Day 17 – Doing the Tag!

I am going to take the easy way today and do the tag that Uma started on her blog.

Here is my version –

1) Do you tend to hold grudges against people who have done you wrong? 

– I don’t want to, but yes I do… in some cases. And believe me I have tried to let go, forgive and forget but in those very few cases I just am not able to. Some day, maybe. Till then I shall struggle with it. And the wrong could be a wrong in my opinion. As far as the other person is concerned, they would just say “that’s who I am!”

2) What is your astrological sign? 

– The Twins! Gemini. Actually a Gemini Cancer cusp.

3) What’s the last thing you purchased? 

– A summer yellow stole/wrap around scarf for the impending holiday. And I loveeee it!! Maybe a picture of it soon?  Hmm idea for another post 😉

4) Did you have a baby blanket? Do you still sleep with it? 

– Don’t remember. But considering that I am not much of a hold-something-and-sleep-person don’t think I had one. Note to Self – Ask mom about this.

5) Have you ever tried to cut your own hair? If yes, how’d it work out? 

– Nope, never done that. But I did chop my sister’s hair off when she wanted hair like mine. And she did end up going to a proper hair parlour to undo the damage I had done 😛 She doesn’t hate me for it though 🙂

6) Have you ever sleep-walked? 

– No! But I used to grind my teeth while sleeping, at one time. Worms it was, I think.

7) You can only have one of these things: trust or love.

– Love! Trust is over-rated.

8) Which of the five senses is most important to you?

– Sight! I am a very keen observer of people and very visual so that would be the most important.

9) Would you be a more successful painter or singer?

– Neither. BUT I would love to be able to sing some day. Sing beautifully!! I do manage to do the odd painting/art work. Check here and here.

10) What’s a song that always makes you happy when you hear it?

– These 2 make it to the top of this category. Both are peppy and put a spring in my step –

and

Feel free to take the tag up… or not!!

🙂 Monday or 😦 Monday so far??

This post is part of the Marathon Blogging December 2012.

Being a mommy has taught me…

– that I can’t procrastinate anymore. There is stuff that will have to be taken care of NOW! Well there is some stuff that can wait. Like this tag…. Uma and Divs had tagged me long long (Thanks for that ladies) …. ok very long (is a month too long?) ago. And I just kept putting it off till “I could feel from the heart and write” or “I will write at the right time”. Digressing, aren’t we? Coming back to the point. Babies do not wait and neither does stuff related to them. Poopy diapers need to be changed, hungry mouths need to be fed and cranky kids need to be put to sleep and all this, you correctly guessed, needs to be done NOW! So the procrastinator residing in me deep down somewhere woke up and left, although, WARNING – some traces are still there.

– that I am human too and have flaws. Oh yes! Before that I used to think I was invincible and flawless. But days of overflowing laundry baskets, messy baby, dirty house (teeny-weeny bit maybe), eating takeout and a dishevelled “me” have proven otherwise! I am less patient but more grounded now.

– that there are bad days and good ones. I have learnt to have hope, to believe that every cloud has a silver lining. After a long tiring day N will finally go to sleep and then the silence will be heavenly. Every stage in your life and your child’s life has challenges and rewards too. Its up to you to sort the grain from the chaff.

– that what you say sometimes doesn’t matter as much as what you do. Children will copy even subtle expressions and actions. You cannot pretend that just because you turned around before you lost your cool the kid didn’t see you or notice. Their senses are razor-sharp and they know if you are sad, angry or fuming inwards without you saying a word. You need to practise what you preach and you need to be honest and calm all the time (ok, most of the times. All is too much to ask). I now know that my child is my mirror – the sort that magnifies and shows my flaws a li’l too well for my comfort.

– that its ok to be selfish and put yourself first. Ahead of your family, extended family, friends, spouse and even your child. The airplane survival philosophy of wearing the oxygen mask around you first and then around your minor holds true for life too. If I am not happy and healthy neither will my child be. So its ok to have some “me-time” away from the child, husband, family. I have learnt that I can take better care of my child and myself, if I do things that I like, with people who I love.  And spending a few hours away from my little one will not have a permanent damaging effect on him. He shall still love me 🙂

Like I said earlier I am very late in taking up the tag so most of the mommies I know have already finished the tag leaving me with no choice but to not pass it on! Next time I shall try to complete my tags on time and pass them on too 🙂

But readers (bloggers and non-bloggers) please feel free to take this tag up and let me know what mommyhood has taught you either as a blog post or in the comments section.

Happy mid-week day!!!

Why do I read?

Me sitting in my cozy corner reading the last of the Millennium series – The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest. N comes closer to me and asks a very rhetorical question “Mama are you reading book?” Me in my don’t-bother-me-I-am-reading-a-book voice “Umm Hmm”. N speaks again “Mama why you read sho many books? You like em?”

Why do I read books? I asked myself. Because, came the answers –

– they take me to an alternate world far away from the real one, whenever I want. I love to dive in to a different world, be it the magic world of Harry Potter or a fictional town and city in a drama.

– they help me expand my horizon when I read stories set in different places and cultures. They make me more aware and knowledgeable.

– they help me unwind and de-stress, give me something to look forward to after a long and tiring day. Ah! the pleasure of sinking down onto some plush cushions with your current read and a hot cup of coffee is unmatched!

– they make me laugh, they make me cry, they inspire me and make me stronger. So many times books have helped me understand things and people better, they have motivated me and guided me.

– they help me survive boring conversations and irritating people! Yes books have been my saviour in a lot of these situations.

– and finally I love the thrill of buying or receiving a new book in mail. The joy of opening it and breathing in the pages. The flipping through the book and reading the synopsis on the back cover. The happiness in adding one more book to my home library! It is a great feeling – one of those little treasures in life that I will always cherish!

Those were my reasons. I would love to know why you read books. So let me (for the first time ever) start a tag.

The tag is simple.

1. You have to answer the question – “Why do you read books (if you do)?”.
2. It could be a one line answer or a 10 liner or a Godzilla sized post.
3. It should just be a from-the-heart answer for why you read.
4. You can tag on as many or as few bloggers as you want to. Try to pass it on though. It would be interesting to know why so many people read!

I would love to tag Arundhati, Aparna, Sandhya, Kiran, Choxbox, Divs and Uma. Ladies – Looking forward to hearing your reasons.

Other bloggers – Please feel free to take this tag up on your blogs!

Non-bloggers – I would love to hear your thoughts too. Please leave comments!