Songs for Kids

How do you feel when you learn something new from your little one? I call that "Thrilling"! 
My daughter goes to a Montessori school and in their class and there is a mix of kids aged between 3 to 5 years. I personally like that idea because I feel that way, the younger kids get inspired by the older ones. Also, the older ones are qualified to take care of the younger ones and thus they become responsible. It is a win-win situation. My daughter, who will be four years old this October, started telling that she is "almost four" after a month or two of her 3rd birthday. She wants to play the role of the older ones. It is amusing how the little ones try to grow old and we, the older ones try to hold on to our age.

One more thing I like about her school is how they are introduced to some beautiful music. I love music. I started singing to my daughter much before she started to speak. She also started humming quite early. But when I went out of stock of some new tunes, my daughter brought some pleasant and catchy tunes to our playlist. 

I posted about some interactive baby songs in one of my previous post. Here, I am extending that list. As she is growing older, our favorite songs playlist is also getting longer. So if you are looking for some beautiful tunes to play for your child, give these songs a try.

So, here are some jingles for your children:

1. Somewhere over the Rainbow:
A few days back, I heard my daughter singing this song almost correct and thus it was an easy and an amazing finding. Later, I learned that it's quite a popular one. It will surely touch your soul.

2. I think you are wonderful:
Just listen to this one and you will be clean bowled. Well, I was. The lyrics and the tune are just wow!

Whenever I play this one, my daughter can't stop singing. 

3. I think you are Wonderful, I think you are marvelous:
This one is another catchy one. It was a little difficult to find this song. But, when I finally got this one, my kid was super happy.

4. Ram Sam Dance:
Well, this one is our most recent finding. Usually, if my daughter learns any new songs, she keeps on humming. If it's new to me, I try to google it with whatever words I can gather from her singing. This one went crazy. I asked her to repeat again n again and she was just singing "A- ravi, A -ravi". That is in the middle of the song. But after a few random trials, I got the correct one.

5. Let's star jump:
Music and Movement go parallel and this one is an example. 

5. Down By The Bay:
This one is a recent addition. Yesterday, she was singing this song while playing with her Lego and I just loved it. 

There is a lot of easy and simple songs for children which they can sing to, and dance with. Beleive me, playing the same old nursery rhymes can be boring. If your kid is addicted to iPad or your phone, just play this music and teach them the movements. I am sure, it will be exciting and fun.

I always wonder how they pick those songs in her pre-school. But whatever be that means, I plan to put them all together in one place. If you have a small kid who goes to pre-school or kindergarten and you are planning to play some wonderful music for your child, here are just a few examples. As and when I will decipher a new song, I will add to her collection. Till then keep humming "I think you are wonderful"!

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How I miss those happiness that came in small packages!

I am posting after a long pause. During this gap, a lot of things happened. We took a vacation to India, met a few old friends and ate a lot. Now, I weigh a few points more. I have started taking Zumba and Dance Aerobics Classes. I hurt my knee, again. My daughter grew a few more inches and her vocabulary only includes "No, Thank You". Well, in short, life happened. 

So today, I just felt nostalgic about my childhood. My daughter amazes me every day. I see her and I just wonder how diverse is our childhood. Being brought up in a middle-class family in a small town in India, my life was quite simple. But when I look back at those black-n-white memories, they look exquisite. I can see a bag full of joy, fear, dreams, and gratitude. But today, I feel my daughter's childhood is missing that joy of getting a long-awaited gift, the year-long wait for some new dress or shoes or the overloaded happiness on getting an ice-cream without an occasion.  

Let's take a peek at my three-year-old daughter's life, from a morning, a few days back. We were late and hurriedly I picked my daughter's rain boots from her collection of 8 pairs of shoes. She observed her shoes for a second and complained "Look, Mama, I am wearing a pink dress today. Why you giving me the blue shoes?" I replied plainly "It's raining outside, you will have to wear your rain boots today". She thought for a moment and replied immediately "Okay, we will have to buy a pair of Pink boots then".

"Hmmm... Really?" I thought and smiled at the flashes of my childhood. I used to get a new shoe once every year during the Durga Puja, our most cherished festival. There was no expectation of getting another one unless the existing one was no more usable. I remember, how I used to cling to the new shoe box, even at night and insisted on going to bed with my new shoes. I used to open the box every few hours to admire the new pairs and waited patiently till the first day of the festival when I got to wear that one. On rainy days, I remember my dad covering my plain white school sneakers with a plastic and securing it with a rubber band. Ummm....the sweet old memories!

A few days back, I went to the supermarket in our neighborhood with my daughter. She ran to the bakery section to pick up her cupcakes. It's her daily practice. After her dinner, I put one on her plate. She tasted the frosting on top and exclaimed "Ummmm, it's yummy!" and put that aside. I insisted "Take a bite, please"! Her immediate reply "No, Thank You, I am done, Mamma"! She seemed determined and I was baffled. Some old hazy pictures flashed in front of my eyes. It was a day when I scored well on my annual exam and returned home with a big smile. My mom, being pleased, offered me to get me to the market and get a pastry of my choice. I was exhilarated. We went to the bakery shop and after lots of considerations, I picked a chocolate pastry. After dinner, I got my pastry and I took small nibbles so that it didn't finish up soon. I just wanted to relish each spoon as long as I could. That became a practice and my incentive to score well in the exam was a simple chocolate pastry. My love for pastry was so renowned that my sister once traveled around 8-10 hours in a bus then train and then rickshaw holding a pastry box in hand to keep the top frosting part intact. Today, after two decades, I can still savor that exhilaration I felt on opening the box. The taste is still intact in my tongue. 

The list of differences is endless. I still cherish the excitement I felt when we took a vacation to a nearly sea beach. It was a night journey by train. The first time, I stood in front of those white sand and the blue waves, something happened inside me. I was in awe and in love. The day we were returning, I was so sad that my parents had to tell me repeatedly that we would go back soon. But nowadays, on weekends, my daughter wakes up from sleep and asks “Today is school day or a holiday?” On hearing that it’s a holiday, she tells as a matter of fact “we are going to the sea, right?”

I can go on and on. But I guess, this is life. Someone may argue that it is a good sign that we are progressing forward. Now, we can afford things and thus our kids do not have to feel deprived. Well, maybe that's right. But in my own space, I miss those longings, those small pieces of happiness and how I wish I could gift a flavor of my precious childhood to my child.

Walk with me, my child, down that memory lane 

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10 Interactive Songs For Babies and Toddlers

It was a cold and soggy winter evening. The clock struck 5:30. I heard my daughter's voice, arguing with her dad about something. I narrowed my eyes and pulled up my invisible antenna to catch a few words from their conversation. It was vague. I stood up to prepare my self for the storm that was going to land through the main door. Within a few seconds, I heard my daughter's most favorite words  "I don't want it, Daddy!" One day, I had planned to count how many times she used that phrase in a day.But, I lost track only after a few times.

I opened the door and my three-year-old darling daughter came running with her dad and dived into my arms. I tried to remove her shoe and she whined: "Why you helping me Mamma?" I stopped and waited patiently until she requested me to help. I questioned, "Are you hungry?" Her immediate reply was "Nopes!, I am not hungry!" "Okay, let me get your Dinner ready!" I chimed ignoring her usual reply and left to arrange her meal.

Seldom, I wonder how her daily routine is different than mine from my childhood, even my Mamahood. She wakes up in the morning, eats her breakfast, gets ready and goes to school. In the evening, she eats her dinner just after returning from school, then plays/studies and then takes her bath at night. Afterwards, she takes her snacks like cookie-milk or fruits and then she sleeps. Whereas, I have always learned and practiced a bath before Lunch. At 5:30 in the evening, I never imagined taking my dinner. It's been my cookie time. But, I guess, we practice what suits us best and that only becomes a routine with time.

As I was putting her dinner on the table, she eyed to check what all were there to finish. Suddenly she giggled "See, Daddy singing"! My husband was making his tea and was humming a song. I listened carefully to figure out the song. I could not help sighing. It's my daughter's recent favorite"Ants go marching one by one, Hurrah Hurrah". Yes, that's what has happened to our song vocabulary. We don't know any song other than our daughter's rhymes. But there is something in those tunes, you can really get addicted to!

Apart from the eternal ones that I also learned in my childhood, there are a few rhymes which my daughter taught me and I could not stop chanting. When my daughter started her infant daycare, she used to hum a tune which was not familiar to me. She was a year and few months old then. I asked her to repeat the song to guess what she was singing. But what was constant in all those times was only the tune and I could not google that tune. Then one day, while dropping her in the morning, I heard that tune playing on a record. I stopped to listen to the verses and after coming back home I googled for it. In the evening, once she is back, I played the tune and she was thrilled. I wondered how a song or a tune can catch a child's attention. 

Today I thought of putting all those songs and rhymes together, that is beyond "Twinkle Twinkle little star". My daughter taught me a few of them. These are the ones that she picked from her daycare or school or library story time and we always sing them together. What can be the best way of teaching an infant or a toddler other than music?

1. Barbara Milne Phonic song: This has to be the first one. This is the song I was talking about, the first song that I learned from my daughter. I know, in the coming years, there will a be a lot many things that I will be learning from her. But, this one is my first.

I always believe that teaching through music is the best way for educating infants. At least, it worked out for me. At 3 years, my daughter sings all the songs that I sing. The only difference is her ABC song says "Ello Mano P" and mine says "LMNOP". 

2. Slippery Fish
My next favorite is "Slippery Fish". One day, when my daughter was two and something, she came back home all excited to tell me about the new song. I could not make out anything from the song apart from "Oh No!" when she cupped her face in her two tiny hands and tried to wear an expression for fear, I guess. It was adorable!  The "fish" and with the "oh no" I was able to google it soon and I was caught by the tune the very moment. What it teaches a Kid? I could not comment on that. Maybe the Life Cycle or something about life? But I loved that way she sang that song and the pretense of fear that she recently learned. 

3. Baby Shark
This is another one that she picked from her school. The first time she sang it, it was only the word "Shark" and lots of "dddddddddooooooooo". She opened her finger for the baby part, her palms for the Mamma part and she was jumping for the Grandpa part. But again that catchy tune just got me. I found myself doing that "dooooddooooo" the whole day!

4. Zoom Zoom Zoom
We heard this song for the first time in the library story time. All the kids were doing the "Zoom Zoom Zoom" and at "Blastoff", they we jumping as high as they could.The tune caught with all the excitement and the giggles just made it to this list. On the internet, I did not get the version that we learned and this one is the nearest that I liked. 

5. One little Finger
I can't really remember where we learned this song from. It might be from her school. But we hear it in most of the story times in our local library. I think this one is really good for the younger ones to teach their body parts. I remember, how my little one used to wait in apprehension which part I am going to touch next and chuckled each time I touched her nose or tummy or her knees. Now, she sings this song for her mini mouse and teddy and sometimes for me.

6. Up to the Ceiling:

"Up to the Ceiling, down to the floor,

Left to the Window, Right to the Door.

Dady kiss me, Mamma Hugs me,

for I know my ABCs"

 This is a more extended version of the ABC Song and my daughter sang it very clearly one evening after coming back from her school. I didn't have to look it up since it was clear and with all the hands' movements. I learned it immediately. Though the right-hand and left-hand signal was not quite right in the initial days, soon, she started doing it all correct. In the web, I got the version that she actually does and I guess, this is how she learned in her school. 

7. Tiny Tim
This is another song that we recently learned in the Library story time. A song with something to act on is always any kid's favorite and this song has some good potential. 

8. Ants go marching one by one
Some Marching exercise while learning the numbers is fun for kids. My daughter keeps on marching while singing this song and actually sucks her tumb for one and ties her shoes as the little ant at two. 

9. Finger Family
This list can be endless. But I decided to end it at 10 and to put the last two songs which I have heard countless times with lots of variations from my daughter. She sings this Daddy Finger and Mamma finger song with lots of modulations in her voice. At first, the baby finger was "Oli" finger(Oli is my daughter's nickname) and after she turned three, "the Oli" finger soon became the Sister finger since she is no more a baby.

10. Wheels on the bus:
I an not sure if any kid is there who does not like this song.There are so many things you can do with this song! My daughter liked this song when she was not even one and now when she is three years, still she adores this song. 

If you like Music and looking for some interactive songs, try out this playlist. There are a lot more songs which are an interesting and fun way of teaching. But here, I picked the top 10 from my daughter's list. Practice some rhythm, hand motions, numbers and alphabets coated with giggles. Believe me or not, these tunes can help to turn off your mind and will let you relax. Give it a try!

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Her Poop Tale

My three-year-old daughter is amazing. Well, take a peek at any mom's heart and you will see a similar feeling. And, it is unquestionably true. A new-born baby is a master in 4 areas - feed, pee, poo, and cry. Sometimes, it just wonders me how fast a child learns. How their intelligence works and how perfect is the blend of their imagination and innocence!

Turning three was really a big deal for my daughter. She started telling everyone she meets "I am three years old. I am Big". She eats three cookies since she is three. At bedtime, she insists on reading three books. She believes she has three pairs of green socks since she is three years old.  In a nutshell, in this universe, anywhere if it is written three its only because she is three years old. 

She has her own set of beliefs. Whatever she hears, she interprets that in her own way. At times, she challenges my intelligence and leaves me tongue-tied. Like the other day, she made a serious face and reminded me "Mamma, you should share your things" when I was trying to put on a lipstick and I refused to put it on her lips even after her repeated plea. 

But today, I wanted to share a different story that annoys me and makes me giggle at the same time.  My darling daughter believes that everything has a life and a routine like hers, even her poop. 

Disclaimer: This post may get gross and it is my humble plea not to picture any of the moments.

A few days before she turned three, I went to her school to drop her in the morning. Her class teacher asked me to wait for some time and handed me a note that says: 
"Congratulations! Shreyanvi is now potty trained and is eligible to get promoted to the preschool." 
Any parent would know how exciting it feels when a child reaches a milestone. Apparently, I was delighted.  But, I always have my doubts. Initially, once she was declared "potty-trained" she found it exciting to explore any public toilet. Whenever we were out for lunch or shopping and we reached the destination, she declared proudly "I wanna go pee pee, Mamma". Maybe she wanted to reveal to everyone that she is no more on Diapers. Whatever may be the reason, I was disgusted to visit each and every loo I came across. That's why I started a routine for her.  Once she wakes up in the morning, she has to brush her teeth, eat her breakfast and then sit in her toilet seat before heading out. Most of the mornings, she sits there for almost half an hour, doing nothing. Soon, it became the best part of her day. She sits there and sings her rhymes happily. She does her ABCs and counting. She tells stories and expects her only listener(that's me) to laugh and participate. 

One morning, I looked at the watch and got really impatient and yelled "Hurry Up! Or you will reach your school tomorrow!" She replied immediately with an innocent face "My PooPoo is still sleeping, Mamma!" Although I was a little irritated, I could not suppress my smile. I wiped out my smile and responded, "So, wake her up Or you will be late!" 
She made a serious face and with a heavy voice, she scolded "PooPoo, WAKE UP AND COME FAST. I AM WAITING FOR YOU!" Surprisingly, her "poopoo" complied. She was overwhelmed and proud of herself. She had hundreds of questions thereafter.  "My PooPoo is a Girl or a Boy?" "Where is my PooPoo's mummy-daddy?" "When is her Birthday?" 

Then onwards, every morning, she still sits there for almost half an hour. She still tells her stories. But now, in between, she calls and talks with her poop and updates me on the different status like - "Still sleeping", or "brushing teeth" or "doing play play", even "eating bread"! Some days, she insists on rewarding her Poop with some stickers. Some other days she is angry with her poop, so I have to carry on the conversation. Well, that is parenting and it has its own perks.When my daughter's imagination goes wild, I just wait there and repeat:

💩"In my world, everyone's a pony and they all eat rainbows and poop butterflies" 

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'Maacher Jhol' on my Kadai

Scene 1: My Home

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Mom: Why you putting that fish aside? Gulp it up or eat that with the rice.

Tiny Me: I don't like fish. Why you didn't make chicken today?

Mom: Fish is good for your eyes. If you finish that fish you will be Super Intelligent.You will have glowing skin, shiny hair!

Me: Really? (Swallowing the fish with some water)

Scene 2: Lunch at some relative's marriage day 

====================================

Aunty1: You are not eating anything?

Me: No No, I am eating. See!(putting some white rice in my mouth)

Aunty1: Why are you eating white rice? Take some fish! (On top of her voice) Get a fish for her and some curry.

Me(Silently, inspecting a storm following): I don't like fish.

Aunty2: What? You don't eat fish? What is happening to all these Bengali kids nowadays? Your Mom didn't tell you how beneficial it is? 

Me: Ummm, she did. Still, I don't like the taste.

Aunty1: Okay, at least take some Dal and curry. 

Me: Do you have anything vegetarian? Actually, the Dal is with Fish Head and even that curry.

Aunty2: Let me get you an Ice Cream!

Scene 2056:Bangalore Office

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👨 : Where are you from?

Me : Kolkata, I am Bengali.

👨 : Oh, So you must be very fond of fishes? I heard you eat fish for breakfast?

Me : Ummm(Rolling my eyes), No. Actually, I don't like fish much. But, I love sweets!(Trying to defend my Bangaliyana.)

Scene 4987: Introduction to my next door neighbor in US

==========================================

Neighbour: Hey, where are you from?

Me : West Bengal, Kolkata. And You?

Neighbour: Chennai. I  never met anyone from Kolkata before. But, I heard that you eat Fish a lot. We are Iyer Brahmin and vegetarians. 

Me: Yeah, we just love Fish!

And the above stories still continue...

There is a general perception that Bengalis are all about "Maacher Jhol"(Fish Curry).  Maybe, the majority of Bengalis proudly declare that a meal without a piece of Fish is incomplete. But, there are exceptions too! Is that so hard to believe?Okay, maybe I have never met a Tamilian who hates Dosa or a Telegu who resents Idli or a Punjabi who loathes Rajma-Chawal. But, I am sure they are out there somewhere. It's just that I have not met them yet!

After moving to the US, I eat fish once in a while. My husband loves "Maacher Jhol". Even my three-year-old daughter got her Dad's taste buds. Or, is it her Bengali gene calling for fish? Who knows? For their sake, I cook fish sometimes. 

I like to cook and experiment recipes. Sometimes, it goes well and sometimes, it is awful. But I never experimented with my Fish. I cook it as a routine. Maybe, that's because I never had cravings for Fish! Yesterday night, for the first time, I desired for that fish curry while watching the Movie "Macher Jhol".

I loved that movie. The plot of the film is refreshingly different. The ingredients are added in the exact proportion and that's why it turned out pretty delicious. Surprisingly, there is Football, Fish Curry and  Rabindra Sangeet that will tickle the Bengali Nerve; but, there is no Antel Monologues. All the characters stand strong and the story flows easily.

Paris-based Masterchef returns to Kolkata after 13 years to see his ailing mother. His mother throws a challenge to treat her to a "Maacher Jhol", he had cooked as a teen. What happened next? I won't share the story here since I believe the movie deserves a watch. I can only say, the movie left a sweet and tangy aftertaste or wait a minute, is that the Orange Fish taste that lingers in my mouth?

I am off to cook my "Macher Jhol". What are you cooking today?

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Fun Ideas to teach your Toddler her ABCs

"When words fail, music speaks." 

When my daughter was born, I used to sing to her regularly. That was my only way of communicating with her. It was any kind of song, or a rhyme or even I talked to her in some tune. Also, my Dad, who does not remember a single song, used to sing ABCD song to her. She is three years old now. Still, ABCD song is one of her most favorite. 

She started singing on her own when she turned one year. She could not speak all the letters. But she used to manage it somehow.It was adorable. I bet, she had no idea how this ABCD would torment her life in some near future.

It was difficult to introduce her to the Idea that all this ABCD actually exist. I bought the wooden alphabet magnets from Melissa&Doug after she turned one. She used to play happily with those cute alphabets under someone's supervision. Playing involved just emptying the whole box and then cleaning up and then again repeating the same task a few more times. She named that toy as her "ABCD Box". She was too young to identify those alphabets. 

Once she turned two, I was totally armed with Alphabets in all form to start teaching her letters. She got discouraged. She did not have the attention span to sit and learn. I pushed her. Sometimes, she identified the alphabet correctly and sometimes did not. I was worried that my little angel will remain illiterate forever! I got flashcards, fridge magnets, ABCD puzzle and yes lots and lots of books. It was overwhelming for her. 

One fine morning, I was enlightened by a wiser me. Abruptly, I realized that she is so small and I am taking out the FUN of learning from my tiny girl! I promised myself that I would not stress out and will try to think of some better suitable way of teaching. I gave it some thought. I decided to talk about these letters when she is relaxed and in a happy state. Bath time is a good option, I presumed.

This time, I ordered the bath letters from Amazon and it worked as a magic. I realized that my daughter already knew her letters. It just that she did not understand why she had to answer every time I asked her the alphabets. She answered only when she felt like answering. And silly me considered that as her ignorance!

Before she turned three, she knew all her Letters. How did she actually learned her Letters? Can't say! But I can share all the weapons that I started this battle with. Something or other may click for you!


1.Melissa&Doug Wooden Alphabets: 

Pic Courtesy: Amazon

I got this one from Amazon. It is my daughter's first ever alphabets. I liked it since it is wooden and the box has total 52 alphabets, both upper and lower case. But the color has worn off after use for few days.

2.Fridge Magnets: 

A similar one she got on her 2nd birthday. She plays with those whenever she is in the kitchen. But I really doubt that she learned anything from these letters. 

3.ABCD Flashcards: 

Pic Courtesy: Amazon

I got the Playskool Alphabet flash cards from "Dollar Tree" store. We had played and used these flash cards for some days. I think a flash card is a good way to teach a child.The only challenge is holding her attention for that long. 

4.ABCD Puzzle: 

There is this Melisssa&Doug Puzzle where you have to put the alphabet in the correct position and it will tell what starts with that Alphabet. My daughter loved this one. Initially, she just matched the picture and put the pieces. Then gradually she got the idea and played with it the way she should have.

5.ABCD Blocks: 

These are the wooden blocks from Fisher Price. I am not sure how useful these can be to teach a child, but it is a good option to just get acquainted with the letters. My daughter got this as a Christmas gift.

6.Munchkin Bath Magnets: 

Pic Courtesy: Amazon

This one is our favorite. It is cheap and it is fun. I had put those near the bathtub and still, we play our "Letter Letter" game. This game is Fun. I say "Letter Letter"; my daughter says: "What Letter?"; Then I say an alphabet like  "Letter P" and she gets me the alphabet "P". Sometimes we play the same game for the numbers.

7. Mellisa&Doug Alphabet Express:

This is a recent addition. She has not yet completed the whole Alphabet train. But she sits with this on some days and tries to fit the letters to build her express train. 

I feel that whatever option you choose, consistency is the Key! The kids learn and forget at the same speed. So, repeating the same thing, again and again, may help. We play our "Letter Letter" game everywhere. If I see that she is not interested in answering, I leave it that time and bring it up some other time.

After she turned three, our next challenge emerged - WRITING! Maybe, someday, I will be able to add another post on how I crossed that Hurdle. Till then, Happy Learning and keep humming this catchy song, our all-time-favorite!

"Up to the ceiling, Down to the floor,Right to the Window, Left to the door...Maama kiss me, Daddy hugs me,For I know my ABC..."

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A-B-C of my "Driving"

Tiny Me: C for Car! (Yes, I only knew that much about a Car when I was a Kid)
Teen Me: Someday, I want a car of my own(Like the Red one in the picture)!
Earning Me: I need to start taking a driving lesson soon!
Car Owner Me: Why everyone conspires against me on road? Walking is much better! 

I have fantasized about driving a car for a long time. No selective Model or a style. It was just the idea of driving a car on my own. When I was growing up in a small town in India, a car was a luxury. In those inspirational speech sessions, my mom used to say "If you study well now, someday you will have a car of your own". Or, if I scored less on some exam, the idea was still the same, just in a different tone "You will never get to drive a car of your own if you continue to score like this." So yeah, a car was always the reward I was looking forward to.

I planned to take my first driving lesson, a few months before my marriage from "Jai Maruthi Driving School", in Bangalore India.I was thrilled with the notion. Before my first class, I practiced holding my imaginary steering wheel tight in my hands and whirl it with full force. I did not have a car at that time. On my first class, my instructor arrived in a white Maruti Alto. He asked me to get in the Driver seat and my first reaction was "Are you Serious?" It struck me for the first time, I would be responsible for the car, my driving instructor, all the people on road and certainly ME. I was horrified! My palm turned red and sweaty. Nervously, I struggled with the seatbelt and finally, my instructor intervened. 

After settling down, my instructor's first words were "Let's learn ABC of Driving - A for Accelerator, B for Brakes and C for Clutch. That's all you need to remember about driving." That's all? The next 30 minutes was a battle to decide where to put my feet strategically to handle that A,B and C. I don't understand how people are okay with this basic flaw of a car design! How 2 feet can take care of 3 things at a time? Or, maybe people like me were not comfortable with the Idea and that's why the concept of auto-gear popped in? Anyway, on my first few days of driving how I wished  I was an Octopus! 

Those days were challenging!  The first difficulty was to start the car. The next was to keep the car moving and to avoid stopping in the middle of the road.  I had always believed that constantly twirling the steering wheel is the key to driving. But when I actually got a steering wheel and demonstrated my practiced skill, my car started moving zigzag. My instructor from the passenger seat jumped in to hold my wheel steady and shouted on top of his voice "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" I was scared and I panicked. I removed immediate my hands and feet from the car. And yes, it stopped abruptly in the middle of the road. People were honking and shouting all around me. I felt like opening the car door and run away from there. But again, my instructor was constantly nagging "Start the car!" I was frozen at that spot.The only thought that was flashing in my mind was "I am not going to drive again!". It was a nightmare. Slowly, the traffic passed me, people left and I started the car and came back home. 

In the next few days, the car stopped many times in the middle of a busy road. But I learned to ignore my surroundings and again start the car. There are a few benefits to learn driving in India. The driving school cars, hold a big banner on the top of the car displaying someone is learning. So, usually, the other people on road get cautious. Also, the instructors have a control on Clutch and Brakes on their own feet and they pretty much control the car. So yeah, I too learned "Driving" in a few weeks. Being certain that I can drive, I decided to get my driving license a few months later. In the meantime, I got married and got busy in life. Then one day, I got a call from "Jai Maruthi Driving School" that I need to appear for my Driving Test before my leaner's license expires.  So there was I, ready to get my Driving License without touching the car for 4-5 months. Was that my confidence in my driving skills? Not at all! It was my full faith in India's ill-famed corruption. When my turn came, the exam officer insisted to sit in the front seat. That meant, my driving instructor could not control the Clutch and Brake. Reluctantly, I got inside the car and started it after a few tries. It started moving slowly. I drove a few feet down the road and then the Officer instructed to reverse and park by the side of the curb. I put the reverse gear on and rode directly on top of the curb and parked it nicely there. My instructor who was sitting silently on the back by this whole time started screaming to stop the car. The Officer who was sitting in the passenger seat ran away even before the car stopped. Well,  I was proved wrong about the corruption in India and I was denied driving alone on road.

After that incident, I forgot about my dream of driving. We got a car. but, I preferred my passenger seat.I had more important things to do. I had to take photos. I had to correct my husband's faults during driving. Ohh yes, I was totally occupied. 

After a year or two, once again that driving bug started bothering me. I again enrolled myself in another driving school. After 3 or 4 classes I came to know about my pregnancy and I discontinued. Was there any reason for that? Absolutely not! It was just another excuse. After my daughter was born, we decided to move to States and I knew how difficult it is to survive in the US without driving. That's why I decided to take a class a third time. This time, I managed to convince my friend to accompany me and we decided to learn together. We took the class at the same time in two different cars.  We waved at each other excitedly on the road when we met as if we were meeting after years. Both of us knew all the rules of driving. It's just that we did not have the confidence to hit the road. This time, I completed my lesson and somehow managed to get my first driving license. My friend already had one. 

On moving to the US, the challenges were different. I had to unlearn what I had learned. But the rules and the auto gear were blessings for me. Finally, I got my driving license. Well, that's a different story to tell.Now, I am eligible to drive alone on road. It was a long and terrifying journey.  Still, I am scared of highways. I don't let my steering wheel go. I never eat or drink or sneeze while driving. However, I can ride a car. If you are scared to drive, you are not alone my friend! But "don't let the fear of what could happen to make nothing happen!" Some roads are beautiful and some journeys are rewarding.Sit behind the steering wheel and you will feel a fear.Don't let that fear to be the driving force in your life. Learn the A-B-Cs of driving and keep riding your dream. Then finally, a day will come when you will notice that anyone driving slower than you is an Idiot and anyone going faster than you is a Maniac! Live for that Day!

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Eat, Sleep and Netflix

"I'm sorry, I don't own a TV.
You don't own a TV? What's all your furniture pointed at?"

Does that sound familiar to you? Okay, how about this one?

"But it hurts my Joye's Apple.
For the last time, it is not named after each individual man."

Context: They were talking about Adam's Apple. Still, not sure? And here goes my last clue.

"Everyone is getting married or pregnant or promoted. And I am getting coffee. And it's not even for me."

Yes, I am talking about "Friends(F•R•I•E•N•D•S) ", the 10 season series which was first aired in the 90's and still it is aired on some or other channels daily. Every time I browse through TV channels, I stop for "Friends" and for a good laugh. You can even catch some funny moments on Youtube. 

I was first introduced to "Friends" by my husband. He had the 10 seasons in CDs. Though, he had lost one or two of them. Thus, first time, I watched the show without a season in the middle and the entire last one. I was curious to know what actually happened in the end. So, I again started watching on Netflix and completed the entire seasons. Till then, I watched many shows and yet "Freinds" is my all-time favorite. 

I watch Netflix, just to relax. I am fond of the shows where I don't have to use my brain. I like comedy, drama or the one with beautiful vivid backdrops. Adventure, Superheroes or any kind of violence is usually not my forte. So, here goes my list of Netflix Series for you who enjoy lucid comedy or light-hearted drama.

1. F•R•I•E•N•D•S: 

I think "Friends" is one of the most popular TV shows of all time. The story begins when Rachel runs away from her Wedding and meets her childhood friend Monica. Soon, they become roommates. Monica is a chef and Rachel starts working as a waitress at "Central Park", a Manhattan coffee house. Rachel joins Monica's Friend circle which consists of Ross, Monica's elder brother, Chandler who is Ross's friend, Joye who is Chandler's roommate and Phoebe. Ross is a Dianosarus Doctor(ummm a Paleontologist). No one knows what Chandler actually does for a living. But he uses his humor whenever he is nervous. Joye is a struggling actor who loves to eat and does not share his fries with anyone. Joye is popular among women with his catching phrase "How you doing?" Phoebe is a Masseuse in a massage parlor and loves to sing "Smelly Cat". I still can't decide who is my favorite among these six Friends. I think, people just love them as a combination and not individually. 

2. How I met your Mother:

Another Manhattan-based story which started airing in 2005. However, I watched it much later, all the 9 seasons together. The series revolves around Ted an architect, in flashback, narrating his children about how he met their Mother. In his story, he introduces his friends Marshall- a lawyer, Lily(Marshal's wife)- a kindergarten teacher, the playboy Barney and the news reporter Robin. 
The series has numerous elements of humor and drama. But I had a feeling that it is dragged a bit in the later seasons. Overall, a fun watch.
Recently, it is removed from Netflix. But I am sure it can be streamed from some other providers.

3. Gilmore Girls:

A woman-centric series with a colorful background. The show centers on the life of two girls - a single teen mom Lorelai and her daughter Rory. They live in a small beautiful town named 'Stars Hollow', which is fictional. It portrays beautifully the contrasts of the mother-daughter relationship in a witty and intense background glazed with some ambition, family clashes, and romance. The series has 7 seasons and its a perfect mix of humor and drama.

4. Switched At Birth:

Again, a family drama with a slightly different plot. Two girls in their teenage discover they are switched at birth by mistake in the hospital. Since then, their lives turn upside down. The story revolves around these two girls, how they get adjusted to two different set of parents. One of the girls turned Deaf due to some medical issue in her childhood. I learned about ASL(American Sign Language) for the first time from this series. This show has 5 seasons and the last one being aired in 2017. 

5. Royal Pain:

This series is based on concierge medical practice of a doctor and his life and family. This series started in 2009 and has total 8 seasons. I started watching it because it already has 8 seasons and I find it distressing to search for a series every 3-4 days. The protagonist of this series is Dr. Hank Lawson who was an ER Doctor in New York and was wrongfully terminated. He moved to Hamptons for a weekend trip and eventually settled down there with his brother, practicing 'house call' medicine. 

I prefer to complete a series and then start a new one. While picking a new series, I search for something offbeat and thus ended up watching a few series in the different genre. Below are the other series with an unconventional kick and pace and I actually loved:
6. Crown
7. Sherlock
8. Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D
9. Quantico
10. 13 Reasons Why

Every time I start Netflix, I agree with myself to watch only one episode and then get back to work. I click on the next episode and whisper "Just another episode!" and end up watching a few more. Netflix is an addiction, an equally dangerous one as my craving for sweets. Why there is no Anti-Netflix patch available like a Nicotine patch? I would happily wear one. Or, there should be some App where I would fix my Netflix time and once set, no matter what, it should be unalterable. Wow, that can be a new Business idea! Till that idea hits the market "Happy Netflixing Guys!!!"

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'School Romance' in the 90's

Today morning, I was driving my daughter to her school pre-school. She just turned three and started her pre-school. Before that, she used to go to the same Montessori, but toddler class. We used to even call that 'School'. On getting promoted to her pre-school, she started believing that she is a 'Big Girl' and school is only for babies. So, whenever we talk about her school, she corrects me “Mamma, that is pre-school, not school. I am a big girl now!” So yeah, we were driving to her pre-school and she was continuously babbling about how Mr. Sun was still sleeping and her car seat was cold and it's evening or morning and so on. 

With the onset of winter, the morning was cloudy and a bit foggy. It rained last night. So, the streets were damp. Everything looked gray! I am not a big fan of winter in the US. It makes me gloomy. I was driving a little absent-mindedly while responding to my daughter's chit-chats. I saw a bunch of school goer kids at the intersect, trying to cross the road. I stopped to let them cross first. It was a mixed group of 6-8 kids of different ages. They were all talking and giggling and wearing some bright and interesting dresses and hair. Soon, my gloomy morning turned vivid. Some of them were on a skateboard. They crossed the road without even noticing me. They reminded me of my school days and it was so different.

Growing up in a small suburb in India, in the 90's, in a middle-class family, my childhood was simple, yet remarkable. There was nothing in excess. Still, we were content. We had to wear uniforms to school. My dad used to take me daily on a bicycle. I sat in the front until I started riding my own cycle. I went to a co-ed school. In India, there are schools only for boys and only for girls. Mine was for both. The primary classes (Class I to Class V)started from 6:30 in the morning with a Prayer, a particular song which we had to sing daily. Classes from VI till XII were at noon. There are so many memories that are flashing through my mind today. The classroom, the blackboard, the desks, the playground and certainly the school romance.

The "School Romance" was very different, back then. Even in that age of no phone, mobile, Facebook and Whatsup, there were a bunch of macho boys who loved to imagine themselves as a Hero in a Movie. Though the access to movies was limited, a weekly interaction with Bollywood was of plenty influence to those days of puberty. They wore the newest shirt they got on some festival, took their manly ride out( a Bicycle) and stormed around the town in search of their "Soulmates". They got skilled with practice. There were a few formulae to impress a girl.A Bicycle stunt or a love letter or just following a girl to get noticed were the top amongst all. Love letters were a troublesome job and also it had to be creative. Spellings and Handwriting were the biggest hurdles to cross. But who cared about those spelling mistakes if there were a few cute Hearts in a letter? The most popular ones are "I Love You" with some hearts - an easy and effective solution.

I Love You...

The Bollywood fever had even stricken some girls. The count of Love Letters and the number of interested Romeos buzzing around were some factors to make a girl "pretty" and "popular". The style is an all-time favorite weapon for girls. Given the lack of exposure and supplies, they had to do the best they could with their limited awareness. A pretty face was not enough. Girls started walking on roads as they were walking on ramps. Uniform was a MUST to our school. So, they folded and pulled the socks down to expose some skin and the boys got clean-bowled by their finesse. The girls always got to choose the Winner and flaunt the "love of life". The heart-broken and failed Romeos felt humiliated and totally perished until they saw their next "Soulmate".

What was the parent's role in all these dramas? Mostly, the parents were unaware and dead against. That made the whole idea more lucrative and just an exact scene from a movie. If the kids got caught somehow, they had to start a revolt to prove how much they were in love. But most of the time, a tight slap from their parents was enough to cure the "Loveria".

Well, there were also some kids like me. Discovering all those romantic stories from my class, my mom sat with me one day and explained how inappropriate it is for a kid at that age. It was a clear threat that if I became a part of a story like that from my school, I would be disowned. But, that warning was not at all necessary for me. It was me who was scared to death if a boy followed me home. I was always an introvert. So, making friends with some unknown boys was not my forte. 

One day, a boy threw a paper at me, on my way back home.I let it fall on the road itself and biked faster. It was not me being rude. It's just that I did not know what else to do. Then another guy, whom I had seen a couple of times before, stopped me on my way back from school. He started explaining how he was not able to eat, study and sleep after he had seen me. I asked him all concerned if he had informed his parents or if I should tell them.He got offended and left. My winner story revolves around a guy from my painting class. I used to attend a Painting class, every Sunday afternoon. I walked alone to the class since it was just behind my place. There was a boy who made me feel uncomfortable every day by doing or not doing something. He used to wait outside the class and followed me to the class to take a seat somewhere near me. Soon, I started spotting him everywhere I went. In the class, we had to remove our shoes before entering. One day, while leaving, I wore my shoes and felt something soft. I saw that guy standing nearby. So, I wore my shoes in a hurry and walked home. On reaching, I removed my shoes and discovered a Red Rose inside. I took the crushed rose and threw it and went inside. It happened again for the next consecutive weeks. Maybe, he was expecting a response while I preferred to ignore. Realizing that his innovative idea was not being praised enough, or even noticed, he decided to confront me. Well, it did not go well and he scared me off. So, I decided to let my parents know about it and the rest was history.

It's so incredible how such small silly things take up the most room in our heart. I still remember so many stories from my childhood. Though it looked stressful that time, it puts a smile on my face today. I can't stop thinking about those golden days, those friends, those not-so-friends and my school, where most of my beautiful memories were created.

My School

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