{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Growing Up Savvy Posts
That’s right. This is not a typo. I mean it — I am thrilled to have crawled in traffic for a long while today. It snowed today. The first snow of the season and the perfect tease of nature’s wrath that may still be unlieshed. Traffic was moving slowly, the sky a pale grey cocooning us and laying a blanket of light white stuff. I turned on some tunes and without rushing, embraced the picturesque, slow drive that was inevitable.
Even though I often rush to work and rush even more to get home, the long drive affords a sometimes urgently necessary solitude to decompress and spend time alone with my thoughts. After an hour’s drive, I was in a way, refreshed getting to work and now I can’t wait to run home and let Sophia touch snow for the very first time. She is wondering what it feels like on her warm little hands, and I wonder what her reaction will be like.
Tune: Moonlight Sonata
I have learned that I am naturally a laid back parent — despite my STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) background. In fact, I even surprised myself thinking that I would read baby books one after another figuring out how to stimulate Sophia and not miss a beat in maximizing her development. That was all BS (before Sophia) and the reality is that I have hardly had the time to open a book to read up on important child-development topics much less fiction for myself.
Believe it or not, child development skills are not something everyone is born with and not something that dawns on you when you have your baby. Luckily for me, my mother in law is an early child educator and runs her own nursery school. She has been instrumental in showing me how to introduce Sophia to new experiences and sharing what milestones most kids reach at various ages. Her school’s motto is that a child’s work is play and I couldn’t agree more.
Sophia is becoming much more mobile and independent—okay, she won’t be driving herself anywhere tomorrow… not until she learns how to master the stairs on her own! I realized that I ought to capitalize on her newly found independence and excitement by trying to structure both her play and time in general. The first step towards this is by introducing and promoting tangible creativity. In other words, we now are drawing… or in Sophia’s case more like stabbing paper with little crayons. Her first work of art was featured here.
This post is the first a series talking about how hubby and I attempt (and sometimes fail) the process of structured education early.
I was never really into yoga or meditation. I couldn’t understand the appeal and didn’t think that it offered any more relaxation than a good massage. However, I have since become a believer in it. Studies and and the sage advice of many a mother have long suggested that your mood affects your baby.
I have come to enjoy the routine of putting her to sleep… rocking her (yes, I still rock her and yes, I know it is not recommended by most pediatricians) and being close to her. Every evening, we turn the lights in Sophia’s nursery down, she nuzzles her head in my arms and I start to relax as I recount the day in my head. I focus on tomorrow’s to-do’s and watch the neighborhood lights twinkle. As I recount what was done and what remains to be done, I slowly unwind, my mind wonders and suddenly I realize that some time has passed and I didn’t think of anything really, just quietly willing her to sleep, to have a good night and to rest. For whatever reason, when I let go of my planner-like self, relax and give my mind a break, I emerge from the nursery anew. It is difficult to understand how ten minutes to yourself or is it away from yourself can make such a big difference.
It seems that work deadlines have pinned both my husband and I to our desks at work and even at home. Hubby has been working 12+ hr days both yesterday and today. Together time, and more importantly children suffer the most when life-work balances are askew. We are fortunate to have had our parents’ helping hands this weekend. We don’t choose our family — we are born into it or join it. I consider myself very lucky in this case.
What’s more, there is a saying in russian that goes something like this: the food you cook is going to taste as good as the nature of the people you feed it to. Everything turned out so delicious this weekend — this must be further evidence that we lucked out with our family.
You must be wondering as to what I cooked. I wasn’t going to leave you wondering. The menu was simple. Hummus, Slow-roasted lamb shoulder with home fried potatoes. Double stuffed baked potatoes with italian turkey and herbs… and part skim mozzarella.
{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
I must admit, I wasn’t a fan of Sesame Street before I even started watching it [with Sophia]. Having grown up in the former Soviet Union, I blissfully avoided watching this and many other (i.e. Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, Barney and Friends, etc.,). I also honestly dreaded having to watch any of those as found them to be mostly boring but alas have recently given in to Sesame Street in order to get a much needed half an hour of peace and quiet after battling the Beltway Traffic in the afternoon.
Before going on about my recent discovery, I must admit that I love the show Sex and the City. It was well done and provides ample opportunity for self-introspection about life, relationships and priorities. Anyway… much to my surprise, Sesame Street appears to have, in a very cheeky way, paid homage on Sex and the City in this episode. At first, I was baffled, and then I realized that perhaps the show’s writers realize that they can teach children about concepts while still entertaining the thousands of parents who collapse on the couch from the day’s activities coupled with fussy children, messy mealtimes and tantrums.
{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
The cold weather months always make us crave warm, comforting foods. Often times, they are rich stews. I wanted to mix things up a bit and see if I can attain the same comfort with just veggies, some bread and top with a poached egg.
