Happy Birthday to me

Yes, that time of the year when I get to hear from all and sundry, often dormant folks from various walks of life brought to life by my brushes with social media, internet, surveys, actuals meetings immortalized by internet and the likes. Even Google had this as google doodle on my birthday:

 

Not to mention the tons of emails I received from websites and stores, most offering me discounts to shop. But this takes the crown:

 

 



Of course I got a ticket and I remember the date coz it was January 2nd 2014 and I was returning early from work driving at 85 mph on George Bush Turnpike listening to....ok don't hold your breath, just NPR. That has been my all time drive favorite. Anyways back to the ticket. Looks like the cop was following me for quite sometime and I was speeding even more. It is imperative I mention that I don't use the rearview mirrors if I don't have to change lanes or take turns so good luck if you're blinking your heads off (literally) behind me to catch my attention. I stopped dead in my tracks after I heard the siren and saw the cop car behind me. Since it was a highway I just pulled on the shoulder. I was amused by 2 things - 1. cop was a lady 2. she was in all cowboy ensemble complete with the hat. Oh and the third thing - this was the first ticket for me in my entire driving history. I will leave you to speculate how many years that might be. Anyways after that there is no meat to the story so will let it be. Defensive Driving was because my husband convinced me that it will keep me away from added insurance cost and also reduce the ticket price. Neither proposition appealed but then he offered taking the test/course as me so I agreed.

Back to Birthday. Yes, I easily get deviated and jump to side stories. And why not, other than random messages it was pretty drab - I mean the birthday. We (me and hubby) did go out to lunch but that is it. Kids made cards and sang songs but that is it. If you're already moving on to reading something else hold on. There is a...yes you guessed it - surprise.

We went on a weeklong spring break vacation to California - Bay Area and SFO on 7th - the day after my birthday. That was way beyond any birthday gift I could have asked for. It was an awesome family time, relaxed, frustrating at times but most of it simply great time. Celebrated with my friends with a girls night out in the city in a pier side restaurant with candy floss and cake and gift too. How girly, more so since I am not mentioning the real stuff here. How do I forget this blog is for the kiddos.

And again in a party with old friends some of whom I was meeting after 22 years. Pretty neat eh. Manav calls them 'your kindergarten friends' and he liked the party since I didn't force him to wear 'puja clothes' which we make them wear in Indian gatherings. He was referring to kurta pajama in case you didn't get it. And then we allowed 'devices' to play with so something tells me he would have gladly traded wearing puja clothes for iPhone. Well at least he was playing, I know of kids in that party who were talking to girl friends at the unearthly midnight hours. iPhone and its various uses - I already have the title for my next post.

 

So in all it was a super duper 2015 birthday. Certainly better than 2014 one where I was working on a school marketing presentation - turning around JCP. Till 2016, I rest my birthday post here,





Franklin

Arnav brought home a stuffed fox and the instructions were he would have to chronicle all activities done with Fraklin the fox. Here is the end product:

We were wondering if Franklin ever took a bath and where all he has been with all these kids :-) Whatever happened to the school's sense of hygiene?

Star of the Weak

Recently Manav was star of the week in school - last week 2/9. And what better way to start re-blogging than this. Perfect trigger right?
 
"Sorry mommy"
"What happened?"
"You'll be very sad"
 
and thus began that back home from school Friday conversation with Manav. So a bit of background before I let you in  the rest of the conversation. During star of the week at school you have a poster on the hallway which details interesting things about the student. For Arnav we knew which week it was going to be and also the teacher sent home a template which required a single picture and Arnav wrote the rest of it himself and they colored together. Easy.

( note how didn't even have a proper picture)

 
For Manav (2nd grade) there is an elaborate process. Star Student of the week is chosen on a Friday based on the entire week's behavior. And there is no template. AND its just not the poster there is a week long list of activities - poster + poem/letter + eating lunch with the star student.....and since I was forced to do all this ( with Caunteya traveling) I took it upon myself to relay to the world.....so here it is....want to mention, though I wasn't the wee bit happy with these activities thrust upon me I thoroughly enjoyed and Manav enjoyed even more....how do I know? well trust a mother when she says anything about her child. Its usually true.

"Oh did you get your folder signed?" Bad behavior entails folder signing.

"No Mommy. All these weeks I have been trying (to be bad) and succeeded in Ms. Clemmer not picking me up as star, since I know how busy you are and just cannot do all the activities for star of the week. But this time I just couldn't. I am the star of the week"

"What????" I was still reeling with the realization that he gathered I wouldn't be happy with the idea and that alone made me feel so guilty.

"Yes, mommy. I am so sorry"

"Oh Manav. That's fine. We will do it together. It will be fun am sure" I have never been so unsure. And again I could feel he knew it. Guilt squared.

We made the poster. Created 4 themed collages and they decorated the white spaces.

 

 

 

And I wrote the poem....

Dear Manav.  

Where do I begin, what do I say?

Into our lives you’ve charmed your way;

21^st of April, Two thousand and seven

You came in my arms, a piece of heaven;

Didn’t seem so happy, you were screaming

But it’s so usual that we were beaming; 

Then I blinked my eye and you grew so fast

I kept begging that “this moment” would last;

Rolling, sitting, solids, first word and crawling

Walking, talking, laughing and bawling;

Now old enough to do geometry

And spell tough words like symmetry;

Here are some secrets I would like to share

These make you the Manav you are;

You like conversations at dinner table more than eating

You like winning sports and games more than playing;

You cry like a baby when Arnav bugs you

You laugh like a hyena when Arnav hugs you;

Keep being the Manav you are

Reach your goals and raise the bar;

Continue having fun on the way

Sharing and caring whether night or day;

Dance and prance like you always do

Sing and bring joy to all around you; 

I love the way you wiggle when I hug you

I love when you gross out when I kiss you;

I love that look on your face when I yell at you

I love that look on your face when I compliment you;

I love your sneaking in our bed at daylight
I love you and will always do with all my might.

Love Mommy.

It was sent in a sealed envelope and read by the teacher to Manav in his classroom. I imagined he would be so very touched and maybe even break into tears...nothing of that sort happened....he "liked" it and "corrected" me that he doesn't cry like a baby.  

And I made alu paratha for his lunch at school. Very rare in case you are wondering why do I even think this is worth mentioning.

So overall a very fruitful endeavor. Would surely mind doing it again, but was fun while it lasted. The glow on his face and the running into my arms seeing me in school was all it took to wipe off the frustrations of having to handle so many extra activities on my own. Yep, you are the star of the weak....you make me strong.