Chauffeuring Break

Just the mere task of driving kids to different activities would tire me during pre-covid days. The days used to feel like running from one relay race to another, with a lot of huffing and puffing. Now that all activities are done by Zoom there is little need for driving around. I am grateful for this chauffeuring break.

Late Start

The pandemic has resulted in loss of learning and learning experience for high schoolers like Hari. Just not academics but his participation in sports has taken a beating as well. I confess that I mourn these losses but I also know that life has a way of balancing things out.  One way or the other, it will all work out in the end.

One silver lining in this dark cloud is Hari has been getting a decent amount of sleep for the past six months. During the regular school year, 8 hours of sleep was reserved only for the weekends at best. The mornings used to be non-negotiable. Wake up at 6:30 am, get ready within the next 20 mins so he can rush out of the door to get to the bus stop on time. With the pandemic, remote learning, and general slowdown in activities, the child has some time to breathe, and be the goofy teenageer he is! Thank god for little mercies.

Young Learners

When I started Sunday school this year, I was a bit apprehensive. I was worried about not being able to drive engagement with students. Teaching online when you have already established a relationship with your students is one thing  but starting with brand new kids is a totally different ball game. To my surprise, the start of the year has been better than expected. Productive, efficient, and focused. We are getting into a rhythm. We are trying different things. We start on time, and our learning goals evolving and crystallizing. Our virtual classroom expectations are set up and enforced. Cameras ON at all times. Mute when not talking, Unmute when talking. Private chatting is disabled. I keep constantly reminding them to get into the habit of doing focused work. It can be tempting to open a tab or stare at their phone and that they can get away with that behavior in the short term but that will be damaging over a period of time. I remind them to put in their best work; their work is a reflection of who they are. I create assignments on Google Classroom and set deadlines. Ironically, with virtual classroom I am steering away from leaning on YouTube videos and relying more on discussion and breakout sessions. I did struggle when making presentations as I lost view of the students. My second monitor solved for that problem.

The rules and infrastucture mean nothing, if students decide not to co-operate and are unwilling to learn. Thankfully, they are eager, curious, and engaged. Some more than others. May be not at all times but enough to keep me motivated and try different things. Boatload of gratitude to the younger learners for their compliance, willingness, flexibility and patience. They make my heart full!

A fresh start

After a nerve wracking four days, America and the world at large is heaving a sigh of relief.  We have elected our 46th President and Vice President – Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. History was made today with the election of Kamala Harris – first woman, first African American, and first Indian American to hold high office. 

The count of votes on election night came swiftly rendering us all heartbroken and beyond disbelief. Then, began the count of mail-in ballots in swing states. Slowly but surely the tide was turning. We were assured that there will be a clear majority but we have to be patient and calm and let the local officials do their job. And boy, did they deliver! . 

Thank you  God! 

Thank you WI, MI, PA, NV for carrying us through the home stretch

Thank you to the campaign volunteers for their relentless and tireless efforts

Thank you to the postal service for being the silent heroes

Thank you to the poll workers and election officials for restoring faith in government office

Thank you to voters for believing that their voice counts

Thank you, thank you, and thank you

Leadership matters. Character matters. Values matter. Citizenry matters. 

Zoom

I don’t think I am exaggerating when I say life happens over Zoom these days. Regular school, Sunday school, guitar class, karate class, and dance class. Why, just not that. B’day celebrations, school reunions, family reunions, and Back-to-school  nights. Even weddings, fundraising events, concerts and recitals. I know it’s not the same as meeting someone in person. I know it gets draining hopping from one Zoom session to another. But where would we be without Zoom and technology? Zoom has provided us with the much needed continuity of our everyday pursuits and given us opportunities to participate in events that we would not have been part of otherwise. All from the comfort of our couch. What is there to complain about? Thank you Zoom and technology for coming to our rescue during this pandemic. 

Little Moments

Offering gratitude for the little moments this week.

  • Following election results with the family and going through a gamut of emotions collectively. 
  • The anticipation and joy of baking something new – stuffed paneer and spinach rolls!
  • Reading Ram’s fiction work at school. It is a fun packed story with delightful and surprising characters. 
  • A nice long chit chat with my niece, who gave me an hour by hour breakdown of her day
  • Writing consistently this week

To teachers, with gratitude

I get an email from Ram’s teacher every Sunday evening providing updates on subjects covered, and important reminders for the week. It is not lost on me that she is doing this on her personal time. She spends time and energy in class reminding kids of zoom etiquette, setting learning expectations for the two cohorts, and bringing them on a level playing field at the end of the week. 

I exchange emails with Hari’s biology teacher. I ask her for guidance on how to support Hari when we know that the school will cover only 50% of the curriculum but the final exams itself will be on 100% of the portions. Although the gap remains, the empathetic responses from the teacher makes me feel understood and convinced that she and the school are doing  what they can to make this complicated year of learning work for the students. 

The pandemic has put an enormous burden on our educators. Simple things that used to take minutes now take hours. They double up as teachers and technology support resource for their little learners in classroom. Wearing masks, teaching kids safety protocols, teaching over zoom. If you think about it, quite remarkable as to how much they have stepped up, isn’t it?

My heartfelt gratitude to the teachers, the administrators, the nurses, the custodians, and other supporting staff for all the heavy lifting they are doing this year. A big reason the pandemic has not stressed me as much is because these fine people excel at what they are do.

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It has been quite a roller coaster ride election wise here. A big salute to the Secretary of State, the election officials, the town employees and volunteers who are ensuring that every vote gets counted. I tip my hat and join the nation in extending my gratitude for their leadership, work ethics and sense of duty. They have been the silver lining in this dark cloud.

A cherished blessing

He is our kadai kutty but is he really little? I kept asking myself in an attempt to detach myself and see our second born for who he is as he entered double digits last month. This summer he has been showing signs that he is changing. The innocence giving way to sassiness. The skip and the hop in his steps replaced by strides of an older kid. Tokens of affection are measured these days and reserved for only in the privacy of our home. All the reading he has been indulging in over the summer has made his writing voice bolder and mature. This child has a mind of his own. He sets his own goals, works at his own pace. Self sufficient, he takes things in stride and takes delight in the company of words and art. He works hard, he hardly works. He is good at articulating but is selective about what he articulates.  He is forgiving, flexible, and is a bundle of love.  He may not be as little but is he still our kadai kutti. 

Today, I extend my gratitude for the privilege of raising this child. Ram, love you to the moon and back. 

Election Eve

We are all sitting at the edge of our seats here in the US for what is being labeled as the election of a lifetime. A lot is at stake tomorrow. Are we still as divided as we were four years back? Did we do anything with the lessons learnt from 2016? Demographics have been sliced and diced – what are the Hispanics saying? Have suburban women changed their minds? What about the seniors in Florida? One candidate is seen as a person of character, someone with a heart and soul, who can restore some semblance of sanity.  The other is perceived as being strong, someone who gets things done.

Sooner or later, the moment of truth will be here.

Regardless of the outcome. I am thankful for the opportunity to make my voice heard. I am thankful for all the political activists who have gone above and beyond to do their part. I am thankful for all the workers and volunteers who will be present tomorrow at the polling centers for smooth running of the election.

What are you thankful for today?

Thanksgiving Prayer

2020 has humbled us like no other. It has brought the whole world down on its knees in a matter of days. We are nothing but a tiny speck in the grand scheme of things. Humanity has witnessed and continues to experience losses of all kinds (physical and  emotional health, sustenance, loved ones, and what not) and of differing magnitude (from the daily stress to life altering events). 

There is so much suffering and disruption. We all have been stripped off of our safety nets and forced to embrace uncertainty. We have been taught to adapt and reimagine. To never take anything or anyone for granted. To cherish blessings, to live in the moment and to show genorisity of spirit.

I start this thanksgiving month with a silent prayer. I hold the suffering in my heart and seek protection. Let there be healing, resilience, second chances and lightness. I pray for continued safety and well being. For you, me, and the entire human race. Let us become better, stronger and kinder individuals.

For the love of writing, as an act of self-care and as an opportunity to reflect, I am embarking on an exercise to be deliberate in expressing gratitude. If this sentiment resonates, I invite you to join me in this journey – what are you thankful for today?