parents yelling at kids as though they have done some fatal crime . Just now I saw a parent haul her son brutally after yelling at him  . This was just for sitting on the dust in the parapet . Yes , there was some dust there . I too agree. But I don't think it needs that much attention and show off . Whatever signal she wants to send her child she is sending a message of supremacy to others who happen to sit there :P

As Shail wondered what signal do we send our children by yelling at them? I gather the child thinks he / she has gone terribly wrong . Or that they are always wrong . And are not loved . In a way we are telling them we have more important things  . By doing that we are also closing the door of communication . The only door open to us parents to reach our kids once they venture into the real world far away from our protective wings . Mind you , this magical door is kept open to parents only in this magical young age . Soon the door will be crowded with strange looking friends and macho heroes that you will not even get a space to peep in to see what is going on inside there. Make the best of it while you can .

By screaming and shouting we are also putting the child in an equally confused state and taking away the safety feeling and confidence. After an outburst have you ever asked your child what he/she understood ? Just try it next time and you will get the most funniest answers. Most of the time the child doesn't even understand what they are scolded for. The very thing that you wanted to convey is lost in the uproar.

The yelling comes from the fear that your child, the fruit of all your efforts , the prodigy who is going to gain you all the credits for being a super parent may do some thing wrong.  Instead of thinking that the child is just being a six-seven year old we take the short comings as our own failure in parenting and is eager to cover it up. Just like Shail noted , one of the grave aftermath of yelling , screaming and shouting is the fact that we are left with no arms and ammunition for the future when we are more likely to deal with serious problems other than jumping on the bed or playing ahead of sleep time.

As they say , the problem with parenting is it doesn't come along with a manual . And your child is same as the surprise Kinder Joy you buy for them . You don't know what is inside . No body tells you before hand what is right and what is wrong for your child . Trial and error is the only option.

It would have been great if there were some arrangements to train the expecting parents on the psychology of kids , different types of kids and the expected emotional behaviour at different stages and so on.

Some thing I have observed with great interest is parents , especially mothers are always eager to advice other young parents. I think this happens because they learn what is right and what is wrong only after bringing up their child  :)

Grand parents could have done a great deal of help. But like most of the mothers reading this would accept it , we are not ready to take advice from our mother-in -laws or even mothers when it comes to bringing up our child . I think this happens because in our mind apart from the all the positive thoughts we have about our parents , we know what went wrong when they brought us up . And we don't want that to happen to our child. So we try in every way to correct and compensate for it and end up doing some thing wrong in some other aspect. And the cycle continues.

One thing that I hate in a new born baby's room is the hot discussion that goes on and on between mother's family and father's family about the right way of bringing up kids . And most of the times I see the mother's family has to mutely accept what the father's family says. I wonder why people cannot understand there are different ways of bringing up newborns  and each style is unique to the region.

I see that I digressed. It is such a hot topic ;) Coming back to yelling,  I admit I have also done it many times . My son had had a real tough time while I was expecting my second born . And even after child birth . There were many people to help me but no one who can be 'me' even for some time. I was confused and scared . I was afraid if I would be able to do a good job bringing up both the kids . I took it out on the most vulnerable person around me . That was my son and I reaped the rewards.

Now I have deliberately controlled this misbehavior to a great extend . When my kids drive me crazy I tell them straight what is upsetting me. I suggest them ways to modify their behaviour. I explain to them situations . Quote examples to show what is right and what is wrong. Tell them stories from epics , movies etc. I give them chances . I tell them that it is not a pass or fail situation . They can always improve. And that they always have a next chance .

Here are some tips or points to ponder .

1. While you are with your child try to keep your anger on hold . ( yes, it is possible.)

2. If the issue in hand is not going to affect the child's future go easy on it .

3. Hold the child and  give a two minutes ' silence time' before you speak. This will help you to get the child's attention and give you time to gather your thoughts .

4. Take the time and patience to explain to your child what is wrong . And also make it clear it is the action that is wrong and not the doer .

5. Please don't make statements like 'the child is the one who is causing all the problems in my life ' . ( I 've heard it many times from several parents ! )

6. Please don't tell you are taking the major decisions in your life because of / for the benifit of your child. You are the one entitled to your life. And your child is entitled only to his /her . Please don't burden them with the weight of your decisions .

Let them grow light- hearted . And let us make them ready to take on the world when the time comes .

Pleas share your thoughts !

NaBloPoMo , Here I come !

So , I too have decided to jump into the bandawagon of NaBloPoMo. Saw the updates on Face book from Swaram and saw the thrill and enthusiasm on Monika's blog  .  I feel it is time to return to the one place where I really feel I belong and here I am . Maybe I will be the last one to join . They have all started two days back . So this post is more an announcement than a call . You can expect a post every day from me for the Month of May . Don't say you haven't been warned :p

First things first , thanks to my friend Pal , who introduced me to the Indian Blogosphere . Even though I have been into blogging for almost two years , the first year or so I was busy searching frantically about dyslexia , home schooling and sorts . Only recently I got into the Indian circle and is not familiar to many of you . I hope NaBloPoMo would bring a change :D

I don't know what I will post about in the days to come . As I claim this as a Parenting Blog I plan to post more on our Vacation Fun and activities . I hope this month will bring many interesting incidents so that I can post them right from my heart and not just do the WWs , TCs , Foto Fridays & Music Mondays . Lets watch it together !! Like the theme for this month's NaBloPoMo goes "May be " !!

Thursday Challenge - Wonderful colours

Wonderful Colours and what is more wonderful than the colours of  nature . I have all these snaps from Ootty  . Was thinking of a travelogue . Sorry , it is a repetition for my FB friends . But the theme for TC this week is too tempting to decline .



Ooty is one of my all time fascinations and also a jinxed one . I wanted to take  Botany for degree so that I can visit a lot of Botanical gardens . But things doesn't work the way we want them to . So I ended up doing physiotherapy . The only gain is the bunch of friends I got from there . And a knowledge of the medical terms so that now I am comfortable with the medical jargon while speaking to the pediatrician :)



Anyway this time I made it up to there and Loved it .  With flowers and meadows every where the place is so beautiful !

Vacation home work

I am making Ruby do the vacation homework  on a regular basis to avoid the last minute hurry- burry .  That is when we came across this question .

What is 'a collection of pearls' called ?

I thought it would be ' a string of pearls '. As always Google is our saviour . I stumbled upon this 'collection of collective nouns' link and printed it out for further use . It is says a collection of pearls is referred  ' a rope of pearls'.

You can also take a look here . 'tinyonline collective nouns' . It is pretty interesting.

Last week , I read somewhere dyslexic kids find it very difficult when they go to upper primary classes as the written work expected from them increases rapidly. And the nature of questions change to descriptive and essay types.  I have been thinking we have left behind the worst part for good . But I was so wrong . Two days into the vacation work have proven otherwise .

I really want to go back to that article and do some back to back reading and even look for some tips. But , now I can't remember where I read about it .

Ruby is  stubborn as a mule when it comes to writing. And all the work I have done these years isn't proving to be worthy enough.

What really saddens me is he knows almost every thing to the finest detail . But  just cannot put it on the paper in words and move on. This results in delaying - accumulation of work - frustration- more delay - more accumulation - more frustration . It is a vicious circle. And he is left out  helpless , until some body  steps in and help him out.



For the past few months I haven't been linking and book marking any sites even though I learned and read a lot more about out-of - the box thinkers . I was thinking I have done enough home work . And also in my mind , didn't want to make a big deal about it . But now I can't remember any of it . What a loss.

While I rake my brain for the article I leave you with these three articles which I found very interesting and could not have expressed my early parent hood in better words . It felt as though the author is telling about my son.

Is my child gifted ? One mother's experience

How to know your child is gifted ?

Even now I can remember the perfectly symmetrical building blocks he would make . If one piece is missing ,or if he cannot find out the exact symmetric block  he would get frustrated . So I always took extra care to  preserve even the tiniest block in our Lego sets.

This is also a good one . How to approach the endless questions of a gifted child. I figured it out the hard way though . This is also the answer to my ever growing Kids' library. Somewhere in between I reached a point where my knowledge wasn't enough to answer Ruby's questions . He wants more details.

You know one thing , if I had studied along with my kids when I was a student myself I would have become a great scholar . Or they would have made me one :D But I believe a lot in the ' never too late ' way of putting things :)

When I met his resource teacher for open house she suggested it would do Ruby a lot of good if I can just soften some of his perfectionist traits . But it isn't as easy as it sounds . I will have to find my way through and of course record it here as this blog also happens to be my memory cell. The ones I have in my brain is no better than a sieve .

Battling perfectionism in Children

Being Myself

 I was afraid I may never stop if I started to cry .

It would have been easy to give in .

The tears would have smoothly taken away

The grief and the loss , I hope.

Instead I chose to laugh .

And borrowed a gaiety mask.


Now I wander aimlessly in the jungle of life .

And wonder if I would ever find me and rest .

Musical Monday -2

I know it's cliched . I know it is every body's favourite . But today I could not think about any other song . This is one of my favourite songs .

I don't really know what the movie "Titanic" means to me . But I have quoted the dialogues from the movie more times than I can remember .  My favorite scene from the Movie is Jack Dawson waiting at the Grand father clock . Enjoy !

Vacation is here .

Warning : This is an update post . A long post ahead :p It has been a while since I posted any thing based entirely on kids. The month of March was really hectic and I didn't really have time to sit back and reflect .

Now when I look back I find Facebook statuses snatched away most of my would-have-been posts . So I thought I will try a sum-up of my face book statuses to see how I fared .Here it goes .

March 1- Do self-help books really help you all ? I usually discard them in mid way :( I feel so bored and restless reading them . I really want to try some meditation . But somebody will have to tie me on a chair first :0

( I was really really upset and thought only self help books could save me . But couldn't find the real one for me . )

March 3 - Thumbs up to Tiffani Sant Bearup for her 11 days 'silent retreat' ! And silently joining her from India !!

( When I decided to join Tiffany silently from India . Even though I could not hold on to silence I learned to process my thoughts before blurting them out . )

March 4 - Dear friends, let your child crawl around . It helps in development of proper neural pathways .

(I was frantically searching google for some exercises that would help out -of -the- box - thinkers. I stumbled upon a thread some where which discussed on the benefits of concentrating on normal human development and how it helps in neural pathways and all . )

March 21-After two days into exams 'Exhausted ' is the only word I can think of ! I think this is the ideal time for me to try my luck in 'Paanchvi paas '. I will be the winner for sure !!!

( Exams really caught us this time . But I figured out Ruby is finally growing up. And that I can relax. This year I had loosened my ties with studies a bit and he was left to himself with only guidance given when needed . Maths was very   tough . We had to learn it together . Hubby would explain it to both of us . Then I would help Ruby if he has any more doubts . We stuck to our time table and was terribly exhausted by the end of every day . Hubby took us for small drives in the night and  treated us with ice-creams . This helped Ruby a lot to unwind . Daddy-cool knows the Obsessive -insane -moma could really be dangerous when exams are around. )

March 23 - Dear friends , I am sharing this post with tears welling up in my eyes and voice choked . Because this is something every mother with a dyslexic child faces . Over the years you learn to figure out your own ways to face these commentators . Some think you are a nut and some think you are a super great Mom . But in truth you are only trying to make yourself and your child learn to accept and respect the differences.

2e Tuesday::How To Handle The Critics. | freeplaylife.com

March 25 ( INd v/s Aus) - Didn't watch the match yesterday :( was not ready to see another depressing match :( what a loss :(

March 27 -  It's Pearl's KG convocation function tomorrow. It seems only yesterday she started going to school !! This year also she was selected as the Best -All -Rounder ! Four years before at Ruby's convocation Function she was very excited to visit the school she would be joining , the place she would go together with her brother and wanted to stand on the stage along with him :)

March 28 - Pearl wants me to crawl under her umbrella house :D Ruby is making a sub land/marine which can carry army and Navy forces at the same time :D And we are eating ice creams almost every day, which is my most favourite part ;) Vacation is here at my door steps, friends !! Two more days to go ! Yayyy!!!

March 30 - Kick starting one of the biggest purging process I have ever done ! Let there be more space ; both in mind and around . Let the sunshine seep through the windows and brighten even the most darkest corners . Let happiness and joy follow sunshine to fill all the spaces !

March 30 - ( India v/s Pak ) Missing you both Sis and Bro !!! Miss the shouts , the flags and the beats and every thing ! Ruby and Pearl are looking at me like strangers . They haven't seen their Mom as a cricket maniac until today !!!

March 30-What a match yaar !! Kids beg me to let them watch 'back yard science' now that cricket is finally over :)))))

April 2 - On the D - day ie. World cup Final I went along with Hubby to visit my sister and was in transit . Kids had gone earlier . Anyway I opt long drives, music and good company to any cricket match . Enjoyed the last few overs with family . It is a joy to travel around Kerala with all the Konna flowers in bloom .



Vacation is here :) :D The time of the year I await with enthusiasm. I am knee deep in some serious purging . Gave away almost half of the toys and all . Discarded every other paper I came across. And kept aside the out grown clothes for orphanages. ( My informal rule is to give away some some of old clothes to needy when we buy a new set )

Today I completed sorting out the toys and arranging them for the vacation . My babies are finally growing up . They have out grown the acrobats and the wooden blocks :) :( . And all those kinder blocks , wooden puzzles , rhymes , alphabets , shapes . When I see them stacked aside , ready to be given away I see the twinkling eyes of my kids . How they would look up from behind those toys to see why Mom is disturbing us. That beautiful time when a hug or a kiss and a cup of milk would solve every thing has passed by .

CSA Awareness : My two cents .

I have been reading the posts on CSA awareness month . Almost all of them have the same voice . The parents were either ignorant or they didn't think it is important to talk to the child or confront the culprit.

I wonder what makes parents react in that way .

Is it the guilty feeling to accept that something bad has happened to their child due to their ignorance .

Or is it shame .

Or do they believe the child should look after himself /herself and is responsible for what happened .

Or is it the reluctance to acknowledge that their loved ones can have another face .

Or is it the inability to accept that there could be dangers they are unaware of.

I think it is a mixture of every thing . And I feel strangely ashamed .

It would be a lie if I say I haven't come across any molesters . It is impossible to grow up in this world with out confronting any . It is flooded with them and you cannot eradicate it . Not in the near future . It is all about bringing up kids with the courage to stand up to it .

My Grand mother was a real smart lady who knew how to train young girls with out making a fuss about it . She taught us to be wary of Uncles who may jump at the chance to put us on their laps , or who may hug and pinch us to show their love . She taught us to stay away from them  . And to cry loudly if some thing is not right . She talked about sleazy shop keepers eager to push bangles into our hands . Through her jokes and talks she taught us in spite of being wonderful this world is not a safe place . And the simple truth that you have to learn to take care of yourself.

And I believe sexual innocence is not some thing good to brag about or a solid excuse to make when it comes to molesting and groping . Neither for parents or young girls. Awareness is awareness even when we cannot stop some thing from happening .

But with real young kids , parents/ guardians/care takers are the only ones who can take care of them. Let us Accept the responsibility . Let us not run away from it . Let us do our part and let our kids flourish in a safe environment.

I also want to bring forth the fact that it is not only the men , but women could also be child molesters . And boys and girls , both can be victims.

If not anything teach your child to use the most powerful and useful word . Teach them to say a loud " NO" when they mean it and teach them to use it fearlessly .

I dream of a day when there would be no victims to write about their horrible experiences . A day when no child's feelings will be left unattended by his/her parent.

This month has been selected as the " Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Month " . Don't be ostriches, please !

Musical Monday !

Got this idea from Bikram and wanted to do it last week . But missed it . Today unknowingly shared some songs on FB and then suddenly remembered it is Monday .

My life is so much intertwined with all the beautiful songs I have heard ; sometimes I think I can make a graph out of them. I like melodies more than anything. Good lyrics can keep me engaged even for hours! Can't tolerate the sound and beats like my brother, but I do like fast numbers with good tunes.
I like to listen to Malayalam, Hindi and some Tamil songs. Like to do drawings based on songs or to give captions. Dancing with Live concerts were our favourite as students and I had some rocking friends too! But now as a mother of two kids the chances are slim :-(

Once at college our Hindi Sir asked the class if they would like to be left alone in a room forever . He wanted to explain to every one the importance of socialization . Then I told him I would happily do so if I am left with a collection of my favourite melody cassettes. He was not convinced though :)

Today I have been humming songs from 'Guide ' . The hit movie of 1965 with an evergreen hero and many evergreen songs .

One of my all time favourite songs . So romantic that you would dissolve in it . One of those first few songs that gave the young girl in me an idea about the beauty and sweetness in loving some one for a life time .

This song along with all the other songs from 'Guide' bring beautiful memories of those clear summer nights , Anthakshari , singing along with my Sis , our room , Wilkinson sword Chaaya geet which I used to listen till 11 pm and all those fights :) :) Nostalgic :)

For a Slim 2011 and ahead !!

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A few years before my sister had gone to a slimming clinic and was able to cut down a considerable few pounds . She was back in shape and looked terrific . And we were all very happy. A couple of months back when I mentioned this possibility to a fellow blogger she posed her doubt about the possible side effects that may occur from the products they use in the slim clinics.

Then only I thought about that part of it and was really worried for my sister . Two of my close friends are in slimming industry and I thought it is time to ask them what they do inside there other than starving people . Just kidding :D But until then I had only thought about the glamor of the job and all . May be I should think about the other part too.

Being a person who is interested in the How and Why I called up my friend Dr.Grinto Davy , my classmate and friend . I terribly wanted to know how they bring down the body weight. Of course it could not be magic ! I wanted to know it from the perspective of a layman and I wanted more people to benefit from it if it is really safe and with out any side effects .

The points mentioned here are from Dr.Grinto Davy Chirakkekkaran's personal experiences as a Physiotherapist for over ten years and as the Proprietor and Chief Therapist of the slimming clinic " Smart ESCASO Club "  at Poonkunnam , Thrissur, Kerala .

" To lose those extra pounds you don't have to jog till you are tired to your bones or starve till you go mad with hunger pangs . But it is a must that you should eat food just like any other normal person.

Their principle is to bring down the excess  fat in the body and thus reduce the weight .

According to Grinto,  we can bring down the body weight by reducing the water content of the body and also by reducing the muscle weight . But these are not the scientific methods to reduce body weight . The ideal way is to begin with identifying the amount of fat present in your body. ( Body fat percentage )


After determining the amount of excess fat present in the body , modern machines and a quality diet is used to get rid of the excess fat in a natural way . The machines are without side effects and produces effects equal to the normal body metabolism .

Among the modern machines one which needs special reference is the Ultrasonic Lipo Suction Machine . This machine uses Ultrasound and Radio frequency  for fat modulation . It can suck out accumulated excess fat from any part of your body .  When a part of the body is massaged using this machine the excess fat present breaks down and is then excreted through the body vessels just as in Normal metabolism. There is no risk of burns and no damage is done to the nerves, vessels or connective tissue.


The privacy of the client is given prime importance during the massage and other procedures and female therapists are there to attend female clients. No other medicine or injection  is used along with it . And no other invasive procedures are involved .

There are other machines which gives the same effect as when exercise is done . When it is massaged with the patient lying it will give the same movements as when running . This is usually used for aged patients and others who suffer from joint pains.

By saying all these he doesn't mean the weight can be brought down in the blink of an eye . From his experience it will take up to 45 days to cut down 3-6 kilos of body weight.

To reduce the skin elasticity problems and to ensure that the normal skin tone is maintained, special skin treatment is given using the sand from the Dead Sea.

According to him , the long intervals between food intake is the actual culprit behind the diet problems . After some time it acts as a vicious cycle resulting in over weight or obesity . Eating large quantities of food in a single bout also adds to it .

A thirty year healthy male requires 15 % lipid fat in his body . The percentage is 21% for females . Up to the age of fifty, this  is 17% and 23 % respectively. Above fifty years this goes up to 19% and 25% ."

You can also express your views on slimming clinics here . It would help to throw some light on the doubts and fears of common people .

Pavakkulathammakku Pongala 2011

I dedicate this post at those beautiful lotus-petal- like feet of that great power,  just like I have laid my humble life at her disposition . It is impossible to separate my life from Pavakkulam temple and my every step and every breath belongs to Lord Shiva and Parvathi who resides there .

Pongala is being conducted at Pavakkulam temple since 2002 . The 'Jyothi' taken from Attukal was merged with the ever lit lamp (kedaavilakku ) in front of Devi (Pavakkulathamma ).

I was fortunate enough to participate in all of them except one or two . I remember the first few years when my father and hubby would go early in the morning like 3-4 am to get tickets for me and mother to put pongala inside the temple premises .

Taking part in Pongala is an unique experience . The ' Noyambu ' which is usually observed at least two days before or even more disciplines your mind and body. The preparations for the ceremony is in itself a celebration . And the morning of Pongala is filled with crowds of  women beautifully clad in ' settu mundu ' . The atmosphere resounds with prayers and chants .

Once the lamp is lighted it is all about concentration and your mind is directed towards only one thing ' Praseeda Praseeda Parameswari ! '  It is a meditation in its own way . When you see the white foam rising to the tip of the pot your heart gets filled with boundless joy . You then see the prosperity and happiness showered  upon your family .  It feels as though Devi has come to bless you. You feel her just beside you .

Simharoodam trinethraam kara thala vilasath,

Sankha chakrabhi ramyam,

Bhakthabeeshta pradathreem ripu madana kareem,

Sarva lokaika vandhyam,

Nana alankara yuktham sasi yutha makutam,

Syamalangeem krusangeem,

Durgam devim prapadhye saranamaha asesha apath unmoolanya.

Over the years 'Pongala at Pavakkulam '  has grown in leaps and bounds .  And so has the belief. Now it is not allowed inside the temple ground and the roads near will be booked even days before. People come from far off places to take part in this holy ceremony.

This year for the first time it is being conducted in the month of April ( Medam )  along with the festival for 10 days ( From April 8 to April 18 ) . Every day of the festival would be  graced with brainstorming - talks where eminent personalities come to share their views on various Hindu ideologies. I am really looking forward to attend all of them .

Then there are all those splendid programmes where a genuine effort has been taken to bring forth the various temple art forms like Theyyam and Chakkiar Koothu , Bharatha natyam , Kuchipudi, Devotional Ballette and more.

Let Jagadamba bless all and make this grand function a great success !

"Amme Narayana Devi Narayana

Lakshmi Narayana Bhadre Narayana "

___________________________________________________________

A few words about Pongala :

The offering of Pongala is a special temple practice prevalent in the southern part of Kerala and some parts of Tamilnadu . The ceremony is exclusively confined to women folk and includes instant cooking of rice with jaggery and coconut (Nivedyam) in the temple premises . Around  9.30 am the Priest  lights the hearth  in  front of  the  temple amidst prayers and chanting of sacred Mantras. This is then passed  on from one woman to  the  other who light their hearth  and prepare "Neivedyam". At about 12 pm on that day,  Priests come out of the temple carrying  holy water and sprinkles it one each and every Ponakala pot the women has prepared .This marks the finale of the  Ponkala  and  the devotees  then go to the temple and partake in the huge feast ( Prasadamoottu ) conducted here . They then return home with happiness  and satisfaction in their  mind , but only  after making  an appeal  to the Goddess for  Her permission and blessing to participate in next year's Pongala.

Are you beautiful ?

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Once we went to a Jyothishi to read our future . Not that I believe in it blindly or anything . But I like the art . And many times the predictions have coincided with my life . My parents and hubby were also with me. We wanted to read the kids' horoscopes and know general stuff .

The Jyothishi started with the basic back ground questions . He then read about our previous lives and also this one from a big Sanskrit book and translated the meaning for us . As he finished Hubby's he started to read  mine .

I secretly wanted the Jyothishi to do only one thing after looking into our future . Tell my husband I am the one who is correct and that he should always listen to me. Period.

I am so sure about it , you know !

After reading for a while , suddenly he asked hubby a question .

" Is your wife beautiful ? "

Now , that is a million dollar question.

Ah ! I was happy to know that the Jyothishi is on my side . He wants to tell hubby that now he has a beautiful wife by his side, listen to whatever she says , buy her what ever she wants and live a happy life . I wondered what took me so long to come here .

Being the evasive self hubby is , I was glad that this once he cannot dance around his answer .

If he says 'NO' then he will suffer for it for the rest of his life . I will make sure of it :D . And if he says ' Yes '  he will suffer even more . I know that much :D My parents looked at me ready to console me if he says NO. Just in case .

Anyway , hubby answered , " Yes ! "

"Why ? " , asked the Jyothishi

Now , This man is some thing . He knows exactly where to hit the nail . May be it is all written in the book he is reading . But my parents were also there .  What if hubby comes up with some thing mushy or embarrassing . I wanted to signal the Jyothishi that I will ask it by myself now that he has posed the question . And also that I am thankful for being on my side.

I wanted him to go to the next part ... the listening and taking good care of wife ... But he looked quite relaxed .

Hubby thought for a moment , then said with poise

" Because she is beautiful inside . In her heart ! "

uh ???

I wanted to tell him that is not what the Jyothishi  meant , you know !

I thought the jyothishi would prod for more . And eventually  tell my hubby how lucky he is and things . But he nodded approvingly , smiled and turned to me .

" See how lucky you are ! He knows you very well . And he knows every thing . Just relax . Listen to him and live happily . "

Duh !!

Writing CA Exams – A professional approach

Ruby's exams will start tomorrow. It is Social Studies and I hate the subject as much as he loves it . We are yet to start today's studies . My blog has been left unattended for a while . As it is exam time for professional students as well I thought I will take the liberty of posting one of hubby's articles . He is a Chartered Accountant by profession and a teacher by passion.


Writing CA Exams – A professional approach

Irrespective of all the preparations and revisions, cracking a professional course like CA depends greatly on how the student utilizes the three hour exam time. The ‘key point’ is to serve the answer the way examiner wants it.

According to the new scheme the prospect of CA exam is to measure the student’s capability to use the knowledge he / she has gained from studies and its applicability in various situations. For this the questions are twisted and tangled and each needs to be attended in its own way. You can improve your percentage considerably if you are alert and tactful while handling those three hours in the exam hall.

Here I am expressing some of the common faults I have come to notice over the years and some ways to tackle them.

While answering theory papers and theoretical questions:

Theory questions usually come under thirteen different tags : Explain, Define, Short notes , Describe, Discuss, Illustrate , State, Comment , What are , Distinguish, Distinct , Elucidate , Decide .The problem arises when you try to answer all these different types of questions in the same manner. If you have to answer each type of question specifically then you should be thorough with the basics and concepts and should know what is being asked and what is not. 

Eg : The term “Business” .
1. Define the term Business 2. Explain the term Business 3. Write a short note on Business.

Here all the three questions need to be answered in three different ways.

Lack of this insight result in answers where you note down every thing you know related to the topic irrespective of the question and score only a bare minimum or average marks. If you want to score 60% or above mark for a question you have to answer it the way you would like to see it in a text book.

Your answer should be:

1. Easy to find,

2. easy to read,

3. to the point , and point by point

4. simple and transparent with out confusing

5. with headings and subheadings as needed

6. precise.

The different types of questions included in the theory session are based on the different situations that you will have to face as a professional in your career.

• While you answer first think of the logic behind the question.

• Then tailor your answer according to the requirement of the question.

• Before you start to write down your answer, shape it first in your mind.

This will avoid unnecessary strikes and messiness. And will make your nervousness, confusions and difficulties less transparent to the examiner. To- the- point- answers will prevent the examiner from wandering for the answer in your answer. The better presentation will make a better impression and score you more marks.

Eg : For essay questions ( Explain, Describe ,..) your answer should have an impressive introduction, a body with headings and sub headings , and a conclusion . The conclusion should preferably be a sum up and a direct answer to the question in minimum words.

Time Management:

The current trend is to answer all the questions. Divide the time effectively . One thing student has to keep in mind while attending theory papers is that the question paper has been designed only for 2 ½ hours. One can effectively complete the paper within this period if properly prepared. Once finished instead of scooting in a hurry utilize the last half an hour to do the final polishing.

▪ Read and check your answers▪ Correct the mistakes that catch your eye 

▪ Add a few more lines if you can think of relevant additional points

▪ Do some highlighting and underlining.

By doing all these you can add at least 10 marks more to your already completed paper.

Answering Problem papers:

It is the area which requires more time management skills. Along with assessing the problem- analysing, decision - making and quantitative - aptitude skills this session aims to bring out the student’s ability to approach and present the subject in different ways.

The main types of problem questions include: Determine, Calculate, Compute, Find, Evaluate and Solve. Based on the different terms used different ways of answering is expected from you. But usually this does not happen. Students try to answer the questions without correctly understanding the meaning of terms used.

For eg : If the question is ‘find ‘ you have to ‘ find ‘ the answer and not try to ‘determine’ or ‘compute ‘.

When you read the problem question:
Write down:
1.what information is available .
2. what is to be found .

3.what all you need to reach the solution.
4. what is missing .

Check for :
1.indirect clues.
2. sub questions .

One easy method you can use is to write the key word in the question as the heading of your answer. This will help the examiner to identify your problem analyzing skill. The fact that you have read the question carefully and you are properly oriented will impress the examiner.

The questions are purposely made in different ways to identify your decision making skills. So it is important that you conclude the answer with whatever knowledge you have. Your point of view and expertise in commerce language is also important.

Your score is in your hands. Formulate your knowledge into crisp answers and score at least half mark every minute of your exam. Pass out with a glamorous score not just a 50 or around.Aim High and reach your sky!

 

Exams are here :0

Finally , we have reached the end of this academic  year . And Ruby's exams are due in a few days . Like always we are back to square one . So many portions to cover . Not that the portions are vast . But text book , Class work, Work book , Grammar , Printed notes , Maps , Rough notes , Revision work ...... I am on the verge of a panic attack .

Day before yesterday I dreamed that I messed up his time table and prepared him for some other exam . Dreams like this used to haunt me way back when I was a student myself. But this is the first time I am seeing it as a mother :roll: Then I realised " the exam Booth has finally arrived " !!!

So friends, its time for studies , notes , Revision time tables , prodding , nagging , dragging , eating good food , lots and lots of fresh juices , getting enough sleep , keeping Pearl engaged while we go through the lessons ( when she was younger I used to put her in my lap while I taught Ruby ... Time is just flying off ) ,  Not that I put a lot of pressure on him . But I see that he follows a proper routine .

And the Maths lessons are getting tougher with every term . I don't know when I will scream and just run away :o

I try to remember the tips for parents , the fact that he could just black out , though this year I really wonder if its going to be me .

My only hope is the fact the we have done this before . And may be we can do it again :)

Here it is getting very very hot . And we are trying to beat the heat with lots of melons and juices and best of all ice creams !!!

Foto Friday - A day along the banks of Periyar

Craft Works 2010-'11

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