For all the mothers out there....

To all you moms out there,

just wanted to say hello,
you all are special
and lovely and wonderful

we are all fighting our own battles
sometimes alone
sometimes hiding it deliberately from others
sometimes with the support of someone we trust
but mainly,
doing it on our own

but amidst all of that,
we're all also trying and constantly working hard
to give the best of ourselves to our darling little ones
to give them the mostest of love and affection and care that we have within us
to muster all our strength and be their strength
to help them move ahead in a world
that is filled with its good and its bad and its beauty
and to make them ready

whatever it is,
whatever battles you are fighting
whatever it takes
whatever it is doing to you
don't give up

find your love and your strength
in your little ones
if not in anything or anyone else
and remember,
to your little one
you are more than perfect can ever be
you are the definition of perfect
you are the definition of love
of care, of home, of strength, of beauty, of hard work, of determination
you are the role model
you are the mother
the ma
you are their world

take care of their ma
take care of you ......

- Debolina Raja


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And like I always believe in and say:
'Heal the world we live in
Save it for our children' - MJ

Happy Parenting!!!!

- Debolina Raja

Let your child learn with loads of fun at the British Council Summer Workshop for kids in Mumbai

image source

The summer vacations are on and the heat is on at home too, what with trying to manage the two kids and completing all the work deadlines.

I am really having a challenging time I tell you!

So it was really interesting to see that the British Council has organized a workshop around this time that will be a week long thing.

Of course my older one is excited and she is looking forward to be a part of it, as well as write about it on her blog once the workshop kicks in. You could also take a look at it here on her blog Little Girl Talks To The World

Here's a look at what all British Council says you can expect to have there at the workshop.

This summer, we bring you theme-based workshops for young learners (8-14 years). The two exciting themes for the workshops are, Explorers and Media Magic.  Here’s what children will learn through the themes: 

Explorers: Through a virtual trip around the world, children will learn about different cultures, develop language skills and build confidence through a lesson about one country each day.

Media Magic: Children will explore communication channels such as the radio, television and the internet. They learn how to write blogs, create an advertisement and even explore ways of using the internet (wisely of course!).

All this and more, as they develop specific skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking) and aspects of language (vocabulary and pronunciation) in a fun, secure and learner centric environment.

Age Group	Dates	Class timing	Theme
8 to 10 years	21 to 25 May (Mon - Fri)	9 am to 11 am (2 hours each day)	Explorers
11 to 12 years	21 to 25 May (Mon - Fri)	10.30 am to 12.30 am (2 hours each day)	Media Magic
13 to 14 years	21 to 25 May (Mon - Fri)	2 pm to 4 pm (2 hours each day)	Media Magic

Fee: INR 5400 for non-members (includes an online library membership) and INR 4000 for library members.

How To Register: Call 0120-4569000/ 0120-6684353 (Monday-Saturday, 09:00-18:00hrs) or send an e-mail to IndiaCustomerCare@britishcouncil.org. 

So that's all the details and what you need to do if you want to enroll your child in the same. I definitely am looking forward to take my kiddo there and let her be a part of it, as she already has her own blog and is interested in such topics.

Registrations close on Sunday, so do hurry.

- Debolina Raja

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And like I always believe in and say:
'Heal the world we live in
Save it for our children' - MJ

Happy Parenting!!!!

Debolina Raja

I will love you for one hundred years

My younger one (4) is always telling me how much she loves me and how much she will continue to love me for ever and ever.

Of course there are moments each day almost when she gets upset with me with something or the other, and then she is quick to remind me that she does not love me anymore and is not friends with me anymore. And she makes it a point to show me what a load of cuteness I am missing out on.

She will sulk and pout and walk around the house with her hands folded across her chest, showing me that she is upset, sad or angry, and giving me thousands of signs that I should leave everything and try to make her feel happy again and be friends again.

All the other times that she is in a happy mood, she tells me she loves me and comes up to me and kisses me.

"Mamma, I will always love you. I love you a lot."

"Thank you baby."

"Mamma, I will love you even when I am 5 years old."

"Thank you my doll."

"Mamma, I will love you even when I am 10, 30. 100 years old."

"Ohhh...I love you so much my baby. Thank you..I love you too and will always love you."

"Mamma, I will love you even when I am hundred, thousand, hundredthousand and tenhundredthousand years old."

"Thank you my baby for choosing me as your mamma."

I don't really know how to express how lucky and blessed and loved I feel.

- Debolina Raja

**********************************************
And like I always believe in and say:
'Heal the world we live in
Save it for our children' - MJ

Happy Parenting!!!!

Debolina Raja

Why letting your children get bored is so good!

It's the start of the vacations and I am in a mess....

How can you even pretend to be all organized and in control and all that blah blah when you have a 4 and a 10 year old in the house the entire day?

With work deadlines to be met on time, delicious healthy and appealing home cooked meals to be prepared and just about 1057573497596497 things to be done, (and mind you, no help for the next few weeks as my sweet help also wants to celebrate her kids' vacation time away from the big city) I can tell you the one secret weapon I found that is helping me take care of that big question all parents face when the kids are home - "How To Keep Them Occupied????"

So without the drumrolls, the simplest answer is:

I AM LETTING THEM GET BORED AND FIGURE IT OUT THEMSELVES

Yes

You read that right...

The art of getting bored is actually an art in these days of over-exposure and too many things to choose from and do... From summer camps that have everything you could ask for for kids, petting farms, nature trails, swimming, dance, art and craft, music, building workshops, exhibitions, plays, movies, sports, theatre and so so much more, when do our kids get a chance to just take some time off and let their mind do the work for them, instead of guiding it on what to do all the time?

So this vacation, I have honestly not engaged them in any activity, except for swimming classes for the younger one as I want her to learn it and then swim fearlessly anywhere.

So all they are doing the entire day is to get really bored, crib, disturb me no end on what they should do (and it is taking a toll on my work of course, but mommy duty calls too), and then, when they don't see any help coming, they let their brains do the work and come out with ideas and things to do.

And it's helping...

Also, they are learning the art of sharing, of taking the initiative and calling up other similar-sized friends and planning on what to do and then organizing it properly as well. So you see, not only is this letting the brain work, it is also helping them get more social, be vocal and learn to plan.

Also, in case you were wondering, these are scientific reasons why getting bored is good for the brain:

• Makes you more creative
• Helps you become productive
• Allows you to plan and set goals
• Helps you think and take time out, which helps you stress less (did you know that children and even toddlers can be boggled with stress?)
• Makes you happier
• Gives you the opportunity to find out new areas of interest and hobby

So all you parents out there, if you too are at home with the kids, let them get bored...they'll be happier :) 

- Debolina Raja 

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And like I always believe in and say: 'Heal the world we live in Save it for our children' - MJ Happy Parenting!!!! Debolina Raja