Saee turns 8

As soon as New Year starts we used to count months 😀. We mean Saee used to eagerly wait for her birthday month and we as parents love to see her eagerness and excitement. Birthday is one of the special things in kid’s life and hence celebration should be memorable. It is not necessary to throw a big birthday party but try to make it fill with lots of love.  We love to do all such things on her birthday which she likes, apparently, we are blessed to have such a mature girl who is not that demanding. Her tiny demands are so special. 

 

Saee turned 8 in this month which is half teen 😊 and it sounds crazy for us. She first time demand a surprise birthday party and me and Mr. Hubby struggling what kind of surprise we should give her and the most important thing she should like. When we asked she said, mumma, I want surprise and why you are asking me? 😝so stupid I am !

Her birthday was on 14^th August 2021 and so she already clear about her birthday gift. Ha, ha, ha, yes, she is blessed to have her KAKA (uncle) who fulfilled her gift demand. She is not stubborn but it is a ritual for the last 7 years. They used to ask her what she wants and she gives out the list. 

For the last two to three years, she is getting a designer dress 😊by her favorite mai (Aunt). Saee used to ask her in the month of May only. Browse different types of dresses and demand her masi to make the same one. We are blessed to have Masi like her, who loves her very much.

https://www.instagram.com/

This time we decorate the house with letters balloons. Due to social media kids used to know the birthday decoration. Neither she demand nor she cried for that but yes once she said to her papa, we should decorate like this, that's it… her papa then on air. You all know how much he loves Saee.

 

So this is the decoration. As I told, her birthday party is a family get-together. So this is our big family. Grandparents and Uncle.

Tiny little friends who enjoyed it a lot. 

We had a coloring activity and then a small game. 

Fold the eye and drew the tail of the elephant (On her demand only). Not only kids but we adults also enjoy this game.

So time for the SPECIAL SURPRISE of the birthday. 

This doll cake - on her demand, I made it for the first time.

I bought 8 gifts for her and hide them in the house. On her birthday we asked her to find the gifts. Trust me this was her favorite surprise she liked it so much.  We check her patience and then finally her papa gave her a little bit clue. She was so much happy to see this tiny girly gift.  It is the end of August month and still, she asked me how do you manage to hide from me and how do you think about this gift?

 

The third surprise was the decoration and her grandparents. 

She was sad as her favorite mama and mami not able to join her. That was another surprise we planned for her but due to some reason, it didn’t happen. Never mind.

Finally Mission Successful!😎😎

 

And now lovely facts about my 8-year doll. 

She is a quiet child but sometimes her frustration goes on a high peak. Generally, she is not an angry person but yes she is kind-hearted and her confidence goes on high when attempting a new task. 

Love the way she guides her papa by telling how things work 😁. Conversation between her and her dad is always melting my heart. Both of them used to talk for an hour and I still wonder what they are talking about?

Her love language is physical touch, snuggling, kisses, and hugs. 

She is a determined and decision-maker. She loves to choose the things for her and very firm on her choice.

Currently, her favorite activity is playing with playdough, puzzles, and of course dance. (Thanks to her School )

She always had lots of questions in her mind. Like how the clock works? How our army works? Why earthquake is there and then what will happen? And many more…husshhh…!

She loves to indulge in a new vocabulary as she is always curious to know new words. Sometimes I used Google.

Being a girl she doesn’t like to wear any make-up 😇 This is something that surprises me. Her love is only to polish the nails and that’s it. She doesn’t like to wear lipstick, eyeliner, or anything. Seriously sometimes I insist to have especially for function but she said a big NO and I respect her choice.

She loves to help me in the kitchen. Always ready to bake a cake and cookies with me. She knows each measuring cup and ingredient too. My little chef is adorable. Always eager to learn cooking. The first time she made an omelet all by herself under my supervision for her dad. She wants to give a lunch box to her dad. 😍

She loves to read and also loves to read aloud with me most of the time. She gets eager to know what happens next in the story and gets so hyper and insists to tell me what is in the story?

I adore it when she used to read in the quiet time in the afternoon. Yes, she has a small amount of sleep like me.

Height has been increasing up to my shoulder (this is something memorable instead of writing in numbers). Want to wear all my clothes. Surprised to see her maturity level and wondering how can she achieve all this?

Her favorite food is Sabudana Wada, omelet, chicken and Paneer. Do I mention she loves chicken biryani too?

Mumma and Pappa love you our babrie doll.  We love watching you grow!

 

You may like :

A special post by her dad 

Saee's 3rd birthday party 

12 ways to keep kids healthy during the germ season

India is blessed with 4 seasons out of which monsoon is the most important season. Generally, we have monsoon in the first week of June. But this year we have witnessed the monsoon “above normal”

 

What is the Germ Season?

For me especially monsoon and winter are the germ season. Not only kids but we adults to get suffered from this monsoon/winter germ. I am not taking these seasons lightly because once your kid gets infected it will be more irritating to us. Sometimes other family members get infected because of them. They used to have ruuny nose, cough, rashes on the nose and it gets converted into a fever. Pediatric hospitals are flooded with sick kids and we moms tend to search more on Google for a solution, right?

 

PS: Pixel

Being a mom for the past 8 years I discovered some tips and picked up some tips from my mother and with fellow moms on how to keep kids healthy during the germ season.  

12 ways to keep kids healthy during this germ season:    

Drink Warm Water:

As soon as monsoon start we face water problems. The government also guides to have boiling water throughout the monsoon. We used to have boiled water and keep it warm to drink. It helps to maintain body temperature and is helpful for the sour throat.

Wash Hands Frequently:

Due to corona we used to wash hands with sanitizers. But when we are inside the house I always insist my family wash hands with hand wash soap by rubbing at least 20 minutes. You all are aware of excessive use of sanitizers which makes our skin dry. Water and handwash (get this mild handwash)are the best ones, try to use mild ones which have fewer chemicals. 

PS: Pixel

Drink Turmeric Milk before bedtime:

This is one of the ancient rituals which we follow since our childhood. Let me admit I don’t like milk at all since my childhood. But now I have to drink turmeric milk especially having cough and cold. Kids are observers and so I have to drink 😇. As a mother, I always make sure that my child must have this turmeric milk every night at bedtime.

PS:eMediHealth

It actually, help to fight germs. Besides, it has great benefits and no wonder nowadays it is being sold as turmeric shots due to covid, right? 

Turmeric Shots Amazon

PS: Pixel

Sleep

It is the most important thing for all of us including kids. School going kids should have 10 to 12 hours undisturbed sleep. But due to pandemics, the whole schedule is still disturbed and kids tend to sleep after 12.00 am. There is a need for rest to have a healthy body. Make a proper sleep routine and stick to it is very important. I strongly believe and witness that Sleep actually helps to boost the immune system.  

Keeping hot zones dust free:

During the monsoon our floor used to become sticky and houseflies tend to enter the house. Make sure hot zones like dining table, TV unit, Kids play area should be always dust free and wipe regularly.

Sweep the floor at least 3 to 4  times a day and mop the floor once or twice. Use rock salt, dettol, and phenyl for mopping. A strong smell of phenol keeps the floor fly free because this fly brings lots of germs.

Ajwin Potali

We all Indian mom must follow this since our baby is born. I am still using this as it always works for congestion nose. Dry roast ajwain on a pan and tie in a handkerchief and make a small potali.  Put that warm potali on the nose and chest as it will give out the relief from cough.

No sharing Utensils/ Towels:

Though we are living in one house we used to have separate utensils like a cup, snacks plates, dinner plates, glass, etc. It is hygienic to have a habit that kids will not share anyone’s utensils and towels. I strongly followed this. Do you follow the same?

Teach kids to use a hanky to cough or sneeze:

I saw many kids are unable to have this habit. We should make sure that even kids are at home and if they have a runny nose, have them a handkerchief. Ask them to sneeze or cough using a handkerchief. This will keep their clothes clean and they will develop the habit to have a handkerchief with them always.

Diffuser with camphor oils:

We all know very well about the properties of camphor. Instead of using essential oils use camphor or camphor oil. I am using this in every rainy season. It prevents fly, germs inside the house and it also helps in congestion of cough.

PS: Pixel

Drink warm soup:

Does your family love soup? Once the rainy season started we indulged in a variety of homemade soup. Chicken or Mutton soup is one of our family's favorite. Try to have this soup especially if your child is infected and has a sour throat. Check out the recipe for chicken soup. 

Change Clothes at least twice in a day.

Everyone is inside the house but still, change your kid's cloth at least twice a day.  Dust, sweat, and dirt while playing inside the house welcome germs. Built a habit in a kid to clean themselves and change their clothes after playing and before bedtime.

Have a healthy balanced diet.

Last but the top most important way to keep our kids healthy is to have a balanced diet. It should include all homemade breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. Avoid having packaged and junk food. We need to avoid order food on ZOMATTO or SWIGGY. Having a healthy and balanced diet including fresh fruits is an immunity booster. No more chocolate, cakes, chips, corn flex, pizza, and burger. Have whole wheat cake and pizza. Just search on YOUTUBE and you will get tons of easy recipes. Involve your kids in this home baking process they will enjoy most.

 

There are many ways we generally used to keep our kids healthy during germ season. I sorted out the basics.  I would like to know from your ends too. I know every super mom has special tips.  

Please share your tips on how you keep your kids healthy during the germ season.

PS: www.pixel.com

information Reference : www.healthline.com

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla and sponsored by Bakez by Daizy.

©Neeta Kadam. This article and image are the property of Memory Flies. Any unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author is strictly prohibited.

5 Tips for smooth online learning

Online education is normalized with lots of pros and cons. As far as possible we would concentrate only on one thing that children education is going on. No matter whether it is serving any purpose or beneficial to them, that is another debating topic. 😐

PS: Pixel.com

Currently, we are doing "HOMESCHOOLING" though it is provided by schools practically we are using our home, our electricity, our equipment, our books, and stationery and every small or big thing related to the study [ in short "TEACHERS JOB" right? ]

And of course, we are paying huge fees to the school,😈 Irony of 2021 education systems.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY HOMESCHOOLING?

Homeschooling is based on home education with parents' guidance without enrolling your child in any school. Basically, parents are the teacher and they choose the syllabus and teach their child in a home environment. 

Though it is practiced in India still it does not have any regulatory bodies to govern homeschooling.

But currently due to pandemics we have an online education system where still school is doing everything but on the front note, we parents have to pay attention as the whole responsibility is on parent's shoulders.

This is the second year of online schooling and I observe most of the schools are attending by parents and not by the student 😅  On the contrary there are some students who are not at all supervised by parents and they are tend to be a monster who loves to disturb the whole class and irritate the teacher.

Types of Parents in online schooling.

1. Over Protecting Parents:  

These kinds of parents are over protecting their children. They want to have updated information always. They take care of everything whatever their child has to complete. I think instead of a child they are the ones who are completing homework, assignments, even test papers for the child.

2. Doubtful Parents : 

This kind of parent always has doubts in every lecture. First, they are not allowing their child to speak. Second, they do not have proper listening power. Though the teacher provides detailed information they still need to ask a doubt. The most irritating part is they are the ones who disturb the whole class.

3. Punctual Parents :

These are the parents who have completed every assignment on time. Means I am just wondering how can they? This year teachers are completing 2 lessons in one 45 minute lecture and sending ppt notes in a google classroom. This Punctual parents used to complete the notes within one day or sometime in half-day,😟 whereas our child takes a week to complete the notes. 

I really want to ask them, why the hell you are doing this work on behalf of your child? why?

4. Prompting Parents :

This kind of parent always sits with the child and is ready to prompt him. Whenever a teacher ask any question they are ready to help their child, irrrr, not help, even they do not give time to a child to think on his own and instead of that they are prompting behind. Seriously is this needed? 

5. Scholars Parents :

These kinds of parents are the ones who love to write papers on behalf of their children. Yes, they are the ones who think their child is not able to write with the speed and so they are helping the child. They almost try to write the paper too on behalf of a child.

As responsible parents, we have to sit with our kids to help them if they need any kind of help. Today's generation's kids don't require our help. In fact, they are very well versed with the technology.  But my request to the parents is please don't do everything for your kids. Let them handle it on their own. Otherwise, they are not going to learn anything neither practical life skills nor educational skills.  You will be surprised to see that still, 50% of 2nd or 3rd graders students are unable to read. 

5 Tips to every parent for an online school- especially for primary students :

I am also a parent and I also found it difficult for last year to cope up with this kind of schooling. but this year we are used to it. Our kids are smarter than us and they are experts in handling equipment and even teachers too. 😀 

If you think your child should really learn something from school then please stop interfering with their school times. Here are the 5 simple tips I would like to give to primary student's parents during online lectures.

1. Have faith in your child: 

This is one of the most important things especially if you have a primary student. Just have faith, he is good. He will be doing good and he will handle it on his own. Just sit beside him and help if require and if he asks.

This gives confidence to your child.

2. Do not prompt or readout for your child:

Yes, though if other students are reading fluently, have faith in your child. Let give him the freedom to speak or read on his own. If you stop prompting or reading for them, then only you will come to know what is your child lacking. You can help him after the school is over. And you never know might be your child can read fluently too. Just sit beside and observe. 

3.Do not ask any doubt on your own.

If your child has any doubt let him ask the teacher. Do not become a bridge between him and the teacher. He can talk with his teacher without a fear then only he can develop a bond with his teacher. Do not ask any doubts on behalf of your child. Let him decide what kind of doubts he has and let him ask by himself.

4. Make a schedule:

During the online lecture, I hear some parents are shouting at their kids for not having pencils and books. Please maintain a schedule of everything. Ask them to keep ready books as per the timetable, notebooks, and stationery 10 minutes before the school start. Do login on time. Charge your laptop and mobile beforehand so that there will be no delay for school.  If you ask your child to follow these tiny things they will automatically become more discipline.

5. Do not disturb the class :

Every teacher gives the last 5 to 10 minutes for a doubt session. This is for both parents and students. If there is any big issue you can ask in that time only.  Allow your child to ask any doubts to the teacher.

These are the basic tips that parents should follow. 

PS : Pixel.com 

-Leave your child alone and let him handle it on his own. 

-Do not be a protecting cover of him.

-This is the way you can instill confidence in your child. 

What kind of tips you would like to give. Comment below your suggestions. 

Till then,

Happy Parenting.

Neeta Kadam

This blog post is part of the blog challenge ‘Blogaberry Dazzle’ hosted by Cindy D’Silva and Noor Anand Chawla and sponsored by Bakez by Daizy.

Follow me on Insta: http://Instagram.com/neetapawarkadam

Picture Source: www.pixel.com

©Neeta Kadam. This article and image are the property of Memory Flies. Any unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author is strictly prohibited.

Cold Relief Clear Chicken Soup

Monsoon season is on and everyone is attacked by cough, cold and sometimes it is flue too.  I consider this monsoon and winter season as a cough-cold season because almost every child and adult also get infected due to various bacteria.

Clear Chicken Soup: PS : Pixel

We are more indulging soup in this season. It gives a soothing effect to our throat and clears the conjunction in the nose and throat. A hot and savory soup is the ultimate remedy to your throat. Nowadays you can get readymade soup packets in the market but nothing bit to the homemade food. The rainy season welcomes more germs so try to avoid it any packaged food.

What is Chicken Soup?

Chicken is cooked with spices, vegetables with lots of water. You can drink it as much as you want.

Today I am sharing a simple clear chicken soup recipe that is generally prepared by every Maharashtrian house. I still remember when I was a child my mother used to make this soup on every Sunday. All Maharashtrian could be related to this because we have a Sunday ritual to have chicken or mutton for a lunch. It is followed by the soup prepared specially for small children but adults also love to have it.

                                                                                                                              

I believe soup is like a soothing food to your digestion system and hence I am trying to avoid spices in my soup. People generally making soup using spices from the masala box but I prefer to have it as simple as much. Chicken or mutton has its own flavor and we should not add that many spices which reduce the chicken or mutton flavor.

This is my version of chicken soup as I like to keep it non-spicy and at the same time have some germ-boosting properties too. I use minimum ingredients in the soup and let me share a little bit about it.

Some of the benefits of chicken soup:

Cloves: High in antioxidants. Help in killing bacteria and improve digestion.

Turmeric: Especially most important compound curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory compound. Turmeric can increase the antioxidant capacity of the body.

Garlic: Garlic can combat sickness including the common cold. The active compound in garlic can reduce blood pressure.

Tejpatta: In English, it is called Bay Leaf. It helps to manage high cholesterol. I have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. 

Ginger: It reduces hypertension. It reduces nausea from morning sickness and improves heart health.

I hope you enjoy the soup, especially in this rainy season.

 

Cold Relief Clear Chicken Soup

Author : Neeta Kadam                              Prep Time : 15 min

Cook Time : 25 min                                    Total Time : 40 min

Yield : 4 Serving                                          Category : Indian Soup

Ingredient:

2 Tablespoon Oil

2 small Onions chopped

7to 8 garlic pods

1/2 inch Ginger chopped

3 to 4 green chilies - as per your taste

Coriander handful.

Salt.

Cloves - 2,3

Turmeric : 1 tsp.

Chicken: 275 gm

Tej Patta : 2 nos.

Jeera : 1 tsp

Water 2 glass

Instruction

Wash and clean the chicken thoroughly under cold water at least 3 to 4 times.

Heat 2 tablespoon oil in the pan and let it be hot enough to add cumin and let it crackle.

Then add tej-paata, cloves and fry them for a while.

Add finely chopped garlic and ginger. You have to chop it and do not use paste.

Let them fry until the raw smell goes.

Add finely chopped onions fry till it becomes pink and not golden.

Add chopped green chilies, turmeric, and chicken pieces.

Fry everything until the chicken piece colour change

Add water 1 and a half glass or you can add up as per your consistency.

Add salt as per the taste and let it simmer on a medium flame for up to 20 to 25 minutes until chicken gets cooked.  Garnish it with coriander.

Notes:

Take chicken thigh pieces with bones that are tender and taste delicious.

Add some carrot sticks as it is a great source of vitamin C and K.

 

Cold Relief- Clear chicken soup

Sources :

Health-related information from the following source:

www.healthline.com

www.1mg.com

www.medicalnewstoday.com

Picture Source: Pixel.com

Check out my sandwich recipes especially for kids in the recipe section.

How do you make the chicken or Mutton Soup? 

©Neeta Kadam. This article and image are the property of Memory Flies. Any unauthorized use or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author is strictly prohibited.