Life in a fast forward mode #FridayReflections

Do you ever want to live your life in a fast-forward mode? Instead of a peaceful and calm routine, do you crave for something different and ready to face new challenges every day? I am in that mood recently. Have a sip of hot coffee with me and I will share you more :-)

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I heard a speech recently on WhatsApp about young kids and the stimulation of their brain. As per the video, if a 1-year-old kid is shown all cartoons which have more quick responses their brain is habituated to face exactly same kind of situations. Let's say if they watch a cartoon like 'Oggy and Roaches' or 'Tom and Jerry'. You might have heard about these or seen these cartoons by yourself. The cartoon is full of playful revenge, teasing one another and quick reaction to a few things. Mostly, there is no communication and there is a lot of action. When they see these regularly and join preschool after one year, the world around them seems to be dull, boring and slow to them. So, they find difficulty in communicating with other kids and teachers and following instructions. I haven't thought about the impact of cartoons on kids until I watched this video. 

So, If we were having coffee, I would like to tell you if you are a parent, that whatever kids watch on TV matters a lot. I would tell you that I love watching 'Tayo - The school bus' a Korean cartoon with my kids which has good morals and 'Oddbods' which is less stressful to the brain. 

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that this month is the busiest month of this year and I have experienced maximum stress managing kids and dance practice. 

I would also tell you that our stage performance went very well and our team is completely happy about the dance.

If we were having coffee, I would tell you that even my mind is in fast forward mode this month with many things keeping me busy one after the other. I would also tell you that somehow I love taking more challenges and stress than sitting idle even though I crib a bit about busy life :-)

So, that's it for now. What would you share if you are having coffee with me?

Until next time,

Linking this to #FridayReflections hosted by Sanch. The prompt "If we were having coffee, what would you tell me".

Also, linking this to #ChattyBlogs hosted by Shanaya tales.

The Indus Challenge by R Durgadoss - [Book Review]

THE INDUS CHALLENGE

by

R. Durgadoss

Blurb

Bharat is in chaos. While the kingdoms fight each other, Alexander’s forces gather for the assault, their leader lured by tales of supernatural weapons and the elixir of immortality. Only one man can save the subcontinent from domination by the Greeks: the young Chandragupta Maurya, trained under the aegis of the ‘dark brahmin’, Chanakya.

When an ancient seal is found, sharing the secrets of the brahmastra, the redoubtable weapon of the Mahabharat, it is up to Rudra, young commander of the Mauryan Nava Yuva Sena and lifelong friend and confidante of Chandragupta, to decode it. Along with his fellow commandos, and with the able guidance of his guru, Rudra embarks on a quest that takes him from the snowy peaks of the Himalayas to the seas of Rameshwaram, hunting the clues that will lead him to the brahmastra. On the way, he meets the Chiranjivis, ancient beings tasked with divine duties, and learns the secrets behind his own birth and his mysterious powers.

But Rudra must be careful, for not all enemies were dispersed with the death of the mighty Alexander. Treachery lurks in the home, and when Rudra is framed for the attempted murder of his sovereign, he must pull every trick at his disposal to reveal the enemy, and save his kingdom from plunging, once more, into bloodshed and chaos.

A historical, mythological adventure story, The Indus Challenge is sure to appeal to readers interested in the storied past of India and the legends woven into its soil.

My Review:

The Indus challenge is a historical fiction covering many ancient facts about Brahmasthra and Amrit. This story is second  part of the series about a specific chatacter from Mahabharata epic which the author mentions as reborn in mauryan tenure. 'Rudra' who is the hero of the story plays a key role in establishing mauryan empire with guru Chanakya, Chandragupta and a group of nine young men known as Nava Yuva sena. The story is about the clues this team finds and the puzzles it solves to claim nine sciences  and unravel the secret of the universal missile 'Brahmasthra' mentioned in Mahabharatha epic. 

What I liked?
1. The facts and well researched information on Brahmasthra
2. The concept and the big picture
3. The characterization.
4. The images in the book which were relevant and useful to understand the story better.

What didn't impress me?
1. Logic is missing at a few places and some information is repeated many times like the details about Brahmasthra and its impact.
2. The narration and vocabulary can be better. There are too many quotes and lengthy conversations in the story as if the characters are giving a speech to the reader.
3. Eventhough title of the book and blurb give an impression that it's more about puzzle and challenges, the story drifts its focus more on politics in Mauryan empire than the puzzle to unsolve Brahmasthra.

Overall, it's a good read if you love historical fiction. If the story is narrated in a better way, this would be an impressive book with many historical facts.

My Rating: 3/5

Ps: I have received this free review copy from The blog tours in exchange for an honest review and this is my unbiased opinion on the book.

Read an excerpt of The Indus about Challenge here:

Prologue

330 bc

The Macedonians and Greeks came with Alexander the Great to the Hindu Kush range. They were mesmerized by the land of the gods, snow-covered, forested mountains higher than Olympus. The sun rising and setting among the glistening peaks painted a breathtaking picture. They were entranced by the stories of the magical kingdoms of the air; of the heavens; of Vishnu and Shiva; of cities in the sky inhabited by sky demons. They were fascinated by the story of Surya, the sun god, who galloped across the sky each day in his golden chariot, pulled by the five horses, while down below in the dark bowels of the earth were giant serpents, red-eyed, flesh-eating demons and other creatures of the underworld.

It was at this time that the people of Bharat were looking inwards, while the Macedonians aggressively explored outwards and wanted to conquer the world. The kingdoms of Bharat were threatened by the aggressive Macedonians. No king or kingdom was free from the aggressor’s attack. Fragmented kingdoms, disunity and distrust among the rulers made these kingdoms an easy target for the Macedonians.

During this period, several events are shrouded in mystery—what brought Alexander to India? How did he die at such a young age? What were the origins of Chandragupta Maurya? How did a young lad of humble origins take on a mighty king? How did a poor Brahmin pundit help a poor young man rise to power from nowhere? What extraordinary powers did Chandragupta possess that made him so successful? Who were his key generals? Who won wars for him? The questions are endless.

There are several seemingly unconnected dots, as the history of this time is shrouded in deep mystery. Rudra effortlessly unlocks the ancient secrets and aligns the unconnected dots. Mystery unravelled; secrets decoded…

In the second avatar (Janam Two) as Rudra during the tumultuous times of Alexander and Chanakya, he offers stunning clues and revelations. His decrypting skills leave a trail that answers several mysteries in our rich history.

At last, Rudra, heading the Nine Unknown Men Army (NUM), has arrived to decode the secrets to save humanity from cataclysm and extinction.

1

Parthiva year, 306 bc, Kartika (November) month, Friday evening.

The Massaga fort in the Hindu Kush had surrendered to Rudra, the commander-in-chief of the Mauryan army. He was taking stock of the situation. At this hour, a cry hit his ears. ‘Meri raksha karo! (Please save me from the barbarians!’) A woman’s shrieking voice reverberated against the mountains.

‘Why does this lady cry so?’ asked Rudra, looking curiously at his companion. He turned in the direction from where the voice was coming. To his surprise, he saw two cages in which two persons stood, chained. There was a young woman around twenty-two years old, and in the other cage was a bright young lad.

Rudra looked at the cage closely. The woman was gorgeous, seductive, shapely. Her hair was kohl-black, and cascaded over her shoulders. She had thin eyebrows, velvety eyelashes, sea-nymph ears, a sharp nose, shiny white teeth, almond-shaped eyes and glossy skin.

She was wasp-waisted, and her pouting, luscious lips conveyed her displeasure. Her hips and bust were almost of equal size. Her perfect shape reminded him of many icons of beauty he had seen. Her fleshy rounded back attracted his attention.

Rudra realized that he was going overboard ogling at the young women. But in spite of her beautiful features, she seemed to be a fading flower, possibly due to her weakness and exhaustion.

He turned his head towards the surrendered commander of the opposing army, Dharma Sena.

‘Dharma Sena, who are these caged persons?’ asked Rudra.

‘Forget these idiots, Commander. Let me take you round the fort.’ Dharma Sena said, ‘This is Massaga, the great fort city of the Asvakas, the tribe of horsemen. To the south and west are gigantic rocks which defy climbing. To the east is the swift-flowing mountain torrent, the Masakavati river. This famous fort is situated on a hill 6,000 feet high and has a circumference of twelve miles. At the top of the fort, there is arable land requiring a thousand men to cultivate it. This land is capable of feeding more than 30,000 men indefinitely. There are also perennial springs and reservoirs. Every hill here is a natural fort, Commander. Every man here is a horse soldier, Commander. A mighty rampart of stone, brick and timber surrounds the fort, which also has a moat on three sides and the river on the fourth.

‘Commander, “Masika” means “serpent’s hole”, a name indicating the supposed impregnability of the fort and the valour of its defender.’

‘I realize how impregnable your fort is, Dharma Sena. I had to use my best skills to tame you and your fort. By the way, I am impressed by the seven gates leading to the citadel. Can you give me an overview of your fort, Dharma Sena?’

‘You have sharp eyes, Commander. You noticed our seven gates? I am impressed. Let me show you around.’

Grab your copy @

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About the author

A consistent Top Rank holder and a Gold Medallist throughout his academics, Mr. Durgadoss has had a career spanning 30 years comprising of depth from industry and width from management consultancy as highlights. He has held various senior management positions in top notch companies. Having travelled extensively on consulting assignments, he has interacted with prominent International Bodies like the UNIDO, Investment Bankers and companies held by Professors of Harvard Business School. He has a rare exposure to multiple cultures namely, MNCs, Home grown large groups, family concerns and public sector undertakings during his career. He is blessed with 360 degree analytical skills, which in turn emanates from his all round experience as a Functional head, General manager, Entrepreneur and a Board director. He is an advisor on the board of Directors of several companies benefiting the organizations with his remarkable cross functional skills and his up to date knowledge. Currently he is the Group Director – Finance and Strategy, House of S.T.Bhatia, United Arab Emirates (UAE). In addition he is the chief mentor, coach and Co – Promoter of Icon Management Services (IMS), UAE. Unceasing ‘Value Addition’ and not just ‘Validation’ is the mantra of success for IMS, a multi – disciplinary management consultancy organisation. He has multi-sectoral / cultural/ territorial/ functional exposure with proven track record of success. He is a PhD on Corporate Governance which involves CSR dimensions. He has delivered several lectures in various forums on Character, Competence and Consciousness (3Cs) towards the society and also has several articles to his credit.

Track travelled...

Raising the altitude from a functional entrant to a functional champion, extending his width as a management consultant of a Big 4 firm, he took up the profit centre head position, with a challenging revival assignment in the mid nineties.

Then he moved up to the entrepreneurial mode by taking up the role of a Managing Director of a new venture. Due to several macro economic factors, the venture went into deep trouble. He faced the worst disaster of his life on this venture, losing money, peace and friends, who invested along with him. From the brink of bankruptcy, he fought back to reach the basin of wisdom & wealth in the current assignment as the Director of a large group based in Dubai. The turbulence he went through during this phase tested his character & confidence. Now, along with Dr. Yerram Raju, his co-author, he has penned down this book on Character driven Competence, which elucidates practical ways of ‘Winning without Sinning’. He always says ‘Momentum leaders don’t wait for the waves; instead they build their waves and ride on them’.

After having fought the greatest wars in the deep chambers of his soul, he came triumphant, obtained his PHD in Corporate Governance and now presents the book with the worldly wisdom, gained by him during his career. 

‘Experience is the greatest from of Education’ says Dr. Durgadoss.

You can stalk him @       

                 

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Until next time,

Linking this to #FridayReflections hosted by Sanch and Corinne.

A Gemini, that's what I am #FridayReflections

I never believed in Astrology until around 11 years ago when I started working. Once, when I accidently read about the Sun signs and the behavior traits, I was more than impressed. I started observing the traits of friends and easily identifying their zodiac signs. Even though we cannot predict future or guess someone's personality, the general traits of a zodiac sign are helpful. So, here is the prompt that made me think about this subject.

What’s your star sign? Does it reflect your personality?

Gemini traits. Expressive and quick-witted, Gemini represents two different personalities in one and you will never be sure which one you will face. They are sociable, communicative and ready for fun, with a tendency to suddenly get serious, thoughtful and restless.

Google image marked with reuse

There are a few key characteristics of a Gemini which I can relate to.

• multi-talented
• Thinker
• Diverse interests
• Loves variety
• Trustworthy
• Emotionally hard to reach
• Overconfident

I love change and I am adaptable to different circumstances pretty quick. Almost all websites confirm this trait of a pure Gemini and it is 100% true in my case.

I love the variety and my skills are very diverse. Sometimes I enjoy writing, reading and being at home without social connect whereas, sometimes I want to be outgoing, meet people, make friends and meet strangers. This might be the dual personality which is also a key characteristic. 

When it comes to the negative side, I am overconfident most of the times and don't see my negatives in magnifier. I listen to my friends and family but take decisions on my own only if I really think, I am right. In school days, I was too confident to listen to my critics with an open heart. 

One trait which is both positive and negative for me is being emotionally hard to reach by others. Even though I am social and talk to everyone in a pleasing manner, I don't make friends easily and share my personal feelings. But, when I trust someone and choose them to be my best friend, I don't lose them.

Many websites talk about other negatives like Geminis being manipulative, inconsistent and restless. I cannot relate to these traits though I like to be inconsistent. I am organized from childhood and somehow, I feel now that I might not have been that organized and consistent. It's very rare to me to be restless and manipulative. 

That is about me and my opinion on Gemini traits. Do you believe in zodiac too?

Ps: By the way, my spouse's sun sign is least compatible with Gemini though we rock together :-) 

Until next time,

Linking this to #FridayReflections hosted by Corinne and Sanch. 

10 ways to win my heart #FridayReflections

This is the new prompt for this week's  FridayReflections hosted by Sanch and Corinne.

10 ways to win your heart

After serious blogging for a month, I think it's time for a fun personal post :-)

10 ways to win my heart:

Plan a trip
Take me anywhere, a mountain or a beach or a forest or a resort or just to a near by park, I would surely appreciate that because I love to experience new places and enjoy nature.

Buy me a book
It's an easy not so expensive way to win my heart. But, self help and management books are a big No. Even kid's story books and lifestyle magazines draw my attention.

Help me in cooking
This is a big relief if you can help me in cooking or prepare me a dish for lunch or dinner :-) Kitchen is one place where I don't want to spend much time in my house.

Buy me a scented candle
I love scented candles that decorate my home as well as spread nice fragrance. This is the best gift that I will appreciate forever. I love flower vases too.

 Engage my kids
I know, this is very difficult thing to ask for. Actually, I would love to have some free time reading and blogging while someone can engage my kids for sometime. You know, parenting gets very tiring often.

Buy me a coffee
Buy me a coffee and have a nice conversation with me. I am sure I won't bore you much. The aroma of fresh brewed coffee lifts up my mood anytime.

Watch a horror movie with me
I love horror and thrillers a lot though I don't watch a lot of movies. Because of young kids at home, I had to sacrifice horror movies for sometime :-(

Play AR Rehman's or Ilayaraja's melodies
Who doesn't like the music of Ilayaraja and AR Rehman? I love to listen to their music for hours.

Teach me baking
Though I don't love cooking much, I like baking. I am still at the beginner level and would love to learn baking cookies, cakes and muffins. yummy :-)

Talk to me about places and travel
I would love to hear about different places in the world and watch photos. Any conversation about travel draws my attention.

Until next time,

Image courtesy: www.pixabay.com

Hobbies are extensions of our life #NaBloPoMo #day20

What do you do when you are free ? How do you enjoy spending time? Does that work excite  you and bring happiness? Does it help you grow your imagination and creativity? That's a hobby for you.

As per wiki, a hobby is something you do for pleasure when you are at leisure. I feel hobbies reveal a lot about ourselves. They are extensions  of our lives.

In our leisure we reveal what kind of  people we are - Ovid Tweet this!

We can exist without hobbies but we cannot be content in our life without them. what do you say? 

My 5 hobbies that I love:

1. Reading:
This hobby takes most of my time after my family and my responsibilities. I enjoy reading since  I experience and understand many things which I might not have learned or experienced in my real life.

2. Photography:
I am an amateur or below that in photography but I enjoy it. This is the only way to capture and preserve our beautiful memories as time gone cannot be regained.

3. Writing
There is always a need to express for any human being. Some express by communicating, playing music or listening to music. I prefer to write when I feel either happy or sad.

4. Dancing
This hobby has taken a back seat due to my studies, job, children and many other responsibilities. But, I am not giving it up yet. I believe in dancing like no one sees us. It's not only good for health and being fit but also good for spiritual peace and inner joy.

5. Painting
This is one more hobby which I couldn't concentrate on after my high school. I went to drawing classes and I felt, this art is great to express our feelings.

So, that's about my 5 hobbies that I love. What hobbies do you have and what hobbies you really love?

Until next time,

Linking this to #FridayReflections hosted by Corinne and Sanch vee.

This is my day 20 post for #NaBloPoMo Challenge.

My 5 strengths #NaBloPoMo #day11

It's so difficult to write about weaknesses, but it should be easy when it comes to strengths, right?

This is my day 11 post for #NaBloPoMo and I am writing for the following prompt for #FridayRefelctions.

The prompt: Describe 5 strengths you have

Source: Google image labeled for non-commercial reuse

1. Not getting angry easily
I know this is the greatest strength I have. I don't lose cool so easily unless it is my kids being too naughty :p I think, it's from my genes. I deal differently when I am angry. I try to become silent and isolated. Sometimes, I also feel bad  that I couldn't react to the situation properly as I was silent when I had the reason to be angry. But, this helps me in long run. So, I need not worry about hurting others and breaking relationships in a fit of rage.

2. Keeping myself prepared for the worst
I am not pessimistic, but somehow I end up thinking about the worst scenario before even starting something. It helps me to deal with the failure better. For example, If i have to write an exam, I would plan to read properly, but I also would think of my alternate choices if I fail the test. How many attempts I can give again? How are my chances? Will the failure make any difference in my future plans? etc., 

3. My Flexibility to adapt to situations

Source: Google image labeled for non-commercial reuse

Flexibility is a great quality one can have. Life doesn't always give everything we want. We might have to perform several tasks which we might like to do or not. Being positive and going with the flow of life is what I learned. Being resistant to change always made things difficult for me. Planning and making myself flexible to adapt to different situations helped a lot.

4. My Detailed oriented attitude
Sometimes, it's tough for others to deal with me in professional life as I want to  understand everything in detail before I jump into that work. I cannot randomly work on things with only a few clues and without knowing the big picture or final goal. This attitude might slow down things, but it really helps me in getting the task done with perfection.

5. Jack of many trades
I love to put my legs on many things until I can stretch both my legs and doesn't fall down :p It's crazy actually to try to learn many things, but it gets interesting for me. Dance, music, crafts, blogging, painting - I love all that! 

So, that's about my strengths. What do you consider to be your strengths? Do let me know in comments.

Until next time,

Linking this to #FridayReflections.

Being ourselves is not easy #NaBloPoMo #day6

To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson. 

This quote made me think about being ourselves. Is it easy to be ourselves in all circumstances? I don't think so. 

Google image labeled with non-commercial reuse

Let me tell you my experience..

I don't like hypocrites. From childhood, I always respected honesty and genuineness. I don't usually lie or exaggerate when i talk  to people, even to strangers. of course, I shouldn't expect the same with others. But, a few people become an expert in hypocrisy. They show too much affection and sugar coat words when they talk even though they don't mean a single word.

There is a problem when we deal with these people. Can we be ourselves before them and show honesty when we already know about their behaviour ? we change. We will be more cautious not to get cheated and the friendship becomes meaningless. 

Our attitude depends on the other people's. We have to change sometimes for good if we don't want others to take advantage of  us. 

I was sensitive and soft-spoken for a long time till my graduation. Later, I realised that this behaviour may not work in all situations. I changed myself to be hard and harsh when dealing with tough people. 

Do you also believe this quote is true  and that it's tough to be ourselves in this world? Obviously, being ourselves will be a great achievement.
Please do share your opinion in comments.

Until next time,

Linking this post to #FridayReflections hosted by Corinne at Write Tribe. 

21 random facts about me! #FridayReflections

Hello all.. Time for a fun personal post after a long time. Had been busy from the starting of October with relocation and setting up everything at the new place. I am reading books and writing reviews, though. 

So, I am glad to participate in #FridayReflections link up this week. As per the prompt, here are 21 random facts about me :-)

1. I love traveling to the core, be it a planned one or unplanned ! I am always ready to pack my bags and explore new places.

2. I am not an early-riser. I am getting up at 6 am now-a-days, but I love to start my day late.

3. I am not a coffee addict, but loving the morning coffees these days. I also love to try different flavors of coffee like French Vanilla.

4. I love reading books, especially thrillers and horrors. 

Source: pixabay.com

5. I am a classical dancer, though took a break for a few years. I am planning to start back soon.

6. Cooking scares me to hell. True! As the world famous scientist Edison once said, I find the different ways to spoil a dish before learning to make a good one :-(

7. I am a strict parent when it comes to making my kids eat healthy food.

8. I love to make crafts with kids by exploring Pinterest boards and youtube videos

9. Not a movie buff, but I love to watch horror movies. 

10. I usually never talk on phone for hours. 

11. I love photography. I take pics of nature than people. I use my phone more to take pics than talk :p

12. I don't like junk food except for ice creams and cupcakes.

13.I love soups and salads.

Source: Google image labeled for non-commercial reuse

14. I am a vegetarian and eat all vegetables except bitter guard.

15. I love hill stations and cool places than beaches.

16.  I love to learn about history and archeology.

17. I learned classical music in childhood and I sing when I am happy and relaxed.

18. I love long walks and nature hikes. I enjoy long drives too :-)

19. I have recently become a Netflix addict and one series that I loved most is 'Lost'

20. I hate South Indian breakfast like Idli and Dosa though I am from South India.I love Pongal very much, though. 

21. Needless to say, I love blogging and I feel, it's therapeutic.

I hope, I didn't bore you much.

Until next time,

Linking this to #FridayReflections. 

Weekend rain #FridayReflections

It's raining here this weekend. This means, no outdoor activities 🙁

I would be dull with the weekend completely spent at home, but today I relax watching a downpour from our patio. Sometimes,
It gives great pleasure to me to watch the nature. It's cloudy and dark outside with trees looking fresh, washed by rain and lawn looking greener than usual. Evenings are pleasant too with full moon in the sky and cool breeze on the face.

Source:pixabay.com 

Also, on a rainy day I feel more lazy than usual and want to sleep for more time. I saw someone yesterday carrying a transparent umbrella and you know, it is  lovely to walk in the rain with a transparent umbrella where we can see water dripping on us. I want to drench in rain without umbrella too and leave paper boats in the small stream of rain water. My kids would enjoy that for sure now. Iam not very fond of both eating and cooking, but sometimes I crave for the spicy mirchi bajji and masala bathani which we get in Andhra on the streets on any rainy day. Ah! And cannot forget the taste of roasted corn !

Source:pixabay.com 

So, this is what making me smile today- A free write watching rain ☺

What made you smile today?

Until next time,

Linking this to #FridayReflections hosted by Corinne and Sanch.
Prompt: what makes you smile? What makes you happy?

My Top 5 Parenting tips

Every child is unique and so is a parent, what do you say?

So, I don't believe parenting tips work the same for everyone.

As a parent, we learn from experiences, try our best to give happiness to our kids. We make mistakes, realize later, and correct them. The tips that I am sharing now are some tried and tested ones. I will be glad if you can relate to those and they help you too..

Pin it for later!

1. Managing Tantrums

This is a big deal really, especially if you have an infant/toddler. Children are sometimes stubborn. Since they cannot still talk at that age, they try to grab the attention of parents either by crying loud or doing something else which is irritating to the parents. 

So, we can't blame them as it's their way of expressing anger/ disagreement.

In these cases, I will be stubborn too, but just that I won't shout at them. 

Patience is the key to manage tantrums and we have to repeat the same instructions many times and let them understand. Sometimes, I  feel, I am too strong and dominant in these cases, but when it comes to their health or safety, let me be a bad mother for some time.


2. Managing a fussy eater

I always have good patience, but when it comes to feeding my 1-year-old, I give up. I know, I shouldn't force feed, but every mom is concerned about her child's health, right?

Gradually, I started practicing a few tips which solved this problem for me. 

• Maintaining proper meal times
• Giving them proper exercise before lunch/dinner like running or playing
• Adding more fruits to increase their appetite
• Making it a family meal together
• Allowing to eat by themselves and bearing with the mess 
• Maintaining a proper gap between foods etc.,

There are soo many that I would save it for another post later :-)

3. Trying not to be  a 100% perfect mom

We always try to be perfect - feeding kids the perfect quantity of meals with perfect nutrition, grooming them, getting the toys that they love, spending more time with them, etc., But is it possible? I miss many of these. 

Sometimes, I am lazy to cook a very nutritious meal, get tired to feed them for some more time, get tired to be a good parent not shouting at them. I talk to my friends, browse the web, do my errands and sometimes, I cannot give complete attention to them and play with them. But, I feel, this is Ok. I will try my best what I can provide to my kid and sometimes, I falter and this is Ok.

Striving to be perfect is good, but if it increases your stress level, it's not worth it. I would love to hear your thoughts on this, please share your opinion in comments.

4. Engaging the kid

This is the biggest task. We need more patience and creativity. I use google to search for better ideas to engage them. Anyways, Pinterest helps me to find an easy craft any time a day.

To engage my 1-year-old, I usually stack building blocks with him, encourage him to play with the ball, run more, watch and hum rhymes, and read storybooks. Other than allowing him to play with toys and do painting, I encourage and help my 5-year-old to make crafts.

 We all like storytelling. I get Disney comic books and read out to them by showing pictures. Traveling to new places and playing outside are the best pass-times that they love. There are many ways to engage kids and I am yet to explore more.

5. Allowing some 'Me' time

You might say, this is not a parenting tip. But, A happy parent can raise a happy child. Agree?

If we all are mechanically doing the chores and dedicating our complete time to kids alone, we might lose that spark within us slowly.

I like reading, blogging, software testing, dancing, and a lot more. These are also part of my life. Being myself and doing what I like is the most relaxing. I get at most 2 hours for this as of now, but I am good to sacrifice a little sleep and enjoy my 'Me' time :-)

Wow! I think I have written a lengthy post. 'Parenting' is not a simple task, anyways :-)

Thanks to Corinne and Sanch for giving this wonderful topic for #FridayReflections - Top parenting tips

Until next time,

PS: All images are from google labeled with non-commercial reuse.