Well, the headlines say it all.
Scene: Little Bear reading the Wall Street Journal during breakfast
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Sunday, May 17, 2009
These times
Well, the headlines say it all.
Scene: Little Bear reading the Wall Street Journal during breakfast
Saturday, May 16, 2009
The Bird House
The Bird House was built at the Build and Grow Workshop at Lowes by Little Bear with a little help from Father Bear.
We are enjoying watching the cardinals and sparrows. There is a lesson to be learnt from them - how patiently they sit and wait for their turn on the railing when they see another bird pecking at the seeds.
Friday, October 10, 2008
This day in history and some rambling ..
This week, the Dow ended at 8,451.19 . The CNN headline a minute ago read 'Vertigo on Wall Street'. The DOW plummeted 25% since September 26th when a banking crisis hit the financial sector. The ripple effect this has created is worldwide with investors everywhere feeling the pain ...The finance.yahoo headline read ' US Stocks end worst week mixed after roller coaster session'. And this is not the end - As analysts predict that the market is looking at a new low.
The middle class is feeling the pain as companies tighten expenses, layoff workers and shut down operations. While we are no where near retirement, there is some concern about our investments and savings. Really, is our money safe? How do we get a control on our finances and put more into our nest egg? I know what I'm going to do. cancel my gym membership ($60/month)..I love the gym but am pretty sure,that with some discipline and creativity can get some workout at home.
The middle class is feeling the pain as companies tighten expenses, layoff workers and shut down operations. While we are no where near retirement, there is some concern about our investments and savings. Really, is our money safe? How do we get a control on our finances and put more into our nest egg? I know what I'm going to do. cancel my gym membership ($60/month)..I love the gym but am pretty sure,that with some discipline and creativity can get some workout at home.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Are you my friend?
A curious thing happened today. We were invited to a fall fest at Little Bear's school. The event was in the school playground- there was music, food, lots of games for kids and we had the opportunity of witnessing the kids interact with each other.
Little Bear is definitely opening up and getting 'socialised". It was a pleasure seeing him play with other kids and occasionally come up to me and point and tell me (introduce) that so and so was in his class.
One thing is clear. The boy gravitates towards girls..he follows them around... All the kids he pointed to (aka introduced) were girls..At one point he positioned himself at the top of the slide and proceeded to question each kid (girls) as they waited to go down the slide -' Are you my friend?" If you answered with a "Yes/No", you were let through and allowed to slide down. If you did not reply, he blocked their way and asked you again ..I thought it was sweet and some of the parents watching this also thought it was hilarious!
One of the girls in his class, a 4 year old said "No, you are not my friend". He let her through but she came up again and he asked her again. This must have happened atleast half-a dozen times. It probably bothered Little Bear because he asked me why she said she was not his friend. Sadly, I really did not know what to say to him.
I was deep in conversation with another parent when a beaming Little Bear came to me and said "Amma, she said yes. She IS my friend". Persistence had paid....
When I tucked him into bed tonight, I reminded him of the wonderful time he had had at school today. "Amma, why did that girl say that she was not my friend?' asked Little Bear. "Not everyone needs to be your friend", I explained. "Its ok if some one is not your friend. You have so many friends." I hope this was the "right" answer to his dilemma. What I really want to tell him is that this is a lesson life will teach him through experiences, some good and some not so good.
Little Bear is definitely opening up and getting 'socialised". It was a pleasure seeing him play with other kids and occasionally come up to me and point and tell me (introduce) that so and so was in his class.
One thing is clear. The boy gravitates towards girls..he follows them around... All the kids he pointed to (aka introduced) were girls..At one point he positioned himself at the top of the slide and proceeded to question each kid (girls) as they waited to go down the slide -' Are you my friend?" If you answered with a "Yes/No", you were let through and allowed to slide down. If you did not reply, he blocked their way and asked you again ..I thought it was sweet and some of the parents watching this also thought it was hilarious!
One of the girls in his class, a 4 year old said "No, you are not my friend". He let her through but she came up again and he asked her again. This must have happened atleast half-a dozen times. It probably bothered Little Bear because he asked me why she said she was not his friend. Sadly, I really did not know what to say to him.
I was deep in conversation with another parent when a beaming Little Bear came to me and said "Amma, she said yes. She IS my friend". Persistence had paid....
When I tucked him into bed tonight, I reminded him of the wonderful time he had had at school today. "Amma, why did that girl say that she was not my friend?' asked Little Bear. "Not everyone needs to be your friend", I explained. "Its ok if some one is not your friend. You have so many friends." I hope this was the "right" answer to his dilemma. What I really want to tell him is that this is a lesson life will teach him through experiences, some good and some not so good.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
The rest of the story!
Life has been very busy here in the Little Bear household.
There have been business trips taken by both Appa and me, preparation for a trip to visit family in San Fransciso over the Memorial Day weekend, the actual long trip and the return trip followed by the Little Bear coming down with a stubborn viral infection.
The toys are untouched, the books unread and the stuffed animals ignored while the entire house focuses on Little Bear. He has a fever and a sore throat. His appetite seems to be coming back but the sore throat hinders the swallowing which makes him really whiny, clingy and fussy. Where did my easy-going baby go? We are still trying to figure out what exactly to feed him - milkshakes or puddings or bread. The only thing that he actually wants (Thank God for that!) is apples. Is there a cookbook with comfort food recipes to feed kids when they get sick?
When the fever goes down, Little Bear is a joy to be around. he runs around, jumps down from the couch, drags his friend the 'Swiffer' around the kitchen and living room and tells me that he wants to go the school that firemen go to...Yes! he has declared that he has no interest in going to the Montesori where we enrolled him for this fall. He only wants to go to the fireman school because that's what he wants to become - A fireman. Plus 'Barney' says that you should exercise and lift weights to be healthy and become a fireman ..'So, can I get your weights from the garage to lift...?' he pleads. I look at him and with a straight face say that you can lift weights tomorrow when your fever is gone..How about you eat some 'dal' now? 'Barney also says that you should eat vegetables and healthy food to become a fireman' I remind him..(Ok! I made that up but are not white lies every parent's secret weapon?)
We hope Little Bear feels better soon. Well meaning friends tell us that it is a good thing when kids get sick because thats how their immune system get strong...This makes logical sense but its really hard to see him unwell. There is also a soft nagging voice telling me to be strong because the worst is yet to come - as he grows up, there will be plenty of fevers and sniffles, doctor's visits, medicines and tears. At times like this I turn to the Serenity prayer ..
'God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.'
There have been business trips taken by both Appa and me, preparation for a trip to visit family in San Fransciso over the Memorial Day weekend, the actual long trip and the return trip followed by the Little Bear coming down with a stubborn viral infection.
The toys are untouched, the books unread and the stuffed animals ignored while the entire house focuses on Little Bear. He has a fever and a sore throat. His appetite seems to be coming back but the sore throat hinders the swallowing which makes him really whiny, clingy and fussy. Where did my easy-going baby go? We are still trying to figure out what exactly to feed him - milkshakes or puddings or bread. The only thing that he actually wants (Thank God for that!) is apples. Is there a cookbook with comfort food recipes to feed kids when they get sick?
When the fever goes down, Little Bear is a joy to be around. he runs around, jumps down from the couch, drags his friend the 'Swiffer' around the kitchen and living room and tells me that he wants to go the school that firemen go to...Yes! he has declared that he has no interest in going to the Montesori where we enrolled him for this fall. He only wants to go to the fireman school because that's what he wants to become - A fireman. Plus 'Barney' says that you should exercise and lift weights to be healthy and become a fireman ..'So, can I get your weights from the garage to lift...?' he pleads. I look at him and with a straight face say that you can lift weights tomorrow when your fever is gone..How about you eat some 'dal' now? 'Barney also says that you should eat vegetables and healthy food to become a fireman' I remind him..(Ok! I made that up but are not white lies every parent's secret weapon?)
We hope Little Bear feels better soon. Well meaning friends tell us that it is a good thing when kids get sick because thats how their immune system get strong...This makes logical sense but its really hard to see him unwell. There is also a soft nagging voice telling me to be strong because the worst is yet to come - as he grows up, there will be plenty of fevers and sniffles, doctor's visits, medicines and tears. At times like this I turn to the Serenity prayer ..
'God, give us grace to accept with serenity the things that cannot be changed, courage to change the things that should be changed, and the wisdom to distinguish the one from the other.'
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Lucky to be a Mom!
Last Sunday was Mother's Day - a day that is celebrated to honor one's mom and also give her a little break from the everyday mundane motherly duties...I normally don't care for the other Hallmark days such as Valentine's Day and Sweetest Day but I think Mother's Day is a much deserved day for all mothers..
This year Mother's Day turned into a Mother's fun weekend with little or no time spent with DH and Little Bear. I spent Saturday with some close dear friends who are also moms indulging in some much needed, super-effective retail therapy followed by a sumptuos meal and gossip. Meanwhile DH fed and bathed the Little Bear, put him down for a nap and then took him to a birthday party...Seriously, the man definitely is a keeper. I returned home to find roses sitting in a vase on the kitchen island, with a box of expensive choclate and a card signed by Little Bear ...I could almost picture DH coaxing the boy to hold the pen, so he could help him sign his name, amidst protests that he wanted to do it 'himself' (which by-the-way is the matra in our house at the moment)..There were also some finger prints of his little hands on the side ..
On Sunday, we went out to breakfast and then proceeded to tackle all the weekend chores...Every hour or so, I was cheerily greeted by Little Bear with a Happy Mother's Day ..
DH has always been very creative in his gifts for Mother's Day. 2 years ago on my first Mother's Day he gave me a picture frame with Little Bear's picture and the poem 'What is a Boy'..The picture hangs in our bedroom reminding me of that first year as a mother when I was full of doubts and did not know what to expect ...is this a Thankless job I found myself often asking? that first year I was so tired all the time from lack of sleep and trying to juggle the rest of what had been my life with taking care of Little Bear that I had not thought much of Mother's Day ..
This year, however I have the energy and perspective to really understand what Mother's Day really is.. There would be no DAY if I was not chosen to be a mother..so Little Bear, Thank You for being my son and DH, thank you for being there to help me on this motherhood journey
A friend sent this to me a long time ago ..
A newborn's conversation with God. .
A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?" God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."
God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy." Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to Me if I don't know the language?"
God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you to understand."
"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?" God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray." "Who will protect me?"
God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am To leave now, please tell me my angel's name."
God said, "You will simply call her, "Mom."
This year Mother's Day turned into a Mother's fun weekend with little or no time spent with DH and Little Bear. I spent Saturday with some close dear friends who are also moms indulging in some much needed, super-effective retail therapy followed by a sumptuos meal and gossip. Meanwhile DH fed and bathed the Little Bear, put him down for a nap and then took him to a birthday party...Seriously, the man definitely is a keeper. I returned home to find roses sitting in a vase on the kitchen island, with a box of expensive choclate and a card signed by Little Bear ...I could almost picture DH coaxing the boy to hold the pen, so he could help him sign his name, amidst protests that he wanted to do it 'himself' (which by-the-way is the matra in our house at the moment)..There were also some finger prints of his little hands on the side ..
On Sunday, we went out to breakfast and then proceeded to tackle all the weekend chores...Every hour or so, I was cheerily greeted by Little Bear with a Happy Mother's Day ..
DH has always been very creative in his gifts for Mother's Day. 2 years ago on my first Mother's Day he gave me a picture frame with Little Bear's picture and the poem 'What is a Boy'..The picture hangs in our bedroom reminding me of that first year as a mother when I was full of doubts and did not know what to expect ...is this a Thankless job I found myself often asking? that first year I was so tired all the time from lack of sleep and trying to juggle the rest of what had been my life with taking care of Little Bear that I had not thought much of Mother's Day ..
This year, however I have the energy and perspective to really understand what Mother's Day really is.. There would be no DAY if I was not chosen to be a mother..so Little Bear, Thank You for being my son and DH, thank you for being there to help me on this motherhood journey
A friend sent this to me a long time ago ..
A newborn's conversation with God. .
A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?" God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."
God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy." Again the child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to Me if I don't know the language?"
God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you to understand."
"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?" God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray." "Who will protect me?"
God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am To leave now, please tell me my angel's name."
God said, "You will simply call her, "Mom."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
