Toys, Stereotypes, and Christmas Shopping

There I was in the midst of a Marshalls store going a little toy crazy trying to decide what toys to get for my kids for Christmas. The Caterpillar brand backhoe came with batteries and buttons and hitting one of them instantaneously spewed out the familiar “beep beep” sound of a big vehicle backing up. Push another button and this time the backhoe signaled its intention to drive forward.

I stood there, staring at this construction vehicle wondering what about it made for such . fascinating play for my son and other kids like him.Continue reading “Toys, Stereotypes, and Christmas Shopping”

On Being a Mom and Trying to Write

It’s 6:20 a.m. Late by my new standards because I would ideally like to wake up at 5:30 a.m. But you won’t find me complaining much. Wait…no you might just find me complaining a little. I like this time of the morning when I get to write, when I get to sometimes contort my reluctant body into motion from a night of relative stillness, when I get to brew some coffee, place it on a little candle warmer that I bought over a decade ago when I lived in Tennessee, and try to get my ideas, thoughts, and words to make some sense. Continue reading “On Being a Mom and Trying to Write”

A Week of Memories with Grandparents

I grew up with the security of unconditional love from extended family members. I want my children to get that same kind of love – the kind that only grandparents can give, the absolutely selfless and unconditional kind, the kind that has the license to spoil grandkids (within reason)…and to have uncles, aunties, and cousins around with whom they can hang out, learn about life, living, and relationships.

My kids have had the most amazing few days with having their grandparents who visited us for Thanksgiving, American Thanksgiving this time. We celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving last month. As a multicultural and multiracial family, we celebrate a lot of different occasions. The months between October and December are especially busy.Continue reading “A Week of Memories with Grandparents”

A Gratitude Post for Thanksgiving

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It is Thanksgiving week. Just last month, I wrote about celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving. This month, America celebrates its own Thanksgiving Day. Celebrated on the 4th Thursday of every November, this year, the date falls on the 24th.

While modern day celebrations of Thanksgiving are mostly about being with family, sharing a festive meal till your buttons pop off while reeling under the drugged influence of tryptophan, the history behind the celebration is not quite as delicious sounding. Despite the controversies though, I have always appreciated this celebration for its spirit of feeling thankful and grateful for what we have.Continue reading “A Gratitude Post for Thanksgiving”

Stay-at-home-Mom Anniversary: A Year in Review

Note: This is a long post.

A few weeks ago, I completed one year as a stay-at-home-mom. Most first year anniversaries are marked by some kind of a special event, however small and insignificant it may be. My one year anniversary came and just like that, without so much as a whimper, left. In fact, I am not even sure of the exact date. I just know it was around a few weeks ago. Would it be the first day my husband started his new job and for which we had moved across the country? Yes, I think that would make sense…Continue reading “Stay-at-home-Mom Anniversary: A Year in Review”

What Worried Me/ Worries Me About Raising a Daughter

img_0551I wished my daughter into being. I know this. I wanted a girl really, really badly to make my family complete. Not that having another boy would have made my family any less complete, but there is something about having a boy and a girl combo that makes the family dynamic just a little differently special even though I did have my doubts about having a daughter and have now gotten a whole set of new concerns.

Continue reading “What Worried Me/ Worries Me About Raising a Daughter”

3 Smart Ways to Save Money on Kids’ Clothes

If you’re like me, you are always in for a good deal, whether it’s on groceries or your kids’ clothes. I never pass on a good deal and over the two years since having kids, I have realized that it is really not worth spending a lot of money on clothes for children simply because they outgrow them so fast. As long as you are not someone who buys the latest designer wear for your kids or even someone who would think nothing of spending $30 on a little dress for your three-month-old, you have landed on the right page.

Here are my 3 Smart Ideas for Saving Money on Kids’ Clothes:

Continue reading “3 Smart Ways to Save Money on Kids’ Clothes”

The Day My Kids and I Cried Together

No, it had nothing (or only a little) to do with the outcome of the elections in the US. The tears were neither of joy nor sorrow. Per se. The tears were of anger, frustration, helplessness, fear, uncertainty, and solidarity.

This is a long post. 

Continue reading “The Day My Kids and I Cried Together”

Multicultural Kids and the Legacy of Family Rituals – Diwali Series Part II

 

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In Part I of the Diwali Series, you read about my Diwali morning dwelling in nostalgia whilst enjoying some hot chocolate and marshmallows making memories on a rainy day.

(There is a lot going on in today’s post and not all of it may read coherently. Please excuse any choppiness.) 

Soon after sipping on our hot chocolate and marshmallow, while Aaron and TJ played, I ordered Indian carryout for lunch. Theoretically, we should be eating Indian vegetarian food on a religious auspicious day but we are a multicultural family and that means we sometimes do things differently. (We are also a multiracial and multireligious family) Part of being a multicultural family is that you have to be flexible with how you perform traditions. If that flexibility means forgoing exclusive vegetarianism on auspicious days, so be it.

Until last year, I would have cooked something for lunch and insisted we all eat vegetarian food. This cooking would have added to my anxiety because of all the other festival related sweets I still had to make later in the day.

This year, I just gave up or rather, gave in, to the power of Continue reading “Multicultural Kids and the Legacy of Family Rituals – Diwali Series Part II”

Of Rains, Memories, and Cultural Comfort – Diwali Series Part I

Sunday, October 30th was an eventful day. Culturally. Experientially. Physically. Emotionally. My multicultural family celebrated Diwali – The festival of lights after having celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving earlier in the month. Diwali is a Hindu festival celebrating, more secularly, the victory of good over evil. There are religious meanings associated with the celebrations too but I’ll leave that for you to Google if you are really interested in knowing more.

Because the day was so eventful and so meaningful in so many ways, posts related to yesterday will be written in parts. In this part, Part 1, I write about rains and making memories.

Continue reading “Of Rains, Memories, and Cultural Comfort – Diwali Series Part I”

My 2-year-old asked me to “Calm down”

The same energy that works for me professionally, does not quite do it for me, personally. I am not much of a laid back person. I’d like to think I am but I am really not. I just don’t work that way. I get annoyed easily. I lose my patience quicker than you can say patience. I have no age-appropriate inner serene space that people my age seem to have found.

Continue reading “My 2-year-old asked me to “Calm down””