Satyamev Jayate

We managed to watch the 2 episodes of Satyameva Jayate and it was very good. As a mother of two lovely toddlers for me the ability for someone to present and talk about some issues like these feels pretty amazing. Good work by Aamir Khan for using his means to bring such issues in the forefront. On the other side there are issues that just come and go as a wave, hopefully it does not get lost and this results in some actions by concerned authorities.

Its not easy though and it is not just about creating chapters and amendments in current laws, not just about it anyway, its the mind set of the people that has to change and that freaks me out. For example it was cited a judge did not find anything wrong in the father and pathetic in laws eliminating girls and wanting a boy. (here the daughter-in-law wants to keep her female child and that is what the issue is about, If even she does not want it then its a bigger issue is what I am saying). If the judge was bribed to say something like that and he did it for money I could understand (Its wrong but understand some people have temptations) but if he really believes what he said and that was his own thinking and opinion/view - then that is what is sad and needs to change.

A grandmother of twin girls manages to push a baby wrapped in a cot through the stairs, she is a Principal of some school apparently, imagine a woman as a head of a school who is supposed to mold future citizens and young men and women having such values? That is what is outright scary. And finally the scariest part of it all is all women, doctors, mothers-in-law, mothers themselves craving for a son is one thing but killing the baby girl and hoping to conceive only a boy is unpardonable and unacceptable.

That is why the change has to come from within and values have to change!

But I have to ask.....

If people believe they want "the son" at any cost and should not eliminate girls, would some of them then just mechanically keep producing until they get a boy? even though they cannot afford financially?

Or dump the girl after she is born since she cannot be killed in the womb based on sex (its considered a crime by the country and not them)?Or probably sold since she is not "the son" they wanted? Or just ill-treated within the family and treated a burden?

Would this lead to more child labor/abuse etc then? Would that very same girl then think I wish I were not born?

Phew! your head just spins thinking about some of these issues and examples cited. Finally I always believed and reiterate education and money has nothing, nothing to do with the values you believe in. The Judge and Principal and many more examples we see in our every day lives who are so proud of not their "child" but their "son" prove it to me time and again.

The toughest part besides a lot of tears here and there for me was the initial speech Aamir Khan gave in the first episode on Motherhood and importance of a Mother in one's life, I could not, could not look at my husband. I know we were both in tears. And for me personally the song in the end was just too sad, about that chidiya, I don't want to listen to it again.

Week 20 2012

And so after the longest week ever finally back to our routine past 2 weeks. And since I am modest enough to accept it that I am not a super woman ;) I was definitely exhausted after a week of 2 clingy sick babies, AG stuck to me and AL mostly to P, but feeding is my department and its tough to feed congested babies, its actually more stressful, simply because I give in to what they want to eat when and I dont force feed as I trust their instincts but of course in the end it ends up being way too less than their actual consumption but as a mother its hard to sleep at night knowing your baby didnt feed as well as she should have. And then weekend we have friends over. So over all its mostly sleep deprivation which took me a few days to get over.

We took the girls to the temple as it was their birthday per the Hindu calendar on 6th. I dressed them in outfits I had purchased for them in FabIndia way back in our 2010 trip. Comfy Indian clothes and they looked super cute in it. Luckily weather improved too. So its been over a week since then. Girls have as usual been talkative and naughty.

Its been raining every other day past 2 weeks. Temperatures are perfect!

Its been six months since MIL passed away already. Sigh!

Getting thru the sickies

So its been Day 3 we have been home. Both are recovering but congestion still has not declined. AL's fever luckily has come down and AG who caught it right after AL is still on recovery mode with low grade fever. They still have to learn the whole blow your nose and spitting. Luckily last week of the month is not as crazy as the firt 2 weeks of the month at work. I think this whole change in weather patterns, hot and cold days alternating with rains is causing this. This is the first time since we got back from India almost 5 months since they have had to stay home - other small issues they recovered over the weekend to go to daycare regularly.

Saw that movie Tere Naal Ishq hogaya or some such Punju titled Ritesh and Genelia starrer was lousy - its like they just made it cos they were to be married. Eeks!

Bummed to here P's Uncle is admitted to hospital although the infection is coming down or so they say, hope he feels better and the immediate family gets more peace of mind.

Week 17 2012

Girls are officially 23 months and 1 month for their 2 year birthday -wow! 2 years since I am a mother now officially almost :-)

AL has been down with a fever and cold since couple of days. We could have waited but P wanted me to take her anyway to ensure the congestion is not something we should be concerned about, and it wasnt but watching these naughty, talkative, bubbly girls sick is really annoying. She is fine when medicine works and gets pretty down when it wears out. AG has a cold too now but she went to daycare. So I am home with AL. She wasnt happy to see the doc today.

Last week some of the colleagues were out on vacation and it was rather quiet. Havent been able to get much done today anyway work wise as I have been with AL most part so far.

Saw Ramarajyam yesterday it was ok. One of those things I dont completely enjoy watching in Ramayana is obviously the whole Agni pariksha and even after that some more mud slinging on that poor Queen after she is pregnant and the importance of duty of the King towards the subjects versus wife. He didnt really have to compromise both did he? not in that fashion? Of course if you think its all karma and you have to pay for what you have done, maybe that's what it was as unreasonable as it sounds to me. Its not like I dont enjoy Ramayana but the one aspect I dont agree with. I guess in today's world it means more that men and women should first focus on relationships that surround them - their mother, father, siblings etc rather than trying to impress and win new relationships and being praised by the whole world. Takes me to that movie Gandhi my Father, where in Gandhi sort of he admits to have failed with his own son, while he was busy fathering the nation. Its not all that black and white like some other things in life I guess.....

Week 16 2012

So after a rather normal week at work and with kids had a fun Friday night with a couple of friends. Girls were friendly with our visitor-friend AD and it was a delight to watch them warm up so quickly and have fun. They are very picky with whom they choose to losen up and I have liked their choice so far. Spent Saturday at home probably after ages at least since a couple of months or so. Although we stepped out Sunday/today. AG for the first time uttered "Sorry" today she never does I tried to teach her Sorry and Thank you and when you she really should mean it if she is. AL picked it up fast (the parrot that she is) but this lady is hesitant and finally for the first time because she put her tongue out spitting at someone, although didnt mean it but just for fun. I advised her she should be apologizing and she actually did and seemed to have meant it. Wow! Other times when she gets into trouble for bothering her sister she never apologizes and simply gets a time out, which most of the times she gets upset and I cant bear her shedding tears anymore.

So staying home meant catching up with movies. First movie was Three, with that Kolaveri song. It was a pretty ok movie. Dont prefer such movies with bi-polar disorder kinda stuff (had it enough with Law and Order episodes) and especially when it ends that way. But nothing wrong with the movie as such otherwise, actors were pretty fine. In fact better than expected both Dhanush and Shruthi Haasan. I think I read pretty bad reviews and expected a complete nonsense so I found it ok.

Kahaani was very good per reviews. Vidya Balan was brilliant as she has shown in recent movies especially and didnt want to stop wtahcing it for even a second, great pace. Bob Biswas was too good. Loved the whole Calcutta based story.

Caught up with friends and family I am so glad I have such a great support system. P and I completely independently manage our relationships without influencing each other in our way but completely sharing our opinions, so there is not even the need to talk about the old school system of - if are we having to compromise any relationship whether being a son/daughter, friend, etc. Although in the recent past I can see he has been surprised by some people who seem so nice upfront can turn be so pretentious, he still keeps his cool.


On that note my nugget for this week: AD was talking about some aspect on his work front, how the whole business unit came together at the time of crises in his company. No matter what the differences otherwise he said we all came together and felt the pain, crises and major problems bring people together he said. Made me think. I really hope that is the case with everyone whether at work or in personal relationships. If in times of pain and suffering people around you would look at it at an opportunity to insult and hurt you and your family, you really don't need them, do you?

Mid April

Weekend flew by as always. Since couple of days both of them have been getting awfully naughty. AG is already categorized as naughty girl but AL joined forces since 2 days, both of them are keeping me on my toes and I am loving it they alternate between spells of good mature behaviour and riot of mischief a perfect blend. You cannot leave them and turn your back for a second pretty much at times :-)

Cold/allergies has struck P and me again. I have never had nasal allergies ever. But it looks like finally after these many years in US it kicked in according to P. He thinks you are over protected relatively in this environment as opposed to the dust and pollution my body got used for 20 years and suddenly lack of it from 10 years finally hits me this way ;)

Finally got my new Prada eye glasses, went for the black matt finish as glossy was well  too glossy :-) My power hadnt increased except axes since I first had my glasses in 2002 and its too low for contacts and the doc said to wear it only if I want to and dont have to wear it constantly, I could even do without it. Anyway I got it and now feels weird been so long since I quit wearing them .

Work also keeping me on my toes along with kids - the way it should be.

They had another picture day at school and AG wasnt happy with the whole set up and did not co-operate, AL as expected did. For easter I gifted the kids in the class a plastic egg with a candy they seem to have liked it. Those kids are so cute, greet me everyday int he morning alongside AG and AL and also bid me good bye and couple of them very happy to see me even and give me a hug. Their feelings are so pure and innocent makes you so happy. I had AL push another girl almost and warn her with a big NO not to come close to her Mommy, very posessive and cute (well there are other days she doesnt care, she rather be with her teacher Z her favorite one and acts like she is doing me  favor by sitting in the car to go back home in the evening ;))

Stuff..!

Poor AL has a bad cold & cough. I kept her home yesterday just hoping she would feel better. But she has a sore throat this morning. Sent her to day care as she is likes her teachers and friends, especially teachers so its a good change. And I did check on the webcam that she is more occupied and hence less miserable there.

Its getting warmer after a cold spell again. Yay! I hope though that P's allergies are better this time round hopefully!

Girls are totally anti-dal chawal diet. I dont force them but I have to confess I am running out of healthy vege options for toddlers at times.

　

I was collating all the pictures to send (its been 6 months since I have done it, very reluctant since MIL passed away) to my FIL and was thinking so much about my MIL she would have been so happy to watch the girls grow and all the pranks to share and compare them with their Dad's since P was a naughty child too. AG already gets time outs at times at daycare (which I support as she can get quite naughty) and I have a complaint report on her naughtiness. I have to confess I find it too cute. This I can say since she cant read this for the next few years at least ;) I also see that as of now AL is more like me in terms of personality, prim and proper kinds I used to be and more girly etc

Busy weeks ahead at work. Which is fine but what makes me nervous is how soon time flies, on Friday the feeling that 'wow! the week just flew by"