DIY Kiddie Room Makeover: At INR 0 !!!

So recently I shared in another post how our shifting to the new home was affecting my little girl (we shifted to this new home a month back.) There were lots of reasons she missed her old place, one of them being the pretty strawberry pink room we had got painted for her, with pink n red walls. She absolutely loved it and so did all her friends.

But alas, once you decide to buy your own place in Mumbai, that too in a high-rise, there's not much stuff you're left with in your pocket, your wallet, or in any of your bank accounts. This of course is difficult to explain to a 05-year-old, who, each time I tell her that we don't have enough money right now to get the whole home painted, tells me I can walk down to the ATM and there's lots of money there for you mamma!!!!! Hmmm...I wish :-)

So it was that I decided to take matters in my hand and give her what she was pining for -  a room that looked more like a kiddie room, instead of the boring white walls it had. And what more fun than involve her in a mommy-daughter team thing and create something fun, colourful and lovely for her room! So here's what we did....

this is how the room was when we bought it a month back...bare walls with no colour

From Mommy To Daughter, The Legacy Continues: Happy International Women's Day

Before I begin, let me wish all you lovely ladies out there a very happy, special and empowering Women's Day! Of course we can't really be respecting and appreciating our women only one day a year, but it's not everyday that you specifically take out time to wish each other and tell them that yes, they are truly special and deserve all the attention! So yes, once again, a very happy, special and empowering women's day!!!

So who do I dedicate this special day to? Of course, the 2 most special women in my life - my ma and my daughter. When I was a little girl myself, and through my growing up years, I was the perfect example of what a rebel daughter is like and what I definitely wouldn't want mine to become!!! (oh I can't imagine myself going through all that my poor ma did!!) but I'm sure that's exactly what she will go through too, it's a natural phase after all. Anyways, the point is, that I was totally this crazy, nerdy, rebellious, aggressive, stubborn young girl, doing things my way, believing that I had a special halo around my head that allowed me to break all the rules and create my own, and some of the craziest fights I had during my growing-up years were with ma! But then again, I was always super-loving, super-protective and super-possessive about her, and still am!

School Diaries...Everyday

You probably already know that I am a huge chatterbox, that I can go on non-stop. My ma has always told me how I loved to talk to her about everything under the sun and moon, and now, the fun carries on as my little one jumps into my arms each day and tells me absolutely every single thing that made news for her!

As I send her off to school each morning, I tell her to have fun, to have a great day, to listen to her teachers and also to make sure that she does some masti ;-) School is also about fun, right? And as I wave her off in the morning, we make funny faces and blow kisses to each other, one from the bus stand and the other from the other side of the bus window....

Day Of Love....Valentine's The Baby Way

 Image courtesy s5.favim.com

While working on something today, I came across this beautiful picture.....a sepia tinted picture of a mother holding her new born in her arms. As the baby sleeps in utter peacefulness in the one place that is the most safe for a baby in the world - its mother's arms, the look on the mother's face, her smile, says it all.....

It's a smile that is full of contentment, completeness, a smile of pure joy and satisfaction, a smile that says yes, this is what I have been waiting for, and finally, I've found all my love and dreams in this little bundle, this little heart of mine that now shall forever remain in my arms, close to my heart....Don't we all, as mothers, feel the same way too?

I do.......

- Debolina Raja Gupta


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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!!!!

Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones.... Debolina Raja Gupta

Presenting The Liebster Blog Award.....

 

February is the month of love, and though I am lucky enough to spend most of days being in love with my daughter (save for the days when office and a 05-year-old and freelance work makes me go all bonks!!), I had decided to make sure that February, especially, in my home, gets spent as the month of love....more time, dedication and attention to my daughter (poor hubby always burns green with envy)....

So when I received a mail on the 01st of Feb 2013 about a comment on my parenting blog and checked it out, I was surprised, overjoyed and really really smiley! :-) I did receive some earlier from blogging sites and the like, but I've never got another award from a fellow blogger, and there's something about getting a positive comment, getting love and appreciation from fellow bloggers and an AWARD! from a fellow blogger is a big big thing for me....So what did I get?

I got the Liebster Award from Falak of Being Zoes Mum. 

I was super excited, super surprised and super happy! Yay yay yay! :-) A big big thanks and a big big hug to sweet Falak for thinking of me, and for liking my parenting blog enough to award me the Liebster Award. Thank you Falak! You can read her Awarding post here

So what's the Liebster Award?

The Birth of A Reader

Hey world!!!! That time has come for me as a mother when I can proudly announce from the status-tops of all social networking sites that yes.....as much as I've been a book worm till date, my little 5-year-old princess has taken over the legacy and decided to carry it forward with much love, attention and care.
(image for representation purpose)

I can proudly say that I'm one of the proudest and happiest mums today! Oh yes....what started as a fun way of spending time with my little one and introducing her to the world of books has today taken on quite a proportion - what with both of us trying to figure out how we can make more space to fit in new bookshelves and how we can fit in all our books in those! Huh...tough task I tell you...

It's right when they, and me too, say that there is no age too early for books. I first introduced my daughter to books when she was about 4-5 months old, and she took to it with a lot of enthusiasm and interest. By the time her first birthday came she already had a collection of her own books. And when she passed a few months after her first cake was cut, she could identify all the 26 letters of the English alphabet.

Decorating The Baby Nursery

One of the most fun and interesting part of becoming a parent is getting the nursery ready! Even before my little princess came to me, I knew I wanted a baby girl, so that I could dress her up in frills and laces and all things pink and pretty, and give her a room filled with soft cuddly toys, dolls and all the mini cutie things that I so loved staring at at the toys section in the stores.

Of course the nursery was made and of course my little baby didn't sleep in it :-) LOL! But in India, that's one thing that's really common in most homes. Babies always co-sleep with parents, and whatever research might say, Im a firm believer that a baby will always sleep best nestled close to its mother's heart, lying safely wrapped in mamma's arms. Of course SIDS is a reality we all need to be careful and alert about, but all said and done, I want my baby next to me when I am sleeping, and its vice versa. And let me confess something.....she is all of 5 now, and still sleeps with me :-) The nursery is more of her play room! I don't mind that at all.

I really cherish this frame. This is a fun thing me and my daughter were doing when she was about 3...and she was adamant that mamma's hands also have to be in this :-) 

Is My Little One Eating Enough?

For the first few years of her life, till about the time till she was 3nhalf, my daughter was a round, chubby, teddy bear! She was all that a baby should be - roly poly, rounded, chubby cheeks, pudgy arms and legs...ohhh how I miss that! And then, she turned 4! And began losing all the baby fat, and yes, to my, as well as to the compliments she gets from many, she is now growing taller with each passing day, in fact, she is quite tall for her age, which is 5, and people regularly tell me that! I love hearing that too.

But if you ask me, I would have still loved to have her a bit more chubby for a bit more time. And this is exactly what her doctor scolded me recently for. Our friends and relatives complain each time they see my daughter that she is thin. I prefer to call her tall and lean. Her weight is perfect for a baby her age (I still call her baby, and I guess will always will!), even though it may seem by looking at her that she is lesser on the weighing scale than she should be.

There have been many times that I have asked myself if my daughter is eating enough. Most of us mums are plagued with this question, isn't it? And as if our anxiety wasn’t enough, the constant questioning of family members and friends, and the usual questions of ‘oh look at her, she’s grown so thin!’ or comparisons like ‘my son was quite chubby at this age, how come your daughter is so thin? Did you check with the doctor?’ are sure to make you go running to your baby’s doctor, or to sit browsing through the many books and websites to try and find out answers as to why your baby isn’t growing chubby and fat, while other babies are!

It's only now that I've begun to learn to relax as a mother, that I've understood the logic of it. See, you may be a perfectly fine and healthy adult, but aren’t you secretly always trying to reduce a little extra weight, or trying to slim down a little bit more and get back to how you were during college days? The point is that when, after growing up, we constantly want to try and reduce our weight, why do we want our children to unnecessarily pile on weight and look chubby just because it looks cute, or just because others say so?

Managing Baby And Home The Super Mum Way

You're a super-mum! I'm a super-mum. In fact, all us mommies are super-mommies, each day of our lives, whether we realise it or not.

A working mum, a stay-at-home full-time mum, a mum who takes care of her official duties from home, a woman who knows what she wants and a lady who is best friend to her little one....Yes, all us mums are that and much much more! As we get busy with the daily routine of baby, home, school, office, kitchen, husband, and, if sometimes we can manage to squeeze it in, then some time for ourselves too....the level of multi-tasking that mommies do on a regular basis is simply outstanding!

Getting back to work after having a baby is always a complex experience, one that involves (or may involve) a lot of planning, patience, checking, anxiety, confidence and tears (and not always baby's!).

With a process so critical as this, there are a few extra helps that a super-mum can go to when it comes to getting back to work routine after getting your little one in the family.

Fun Fact About Vegetables

Was doing a research for an article and came across some really fun facts about vegetables! I shared those with hubby and he really had quite a few 'Oh really?!' moments, just as I had reading them.

Read on and share it with your little one too. I never knew there were so many stories happening right in my fridge!

Potatoes were first seen in Europe in 1586, and came to North America in 1719.

The tomato was originally a fruit. It was declared a vegetable by the US Supreme Court in 1893.

Cabbages are one of the oldest known vegetables to man.

Benefits Of Holding Your Baby Close To You

One of the first most precious memory I have of me and my daughter is when I held her in my arms for the first time. Of course, as a mum, all moments of my little darling's life are etched in my memory as a movie-reel; I don't even need to close my eyes to see these moments in flashback. I remember it all, just as most mothers do.

Bonding With Your Little One

Mums, its a beautiful feeling when you hold your little one in your arms, isn’t it? The world becomes a beautiful place, the smile on your face extends the whole day long, and there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that you would want to get in the way of you and baby, as you look at your little angel in your arms. Wow! That’s some feeling!

What researchers have said time and again, you already know as a parent – that there’s no better feeling than you and baby than having your little one right next to your heart! As an expectant mother, you’ve cherished baby’s first heartbeat at your regular check-up, and while you were simply blown away, it’s a known fact that for your baby who was still being cherished inside the womb, your heartbeat was the most comforting and familiar sound!

One of the best ways for mother and baby to bond is bare, skin-to-skin contact. Another most popular way for babies to feel their mother’s heartbeat is when you hold your little one near you, whether while feeding, while putting to sleep, or during any other activity.

Here are a few times in the day when you can be sure of holding your baby close to you, and of course, if you have the time, you can extend these moments and give baby that much more comfort and warmth:

Telling Your Little One About Special-Needs Children

Recently I went to watch Barfi with my little one - she is now a big lady of 5, as she likes to call herself confidently!!!

If you've already seen the movie, or if you've read about it or have seen any trailers, you probably already know that the main actors are a little special, with special needs and a very special and beautiful life....What I definitely loved about the movie is that though the characters are deaf-dumb and autistic, none of it is used to generate pity, instead, we are shown what a beautiful and 'special' life they have, blessed to be able to enjoy life at its fullest.

20 Things Mums Wished Dads Could Do

As a mum, there have been many occasions when we wished daddies would know what we were going through, and maybe be able to do what we had to do. Come on, you’ve even told your partner many times ‘if only you could do this….’ haven’t you?

We chatted up with a few mums, and here’s what came as the top 20 things mums wished dads could do. Read up and tell us what you wish your hubby could do instead. And daddies, hear up!

1.     Our No. 1 spot goes to the most heard comment – “I wish he could take care of the baby while I get some ‘me’ time.” With mums having to do so much at the same time, there’s hardly any time left that you can devote solely to yourself. So yes, it would be great if dads could take up some of the time with babies, and let mum relax.

1.     Getting pregnant – Of course, why not? No, don’t get us wrong. It’s just that becoming pregnant and experiencing your little one growing inside you is such a wonderful feeling, you do wish that as a father, your hubby would get to experience the same too.

Proud To Be A MUM

Yes....for all us MUMS out there...we are the best at what we do, so let's be proud of who we are, and for a change, let's give us a pat on the back....and to our darling little ones, thanks for being around, we wouldn't have been the best mums without you!!!

**********************************************
And like I always believe in and say:
'Heal the world we live in
Save it for our children' - MJ
Happy Parenting!!!!
Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones....

Debolina Raja Gupta

Types Of BreastFeeding Positions

Mums, here are a few positions that will help you comfortably hold baby while breastfeeding. Select the one that's most suitable for your baby and you:

CRADLE HOLD POSITION

World BreastFeeding Week (1st-7thAug): A Few Breastfeeding Myths All Mums Should Know

Mums, I'm not a medical expert, but I did do a little research - both online and offline - and talked to a few people, and here is a list of the common myths surrounding breastfeeding that we compiled. Of course, every mum is special and different, so do consult your doctor on the same and in case of any discomfort, get immediate medical assistance. Have a read:

Myth 1: Frequent nursing leads to poor milk production: Fact: Milk supply is at its best when healthy babies are allowed to nurse as often as they require.

Myth 2: Spicy food can affect the taste of milk and upset baby’s tummy: Fact: It’s true that too much spicy or oily food can lead to acidity, and this is certainly not advisable for anyone. But having spicy food does not lead to baby not liking the taste of the milk. In fact, having a little spicy food and food with different tastes will only introduce baby to a variety of flavours and make it easier for them to experiment with food as they grow up.

Happy Birthday to Papa from Little One

 

Happy Birthday and A Card...

So its my lil one's birthday in about a week's time. And guess what? She is so excited about it but at the same time angry, why? Coz papa's birthday happens to be 8 days before baby's!!!

Oh unfair world.....

So what does little one do?

We visit the card store to get a surprise birthday card for papa, and even before we've got to his section, little one is already in the kids' card section, checking and opening ALL the pink ones, the princess ones, the cartoon ones...and opening and re-opening the sound-cards!

'Mamam, I bought a card for myself...'

Peace for now ;-)

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

Happy Parenting!!!!

Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones....

Debolina Raja Gupta

The Changing Trend of Young Mums: From Mummy To Yummy Mummy

Yesterday I happened to have some free time on my hands, in the middle of a school-week, and me and daughter decided to head to the mall for some fun time together - some window-shopping, some playing, some books browsing.

After the initial walking around looking at the displays, she wanted to go to the play-area. As hubby joined us at the mall, we dropped her at the play-area and sat down to enjoy a cup of coffee. While we were chatting, I looked around us at the many kids and mums, young mums most of them, having a nice time with their little ones.

Enjoying motherhood has been our prerogative. Even though we may feel stressed out and burned out at times, we, the mothers, have begun taking this experience to a completely different level altogether. And it is now, in this generation of mothers, that this change is really visible. It's true that earlier too, mothers have been caring and attentive, they have spent a lot of time with their children, managing home and kids and school perfectly. Our mothers have truly devoted all their time on us, making us what we are today. But for this generation of mums, the change seems to be a lot different.

Becoming a mother in these times is actually a lot of fun. Knowing that there's a little one inside you does not deter the young mum-to-be from being stylish and 'happening'. She goes out with as much enthusiasm and is as style-conscious as she was before the stork visited. Whether its shopping for the kitchen or buying those fashionable clothes and makeup, she likes to do it all.

Blog Hop With Blogaholic Social Network

Here's the April Blog Hop from Blogaholic Social Network. On from the 24th of April till the 01st of May 2012, this fun Blog Hop at BSN is a wonderful way to meet new and interesting bloggers and make more friends on the way.

If you want to participate in the same, here's what you need to do:

1. Follow my blog (by joining the member list on the side panel)

2. Leave a comment in the post here. Please mention your website link so that I can visit and follow you back.

3. Check out the BSN April Shower Blog Hop page by clicking here

4. Grab the BSN Blog Hop code and paste it on your post in your blog to let others know that you're participating.

This month link up to any post!

Once you add your blog, stop by a few other blogs on the list to follow and leave a comment, let them know you are stopping by from BSN so they know you are a new friend and can connect with you on the community as well!

Feel free to:

• Share this blog hop on Twitter

• Post about this blog hop on Facebook

• Place the link up on your own blog! Just grab the code for your blog (the code is located below the linky list) a great way to fill up a post for a day! If you add it to your blog please copy the full post so others know the rules.

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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!!!!

Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones....

Debolina Raja Gupta

Questions And More Questions: Learning To Look At Things From A Child's Perspective

Having a little one in the house is like forever being in an environment of learning and growth. As adults, we tend to take so many things for granted, its not even funny when you actually sit down and think about it.

My little one and I are a team, we talk and chat a lot, we explore things, and this bonding and constant discussion about things around her is not only restricted to me. As parents, both me and my husband have made it a conscious effort to spend as much time as possible with her, and to let her develop a sense of curiosity and questioning.

So it's not surprising for us when she speaks in perfect grammatical formations, or when she uses really big words for her four years of age. But sometimes, it does get quite tough to answer her questions, the millions that keep circling in her tiny head.

I have decided to make a list of all these questions.

Telling Your Little One About How Mamma Papa 'Got' Her

My little one is a lady of four now. And its been quite some time when she started asking about 'how' mamma papa got her. Of course this had to happen. Some kids ask about it later, some ask earlier. My baby started asking me about the same when she was about three-n-half.

Earlier, Indian parents were more secretive about most topics that skirted around issues of a physical and sexual nature. Such talks were almost a taboo, not almost, I think I can say to a certain extent, they WERE taboo. In fact, most Indian households still are not comfortable talking to their children about issues that involve anything to do with sex or the human body.

"Mamma Im 4 Years Old, Now I Will Do All Your Work"

About a week ago it was my daughter's birthday and she turned a happy 04 years. Of course I cannot still believe she is all of 04...seems like we just brought her home a few days ago from the hospital. But I'm sure all us parents feel the same.

This time we asked her if she would want to celebrate her birthday with the kids at the nearby orphanage. Now that my little one has started understanding the concept of sharing, and regularly giving food and clothes and toys to street kids and slum children, she readily agreed, even asking us to take milk and other things. We went together to buy return gifts too.

My little one was already aware of the date of her birthday. She would wake up each morning and ask me if it was the 09th of August already....each day I smiled and kissed her and told her she had still a few more days to grow big.

Finally the day came and as I confirmed it was the 09th, she was ecstatic. She jumped off from the bed and signaled me to stop. "Mamma, I am a grown-up now, so I will do all the work, you rest." She went to the kitchen and got me a bottle of water. She helped me with washing the clothes. She helped me keep my plates back in the sink. She helped me with everything. The whole day was spent like this, before she went to school and after she came back. Finally, after a fun birthday party with her friends, she slept a tired and exhausted sleep.

Next day my daughter was back to being my little one again, needing mamma for ALL her things and work :) Was I the happy one !!!!!


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

Happy Parenting!!!!

Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones.... Debolina Raja Gupta

Discipling Baby Discipling You

Was sitting with someone today and as is prone when any two parents sit together, the discussion veered towards young kids. The person I was sitting with happened to have a young child at home, a child of about 06, and it seemed to be a big reason of concern to this man who was the grandfather – of seeing an unruly child at home and not being able to do anything to discipline the child. There was a lot of reason for concern – for one, the child was already at an age when most basic discipline issues are already part of a routine, when the child is alreay aware of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ behaviour, of basic etiquettes, of how to behave in front of ‘outsiders’, and in general, how to be a well-mannered child.

Having an indisciplined child can be a real problem, one that poses the threat of embarassment for you, while making your child the subject of ridicule and potential rejection by other kids and parents. There may be instances where your child may be conveniently left out of play dates and birthdays, when you see a decrease in the number of friends coming home to play with your child, while instances of your baby being invited to friends’ house goes down visibly. You may wring your hands in despair, talking stern to your child, and sometimes even resorting to means of punishment and hitting. But once you sit down and actually think about it – who is to blame for this situation? Is it really your child, or is it you, the parent, who failed to inculcate the basics of discipline and manners in the little one?

Supermom's Recipe Book - A Must Have For All Moms

Sonali Shivlani, the Supermom, has recently come out with her book Supermoms’ Recipes. The book, whose tagline is ‘Of The Moms! For The Moms! By The Moms!’ has been compiled with healthy and delicious recipes from the kitchens of real moms, the main scoring point being that each recipe has been tasted by the child, approved on taste factor, and also been approved for its nutrition content by Paediatric Nutrition Counselor Sonali Shivlani.

In cases where Sonali felt the nutrition factor had to be worked upon, the recipe was changed a bit with the consent of the mum, and the child was asked to taste it, and only once the taste factor was approved again was the recipe published.

Each recipe takes up a page and features the mother and child who have shared the recipe. The fun part being that the recipe is named after the child.

Sonali Shivlani's Supermom's Recipe Book

I first met Executive Director CAPPA India and Paediatric Nutrition Counsellor Sonali Shivlani at her office while she was still working on a very interesting and unique concept – a recipe book by the moms and for the moms. We were talking of work, and when Sonali mentioned the book to me, I was immediately interested to know more. Being mum to a young daughter myself, I know very well the kind of preparation and thought that goes into the meal of a toddler or a growing child. Many recipes need to be modified and tried and tested before a child will willingly want to eat something healthy and filling. So I was really curious to know why Sonali wanted to venture into such a difficult and challenging territory, and how was it that this book was taking shape. The book is called Supermoms Recipe Book and is available now in all leading bookstores.

For those of you who do not know Sonali, she is a mom to two lovely children – a 10-year-old boy Nirvaan and a 08-year-old girl Moksha. Sonali has been a hands-on mum throughout her parenthood, but at the same time has been extremely career oriented. She pursued her certification as a childbirth and lactation educator and later a pediatric nutrition counselor. She has worked with more than 7000 couples through her prenatal programs across the country. She also heads CAPPA India which is affiliated to one of the largest Birth Professionals Training Organisation in the world.

Here’s a little bit from our chat:

About Sonali Shivlani

Sonali Shivlani is an Internationally Certified Child-Birth and Lactation Educator, also certified from CAPPA U.S.A.
She is currently the Executive Director CAPPA (India) and brings the International CAPPA Birth Professional courses to the Indian sub-continent. She is an accredited La Leche League Leader, and is on the panel of Indiwo, a TV18 venture.
Her Pregnancy Program has been part of the services at CLAY Wellness for 5 years now. More than 2000 expectant couples have undergone this unique program which focuses on customized personal support for each couple, preparing them for pregnancy, birth and also the months thereafter.
To get in touch with Sonali, you may call her at 9821290090 / 022-65812444 / 022-65812555
or Email: sshivlani@gmail.com

**********************************************

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

Happy Parenting!!!!

Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones....

Debolina Raja Gupta

Feed A Kid Every Saturday

I know this is not a post related to books in any way, but when I see so many kind souls out here who keep dropping by this blog, I can't but help make a genuine request to each one of you.

I am Debolina from Mumbai, India, as many of you already know. I am really passionate about street kids and try and help them in my own way as much as I can. But I am really a single individual really, and there is only so much I can do. Its really a big challenge you know, to try and give even the basic of basic amenities to these little ones out there on the streets...to try and give them a little slice of this beautiful thing we call Life...which they really don't have, while we have too much of it...don't we?

Till date, my husband and I have been going out and feeding these little ones on the street. We cook at home and take a meal once a day each weekend for these kids on the streets. But it really pains me to see the number of hungry and extremely poor kids who turn out asking for some food, while I have to sadly ask them to leave, as I don't have any more food left to distribute then. Its really one of the saddest and most humbling experience ever.

My husband gave me this idea to try and get people together from all over the world and instead of just us doing this, why don't WE ALL try and give a little bit of smile and sunshine to these kids?

Beginning this Saturday, the 28th of March, and for all Saturdays to come, lets join the 'Feed A Kid Every Saturday' movement... The reason to stress on Saturday is that most people are off work on a Saturday and hence have more time to do their bit. Of course if you can do this even on the week, nothing better than that...I am stressing everyone to atleast feed one hungry child out there, but if you want to share more love, of course you can feed more children, isn't it?

Colourful Book Covers Book-Reading Challenge 2011

I know you all love colours, dont you? And now, probably, you are also beginning to identify new colours, or maybe you already know a lot of colours, and are learning some more new colours as you see them. So why not play a colour game with your books and see if we can find so many colours in our books too? Of course you can take mamma papa's help AS MUCH as you want :)

The Fun Way To Do This Challenge:

This challenge means that you have to read one book for each of the colours that are mentioned below. If the mentioned colour is RED, you have to read a book which has a cover where the main part of the colour is RED. See...easy, and fun, isnt it? Now lets have a look at the colour list....and yes, if you think there are some other colours you would like to add to the list, let me know here in a comment on the post and we will share the same with our other little friends and parents...

The Book Cover Colour List:

1. RED
2. DARK BLUE
3. PINK
4. LIGHT GREEN
5. YELLOW
6. ORANGE
7. LIGHT BLUE
8. DARK GREEN
9. MUSTARD
10.PEACH
11.LAVENDER
12.PURPLE
13.BLACK
14.WHITE
15.BROWN

Lets make this into levels depending on how many books you and mamma papa want to read:
Level 1: Tiny Baby - 04 books !!! WOW
Level 2: Small Baby - 06 books !!! WOW
Level 3: Little Small Baby - 08 Books !!! WOW
Level 4: Little Big Baby - 10 books !!! WOW
Level 5: Big Baby - 15 books !!! WOW

Share your book lists in a comment on this post....Happy reading !!!

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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!!!!

Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones....

Debolina Raja Gupta

I Love Alphabets Book-Reading Challenge 2011

Hey parents and little ones.....if you love to read, this is just the kind of book-challenge for you this year, especially if you have started recognising your Alphabets...A-Z...For those of you who have just started learning A B C, let's take the challenge slowly, one step at a time for each new alphabet you learn, and soon, you will be at the end of this fun challenge :)

No-Rules But The Fun Way To Do This Challenge:

1. Mamma or Papa (even better if you can manage to get both mamma papa each night to read you the story) have to read you a book, the title of which begins with a particular alphabet, like one book that begins with A, one which begins with B and like this till Z.
2. If you are learning your alphabets randomly, you can read books in a random sequence...You can start with reading a book that begins with C, then read another one which begins with, maybe, O...whatever alphabet you are learning right now, you can read a book that begins with that particular alphabet......

Lets make this into levels depending on how many books you and mamma papa want to read:
Level 1: Tiny Baby - 06 alphabets !!! WOW
Level 2: Small Baby - 10 alphabets !!! WOW
Level 3: Little Small Baby - 15 alphabets !!! WOW
Level 4: Little Big Baby - 20 alphabets !!! WOW
Level 5: Big Baby - 26 alphabets !!! WOW


Remember to tell mamma and papa to make a list of ALL the books that you read from A-Z....I would love to hear about it and it would be nice to share your list with other little friends too, so tell your parents to share a comment on this post and then let us know about your booklist...have fun together with mamma papa and enjoy your books :)


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

Happy Parenting!!!!

Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones....

Debolina Raja Gupta

Book-Reading Challenge 2011 For Little Ones And Parents

I am an active book blogger and member of many book blogs and contests, as well as personal book challenges that are just so much more fun and interesting. While I was going through my own list of book-reading challenges, I thought it would be fun to start a very own book-reading challenge for our little ones...and why not?

If you too are a book worm and would want to see the book-reading challenges I am taking this year, click here

This is definitely not a contest, but just a fun way of making book-reading a little more interesting for our little ones (and even for us)!! You can choose to complete as much of the challenge at your own sweet will, it does not mean that you have to make your little one rush through a book just to complete a challenge. A book is something most of us have grown up with, something that is very much a part of our lives and who we are, and some of us would sure want to pass this love of books down to our children.

I am just making up two different kinds of book challenges for our little ones and parents. Click on the given section to know more about each of the challenge...

1. I Love Alphabets Book-Reading Challenge (click here to know more about the challenege)
2. Colourful Book Covers Book-Reading Challenge (click here to know more about the challenege)

Have fun and drop a comment on this post to let us know you are taking the challenge...Bravo !!! And visit the challenge posts and do share your book list with other little ones and parents by dropping in a comment :) Enjoy your books now :)


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

Happy Parenting!!!!

Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones....

Debolina Raja Gupta

A Few Lines I Came Across A Book, Describing The Mother-Child Bond

I am reading the book 'Eat Pray And Love' by Elizabeth Gilbert. Its not a parenting book at all, nor in any way is it related to parents or children. But I just came across these beautiful lines that I feel describe the mother-child relationship really well. Just sharing them here:

"I feel about ... the way a new mother feels about her impossible, colicky, restless newborn baby - I just don't care what it puts me through. Because I adore it. Because it's mine. Because it looks exactly like me. It can barf all over me if it wants to - I just don't care."

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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!!!!

Be good to your little one, and to the millions of little ones out there who truly need every bit of love and compassion they can get.....Be a grown up...save the little ones....

Debolina Raja Gupta

A Little Compassion And A Little Shame

About two weeks ago I had gone to the market and just as I finished my errand and began walking back, I saw a little boy, a street child to be precise, right in front of me, standing quietly, with a tiny smile plastered on his face, looking at the big green cooling coconuts on the stall where a man with a foreboding look stood serving customers. I immediately touched my purse but then noticed another young woman standing at the stall, looking at the boy and smiling. The boy was not looking at her and the woman seemed to be really amused. So I assumed what I was naturally thinking the woman was going to do and asked her if she was giving the boy a coconut.

"No no...Im not giving him anything" she promptly said and reached out her hand to grab the watery coconut that the man now placed in her hands. She gave one more look at the street boy and walked away.

The boy was a little one, just about four years old, almost the age my daughter will be in a few months, and I immediately sent out a thank-you at our own circumstances and at the fact that we are so lucky.

Saloni and Vasant's Baby-Birth Story

Divya Deswal is a Doula - a birth assistant, someone who provides guidance and assistance to a couple who are about to have a baby and assists and helps them to have a smooth delivery. Divya is also a childbirth expert with P&P. Here, she shares one of her birthing experiences.

'Saloni and Vasant were in my childbirth class. As we went through our 4 days together I felt that these were THE people to benefit from hypnobirthing (Hypnobirthing is essentially a method that teaches the parent that in the absence of fear and tension, pain does not necessarily have to be an accompaniment of labour).
To begin with, they believed that birth was natural.
We began in earnest.
Vasant was very involved. At one point when we discussed listing of fears, he said "my biggest fear is that, what will I do when she is in pain?".
The expected date of delivery was sometime around end Oct, we decided not to go by dates. Also they had decided not to have many ultra sounds. They were also keen to use water for labour and we were set to give birth. Lots of practise, and there never seemed any sense of panic or urgency. The doctor was on board with this as well.
Saloni went for a routine check on the 3rd morning. By noon she was having mild surges, and was at a friend's place near the hospital but decided to go back home and wait and watch. I met them at home at about 3 pm that afternoon. She had eaten sandwiches and was relaxing. As I sat with her the surges seemed to get closer so we decided to go to the hospital.

Vedic Chants For Your Unborn

There has been a sudden spate of new-born joys in my friend circle of late. A few of the celebrations have already been through, though of course the good cheer and sheer joy of having a new-born around is still brand new. Another very very dear friend is expecting to bring in her second angel this coming month....want to surely congratulate second-time soon-to-be mum Namita Lolge on her upcoming second joy :)

So I was chatting with my friends and that is when one of them told me about this pregnancy wellness audio that she was hooked on to during her pregnancy. Honestly, I never listened to any pregnancy audio while I was expecting my daughter, so I can really do not have an idea of how effective these are. But today, just on a lark, I decided to check out the audio she was talking about. She had mentioned it was in the voice of Mr. Amitabh Bachchan and that it was extremely soothing and calming for her during those precious months. I searched a bit and found the exact audio she was talking about. Sharing the link here for other mums-to-be. All the best mommies :)

http://garbhsanskar.webs.com/apps/videos/videos/show/2875015-garbh-sanskar-shri-balaji-tambe-wellness-music-for-pregnancy
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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 Gupta

Planning That Conception

Click Pregnancy Books to get the best deals on Parenting Books

So it’s been a wonderful time till now, just you and him, and now you’re planning to bring in that extra-special one, that little one who will make this already-perfect picture a little more perfect. Of course you have all the love and care of your family, but here is a little more assistance to help you understand the whole process of pregnancy while you are planning to conceive. Have a look:

Must-Read Sites Pre-Conception:
1. What To Expect: http://www.whattoexpect.com/preconception/landing-page.aspx Visit this site to read and know all about pregnancy, even before you conceive. A site that helps you understand the essentials.
2. iParenting: http://www.preconception.com/articles/preparing-for-pregnancy-219 Visit this site to read articles about pre-conception and fertility.
3. Pre-Conception: http://www.preconception.com/expertqa/ Read here to clear your doubts and check with experts about various pre-conception queries.
4. Fertilinet: http://www.fertilinet.com/websites.htm

Must-Read Books Before Conceiving:

Child Alone In Car....Never

Yesterday I went to the market with my little one. As we were parking the car, I saw another car standing right on the side of a busy market road, with hundreds of cars and bikes and buses and vans rushing past. As I looked out, I saw a toddler, a boy of about 3-4 years, sitting on the driver's seat and fiddling with the steering wheel, and, the car keys, while all windows were closed. I tried to look inside the car and, to my horror, saw that the child was alone in the car. Even as our car came to a standstill, a man, the baby's father, came rushing out of a shop, and on seeing his son in the driver seat, quickly came over and opened the car door from the driver's side. I had full intentions of getting down and taking this further, but even before we pulled up and stopped, the careless and irresponsible father had driven off, this time putting the baby alone at the back, that too without a car seat!!!! Of course, what else could I have expected of him?

This is not a one-off case, and many parents who read this will not make much of it. For many parents, especially Indian parents, this is a common scenario, and if they are themselves not guilty of doing something similar, they find this pretty routine, and hardly confront a parent/person who has neglected a child in this manner. Abroad, this is a punishable offence, neglecting your child calls for charges and the accused parent faces investigation. In India, this 'chalta hai' attitude (its okay) is worming its way into our daily lives, and how.