Parenting truths

Amogh turned 16 months last week and as any parent says time flies fast, I must admit it does.

He is yet to walk and talk, but I have come to accept the truth that every child takes his time.
As a person Iam very impatient and pushy and want things to be done the right way.
My son was on the other side.Calm, slow and took (still taking) his own sweet time to do things.It was very difficult to accept this truth.As my apartment was surrounded with kids of his age and most of them a few months younger but more advanced in their physical and vocabulary skills, I sometimes wondered whether I was failing as a parent.

Both of us had fulltime IT jobs where work never seemed to end.Hooked up to a laptop most of the times, I sometimes wondered if we ever did justice to him.

It took me some guts to resign at a time where everyone was holding on to their existing jobs in the economic crisis.I wanted to slow down in my life and enjoy my son's childhood.
I know that our luxuries will come down, but Amogh wont be a baby forever.
A child needs unconditional love and time and as a responsible parent I need to give him that.

Shopper (STOP) in US

There has always been something about shopping in the US.The malls, the leisure and the lesser crowd.But sometimes, it can be a vicious never ending adventure.



Those coupons!The Ads!and the lovely credit cards.................

Are we not on our way pumping gas on the highway to find recluse in a mall?

Oh the baby loves it.Its summer, we need spring clothes and so on and so forth.



I also know of a lot ot of people whose only excuse is that they visit India once a year and cannot wait that long or cannot think of bringing in much....And so they shop till they can drop and also wind up with extra luggage from India(those over brimmed suitcases with Lifestyle clothes, mom's pickles and entire bangalorean garbage:-)

There has always been this truth.Coming to the US to make money......End up shopping and spending more money.More credit cards ...........................

That was when I came to this idea of STOP SHOP instead of the SHOPPER's STOP.

I never buy anything unless,
a>Clothes are too old, faded torn
b>Out of style, does not fit(which is the case always with me !!!:-()
c>The ones I have not worn in a long time is dropped off in a box.
d>I dont buy many of the same type(5000 tops for a freaking weakened faded jeans!!!!)

The simple idea is to make space for new clothes, get rid of the old ones in a decent way and not stock junk......

The money saved in useless shopping is donated or invested in books for self or Amogh(my son)

It took me a while to get into this, but so far has been good.

So, for all those who complain that they have a "LOT" when they go back to India and can't ged rid of their stuff, this article should help...........

So STOP.......The goal is reached.end the useless shopping mania