tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-301749282024-03-07T05:55:40.271-08:00Simply Speaking Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.comBlogger253125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-76025677698969161872015-10-02T18:20:00.001-07:002015-10-02T18:20:07.699-07:00Today's Quote : On Constant Vigilance while Sleeping <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">Nibbles, age three years and ten months as we sat down for breakfast
today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">“Today, when I woke up I saw that you were not looking at me when you were
sleeping. Why don’t you look at me when you sleep?”</span></div>
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<br /><i style="background-color: white; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons.</a></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"> </span></div>
Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-4958314125715749242015-09-29T20:08:00.000-07:002015-09-29T20:08:02.255-07:00Why the Third Trimester Makes me Feel like a Fairytale Character<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">I am definitely the witch from Hansel and Gretel. </span><br style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;" /><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">I could definitely build a house from all the Nutella I’ve consumed and I can definitely see myself eating the little children who eat my house made of chocolate. </span></div>
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At 34 weeks, I certainly look like I’ve eaten one up!</div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">I am definitely all the three little pigs from the Three Little Pigs. </span></div>
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Considering this trimester has speeded up hair growth and I can say, ‘
Not by the hair on my chinny chin chin, with pride!’<br />
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I am definitely the tortoise from ‘The Hare and the Tortoise’ – Not just
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">But because, this is how I walk – no, move now. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12pt;">And I am definitely the donkey from Shrek going, ‘Are We there Yet?’
every two seconds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 16px;">Seriously, are we there yet?</span></div>
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">But not all is lost, my dear sisters of the motherhood. There is also
that time that I feel like a real-life Disney princess when Nibbles and her Dad
pamper me with cushions on the couch and home-cooked meals and general cuddles.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">And that makes up for the rest. Well, most of the time at least. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;"><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons.</a></i><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><!--EndFragment--></div>
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Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-23230367588432744872015-07-06T02:01:00.000-07:002015-07-06T02:01:08.936-07:00The Tenant<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
"Sometimes, I wake up and all I want to do is sleep. It's warm and cozy and dark. And it is so much fun to stretch out and then curl up again. "<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZq4lYqdDxU0VvG8DGBLRYIZDiqFUPIcZ0Tw02gqkIGkRW3ZM9mZ9NgQPBnSaU89AWVjOzjXoELv7AZMotavLchUsQh0J153o5jn7BeJHKvCpU3q_D5py8GudE-LgpMPeH9Z4wg/s1600/So+sleepy+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFZq4lYqdDxU0VvG8DGBLRYIZDiqFUPIcZ0Tw02gqkIGkRW3ZM9mZ9NgQPBnSaU89AWVjOzjXoELv7AZMotavLchUsQh0J153o5jn7BeJHKvCpU3q_D5py8GudE-LgpMPeH9Z4wg/s400/So+sleepy+.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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"But then, it starts the yammering and the hammering and the cooing and the 'Hi there' and the 'Are you in there?' Aargh! I surely have the world's noisiest neighbour!"<br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">"And if that was not enough, here come the kissy, smoochy noises!" </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4nmVHs3wntJo-1r9e2OYRXVF8-ErqBjD15cUNkRmaa5MMNxm8xe5MPf31zW5uM7oUS6RJNkShjIhwkVeZ0E8L8VngCTMlNRbZIENnygPp9IV4ekPYpAD8dx4UkhdLH-e4QTi0g/s1600/Smoochy+noises.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4nmVHs3wntJo-1r9e2OYRXVF8-ErqBjD15cUNkRmaa5MMNxm8xe5MPf31zW5uM7oUS6RJNkShjIhwkVeZ0E8L8VngCTMlNRbZIENnygPp9IV4ekPYpAD8dx4UkhdLH-e4QTi0g/s400/Smoochy+noises.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">"The management here is abysmal. I've kicked and punched the walls, but it seems to make absolutely no difference! Wait, till I finally get to see them in person. I'm going to give them some sleepless nights! "</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7pXHmrpG_LRotr2hAc5g5QY5rUCkv2xF7AGgoXtZ89tdDizYFIlez_zBbikezbulrkt5W9kkgXbxN9StnKM300ZPndJXllkd-I6FH1uku65EV65P5dSimLEkU5bC8GbG35LvQA/s1600/Get+used+to+it+baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit7pXHmrpG_LRotr2hAc5g5QY5rUCkv2xF7AGgoXtZ89tdDizYFIlez_zBbikezbulrkt5W9kkgXbxN9StnKM300ZPndJXllkd-I6FH1uku65EV65P5dSimLEkU5bC8GbG35LvQA/s400/Get+used+to+it+baby.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Welcome to the family, baby. :)<br />((Sleepless nights coming up in November 2015))</i></div>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons. </a></i><br /><br /><br /><br /> </div>
Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-52251803604906076632015-03-03T02:37:00.001-08:002015-03-03T02:37:30.241-08:00Of Nibbles and Dhoom (2)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Nibbles has long been a fan of the the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBc_gm5ci2E" target="_blank"><b><i>Dhoom</i></b></a> (2) title track.<br />Yes, judge me but I loved the movie.<br />
Yes, unfriend me, I'll just drown my sorrows in popcorn and one more re-viewing of the movie.<br />:P<br />
Anyway, back to Nibbles and Dhoom.<br /><br />So, she has always enjoyed moving and grooving to the song and till recently, she got the 'Dhoom Machaley' part but the rest of it was just gibberish.<br />
<br />It's unusual to see her sitting out that song ever, so today I was surprised to see her sitting on the couch as the song played, during her usual evening dance party.<br /><br />She was shaking her head and saying, 'why did he say that?' in a quizzical manner.<br /><br />'What did he say, baby?' I asked.<br /><br />'Hrithik Roshan', she said. 'He said come on you big bum!'<br /><br />While Bollywood songs, have of course been known to say much worse, in this case, it was just a case of three year old ears mishearing.<br /><br />I explained that the man was actually saying, 'Come on you people.'<br /><br />To which, she replied, 'Why did he call me <b><i>people</i></b>!'<br /><br />At this point, I realized that you really cannot win.<br /><br />And so we did this.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Enough Talk. More Dance.<br /></td></tr>
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Nothing like a nice shaking of big bums to wrap up a busy day. ;)<br />Don't you agree?<br /><br /><i style="background-color: white; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons. </a></i><br /><br />
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Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-1788554286406715852015-01-13T22:21:00.000-08:002015-01-16T00:13:50.746-08:00The Hunger Monster<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Ladies and gentlemen, <br />
Please put your hands together for the latest addition to the <a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/2013/08/here-he-comes-bogey-man.html" target="_blank"><b><i>imaginary monster plethora</i></b></a> and pay close attention....<br />
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Becausssseee, this one is not to coerce your children to do anything, but to make them let you do something which I believe is essential to the daily routine of a parent, nay, I'm going to generalize here and say most grown adults. <br />
And that is, to drink your morning cuppa in peace.</div>
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Now, that we've established that I'm a horrible Amma who needs monster backup to deal with Nibbles at times, let's move on to why Hunger Monster was born.</div>
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Every morning, especially on school holidays, Nibbles wakes up as early as she can. <br />
Having taken after me in the talking department, she wakes up and starts talking and asks questions and sings and makes up stories and then talks. <br />
Much as I love all that (<i>Full Disclosure : I am obligated to say that I do, because of the binding contract of motherhood</i>), I still need some magical fairy dust to switch to ON mode as soon as I wake up.</div>
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For me, that's my coffee or my cup of steaming hot green tea.</div>
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And you know what goes well with that? Silence. Maybe birds chirping. That's it.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFjUfPtKyQM9gCc8amTVyu94xdI4YQlWFUHbZO5xw2npiqtX0aTtGupKnYRMIg1WYpHuJj9f8NqoFbQVKIQR4zcFOQZfOpUDjZ8pfG8-sMiRGZP4T3J56M1H0dECYTSdvArlbrw/s1600/Cup+and+bird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMFjUfPtKyQM9gCc8amTVyu94xdI4YQlWFUHbZO5xw2npiqtX0aTtGupKnYRMIg1WYpHuJj9f8NqoFbQVKIQR4zcFOQZfOpUDjZ8pfG8-sMiRGZP4T3J56M1H0dECYTSdvArlbrw/s1600/Cup+and+bird.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Of course, it is extremely hard to explain silence to a three year old! <br />
Therefore, here stomps in hunger monster - someone who lives inside Amma and comes out to roar and rant, if she doesn't eat or drink when she is hungry. <br />
<br />
And so, NO talking to Amma till she finishes her Tea - you don't want the hunger monster to come out. </div>
<div>
What was amazing was how she got this as soon as I explained it to her, which makes me wonder about how I'd been acting before the Hunger Monster was born.<br />
<br />
The way Nibbles sat back with this look of understanding on her face was explanation enough. </div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqdsO00p9S6bNJ2VCTpLlQiTVbxibwzr9NmQ4LVIofvIAaEmMK5IC8Iym7ddrgeCOClyt9hmdgECMHP2auSzdDVmnwL8tyf6G-OIyF2KmCboAssbdLfF7tO5MDvHqt6bs0CTQhQ/s1600/Hunger+monster+aha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqdsO00p9S6bNJ2VCTpLlQiTVbxibwzr9NmQ4LVIofvIAaEmMK5IC8Iym7ddrgeCOClyt9hmdgECMHP2auSzdDVmnwL8tyf6G-OIyF2KmCboAssbdLfF7tO5MDvHqt6bs0CTQhQ/s1600/Hunger+monster+aha.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Anyway, I've never described what the hunger monster looks like, just what it does. <br />
So, today I sat down and asked her what she thought it looked like. <br />
<br />
The cartoon below has been drawn according to her description, like a police artist sketch. <br />
<br />
(Side note: How do people remember other people's faces so accurately? I wouldn't be able to describe my own nose to someone, let alone a criminal's)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTiY5_X6SDs7IZzRe0o_HHkBJYiP7ohaI9fQTuqJjPsMGExZkL6L7iQA3giP4yHBWbVzdLrrQSHslBCTP5USrMw52GCNTTKJdlBPnnraEs3BnDI_K0y3nJk8wVxezwefNY1c0ZQ/s1600/HUnger+monster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTiY5_X6SDs7IZzRe0o_HHkBJYiP7ohaI9fQTuqJjPsMGExZkL6L7iQA3giP4yHBWbVzdLrrQSHslBCTP5USrMw52GCNTTKJdlBPnnraEs3BnDI_K0y3nJk8wVxezwefNY1c0ZQ/s1600/HUnger+monster.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also, do you think that's what I look like before my morning cuppa?<br />
<br />
Hang on, don't answer that.<br />
Sigh. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i style="background-color: white; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons. </a></i></div>
</div>
Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-57736775872250327322014-11-25T21:15:00.000-08:002014-11-25T21:15:10.877-08:00What will you be when you grow up?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
So, I've been away busy with a <a href="http://instagram.com/p/vUfXWxqKva/?modal=true" target="_blank">fitness challenge</a>, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/challenges/1914-2014-reading-challenge" target="_blank">a reading challenge</a> and some <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShwetaGaneshKumar.Official/photos/a.417997194919084.116581.413262258725911/831305023588297/?type=1&theater" target="_blank">old-fashioned studying</a> and homework.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
So, yes this blog has been the victim of acute neglect because I feel like I'm Jim Carey from that movie, the one which I saw the trailer of long ago - the one in which he appears to be saying yes to everything. On a side note, is Jim Carey acting anymore?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I digress.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Anyway, more importantly here is a cartoon to make up for my absence- </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eZymBTkjNGainlqL4qOMRhVvlLQWGqTnD-Q7xFgeOz34LfHB2q5yWxwhq_-A2sIIFMgScopI9JT_2SkklRGQOjzd3lJSaQsxentIkP2vrA_6Lco2a8QE9PkSiCNHH24Cn8GFUQ/s1600/Grow+up+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-eZymBTkjNGainlqL4qOMRhVvlLQWGqTnD-Q7xFgeOz34LfHB2q5yWxwhq_-A2sIIFMgScopI9JT_2SkklRGQOjzd3lJSaQsxentIkP2vrA_6Lco2a8QE9PkSiCNHH24Cn8GFUQ/s1600/Grow+up+1.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What do you want to be, when you grow up?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPKSV90VMzHfly01blb8gxO4rM2sgFycNO9CUcm0NHBm6W0MWgw9gY0h7l-mD5bvdkAYSTkr7Uk2sO4VeG3p8q_JvGeQb5Vj1fI1sCCnM7T2AoM1PsbUQhO4OXWTi7RiTuBzQCg/s1600/A+crocodile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPKSV90VMzHfly01blb8gxO4rM2sgFycNO9CUcm0NHBm6W0MWgw9gY0h7l-mD5bvdkAYSTkr7Uk2sO4VeG3p8q_JvGeQb5Vj1fI1sCCnM7T2AoM1PsbUQhO4OXWTi7RiTuBzQCg/s1600/A+crocodile.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Crocodile.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
So, that's that.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
See you all again soon-ish!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
For those of you who were missing us - please click on the link below</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<i style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><i><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons</a></i></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-22307686152416475752014-10-14T04:59:00.000-07:002014-10-14T04:59:50.950-07:00Five reasons why being a Preschooler is way better than being an Adult<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">1. You do not have to pretend to "like" the healthy food that is good for
you. <br /><br /> ‘Yum, Eggplant with Okra!’ said no preschooler ever. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><!--EndFragment--><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTxdGh7_zd2wscyWH7MfFALP1H7enMtkMPiZ_rBJf0CVfu5kx7iFUliD9zsmhKW81m4GsEcWe77mCY14HHu8144z10lWPqCHu1AbVmmyFet158MJYzjb43ZIiRYcWHF1-S0Eagw/s1600/No+to+veggies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTxdGh7_zd2wscyWH7MfFALP1H7enMtkMPiZ_rBJf0CVfu5kx7iFUliD9zsmhKW81m4GsEcWe77mCY14HHu8144z10lWPqCHu1AbVmmyFet158MJYzjb43ZIiRYcWHF1-S0Eagw/s1600/No+to+veggies.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a></div>
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">2. You can suddenly stop dead still in the middle of the road with a
mournful puppy dog expression, lift your arms and say, ‘Please Amma, Pick me
up. My legs can’t walk anymore."<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><!--EndFragment--><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please pick me up! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />3. You can hear the same song and watch the same cartoon on a loop, till
kingdom come and no will judge you for being in a comfortable rut. <br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcktGGcchwdR-DHYc6ql1hxRHRr4bjK81F1TBbq5DpJivvUhZ1pqoHahQbuyaZByQPeQvEy6gIH5cMl5p5vxyB0M8EBvpCyV8YWksJKLVDcVJwi81WNgPDIeTDfzmhetxhM32Og/s1600/Music+again.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwcktGGcchwdR-DHYc6ql1hxRHRr4bjK81F1TBbq5DpJivvUhZ1pqoHahQbuyaZByQPeQvEy6gIH5cMl5p5vxyB0M8EBvpCyV8YWksJKLVDcVJwi81WNgPDIeTDfzmhetxhM32Og/s1600/Music+again.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Life is a Highway? Again?"<br />"Yes!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4. You can break out vigorous random dance moves to mall music, while your
parents are at the cashier and no one will call the mental health services. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHCHTNmjeymoXkv7xU0Y16VNtZrqHofN-2FWyjCKxq8v0kgUx3wD1ovHccPDN8nhUpRITBxJxbet3ER-3epNfkAWTlD-gQ-y06kADfLn5Jh-n7StJ1ej1UqCfh7EB9aqcqW-j6g/s1600/Mall+dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDHCHTNmjeymoXkv7xU0Y16VNtZrqHofN-2FWyjCKxq8v0kgUx3wD1ovHccPDN8nhUpRITBxJxbet3ER-3epNfkAWTlD-gQ-y06kADfLn5Jh-n7StJ1ej1UqCfh7EB9aqcqW-j6g/s1600/Mall+dance.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"We don't know her!"</td></tr>
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">5. You can choose to sleep through social events you really did not want to
go to in the first place. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zzzz</td></tr>
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Being grown-up sucks. </div>
<br />
<br />
<i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><i><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons</a></i></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> </span></div>
Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-76124820548984318572014-10-07T23:58:00.001-07:002014-10-08T00:03:35.584-07:00The Fundamental difference Between a Preschooler and her Mother<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Yes, I know there are many. <br />
Don’t nitpick!<br />
Haven’t you heard of the importance of a good headline?<br />
Hmf.<br /><br />
Anyway, here is <b>one</b> of the fundamental differences between a Preschooler and
her Mother. <br />
(Happy, critics?)<br />
<br />
<br />
At the godawful hour of 5:20 a.m, the almost three year old Nibbles says loudly
in a sleepy voice, while kicking off the blankets, </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-qCfRJewUD1NjYImLxp3QJlICMPDlpJgFa2zYujEo_5_ZaJyGNfdpAuXG-VHZlij1PdRE5NZfdXZUMIhmVaLMixF-w76AjrLN4c52iqkSOyGlVHNoy1fNGNxXSxa5f6AE2CpoQ/s1600/Can't%2Bopen%2Bmy%2Beyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-qCfRJewUD1NjYImLxp3QJlICMPDlpJgFa2zYujEo_5_ZaJyGNfdpAuXG-VHZlij1PdRE5NZfdXZUMIhmVaLMixF-w76AjrLN4c52iqkSOyGlVHNoy1fNGNxXSxa5f6AE2CpoQ/s1600/Can't%2Bopen%2Bmy%2Beyes.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
“I want to open my eyes, but I can’t. It is time to wake up!”<br />
<br />
<br />
At the godawful hour of 5 minutes to 7– My-God-I-am-so-late-already-a.m, the said child’s mother, clamps her eyes shut, puts the alarm on snooze for the
umpteenth time and says, ‘I don’t
want to open my eyes, but I have
to. Why is it time to wake up!” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And tries to make sleeping time last longer by burrowing
into the blankets. <br />
</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-CQJkoDY22dtMQrkKvRosQCTTcd5R0OnW5pQ2AaWbbsbzNk5k4YpwlLUfxqU1eHkI6r08W_5ghFHoh9C55E36nFY3_VWBprTk71L9Xtl92Mt2e6JHZhoje3-jvFhyGfTk-bTfQ/s1600/Amma+eyes+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-CQJkoDY22dtMQrkKvRosQCTTcd5R0OnW5pQ2AaWbbsbzNk5k4YpwlLUfxqU1eHkI6r08W_5ghFHoh9C55E36nFY3_VWBprTk71L9Xtl92Mt2e6JHZhoje3-jvFhyGfTk-bTfQ/s1600/Amma+eyes+.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /><br />
And we all know how that ends. <br />
Guess who will be missing breakfast today. <br />
<br />
Sigh. <br />
<br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><i><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons</a></i></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> </span><!--EndFragment--></div>
Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-66075984286692771362014-09-24T19:06:00.003-07:002014-09-24T19:06:32.651-07:00The World is a Playground<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The rains have abated for now.<br />
And there are no typhoons in our immediate future.<br />
The Sun, Mister Golden Sun to be precise, shone brightly in the afternoon sky.<br />
It was time to venture out to the playground.<br />
<br />
Nibbles is two years and nine months old now. And she loves 'all things outside.' <br />
<br />
I love all things outside too. It gives me a chance to <strike>sit </strike> stand and watch her tire her boundless energy out running circles on the grass and climbing the faux rocks side of the play set, mole her way through tunnels, slide down the little slide and climb up the wrong way on the big one and perform other assorted age-old playground rituals.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9e_wmXhQqSYrcqlPiSWWnjWbDlTi8gehJSYN0Gkj6auEOwIo121Ga_Bf8iI0jMrOqS6lYRFd2vwCZqLFeObRac1KzFzAEZ1OjplEOPe40RRnqkndDbjynmeN2Rb-Gj8B2FyGqQg/s1600/At+the+Playground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9e_wmXhQqSYrcqlPiSWWnjWbDlTi8gehJSYN0Gkj6auEOwIo121Ga_Bf8iI0jMrOqS6lYRFd2vwCZqLFeObRac1KzFzAEZ1OjplEOPe40RRnqkndDbjynmeN2Rb-Gj8B2FyGqQg/s1600/At+the+Playground.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Now, one of the many joys of expat life is the mixed bowl of cultures that you are thrown into.<br />
At the playground these days, I also feel like I'm a nosy diver at the edge of a reef, watching these gorgeous fishes of all kinds swimming and darting together, each completely different from each other and each so uniquely beautiful.<br />
<br />
Nibbles' best friend on the playground is a four year old Japanese boy, who speaks no English. Nibbles speaks English and no Japanese.<br />
The rest of her friends include a Chinese girl, a Filipino girl, two Korean brothers and elder children from Australia and the United States (who look in from time to time to give sagely advice from the vantage point of their much older 7- 8 years).<br />
Older children aside, only three of the group speak English. But not like that matters.<br />
They play tag yelling, 'I catch you' in five different languages and run around screaming to their heart's delight.<br />
They have intense jumping matches with their shadows, one trying to block the other.<br />
They try and talk 'cat' to a cat that happens to peek out from the window of a ground floor apartment.<br />
They argue about how to arrange the flowers properly on the play set.<br />
They prove that language is truly not a barrier, as long as you have the will to connect. <br />
<br />
Now, if only us adults could take that lesson to heart. <br />
But even if we don't, at least there is some hope for the future. <br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><i><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons</a></i></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"> </span></div>
Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-65324606277311603772014-08-26T03:55:00.001-07:002014-08-26T03:55:07.478-07:00Creepy Things Ammas do - 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">I'm sure, this is a theme I will be returning to, which is why the "Part - I" in the title </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #222222;">So anyway, the first in the series is something that I've done right from the very beginning. </span>And that is watch Nibbles sleep.<br />I've done it when she was an infant, of course over-riding conventional wisdom that says sleep when the baby sleeps.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVFWPdBEFmcblKQolxGl-X9lqsrsJS9ANaYeWKS4sKd24MdMhIWKlbL6_ZftzzIAFGXI0bpOLFaWupe6xgR1qtchXM05mvPT8MC4KEjniArVlxA7lRgttnQPj5hk6SFHz6Hx7CQ/s1600/Sleeping+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvVFWPdBEFmcblKQolxGl-X9lqsrsJS9ANaYeWKS4sKd24MdMhIWKlbL6_ZftzzIAFGXI0bpOLFaWupe6xgR1qtchXM05mvPT8MC4KEjniArVlxA7lRgttnQPj5hk6SFHz6Hx7CQ/s1600/Sleeping+1.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><br />I've done it when she was a year old, instead of taking the time to take a bath to wash off the food stains and dribbles.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghO1oQqhYNEa-SwfTcThyphenhyphenioIgMbFMMpQ3RqGHrw1SrIUsgcevajgng-A7Ei5HLlsS20awthXdaoBfEpf3X7jJjlgUzQohRhyzyDZs-vzm35H823S-YfNv3_veXOiCBSmz-R3NpQ/s1600/Sleep+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghO1oQqhYNEa-SwfTcThyphenhyphenioIgMbFMMpQ3RqGHrw1SrIUsgcevajgng-A7Ei5HLlsS20awthXdaoBfEpf3X7jJjlgUzQohRhyzyDZs-vzm35H823S-YfNv3_veXOiCBSmz-R3NpQ/s1600/Sleep+2.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a><br /><br />I've done it as she progressed into a full-blown toddler instead of taking the time to dust off my books, still waiting for me to return to reading them.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIaWKuE6JL9TD3Ip-0KoZ5Lag75LEJYqEAdf4JuN4sqVU3HhmwXDJBwldS_8uMJ9u54qX1o8Zsxdtm_F7LJzmowH3HY2Xlnoi3uwxwioEPQ4YUJJ6DQEuRNH89p9JOo4NSoe3xQ/s1600/Sleeping+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: transparent; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIaWKuE6JL9TD3Ip-0KoZ5Lag75LEJYqEAdf4JuN4sqVU3HhmwXDJBwldS_8uMJ9u54qX1o8Zsxdtm_F7LJzmowH3HY2Xlnoi3uwxwioEPQ4YUJJ6DQEuRNH89p9JOo4NSoe3xQ/s1600/Sleeping+3.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a><br /><br /><br />I do it today. Though she is a preschooler and I can really use the time to catch up on my deadlines and do my research or make the weekly meal plan or grocery list.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is something so peaceful about a sleeping child. Something that smells of boundless imagination, talking mammoths and friendly sharks and happy exhaustion that comes from having played well and hard.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Something that speaks of dreams. Happy ones. Colourful ones.<br />Something that makes you want to capture the moment, even though you know you can't.<br />Soon it will be morning and those eyes will flutter open, ready to the possibilities of the new day and the amount of playing to be done.<br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soon hugs and cuddles will be brushed away as they get in the way of pretend tea-pouring and lego ship building and colouring wildly and across the lines.<br />And the most that I can hope for is snuggling up to read a book.<br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">Which is why, I know that I will continue to be creepy, for as long as Nibbles lives under my roof. </span><span style="color: #222222;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I, Shweta Ganesh Kumar, am an Amma who watches her child sleep.<br /><span style="color: #444444; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"><br /></span><i><i><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons</a></i></i><span style="color: #222222; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> </span></span></div>
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Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-5001119366029861242014-08-19T07:54:00.001-07:002014-08-19T07:54:52.436-07:00Popcorn Chit-Chat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="text-align: left;">Earlier this week, I was going through Nibbles old baby videos. </span></div>
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There she is with no teeth, babbling and drooling and crawling and then walking and mumbling.</div>
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So squishable. </div>
I missed her baby-hood so much that day.<br /><br />Here she is now, already two and a half years old, a bonafide pre-schooler with a music recital already under her belt.<br />Talking and walking and crafting and singing with confidence.<br />Where was my baby?<br />Oh, I missed the helpless infant and her goo-gaa-gaggle days. <br /><br />And then today, something interesting happened. <br /><br />Da-Da is out of town on work and we made our way to our most favourite place in town - the Children's Books Level at the Bookstore. <br />We spent an hour reading and giggling and then headed out smack dab into an apocalyptic looking sky - a thunderstorm was headed our way. <br /><br />Of course, Nibbles cares squat about thunder and lightening anymore, so we ran around on the grass and then poked around for some worms and then walked home, all the while talking about squashed worms and 'How that uncle could do that!'<br /><br />We got back just before the rains started in earnest.<br />I rustled up a bag of buttery popcorn, that we watched pop in the microwave.<br />Then armed with two bowls of popcorn and one mug of hot chocolate and one of hot coffee, we settled down to watch the rain.<br />And then Nibbles turned to me and said, "Talk. Let' talk." And then launched off into a discussion about sharks and what they eat. <br />(Lenny from Shark Tale is a current favourite.)<br /><br />And at that moment, I realized just how much I loved her growing up. <br />Two years ago, I wouldn't have thought this moment possible. <br />This moment with her and me chatting over popcorn. <br />This is bliss.<br />Every moment of it.<br />
Buttery popcorn or without.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQABBsor0fF-EUIG5UINcSVyQ37wxsI66A20i9vN7M1DlNZkfgEbgjrTTXDQihMIZSxIhuRo_BdWeIkwrcZr3Gz-EsNfJg0GW1BThHU_aUAB8S4BptGZDV_3v9ZKy_BWYJbmjOA/s1600/popcorn+chat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgQABBsor0fF-EUIG5UINcSVyQ37wxsI66A20i9vN7M1DlNZkfgEbgjrTTXDQihMIZSxIhuRo_BdWeIkwrcZr3Gz-EsNfJg0GW1BThHU_aUAB8S4BptGZDV_3v9ZKy_BWYJbmjOA/s1600/popcorn+chat.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a><br /><br /><br />
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<i style="color: #d52a33; line-height: 18px;"><i><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons</a></i></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-41255014045724987342014-08-14T00:56:00.000-07:002014-08-14T00:56:45.464-07:00We are Back! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Read that as Arnold Shivashankaran (as a dear cousin of mine used to say) would say it.<br />
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I cannot believe that I've not blogged in more than a month.<br />
But truth be told, I'm not that surprised either.<br />
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It's been a busy month - we've said goodbye to dear ones and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=532142360139860&story_fbid=794337217253705" target="_blank"><b>outraged about innocence lost</b></a>.<br />
We've been out of town and been <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ShwetaGaneshKumar.Official/photos/a.417997194919084.116581.413262258725911/776456609073139/?type=1&theater" target="_blank"><b>busy with rehearsals</b></a>.<br />
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There have been client visits and dinners and parent get-togethers and grocery shopping and the general mundane realities of life that make the days whizz by mercilessly.<br />
Kind of blending into one big seamless fabric of day after night after day after night.<br />
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And then there was yesterday, when we all kind of collapsed onto the sofa like this - in a big ball of tangled limbs, just happy to be with each other.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqpILjqJ3MyyXwD46bv0mpBfGFPwZ2ogeQbLNTT3teI6CfpaSkDke9U9T5FYLDbfVa5KObRRacvrISORsoL_Yhr4mUfWy_BzmbVvF6qW9Uv473r85rvqvL2xQgvdNa0oi2IbHKw/s1600/WE+ARE+BACK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIqpILjqJ3MyyXwD46bv0mpBfGFPwZ2ogeQbLNTT3teI6CfpaSkDke9U9T5FYLDbfVa5KObRRacvrISORsoL_Yhr4mUfWy_BzmbVvF6qW9Uv473r85rvqvL2xQgvdNa0oi2IbHKw/s1600/WE+ARE+BACK.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
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And now we are back!<br />
Sorry about the silence and thank you for waiting patiently!<br />
We appreciate it!<br />So much to talk about, so please do stay tuned! :)<br />
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<i style="color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons</a></i></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> </span></div>
Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-87129315116007638082014-07-13T23:36:00.000-07:002014-07-14T06:02:02.426-07:00Taking Your Toddler to Pre-school<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">Taking your child to Pre-school a</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">s imagined by the child-free or those who
have children who are all grown up, (and so now their memories are enveloped in a
cotton candy haze that has absorbed the not so fun parts of reality), is </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">a three-step
plan. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">1.Wake up child and get her/him ready <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">2. Take child to school <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">3. Say goodbye and drop at school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">- <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">But this is how we go to pre-school the Nibbles way-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">1. Wake up at insane time with broad smile and
demand to go to school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">2. Eat chocolate cereal and ask for a
never-ending story<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">3. Get ready and question hair style choice<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">4. Orchestrate elaborate goodbye routine that
involves hugs and goodbye waves to everyone in the house and lobby Aunty and
security uncle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">5. Walk at slowest pace known to man and bend
down to peer into cracks in the sidewalk and wonder why there is an apple rind
by the bush and why that uncle is wearing a blue/orange/yellow/insert any
colour here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">6. Slow down even more, if that is humanly possible
as we pass the park to pet dogs, and scuff feet on the grass while loudly
announcing, 'I am going to school'<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">7. Wonder why the homeless man is curled up on
a storefront and make a sympathetic voice as we pass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">8. Climb up stairs and leave bag in the right
cubbyhole while pointing out her photograph to everyone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">9. Marching in as soon as the door opens
without a backward glance.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.5pt;">10. Leave Amma staring at closed door and saying a silent motherly prayer for a day-filled with giggles and belly-laughs. <br />And also a P.S selfish prayer for me, hoping that she has a high-energy day, so that I don't have to deal with a pint-sized typhoon later on. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">And that's what the beginning of a Times of Amma day looks like.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"><br />P.S</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">I am well aware that the badly-drawn cartoon today has nothing to do with the post, but I sat down to draw after Nibbles got back from school.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;"><br />So, instead of my usual Amma and Nibbles illustrations, she suggested (Which is a nice way of saying insisted) that I draw a blue octopus with green eyes, her sitting on a green chair, yellow stars and a yellow moon instead.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">Apparently, this captures the essence of the post more than my </span></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;">passé cartoons.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 9.5pt;">I do not understand this, but I have given in, in the hope that it gives the blog an avant garde look. <br />The kind of post you do not understand so you think maybe it is smarter than you.<br /><br />But maybe, I shouldn't have explained what I was aiming to do then.<br /><br />Oh well. </span></span><br />
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<i style="color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons</a></i></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.200000762939453px;"> </span></div>
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Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-51418826496307356522014-06-19T06:44:00.003-07:002014-06-19T06:50:53.130-07:00Going Out - A Short Drama <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To be honest, sometimes it is a long drama.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Characters</u></b>:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 Adult - (Mostly Amma, could also be Da-Da or grandmother) - We will call her A<br />1 toddler (Tiring Two age range. Tiring for the adult of course) - We will call her T<br /><br />Set in an urban home.<br />Time - 20 minutes to heading out. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(<b>Scene 1</b>)</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
A: Come on now. We need to get ready.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
T: Why?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
A: We need to go to the supermarket.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
T: Why?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
A: I need to buy groceries so that we can eat.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
T: Okay.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
A: Come on now. We need to get ready.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
T: Why?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
A: Just get ready.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
T: Okay.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
A: Why aren't you getting up?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
T: I'm ready.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
A: No, you are not! You need to change.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
T: No. I'm ready.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
A: No, you are not! Change!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
T: I'm wearing this! </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
A: No, that's your sleep shorts! </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
T: It's nice!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
A: It is! For sleeping!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
T: I'm wearing this!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
A: It's got chocolate milk on it!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
T: Why?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
A: You know why! </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
(Prolonged silence which in toddler time means 30 seconds)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
T: Ok, the yellow top.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
A: Which yellow top? </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
T: That one.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
A: The one in the laundry basket?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
T: Yes.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
A: No.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
T: The blue one?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
A: Ok. And shorts?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
T: No, with chaddi.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
A: No, with shorts.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
T: Ok</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
(Cut to 15 minutes of scrambling around the bed trying to evade getting dressed. Forced calm voices. Pleas. Entreaties. Bribes. Threats. Something or the other works. A and T exit.)</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9mgqqvUkEeDySIx188XEwpmzWSdTmlkvTeQK2N4l1PTtC9H2ic_QOnmYftEY-PINNdOUjeKG6aFSbUNrnAOZIlhrA3mubZZ-2cv3jUvy2c6UVwzAJ8pTt4TW8KmxPxWg4IRBbA/s1600/Changing+-+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL9mgqqvUkEeDySIx188XEwpmzWSdTmlkvTeQK2N4l1PTtC9H2ic_QOnmYftEY-PINNdOUjeKG6aFSbUNrnAOZIlhrA3mubZZ-2cv3jUvy2c6UVwzAJ8pTt4TW8KmxPxWg4IRBbA/s1600/Changing+-+1.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
(<b>Scene 2</b>)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Two hours later, it is time to go home.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
T: Where are we going?</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
A: Home. It's getting late.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
T: Not yet!</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
(T Runs away, hair flying, limbs flailing leaving exasperated and exhausted A(mma) in the wake)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
End of drama.<br />
(Or maybe it is the beginning of a new one...)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i style="color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons</a></i></i> </div>
<br /></div>
Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-48668385480429860132014-05-23T00:30:00.000-07:002014-05-23T06:38:34.668-07:00What Lies Behind<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
A closed bathroom door. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
Yes, that's what I'm going to talk about today.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
But don't worry there will be no discussion on potty and pee pee and other such unsavory topics.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
This post is about the bathroom door. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Specifically about a closed one. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
I used to think that mothers exaggerated about the lack of privacy - about the concept of me, dissolving like sugar syrup in a glass of the mixed cocktail that is motherhood.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
It's sweet alright and there alright, but coexisting with a hundred other Flavours.</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7msHpLYUsNJJ3sEfW1Xr-nVxRkH2R3qrBYcNLQsl8xaFJvO_3cyFqbv5wBu-V-YaiuIMOTFsU6Ts2Wmq1E86DsBMsBcF935N7D-jfUhimqJv1FtD1Njuh8qTk9PLXlMK3d34uUQ/s1600/Amma+cocktail+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7msHpLYUsNJJ3sEfW1Xr-nVxRkH2R3qrBYcNLQsl8xaFJvO_3cyFqbv5wBu-V-YaiuIMOTFsU6Ts2Wmq1E86DsBMsBcF935N7D-jfUhimqJv1FtD1Njuh8qTk9PLXlMK3d34uUQ/s1600/Amma+cocktail+.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Drowning Amma - an addictive roller coaster of a cocktail <br />
(Copyright Pending) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Anyway, after almost two and a half years of motherhood I can safely say - no exaggeration has happened. <br />
<br />
If anything, you mothers who walked this path before haven't spoken enough about it. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
I can live with reading only while Nibbles is asleep and cooking while she plays at my feet with a spoon drumstick and a bowl drum.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I can live with having to shush my muse and the voices in my head because Nibbles is talking and playing and I just can't hear them as clearly as I used to- I tell them to come later and they sniff and retreat. <br />
Sometimes they oblige and come later and sometimes they disappear into the dimension with lost socks and pens and hair clips. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
And then I binge watch sitcoms with disappointing finales.<br />
(Really disappointing finales! HIMYM - what were you thinking??!!)</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
But anyway, I have realized that the worst part of a dissolving self is the trauma a closed bathroom door causes.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
This is what happens each time I go to the bathroom irrespective of whether Nibbles is playing right in front of the bathroom or in the next room. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAWNHC4ZwxrhRD6Fu0qgFNWZO6sWuU2gCPoL6sUqfQc9XyqeXA3nw0B5lqQCAA0gipdfAOwbzDcpSPTEVoJtY8HA182_Z7o5ZSmpadU6FO8eILcCOx3J7AkjHNf0biWJmmJns9g/s1600/Closed+bathroom+door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAWNHC4ZwxrhRD6Fu0qgFNWZO6sWuU2gCPoL6sUqfQc9XyqeXA3nw0B5lqQCAA0gipdfAOwbzDcpSPTEVoJtY8HA182_Z7o5ZSmpadU6FO8eILcCOx3J7AkjHNf0biWJmmJns9g/s1600/Closed+bathroom+door.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm guessing the urgency is because she thinks I'm getting pulled into a vortex. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
It starts off as a series of gentle knocks and then escalates into a torrential downpour punctuated with thunderous yells - from mild entreaties to come out to murderous threats. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Of course, when she graces the bathroom with her newly potty trained self, she is entitled to how much ever time she likes - which usually ranges from the time it takes to sing a nursery rhyme to narrate the full and detailed story of 'Cars'. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I dream of the time a closed bathroom door will stop seeming like a luxury. But then those dreams are rudely interrupted by nightmares where Nibbles is so grown up that not only does she not care that my bathroom door is shut, the door to her room is shut and padlocked too. </div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I sigh.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Being an Amma means you never win, right?<br />
<br />
<i style="color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><i><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons</a></i></i></div>
</div>
Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-81924735871273171962014-05-14T09:52:00.000-07:002014-05-14T09:52:14.539-07:00A Hairy Issue<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
<span style="text-align: left;">Ever since my teenage years, (way back when dinosaurs roamed the planet), I have been a fan of randomly chopping off my hair. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Much to the chagrin of my parents - who stopped short of shedding actual tears at the chopping of the long locks that had been tended to with coconut oil and shampoo and had the added advantage of being from a long heritage of people with thick hair. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I used to half-sneer at my parents' mournful sniffs- citing fashion, ease, Delhi heat, need a change and the last (which by far has been the only reason worth its salt) - <i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=588552061196929&set=pb.413262258725911.-2207520000.1400083532.&type=3&theater" target="_blank">hair donation</a>, </i>to cut my hair off. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
'It's just hair. It will grow' - was an oft repeated mantra. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And of course, as all things have post Amma-hood, this nonchalance of mine to my parents' pain has now come to bite me in the you-know-where.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
My daughter, Nibbles who turns two and a half years old next month, is blessed with gorgeous, thick curly hair. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Hair that jumps when she jumps. <br />
<br />
Hair that cascades from straightness to curly locks from the mid-point. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
Hair that looks wonderful to the eyes of the beholder. <br />
<br />
Hair that has prompted many a stranger to ask me whether we get her hair curled. <br />
('Cos strangers are weird like that and find happiness in asking other strangers inane questions. I hope these inquisitive strangers find the inner peace that they are so obviously in search of.) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Hair that results in epic battles ever since she started talking. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You see, she hates brushing it. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jTO5ID2L0mVqvKvh69OWZmf20ctUf1YPSQN1IDOram35CtnryOPBW3VWz1dw5B_CWg2q4pGRw4xDG5iG3xxaBJEZJql6hTuEFCO2SdTIVFkQG_0IRhtc7NlziNBPH7HKHOB28A/s1600/no+brush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9jTO5ID2L0mVqvKvh69OWZmf20ctUf1YPSQN1IDOram35CtnryOPBW3VWz1dw5B_CWg2q4pGRw4xDG5iG3xxaBJEZJql6hTuEFCO2SdTIVFkQG_0IRhtc7NlziNBPH7HKHOB28A/s1600/no+brush.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And though, I'm not the crazy, obsessive, mother who insists on the perfect center parting or the equidistant pigtails, I do start to go a little nuts when I see dust bunnies appear in the curls due to the successful evasion of combing of any sort.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Of course, minor tussles erupted into major battles ever since she started going to summer school, a couple of weeks ago. (These also triggered in my mind, long-forgotten but not forgiven memories from childhood when my mother painstakingly tied my hair into double pigtails. A style that a lot of schools rather viciously insisted on.) </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Till finally an ultimatum was issued.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Stand still and get your hair brushed or we go to the barber and chop it off.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It took Nibbles barely a second to reply.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Barber Uncle!" She said, with confidence.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And that is how we found ourselves at a children's hair stylist on Mother's Day.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Little cars converted into seats. Playhouses for those who are waiting. Favourite cartoons played as their unruly locks were tamed. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
My husband and I shared sad looks. Our baby's crowning glory. Her bouncing locks! <br />
We swallowed downs lumps of sadness and watched as she happily watched Dora with her annoying little side-kick monkey and talkative backpack.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
"Just like Dora, " she was mumbling under her breath as she sneaked in glances at the mirror as the professional snipped away.</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Meanwhile, my husband and I looked at the curls on the floor and sighed. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sadly.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Loudly.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Nibbles loves her haircut and I attribute the sudden increase in mirror time to the same.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And I too, love the battles it has eliminated. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But suddenly, I see why parents have a visceral, irrational emotion to their daughter's hair.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
While we love her new hair and how much she loves it, those maddening yet adorable curls are missed.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Without having any earthly reason to miss it, other than, we do. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbkaZ8x-3tbBFUQROReap2DbJpZyG_j6q3AdlVRGAOTJeVwX6JjEmg7fNonacucDpoXe7t5afSaUBoJrgmEo2l2hSpmrp8fbchlWlnuNWC4DlNy0NSW9mB8b3l83u0u5W_eBGSw/s1600/Happy+sad+Hair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbkaZ8x-3tbBFUQROReap2DbJpZyG_j6q3AdlVRGAOTJeVwX6JjEmg7fNonacucDpoXe7t5afSaUBoJrgmEo2l2hSpmrp8fbchlWlnuNWC4DlNy0NSW9mB8b3l83u0u5W_eBGSw/s1600/Happy+sad+Hair.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is us being happy sad. Those are tears and not snot on my face. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Karma, you certainly are a you-know-what!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I would have spelt it out, if this hadn't been a mommy blog.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Sigh. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
More soon. (Hopefully)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<i style="color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i style="color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><i><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons</a></i></i></div>
<i style="color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
</i><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</div>
Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-7805631858249347162014-04-28T03:01:00.001-07:002014-04-28T09:23:18.868-07:00Slowpoke Time <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I used to think that the slowest time has ever passed for me was in the last month of my pregnancy. <br /><br />I remember asking and clamouring and praying and entreating and grumbling and sulking - because my baby was refusing to come out - though most of the other pregnant women I knew were popping theirs out days and even weeks before their due date.<br /> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-5PcEQ9d-a-cBbJ3uOzxmj9LDJnrHtIvoXdTGCYnS5JCgzebqk9uODQKCd_T8a93VN5sunZyIW8IDO3EKhA9jXrMr3u00olfzwxK85p-sZ6eFWtfSH7C3oSW18ZMFL1bDmwQoA/s1600/When+will+you+come+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT-5PcEQ9d-a-cBbJ3uOzxmj9LDJnrHtIvoXdTGCYnS5JCgzebqk9uODQKCd_T8a93VN5sunZyIW8IDO3EKhA9jXrMr3u00olfzwxK85p-sZ6eFWtfSH7C3oSW18ZMFL1bDmwQoA/s1600/When+will+you+come+out.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
My daughter came out on the 26th of December after 24 hours of hard labour, a whole day after her due date and only after she had completed the whole nine months she was entitled to inside me.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
But coming back to today, more than two years later, I realize that, THAT is <b>NOT</b> when time passed the slowest for me.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
That happened this Wednesday on the second day of Nibbles' Summer school. Her first experience with a school like - no parent around experience. <br />
<br />
While on the first day, the door to their classroom was left open and parents were allowed to peek in, today they shut the door.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
And with it my brain. <br />
<br />
My heart of course, took over and started galloping away like those runaway horses that used to be such a fixture in Bollywood and Malayalam movies set in Ooty in the 80's.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
From behind that vibrantly adorned door, I could hear shrieks of joy and murmurs. The teacher's soothing tones and children's chatter and some sobs. <br />
And thanks to my brain's impromptu Hartal - the usual <i>mother's heart can recognize her child stuff</i> had shut down too. <br />
And with a sickening feeling I realized that behind closed doors all toddlers sounded the same to me.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWbdHGk-PIq6MGMAcrDTXyNf2LDoP-_EwitacFQLoF7BzNFTU6ozKn90058RtpYy1TjVrqAHIhyBAW9hKpVAKWXGSN-lPPtf5L0uARaFr19ULkSkeBb7VVs-wVl12wV7vrP2iyA/s1600/closed+doors+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWbdHGk-PIq6MGMAcrDTXyNf2LDoP-_EwitacFQLoF7BzNFTU6ozKn90058RtpYy1TjVrqAHIhyBAW9hKpVAKWXGSN-lPPtf5L0uARaFr19ULkSkeBb7VVs-wVl12wV7vrP2iyA/s1600/closed+doors+.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
<br />
<br />
Does that make me a bad Amma?<br />
:(<br />
And of course, till that door opened and I saw Nibbles again, time most certainly and defying laws of physics definitely stopped.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
P.S</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
I started to write this last week as I waited outside a closed door and I'm finishing it today behind a similar closed door.<br />
<br />
P.P.S<br />
She is doing fine in her school, except for the bully. But more on that later this week.<br />
<br />
<i style="color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons.</a></i></div>
</div>
Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-61092395851119421482014-04-17T02:16:00.000-07:002014-04-17T03:12:45.162-07:00Bedtimes with Nibbles<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Before you think this is going to be some nice rainbow, unicorn,
sunshiny, smile-inducing lala about letting your toddler drift off to dreamland
with a smile, let me assure you – it is NOT.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It is about a unicorn pooping on
all those lovely images that you think will happen brain-washed as you are, by
baby and kids product commercials that show you kids taking hot baths and
drinking hot chocolates and listening to bedtime tales and promptly going to
sleep.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">That does not happen. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">At least, it doesn’t, in my house.</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">And if it does in your house, shoo! I hate you!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
Actually put down tips in the comment section and then vamoose!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">I don’t mind trying anything at this point.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
I’m not sure when it is that my lovely little baby who used to nod off to sleep
within minutes of a lullaby transformed into ‘Captain- I-Must –Make Amma-
suicidal-at-every-bedtime’ person.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
Maybe it was when the Boob juice stopped. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYQ65Kt5gaVTkdJB8GErTa4p2kUNq9sgqtM3Dj6v8qjXCAuowz9amw92XCoY5o2LYisTrT-mLZnAwfRULPh8qYkK7DXVJZKImC9VbhenMRt9eUeNhMyeTxMOk0AwK2CUiau6NmA/s1600/bedtime+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYQ65Kt5gaVTkdJB8GErTa4p2kUNq9sgqtM3Dj6v8qjXCAuowz9amw92XCoY5o2LYisTrT-mLZnAwfRULPh8qYkK7DXVJZKImC9VbhenMRt9eUeNhMyeTxMOk0AwK2CUiau6NmA/s1600/bedtime+1.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The stuff commercials are made of</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here's a cartoon from pre-bedtime battle times. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
<!--[endif]--></span><!--EndFragment--></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Or maybe it all changed when the terrible twos truly set in and she
realized she could, ‘cos she<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>could.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, here’s how it goes now.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">We start by being nice about it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">She snuggles up in her Lightening McQueen bed,
</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Here’s an actual pic of
this bed that my car-crazy toddler chose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And then we start with a book called 5 minute bedtime stories . There
are 5 of these. I end up reading all 5 rather than one as the publishers of the
book were hoping.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">She twiddles her fingers. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">“Song?” </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">With hopeful expression writ large.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">I clamp down on exhaustion and sing an ancient lullaby. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">All how many ever verses of it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Eyes fly open at the last word.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">One more story please?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
At this point the veins in my forehead are beginning to throb. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I tell her about the uncle who will come with a sack to take her away if she
doesn’t sleep. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This is my version of a grown up Wee Willy Winky.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This earns me 3 minutes of silent contemplation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, it was worth the judgement by other parents who look down on this particular method. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(<i><span style="color: #351c75;"><u><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/2013/08/here-he-comes-bogey-man.html" target="_blank">Please note I’ve not had much luck with bogey-men before</a></u></span></i>.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Then a voice pipes up.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
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<div style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">"One story Pwease? I’ll sleep!"</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Weakling that I am, I give in.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">She looks like she’s asleep and her breathing has deepened. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Just as I sidle away, a voice behind me pipes up again!</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">"Song?"</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span>
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">My Uncle with the Sack returns with a vengeance. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12pt;">Voices are raised.
Negotiations are made. </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Tears are shed. On both sides. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">And then a compromise. </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"></span></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">One last song but eyes to remain tightly closed. No peeking.</span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">
</span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One hour later, my two year old is finally, really fast asleep.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tomorrow, I promise myself that I will make her run around the grass for
20 minutes straight.<br />
That and I sue those commercials for unrealistic expectations. <br />
Sigh. </span>
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #d52a33; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #3778cd; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoons. </a></i><br />
*Update*<br />
I know the font is wonky in this post.<br />
I'm wondering whether to go all intellectual on you and say it is meant to be that way as it reflects the ups and downs of being a full-time Work From Home Mum.<br />
Or tell you the truth which is - I'm tech-challenged and Blogger always does this to me when I write on Word and then copy-paste it.<br />
OkthanxBai! :) <br />
<br /></div>
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Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-8023631977015735802014-04-09T07:39:00.002-07:002014-04-09T07:39:34.384-07:00Birthdays! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The Times of Amma turned a year old last week and like most one year olds was pretty oblivious to this rather momentous occasion.</span><br />
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I on the other hand was busy turning 30 and getting sentimental which you can read about <a href="http://shwetaganeshkumar.blogspot.com/2014/04/30-things-im-thankful-for.html" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="color: purple;">here</span></i></b></a>.</div>
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In other news, we are now back in Nibbles's birth land and she seems to be adjusting admirably well. </div>
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Look she is even learning the language -<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqTmVpwFcUCLUO4vYqoumJ0MlcY44zouCSdxhzhrqRRm05Zf4T1WVokCodHV0sU10-PKW5qAVd0fBCpWrZh0IBo-oDlCvUl8wI54MovRpejFqjFDJUdluQ6ts8gcqpguQ9z1YRw/s1600/Salamat+Po.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqTmVpwFcUCLUO4vYqoumJ0MlcY44zouCSdxhzhrqRRm05Zf4T1WVokCodHV0sU10-PKW5qAVd0fBCpWrZh0IBo-oDlCvUl8wI54MovRpejFqjFDJUdluQ6ts8gcqpguQ9z1YRw/s1600/Salamat+Po.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
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Which makes me want to find a tutor super soon too! But it's all apply apply no reply at the moment.<br />
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(Update: In the time it has taken to upload this post, I've found a tutor! First meet-up on Saturday! More updates soon! :))<br />
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There are so many posts that I've been waiting to put up but i've not been able to because of multiple reasons like: </div>
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No or Spotty internet </div>
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No or Limited time </div>
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Total or Extreme love towards sleep which is now becoming my precious.</div>
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<br />
But the getting off my dusty mommy bloggers ass part of the programme will commence very very shortly! </div>
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I promise!</div>
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<br />
Because of course I want to show and tell what exactly Nibbles has in store for people who hurt or attempt to hurt or think of hurting her and her family or are just walking down the street. </div>
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But that is content for another post!</div>
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To be continued...(I swear)<br />
Till then, if unlike me you have a functional internet connection, click on the link below :D </div>
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<br /></div>
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<div>
<a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="background-color: white; color: #4d469c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoon</a></div>
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Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-27379773966157356512014-03-13T00:54:00.002-07:002014-03-13T00:55:22.543-07:00Tala- Yoga<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We are Indians.<br />
We do Yoga.<br />
Nay, we are born with an innate sense of Yoga.<br />
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Or at least some of us are, like Nibbles.<br />
Unlike me, for whom the only stretching worth doing is reaching up to the top of the kitchen shelf for that bar of chocolate I hid behind the Garam Masala Jar.<br />
<br />
Anyway, Nibbles has always been into stretches. A true Indian. Or A true NRI? Aren't we more desi than the real desis? But then that's a topic for another post.<br />
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Before she turned a year old, she was already master of the 'Put your feet into your mouth literally' asana.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyxxQv5xfJvR8lGVSDEugECEZl4sZ0OrHs44QmVppnXCA7T1PqfLqLVe4rlglyrHfgF37MaRAvQ8TeHGs1bD22IktoIATn2RfpmbMGGcoa6y40KzI-G2XtTe38rO8cJjsEFGQFQ/s640/blogger-image-1780347984.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinyxxQv5xfJvR8lGVSDEugECEZl4sZ0OrHs44QmVppnXCA7T1PqfLqLVe4rlglyrHfgF37MaRAvQ8TeHGs1bD22IktoIATn2RfpmbMGGcoa6y40KzI-G2XtTe38rO8cJjsEFGQFQ/s320/blogger-image-1780347984.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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At little over a year, her Ammumma taught her 'Cycle, cycle'<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgv1uCUpee5ZAtDvEDtdMrWkQHgs2Ecflv7zfQSSL8SxUjbIVfxeDkX31SkGJgz4JuAbi__gHsaPozWWwfqf7RJNjP5YeNs92HgZbMnQnCzCGrgCaTa8FmUKi3lF_RUoad8TncA/s640/blogger-image-589417551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUgv1uCUpee5ZAtDvEDtdMrWkQHgs2Ecflv7zfQSSL8SxUjbIVfxeDkX31SkGJgz4JuAbi__gHsaPozWWwfqf7RJNjP5YeNs92HgZbMnQnCzCGrgCaTa8FmUKi3lF_RUoad8TncA/s320/blogger-image-589417551.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And then at two years, her Ammumma taught her 'Butterfly-butterfly'.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLbLYt2kDjjR3NEmffPy2hRZGJaoXvhTXzWQUYcb1WQTHeGx1O4CmCzMm78qAPb51aMRWbDl3d_HU-AEuES3YcMTny2ByqiMfLZS2CSfb7HRhIKVmzfPE_nKhT7B-djH94s3VHg/s640/blogger-image-107105693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqLbLYt2kDjjR3NEmffPy2hRZGJaoXvhTXzWQUYcb1WQTHeGx1O4CmCzMm78qAPb51aMRWbDl3d_HU-AEuES3YcMTny2ByqiMfLZS2CSfb7HRhIKVmzfPE_nKhT7B-djH94s3VHg/s320/blogger-image-107105693.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But her favourite Asana of all time and all season has always been this.<br />
Her '<i>Tala-Yoga' </i>or head yoga.<br />
Which knows no age or season.<br />
Can be done right after waking up or before going to sleep and even after eating after making sure caution is flung to the winds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauagv3FJxX1LT7-UmDTdzbChTlj2MZiIWNXO9FF8iNVFv8Hwt-JF8PAUQkJ7YdU9pwTtB_1vgpFspccwwAp3dWl2fc_MziLuj6D7tvYrwxGN6U_mOJebx9X3XyI01fh0gGLszag/s640/blogger-image-1827706373.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauagv3FJxX1LT7-UmDTdzbChTlj2MZiIWNXO9FF8iNVFv8Hwt-JF8PAUQkJ7YdU9pwTtB_1vgpFspccwwAp3dWl2fc_MziLuj6D7tvYrwxGN6U_mOJebx9X3XyI01fh0gGLszag/s320/blogger-image-1827706373.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And is so simple that all her toys and books can follow suit too.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnS2ypOeTcALld_-ga6eAo4Mc38UEzLyszZTN_QuPYkWgFDv1iyF7YyXgy1dT8e0xxLHn1Yl4-CC_JoliTu8jBNYlxpFePiSot3Be0qmJwvrveCLgzTLBUPBMGpqnuAzfArUcjw/s640/blogger-image--1258148125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnS2ypOeTcALld_-ga6eAo4Mc38UEzLyszZTN_QuPYkWgFDv1iyF7YyXgy1dT8e0xxLHn1Yl4-CC_JoliTu8jBNYlxpFePiSot3Be0qmJwvrveCLgzTLBUPBMGpqnuAzfArUcjw/s320/blogger-image--1258148125.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Tala-yoga - -try it.<br />
Feel the blood rush to your head as you dangle it upside down.<br />
It won't eliminate your worries but it will sure help in postponing them.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe-uwKirikfOeWX2U8TF_l40_90UZNs18t_Q5l0O3bnSqg8LAzZfUMJdVcSTpzbzZxPbQVOdj6Oss2LpA1DVX4OX0X-3CHZPifqJlNOQzTpxRPeOkYZqpqzmJ0voYBChC8b4uJg/s640/blogger-image-1254845253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLe-uwKirikfOeWX2U8TF_l40_90UZNs18t_Q5l0O3bnSqg8LAzZfUMJdVcSTpzbzZxPbQVOdj6Oss2LpA1DVX4OX0X-3CHZPifqJlNOQzTpxRPeOkYZqpqzmJ0voYBChC8b4uJg/s400/blogger-image-1254845253.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d469c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoon</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d469c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d469c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">P.S-</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d469c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>The tablet is on vacation and we will switch back to digital cartoons pretty soon! </i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #4d469c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 18px;"><i>Stay tuned! </i></span></span></span><br />
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Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-30116259303016147452014-02-26T13:18:00.000-08:002014-02-26T13:18:41.088-08:00Adios El Salvador! <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: #222222;">So my </span><u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://shwetaganeshkumar.blogspot.com/2014/02/boxes-of-past.html" target="_blank">boxes are packed</a></span></u><span style="color: #222222;"> and on their way to a port from where they will sail across seas to reach their new home. </span></span><br />
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The paintings and the smiling faces of my family have been taken down from the walls and the bookshelves emptied of the books and the house, suddenly seems so, so bare.</div>
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We have less than two days to go, before we leave El Salvador and my heart is all choked up and eyes fill up at the slightest notice.</div>
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<span style="color: #222222;">It's not like I haven't said </span><u><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/2012/01/paalam-manila.html" target="_blank">goodbye to cities I loved before</a></span></u><span style="color: #222222;">.</span></div>
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But San Salvador... </div>
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I came here as an Amma struggling to make sense of my five month old baby and I'm leaving with a happy bouncy toddler.</div>
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This is where my now two years and two month old daughter learned to crawl.</div>
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This is where she started eating solid food.</div>
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This is where she took that first drunken step.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7Uv7-r3EPQGInpOm7Q2HeJ8WtFbdVTDwKBXd46HzhPwMkIuojhmCDwS8MEF5wfTbt7kdcmDsaFIa3Wge8qLXxPMN2wgBaw7yTEXKrh7A-x50fo_E4rxJeaUlp5Kg9dgiNaOhXw/s1600/First+step.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7Uv7-r3EPQGInpOm7Q2HeJ8WtFbdVTDwKBXd46HzhPwMkIuojhmCDwS8MEF5wfTbt7kdcmDsaFIa3Wge8qLXxPMN2wgBaw7yTEXKrh7A-x50fo_E4rxJeaUlp5Kg9dgiNaOhXw/s1600/First+step.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is where she cut her first teeth.</div>
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And this is where she called me Amma and her father Da-Da for the first time!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz08z6jXDuv4s4mM1HQIk_je2HCAu-DB-yR7doC3qQt01zcyYkny1IpDbaZk0kwEd7KH17LLXkyhCL9bY8Vwva5VZ9Y88nWcaz845gh9CQHxlkjoDaxNyqzHhBD_gCqTwafS2AmQ/s1600/Amma-dada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz08z6jXDuv4s4mM1HQIk_je2HCAu-DB-yR7doC3qQt01zcyYkny1IpDbaZk0kwEd7KH17LLXkyhCL9bY8Vwva5VZ9Y88nWcaz845gh9CQHxlkjoDaxNyqzHhBD_gCqTwafS2AmQ/s1600/Amma-dada.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is where the Times of Amma was born.</div>
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I'm going to miss you - my lovely, warm apartment and beautiful, hospitable El Salvador for reasons too many and too complex to articulate.</div>
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We are the places we go to and the experiences we have, they say - and so I'll be honored to have a little bit of Salvadoreña in my soul.</div>
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For I know, that it is that Salvadoran part of me that will make me smile and greet absolute strangers and try and do at least one random act of kindness a day and not let language stand in the way of communicating with someone. </div>
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Adios, El Salvador.</div>
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You will be missed.</div>
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Sorely. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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~</div>
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<a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="color: #4d469c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoon</a></div>
</div>
</div>
Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-70626240147052383442014-02-07T16:25:00.001-08:002014-02-07T16:33:44.569-08:00Did you get your toy?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This
post is dedicated to <a href="http://www.apelortodoncia.com/" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: blue;">Apel Ortodoncia</span></b></a> – the best dentists I’ve ever come
across and believe me, I would know. </div>
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<br /></div>
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From impacted wisdom teeth, to fractured
teeth, to making a canine (Oh, the irony) less sharp and wolf-like – (Yes, you read that
correctly. Werevolvian characteristics run in our family), I have had every
conceivable kind of dental treatment. </div>
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<br />
So anyway, I met these guys and I had a fabulous (See? People who call dental sessions fabulous have obviously had many, many dental appointments) session some time in 2012 and
I went back earlier today, for my second session which was actually supposed to
have been sometime in 2012.</div>
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If you dare to ask me why I pushed it off for so long, you clearly haven’t been
reading <b><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" target="_blank">The Times Of Amma</a>.</b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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I have half a mind to shoo you away, but in these
trying times where every story teller has to become a story seller, I am
grateful that you are here and will be much obliged if you keep reading. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(<a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HQ1X92C" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: blue;">Speaking of story selling, have you read my new book that is now out on Amazon and has been getting rave reviews</span></i></a>?)<br />
<br />
Sorry, sorry back to my dentists. </div>
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<br />
So, as I was saying I love these guys and will recommend them to any one in El
Salvador. <br />
But it turns out they have one little flaw. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">(Dhaan-Dhaan-Dhaan) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">(That was scary music. Read it like that now!) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria;">So, here I am back home after an hour and a half at the dentist’s which by
the way, felt like a vacation. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I could actually hear myself think as I stared up into the light, mouth wide open (this last not by choice) to the buzz of dental tools in the background. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">I’m pretty sure this is the closest I have come to meditation in the past few months. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9qV4V2SlJPZbwtKM4gA7vQBFLllCjRSByhSGOJKK5PKFycXStXyFdy-AVSEHv40746dXVvySfA1-ZutNKRletbydM8m12mfkVn6eV3tD9FYSgmMf8qudkvPVMA6tGkvEp8c6Ow/s1600/Nirvana+at+the+dentist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW9qV4V2SlJPZbwtKM4gA7vQBFLllCjRSByhSGOJKK5PKFycXStXyFdy-AVSEHv40746dXVvySfA1-ZutNKRletbydM8m12mfkVn6eV3tD9FYSgmMf8qudkvPVMA6tGkvEp8c6Ow/s1600/Nirvana+at+the+dentist.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I call this one, 'Nirvana at the dentist's.' </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><br />
<br />
Anyway, back at home, two-year old Nibbles <a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/2013/12/excuses-excuses.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">who knows a thing or two about dentists</span></a>, quizzes me about my visit. <br />
<br />
‘Finish with Dentist Aunty, Amma?’</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">
</span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">‘Yes, baby, I’m done.’<br /><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">‘Did you get a toy?’<br />
‘What? No, no I didn’t get a toy.’<br /><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">Nibbles smiles sympathetically.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">‘When I goes to the dentist, dentist aunty does check-check and gives a toy. No toy for Amma.’</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">And with another sad waggle of her head, she wanders off to play with her dad. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><br />
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ed4FZY45s5D0x2gCWzPeTTlL2c8fRskox3D_b2viL9TVOVsZOwK4itIejb7ijj6XcjFyjbKftkM9dWnhN9hFd-vsBBdqPOATanhMNGOxMUL5eI5a_EahonNFI0wUc2DULveQjw/s1600/Criteria+for+dentists.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ed4FZY45s5D0x2gCWzPeTTlL2c8fRskox3D_b2viL9TVOVsZOwK4itIejb7ijj6XcjFyjbKftkM9dWnhN9hFd-vsBBdqPOATanhMNGOxMUL5eI5a_EahonNFI0wUc2DULveQjw/s1600/Criteria+for+dentists.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soon to become a universal standard of certification for dentists. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">
So, there.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"></span>No toy = why would you go to a check-check with no toy?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">But for all of you in San Salvador, who don’t mind not getting a toy, seriously
<u><a href="http://www.apelortodoncia.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">these guys</span> </a></u>are the best! </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">
Have a good weekend everyone! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Cambria;">If you have time over the weekend, don't forget to click the link below ;)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Cambria;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="color: blue; font-style: italic;"><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoon</a></span></div>
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Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-13972341821840399272014-01-30T21:23:00.001-08:002014-01-30T21:23:30.859-08:00Of Amma's law and Chocolate Ice Cream<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Amma's law is not always about laying down the law or maybe it is, in some households.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">In mine, it's mostly a variation of that hoary old coconut - Murphy's law.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Let me illustrate, very badly, literally i.e how this works with an example of chocolate ice cream.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">So first, a little back story - </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I love chocolate ice cream and have never really enjoyed sharing it. But now that I'm an Amma, considering not sharing ice cream or anything for that matter, is something that does not happen. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It's something which happened the moment I held Nibbles for the first time.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Yes, things get corny like that when you are an Amma.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Anyway, back to Amma's law.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Day 1 - when the tub is full, I offer my two year old Nibbles a spoonful - the response being a curled upper lip, scornfully crossed arms and an emphatic 'No'.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztkBVRy-65KVIG4W0S3PaHacZ1YqQV5WnEhGePzRAtcJKarjCONKUmlMfkr4ThLzx6NcvP7PUsKX4OLA_n3LP8e461vbhFcQly0yU-qO66EdXzsD9AWj5-Uhk4rJlPGB4kD5qUA/s1600/Full+ice+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhztkBVRy-65KVIG4W0S3PaHacZ1YqQV5WnEhGePzRAtcJKarjCONKUmlMfkr4ThLzx6NcvP7PUsKX4OLA_n3LP8e461vbhFcQly0yU-qO66EdXzsD9AWj5-Uhk4rJlPGB4kD5qUA/s1600/Full+ice+cream.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">Later in the week - we have a repeat of the scene when the tub is half- empty.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEULg6fvvFwP-hqXJQX_OSGuSXZEVDFTKy7GEQWGNRY-L6cZKoZ-GLF4ylpqs3H0P9a3EwbU6CBkYFas-mKJLWpgkVhGRWvysvKJuCrQLcS6YWxoOChIFOgFm5mgvF-F3LUz5vw/s1600/Half+icecream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizEULg6fvvFwP-hqXJQX_OSGuSXZEVDFTKy7GEQWGNRY-L6cZKoZ-GLF4ylpqs3H0P9a3EwbU6CBkYFas-mKJLWpgkVhGRWvysvKJuCrQLcS6YWxoOChIFOgFm5mgvF-F3LUz5vw/s1600/Half+icecream.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">And again when there's just a quarter left.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMBTFO1XTt7RoirJt2qay3elXW_iAiccRyhEaUoLjZudXS0g8sw3dGQY3h8AbKL27pp2ixrzMXqJLEWP-ft_7Tcnbd_XKzQFhBSeBWHQkv_ndqe2_1QjrYfxV8inPWgHcVSuGJw/s1600/34+icecream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMBTFO1XTt7RoirJt2qay3elXW_iAiccRyhEaUoLjZudXS0g8sw3dGQY3h8AbKL27pp2ixrzMXqJLEWP-ft_7Tcnbd_XKzQFhBSeBWHQkv_ndqe2_1QjrYfxV8inPWgHcVSuGJw/s1600/34+icecream.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Finally, there's 3 tablespoons left. I don't bother asking her and curl up with my bowl when suddenly a head with a wide-open mouth appears at my elbow.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">'I want, please'</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9CSWpOnCJk1RzE7Hey5spoO5loRC7yOK2mdaZ0j7A3IfSAXtaGcNcxJrUO-T5JI5PH701622kok2h_0qxBWgkDDzuIaX-HGTx-e29Hl3JTe-GOY_hKiVMXb__KPXKEDQxn-6zg/s1600/My+ice+cream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9CSWpOnCJk1RzE7Hey5spoO5loRC7yOK2mdaZ0j7A3IfSAXtaGcNcxJrUO-T5JI5PH701622kok2h_0qxBWgkDDzuIaX-HGTx-e29Hl3JTe-GOY_hKiVMXb__KPXKEDQxn-6zg/s1600/My+ice+cream.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Suffice to say, I got none of the three tablespoons.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But hey, at least she said please, right?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Sigh.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Amma' law. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Pfft. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"></span><a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="background-color: white; color: #4d469c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoon</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">s</span></div>
Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-81479800884725463232014-01-22T15:24:00.000-08:002014-01-22T15:24:51.787-08:00Keep. It.The. Away<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">You know how Ammas think it will probably get easier as their child grows up?</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Well, it doesn't.</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">That's just a lie concocted by parents of yore so that they get to be grandparents!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But don't you go judging them, you'll be doing the same when your turn comes!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Anyway, some things do get easier - like food options and... I'll get back to that when I figure out what the rest are.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">But for most part they don't.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Especially the part where you think you can actually write more now that Nibbles is two and can talk and walk.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Wait, turns out that, that was just me thinking it and turns out Nibbles didn't get the memo on her Amma working from home.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">She did however figure out how to use that greatest of man's talents - articulate communication to good use.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;" /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSYN7yvBNzOjS7tmpTMtIPeQgyzJ7zEi9Qwy0ULNRdgRevs4d1NhO1c6_hBVXi5GMq-J7CHRMzYkEHQrlmGixWLgC7hcD9HgNFtPJQoFAtIz3-eSBlrSPeyb_RLD-Zswa_S7ZJg/s1600/Keep.It.The.Away.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtSYN7yvBNzOjS7tmpTMtIPeQgyzJ7zEi9Qwy0ULNRdgRevs4d1NhO1c6_hBVXi5GMq-J7CHRMzYkEHQrlmGixWLgC7hcD9HgNFtPJQoFAtIz3-eSBlrSPeyb_RLD-Zswa_S7ZJg/s1600/Keep.It.The.Away.jpg" height="188" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"Keep it the laptop and phone away, Amma! There! </span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Doore</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> (Far in Malayalam).</span></div>
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Now, play, play play?"</div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></div>
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">How else can I answer that but with a resounding 'Yes'?</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(I could say no, but that would just mean working while two baleful eyes bored a hole into my back and I don't think I would fancy that. It wouldn't look nice with certain dresses.)</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Anyway, this post is also meant to be taken as the reason why we have crickets chirping on the page so often!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I'm lengthy with my excuses like that!</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">If that doesn't please you, can I interest you in "We were in Cuba and logged out?"( No, really we were! <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/51875462@N02/sets/72157640021407416/" target="_blank">Here are pictures to prove it!)</a></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Or</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">My <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HQ1X92C" target="_blank">new book is now on Amazon</a>, so I'm busy looking for people who will help a writer Amma by buying it.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Pretty please!</span><br />
<br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Ok, Nibbles is back and she has that look in her eye again.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">It is time to <b>shut the it </b>and <b>put the it </b>away.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i>Doore.</i></span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Catch you whenever I catch you next!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="background-color: white; color: #4d469c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoon</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">s</span><br />
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Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30174928.post-48978823628035559312014-01-06T11:12:00.005-08:002014-01-06T11:12:39.811-08:00Phhooosssh - Tooo <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
So, yay it is Happy 2014 time.<br />
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Did you know you could wish people a very Happy New Year till the 10th of January?<br />
I didn't either.<br />
Because, I just made that up!<br />
Yes, you are welcome.<br />
Now go out there and reply to all those new year wishes without shame.<br />
You still have till Friday!<br />
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Anyway, my two year old - (Yes, two year old! She turned two in the last week of December. I'm still rolling 'two' slowly over my tongue, while she proudly holds up two fingers and declares 'TWO' when asked how old she is.) ... this paranthesis was so long that I forgot what the original sentence was supposed to be...<br />
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Ah yes, so Nibbles is now a magician of sorts. She has realised that by making circular motions at our faces while we are glaring at her, in reaction to some high-level mischief, she can make the anger go away.<br />
Of course, she learnt this from your's truly who used to do this to magically wave away the pain inflicted on her head, knees, <insert body="" here="" part="" random=""> that were always getting knocked and hit on by the furniture that runs into poor unsuspecting her, without listening to us saying, 'No table, chair, stool, don't do that. Please run slowly!'</insert><br />
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You get the picture.<br />
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Anyway, this magic is very helpful. It corks tears and takes away pain in seconds and replaces them with grins and smiles.<br />
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So, as it is not yet the tenth of January, this is the Times Of Amma team - Da-Da, Amma and Nibbles, doing 'Phhooossshhh - Toooo' to all your pains, regrets and hurts of 2013 to magically make way for 2014.<br />
Here's wishing you the happiest year yet filled with laughs of all kinds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs95SwLHnni1bAQkZFHjApForoOaxpUGFqWhr4BTDuLttd97_cG7WZSn-aNVDU0KsUsjXMAaE8Qm-j9aV3aLhhmXdNxpCd1_2tYzwWr7l0tLot1vGlYtlYxijcrVeCMvx4r_RkNw/s1600/Phoosh+Tooh+-+jan+6th.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs95SwLHnni1bAQkZFHjApForoOaxpUGFqWhr4BTDuLttd97_cG7WZSn-aNVDU0KsUsjXMAaE8Qm-j9aV3aLhhmXdNxpCd1_2tYzwWr7l0tLot1vGlYtlYxijcrVeCMvx4r_RkNw/s1600/Phoosh+Tooh+-+jan+6th.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://simplyspeaking.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Times%20of%20Amma" style="background-color: white; color: #4d469c; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Click here for previous issues of The Times Of Amma- the motherhood bulletin with badly-drawn cartoon</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">s</span><br />
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Inkspirehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12041237824788057245noreply@blogger.com0