“My FEELINGS” – #BlogchatterA2Z

Shaarav is a pre-schooler with very big and strong feelings. He feels different emotions very strongly, be it happiness or anger. So very early, when he was barely a toddler we felt it was time for us to introduce him to labelling his emotions because we very well understand that identifying and labelling feelings is a vital skill that takes lots of practice. And it is very important for a child to recognize and name feelings for developing social-emotional skills. And at the time we found this book “My Feelings” very appropriate to get him acquainted with the basic human emotions.

My Feelings

What’s the story?

“My Feelings” does share any story as such. it has some snippets and actions that we do or should do when we feel a particular feeling.

What did we like about it?

The illustrations in “My Feelings” are very beautiful and apt and easily draw a child’s attention. The book tries to introduce emotions to a child with minimal text and easy to grasp language. What we particular liked about the book is that it also points out some coping mechanisms if a child is feeling scared or shy.

Book Details

Illustrated by: Sarah Jennings
Published by: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Book Type: Board Book (Tabbed)
Recommended Age: 2 to 5
Number of pages: 14
Ratings: 8/10

What’s there for the child to learn?

Children need to be aware of their emotions for a healthy social and personal skills. With the help of this book “My Feelings” and lots of practice Shaarav is gradually learning to identify his feelings, label them and also channelize or overcome them properly.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Keep watching the space for our book recommendation for the alphabet G next and in case you missed our theme reveal for this year’s BlogchatterA2Z challenge you can check it out here. You could also check our book review with alphabet E from yesterday too for another great review and book related activities.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

If you liked our book review and book related activities and you wish to purchase this book, here’s our affiliate link to the book from Amazon. You could buy this book using our link at no additional cost to you, and at the same time add a small amount towards our efforts motivating us to bring more of such useful content and ideas. BUY IT HERE!!!

“I Can Read With My EYES Shut” – #BlogchatterA2Z

‘I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!’ is a book about reading with your imagination and not shutting yourself out to new material or allowing for a further insight into the text. This book explores the wonder of reading and all the opportunities it can bring to an individual if they are open to them. Dr. Seuss continues on creating great children books and it shows with it in this book. The Cat in the Hat is present in this book which is another one of his beginner books. Dr. Seuss uses style is present in his use of rhymes and illustrations.

I Can Read with My EYES Shut

What’s the story?

The story follows the cat in the hat and a younger cat. The cat in hat shows the younger one what he will miss if he keeps his eyes shut. Throughout the whole story there is a lot of catchy language used which makes the book interesting to read especially out loud.

What did we like about it?

There is many characteristics that make this a good children book. The use of color and vivid imagery is obvious, but the use of a lesson and humor is what makes it also striking to a younger audience. Its use of diction is also great for a beginner book which isn’t too complicated and help a child get better and more confident at reading.

Book Details

Written by: Dr. Seuss
Published by: HarperCollins Children’s Books
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Book Type: Paperback (Hardcover and Kindle edition also available)
Recommended Age: 2 to 7
Number of pages: 48
Ratings: 9/10

What’s there for the child to learn?

We love it especially because the book shows with the help of pictures the importance of reading. I think this is a valuable message which children and even grown-ups can’t hear enough. Further I’m glad that it is funny but not silly.

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Keep watching the space for our book recommendation for the alphabet F next and in case you missed our theme reveal for this year’s BlogchatterA2Z challenge you can check it out here. You could also check our book review with alphabet D from yesterday too for another great review and book related activities.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

“Love You, DAD” – #BlogchatterA2Z

Shaarav’s dad and I live in different cities and he visits us once in a week. So, most of the time it’s me solo parenting Shaarav. But unfortunately, because of the current lockdown scenario due to COVID-19 Mr. Husband is unable to come see us. I cannot emphasize enough how much they are missing each other. Shaarav asks me questions that I don’t have answers to. So, for alphabet D we particularly chose the book “Love You, Dad” to show and express their love for each other and strengthen their bond.

Love You, DAD

What’s the story?

“Love You, Dad” is a sweet and beautifully illustrated book which celebrates fathers and fatherhood and appreciating the role of a father in a child’s life. The book pays tribute to all the lovely dads recognizing the little and the big things, the important and the unimportant things, the serious and the funny things they do with and for their kids through animal pictures and befitting captions. “Love You, Dad” features adorable animal photographs from National Geographic of dads with their kids displaying fatherly love at its best. Its moving how each caption perfectly befits the fatherhood emotion that’s so pure and touching.

What did we like about it?

Unlike the mothers, the fathers are expected to be easy going and fun-loving. My pre-schooler adores his Dad and this book gives the perfect excuse to say thank you and express his love for all the things he does for Shaarav. And what better way than to do it with a wonderful book with an amazing collection of cute, brilliant and charming animal portraits of dads and babies with meaningful and fitting comments of thanks Dad. “Love You, Dad” would make a wonderful gift for fathers of all age groups which I’m sure every dad would love to receive.

Book Details

Written by: Melina Gerosa Bellows
Designed by: Melissa Farris and Jonathan Halling
Published by: National Geographic Society
Genre: Nature Picture Book
Book Type: Hardcover
Recommended Age: 0 to 5
Number of pages: 92
Ratings: 8/10

What’s there for the child to learn?

“Love You, Dad” sends across a very powerful message of appreciation. The heartfelt and humorously pithy captions which have been artfully expressed give the child a way of expressing love reminding him the importance of fatherly love.

The vivid and life-like pictures of animals, some common and some not so common, incite talk about their habitats and their babies. Shaarav was very amused with the animals that he had never heard me mention, like armadillos, arousing curiosity and eagerness to learn more about them.

As part of the bookish play we decided to have a storytelling session (read aloud) and do some book related activities. Shaarav has been missing his father and is terribly wanting to see him, so this exercise, sort of, helped him. We used this book as an inspiration to prepare “Love You, Dad” cards for Daddy dearest and its needless to say the cards definitely made Mr. Husband emotional. We used two different fun techniques to make the cards. One was finger painting and the other was blow painting and Shaarav enjoyed the activity very much. The cards have turned out really well and we may get them framed to etch these moments in our memories.

“Love You Dad” card with finger painting

This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Keep watching the space for our book recommendation for the alphabet E next and in case you missed our theme reveal for this year’s BlogchatterA2Z challenge you can check it out here. You could also check our book review with alphabet C from yesterday too for another great review and book related activities. Last year on Father’s Day, we wrote a poem for Daddy Dearest and also made a “I love You Papa” card appreciating his efforts, love and care which you can read here.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

“Sometimes I Like to CURL Up in Ball” – #BlogchatterA2Z

When I laid my eyes on “Sometimes I like to Curl Up in a Ball”, I could not resist myself buying it for Shaarav just for its evocative illustrations, heart-warming charm and visual appeal. This absolutely charming picture book narrates a sweet tale of a little wombat which spends his day gadding about with its animal friends only end up retiring to his most favourite of places to curl up in a ball. With its beautiful rhyme and tone the book invites multitude of interaction opportunities with the children and is sure to entrance and engage young readers and parents alike.

Sometimes I like to Curl Up in a Ball

What’s the story?

“Sometimes I like to Curl Up in a Ball” is a sweet and simple story about an adorable little wombat exploring its favourite things to do during the day. The story gives the semblance of a day’s events of the little wombat and how he ends it with the most favourite thing he loves to do and does best. He jumps, he screams, he races, makes funny faces and gets in a mess. He spends the entire day with his friends doing activities that make him happy and finally at the end of the day he retires to the most cozy of places to curl up in a ball and sleep.

What did we like about it?

“Sometimes I like to Curl Up in a Ball” is a delightful book with an adorable charm and a perfect segue to lights out. It makes for a really good bedtime book for its amusing childlike wonder and I have been honouring Shaarav’s request for reading it to him at night time for several days in a row now. Shaarav immensely enjoys mimicking the antics of little wombat and he feels connected to the images and action-packed life of the little wombat because the story-line is very relatable to his everyday life. And also, because at the end of the day Shaarav needs his mother to sleep peacefully just like the little wombat which likes to curl up in a ball beside its mother.

The text is short, fun and easy to understand and cute illustrations spread which are beautifully across the pages bring the story and the little wombat to life. What we liked most is that the story-line is easy to listen to and understand, the rhythm is lilting and easy to repeat and the motions are simple and easy to follow and mimic. And because of the fun repetitive rhyme and lovable characters injected with motion and humour, “Sometimes I like to Curl Up in a Ball” is definitely to stay on Shaarav’s list of favourite books for a long time.

Book Details

Written by: Vicki Churchill
Illustrated by: Charles Fuge
Published by: Sterling Children’s Books
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Book Type: Board book (Paperback and Hardcover also available)
Recommended Age: 0 to 5
Number of pages: 20
Ratings: 8/10

What’s there for the child to learn?

“Sometimes I like to Curl Up in a Ball” is a fairly good interactive book and talks about how the wombat does several things in his life not because they make sense but mostly because they are fun and they make it happy and gay. This sweet tale of wombat ignites an insight on the things we like and do because they make us happy and also make us who we are. It also inspires us to go through our day with zest.

As part of the bookish play we decided to have a storytelling session (read aloud) and do some book related activities. We used this book as an inspiration to talk about Shaarav’s likes, dislikes and preferences. We also explored and learned about the things he likes to do and what are the things that make him unique. We also had fun mimicking the endearing little wombat making funny faces, running very fast, sticking out our tongue, jumping up high and screaming as loud as we could.

“Sometimes I like to scream ever so loud”

“Sometimes I like to just walk round and round”

“Sometimes I like to poke out my tongue”

“Or make funny faces, now that can be fun”

Altogether, “Sometimes I Like to Curl Up in a Ball” is a buoyant and charming book and a perfect addition to one’s bedtime collection. This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Keep watching the space for our book recommendation for the alphabet D tomorrow and in case you missed our theme reveal for this year’s BlogchatterA2Z challenge you can check it out here. You could also check our book review with alphabet B from yesterday too for another great review and book related activities.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

“Room on the BROOM” – #BlogchatterA2Z

Whenever I’m looking to buy a new picture book for Shaarav, I most often than not find myself gravitating towards Julia Donaldson because I know for the fact that one can never go wrong with a book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. The book “Room on the Broom” is yet another gem by Julia Donaldson with an utterly delightful rhyming story about a witch who has an eventful journey on her broomstick. It’s a masterpiece from both narrative and illustrative perspectives. The book captures the typical Julia Donaldson’s warm and fuzzy repetitive text and Axel Scheffler’s immensely appealing and utterly mesmerizing illustrations which has every bit of whimsy what the sweet little story demands. And for these reasons, admittedly, “Room on the Broom” has no doubt become one of Shaarav’s favourite books to which he likes to return to again and again.

Room on the Broom

What’s the story?

“Room on the Broom” is a spellbinding story about the windy adventure of a grotesque-looking but delightful and kind witch who was flying merrily on her broomstick with her cat. But along the way she meets with several misfortunes of losing her belongings due to the gusty wind. However, she gets back all her belongings with the help of various animals whom she meets in the process of finding her stuff. The good kind-hearted witch continues to befriend and give them room on her broom for exchange of her lost items until disaster strikes and the broomstick snaps into two mid-air due to overload. While the other passengers fall into the bog, the witch is encountered by a terrifying hungry red dragon who threatens to eat her for a snack. But, fortunately for the friendly good witch, her new friends come to her rescue and frighten away the dragon. Feeling happy and grateful she casts the spell “Iggety, Ziggety, Zaggety, Zoom” to make a “Truly Magnificent Broom” which has both style and comfort for all its riders.

What did we like about it?

You can never be disappointed with this legendary author-illustrator duo Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler and I’m sure “Room and the Broom” too will definitely appeal to you and your child alike. This sweet little story of a kind and caring witch with repetitive elements, rhythmic and lyrical text and beautiful illustrations makes for an excellent read-aloud story. The book offers lovable characters and wonderful rhymes giving room for different expressions and voices making it a fun and enchanting read for children who will fall in love with the story almost instantly. The outstanding illustrations are also very appealing and eye catching. Altogether this a book perfectly fits for both oral and visual senses making it a fantastic and engaging read.

Shaarav loves its animated version that’s there on Amazon Prime Video. The video version of “Room on the Broom” is a real hit with Shaarav and he has likes to watch it over and over again. Though the story in the video is slightly different from the book version, it outshines the book a bit with its music and a higher sensory appeal.

Book Details

Written by: Julia Donaldson
Illustrated by: Axel Scheffler
Published by: Macmillan Children’s Books
Genre: Fiction Picture Book
Book Type: Board book (Paperback, Hardcover, Audio CD and Audiobook also available)
Recommended Age: 0 to 5
Number of pages: 24
Ratings: 10/10

What’s there for the child to learn?

Besides a sweetly lyrical story with addictively rollicking rhymes and outstanding illustrations, “Room on the Broom” also displays a great message about kindness and friendship. Shaarav learned the importance of friendship and also that if you show kindness to others you shall too receive it in return at some point. It also teaches the values of loyalty and sharing.

As part of the bookish play we decided to have a storytelling session (read aloud) and do some book related activities. For the activities we decided to make a wand and a broomstick. We made the wand by cutting stars out of a chart paper and sticking it on a stick whereas for making the broomstick we went to the garden to collect twigs and sticks.

Later we also did some spot the differences, join the dots, make a mask and colour the pictures too. I’m sharing some of the printable that we collected here while age appropriate other activities can also be downloaded from roomonthebroom.com and gruffalo.com.

Our amazing find was a video of “Room on the Broom” on YouTube which Shaarav found very interesting. Altogether we had a fun time together and Shaarav really had a blast acting out the witch posing to fly on the broomstick that we made and muttering spells on everyone at home with the wand that we prepared. This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Keep watching the space for our book recommendation for the alphabet C tomorrow and in case you missed our theme reveal for this year’s BlogchatterA2Z challenge you can check it out here. You could also check our book review with alphabet A from yesterday too for another great review and book related activities.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

“Little ACORN” – #BlogchatterA2Z

This book “Little Acorn” caught my eye with its cute and lively illustrations and I bought it on a whim. And just as the same way it caught Shaarav’s attention the moment he saw it. But “Little Acorn” has much more to offer to young kids and parents alike besides its beautiful and absolutely adorable illustrations. Little Acorn has become like this “cute friend” for little Shaarav who has come to adore this fun and cute acorn.

Little Acorn

What’s the story?

It’s a cute story about a little acorn which grows to become a beautiful oak tree and goes on to give its own seeds (acorns). The story begins with a little acorn who goes unnoticed stuck high up on a tree while he watches the world below go all hustle and bustle. While it just cozily sits up there growing all fat and shiny protected from harsh weather when slowly as the weather changes to autumn and the leaves begin to turn golden brown it excitedly jumps on the ground along with the leaves blowing in the wind.

A squirrel which was busy storing nuts for the winter finds it and hides it in the forest ground where it waits patiently until one day it has a peculiar feeling and begins to feel all tickly. And suddenly he sprouts little roots. It feels so ticklish that it stretches left and right and to its utter amazement it stretches so much that it reaches above the ground into the light. As seasons change pass by, nourished by sunlight and rain little acorn also changes and grows into a full-grown tree stretching its branches and spreading its roots.

It becomes a very fine tree and in its full glory it feels proud and happy to house many feathered guests, spiders, beetles and squirrels. Until…one day it makes its own acorns. Check out our IGTV video on Instagram for our storytelling session.

What did we like about it?

With its adorably cute illustrations and a fun story about the life-cycle of a tree, it didn’t take much time to become Shaarav’s favourite. With sufficient fun action and catchy action words and perfectly rhyming text “Little Acorn” never fails to capture my son’s attention. We love to go “Wheeeeee” and then fall on the ground with a “thump” and then wiggle and stretch left and then right just like little acorn. Apart from the fun things about the book if you’re thinking of introducing life-cycle of a tree to your kid, “Little Acorn” is just the perfect book for it and that too in a fun way. So, we also like its sweet story that is educational too. And in addition, it also strengthens a child’s vocabulary by introducing new words and a lots of animals too. We have its board book version which sits well with a playful Shaarav who like to sometimes sleep with his books too.

Book Details

Written by: Melanie Joyce
Illustrated by: Gina Maldonado
Designed by: Lee Italiano
Edited by: Emily Bruce
Published by: Autumn Publishing (Igloo Books)
Genre: Nature Picture Book
Book Type: Board book (Paperback and Hardcover also available)
Recommended Age: 0 to 5
Number of pages: 24
Ratings: 10/10

What’s there for the child to learn?

The story of the “Little Acorn” sets a stage to talk about the life-cycle of an oak tree or plants and trees in general, different parts of a plant or tree and also about different seasons. As part of the bookish play we decided to have a storytelling session (read aloud) and learn about the life-cycle of a tree as well as different parts of a plant. For building a resource and for the purpose of explaining it vividly to Shaarav, I drew the pictures myself (which can be downloaded and printed for free).

Acorn seed germinating and forming a sprout

Acorn seed growing from a seedling to become a sapling

Acorn seed developing into a full-grown oak tree

The ultimate result of the whole process was a great bonding time with my son at the same time learning things in a fun and creative way. This post is a part of #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Keep watching the space for our book recommendation for the alphabet B tomorrow to see how we are #BondingOverBooks and in case you missed our theme reveal for this year’s BlogchatterA2Z challenge you can check it out here.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

BlogchatterA2Z Challenge 2020 – Theme Reveal

On March 29, 2020March 30, 2020 By Sweta KachhapIn Blogchatter Projects, Children BooksLeave a comment

“Bonding Over Books” is my theme for BlogchatterA2Z 2020

Hello Readers!

Do you remember the blogging madness in April last year? Yes, I’m talking about the month where I wrote 26 blog posts in 26 days. The same crazy BlogchatterA2Z Blogging Challenge is here with yet another season of its blogging madness.

BlogchatterA2Z Blogging Challenge

If you are still wondering what BlogchatterA2Z challenge is, let me tell you it is an exciting and thrilling, action-and-drama-packed, month-long blogging challenge where the participant needs to put up 26 posts with 26 alphabets in 26 days (Sundays being a holiday). The posts can be a part of a theme or individual posts depending on the participant’s choice.

So, with that being said I have chosen to stick to a theme for myself just like last year to give a feel, connect and solidarity to my posts, something that my readers can look forward to reading each day throughout the month. And now, it’s time for the “Theme Reveal” and I can already sense the adrenaline gushing in me, that’s the kind of excitement BlogchatterA2Z challenge entails and is raved about. Excited much?

Theme Reveal

As part of the BlogchatterA2Z challenge last year I rededicated my marriage by renewing our marriage vows by taking not 7, but 26 vows through alphabets A to Z with #MarriageRededicated.

This year we all know how we all doing our part to be safe, healthy, busy and sane during this period of the countrywide lock-down due to the pandemic spread of COVID-19. The most difficult part of this whole situation for me is to keep my 3-year-old engaged, entertained and at the same time aid in learning. I have been planning and designing activities for my son to keep his screen time to minimum as much as possible. So, I decided to take this to my advantage integrating the activities I do with my son with a story telling session along with its review. Exciting, right?

With this season of #BlogchatterA2Z, I shall be sharing 26 book reviews from 26 alphabets spread across 26 posts with the theme “Bonding Over Books”.

Why this theme?

As you all know after joining work, I had been feeling really guilty for not being able to make sufficient time for Shaarav. I have always been keen on raising a reader and to foster in him the love for books. And I have watched how reading transports him to fantastic places and introduces him to new ideas simultaneously expanding his vocabulary. But, somehow, as I got more busy juggling family and work, the books that we used to read and the stuff that we used to do every day had started to dwindle and was restricted just to Sundays. Fortunately, this unfortunate COVID-19 situation and the current lockdown has bestowed me with the privilege to make up for the lost time and bonding with my son.

Last year I celebrated my bond with Mr. Husband, this year I wish to celebrate my bond with Mr. Baby. So, with these 26 posts you can expect 26 book reviews with each alphabet and book related activities. I hope to make the best of this lock-down period and also that some of you could also borrow our ideas to keep your children engaged and entertained. Keep watching this space starting 1^st of April’ 2020 as Shaarav and I strengthen our relationship and forge an everlasting bond by #BondingOverBooks.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

No More Sweating the Small Stuff

On September 30, 2019 By Sweta KachhapIn Blogchatter Projects, Motherhood1 Comment

I am a perfectionist and people who know me are well aware of how badly I want things to be planned, organized and executed to a t. And how incorrigibly cranky I become if the things fail to fall in place like the way I wanted them to. So before having Shaarav I felt that “I had it all together” but then Shaarav happened and all hell broke loose. Things have changed from being relatively peaceful to suddenly being chaotic and confusing. Read my post on “The Dilemmas of Being a Working Mom.”

Parenting can be a consuming experience especially when you’re a working mom who solo parents her hyperactive toddler most of the time. Time and again I have been challenged to my capability of being overwhelmed with my tangled emotions of having it all together at one moment while losing it completely at another and struggling to maintain my sanity. Mr. Husband says I worry a lot and that I should shun sweating the small stuff.

And, of late I have realized that though motherhood is tough and unheralded way too often the joy of motherhood comes in moments. There will be frustratingly tough times and taxing moments except amidst those challenges you’ll experience those tiny shining moments of pure bliss which would make it worthwhile.

I am amazed at how motherhood has made me realize that life cannot be lived and appreciated in retrospect and in order to do that I need to stop sweating the small stuff to live in the moment and be at peace. And as grateful I am for as glorious a blessing motherhood is I need to embrace and cherish each day as it comes however amazing or terrible I am at it. So from now on no more sweating the small stuff and diving deeper into the beautiful and fulfilling experience motherhood has to offer.

P.S. I am taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

The Dilemmas of Being a Working Mom

On September 26, 2019 By Sweta KachhapIn Blogchatter Projects, Motherhood1 Comment

Today I had a rather slow and peaceful day in a long time. And as I tucked Shaarav to sleep kissing his forehead, I found my thoughts meandering in the farthest reaches of my brain awakening the deepest emotions. Parenting is full of personal choices and a recent life-changing choice that I have made is joining work. I am now a full-time working mom.

Why life-changing you may ask?

The reason being I have joined work after having been a stay-at-home mom to my little human for a little more than two and a half years. I have talked a lot about my choice for being a stay-at-home mom on my blogs “Stay-at-home mom – a Need, a Compromise or a Choice?” and “How I’m a “HAPPY” stay-at-home mom?” But even after successfully being a working mom for more than three months now I often find myself at crossroads.

I have said this time and again, yet I reiterate that nothing can fully prepare us for becoming a mother despite our best efforts and regardless of the tireless pursuit of preparing for being one. When being a mom itself is difficult considering the constant, demanding and exhausting nature of the job, let alone being a stay-at-home mom or a working mom. It’s no easy feat keeping another human being happy and healthy reckoning how uniquely complicated raising these little humans is no matter how well we contemplate the minutiae of motherhood. And as much as it may sound exaggerated I have found being a working mom much of a heroic feat.

I have never been a very career-driven woman, but having been raised in a middle-class family with working parents we have been brought up to believe that the sky is the limit and that we could achieve anything we put our heart and pour our soul into. But after starting a family of my own I was kind of squandering the opportunities wanting to work in a way that could fit around my family. And just when I was about to lose hope I was presented with the golden opportunity of joining work that not only met my criteria but was also paying me well.

When I joined work I was quite sure I could handle both career and motherhood without breaking a sweat given the fact how resourceful I considered myself. But each day as I navigate through the myriad of daily struggles, juggling work and family responsibilities, I find myself overwhelmed. Life feels like a race and every day is a battle against the clock. Trying to complete household chores sticking to a schedule with a toddler and finding the strength to entertain a toddler after a long tiring day at work seems a formidable task.

I underestimated the demands of motherhood and the difficulties of combining parenting with work. And to be very honest, I constantly feel burdened with the daily grind and frazzled with a mix of complex emotions. I’m grappled with the eternal guilt of not giving enough time to my son and not being available for him. And, despite making every effort possible, finding a harmonious balance between work and home while staying all sane feels like a dauntingly difficult a task. It feels I’m getting lost in the rush.

But, do I have the option of giving up?

I indeed feel such guilt and such longing, but could I live with the guilt of giving up?

It is puzzling and suddenly I’m not so sure about it.

But, one thing I’m certainly sure about is that I definitely cannot afford regrets. Regret is one thing I can’t live with.

Today I had time on my hands to comprehend my thoughts and emotions. And suddenly a light bulb went off in my head and it dawned on me that work-life balance can mean different things to different people. To me, it would mean enjoying my motherhood to the fullest besides having a career with financial independence. Ideally, I’d love the freedom of working from home or working part-time so that I can spend more time with my little man. But I guess that’s the duality of being a working parent and that’s something I’ll have to struggle with. I may, however, be burning the candle at both ends, the fact of the matter is, I cannot have it all.

But then, wasn’t I struggling as a stay-at-home mom too? So, what makes being a working mom any different? Let’s face it, all mothers, be it a stay-at-home mom or a working mom, don’t always have it easy.

And, all this makes me realize that there will be days when it makes complete sense and there will also be days when all of this makes no sense at all. As much true it is that I could be judged and belittled for my choices, it so happens that my heart’s also going to have these moments of doubts about what could have been. And my disenchantment with integrating work into motherhood to establish a harmonious co-existence will be making it all the more confusing than it already is.

But the one thing that stood out from all this mental churning was that if I am happy on the inside, I am emphatically going to be happy on the outside.

So, now the question arises, am I happy?

Yes, indeed. I wanted a career and I have it. I am thankful for the opportunity regardless of the frequent bouts of guilt for being a working mom. But, financial independence having a job entails is what I am really happy about. I am happy that I can now contribute to the household income and have greater financial stability. I am happier with the feeling of accomplishment being a working woman brings. And I am happiest with the opportunity that being a working mom presents for making my son understand the importance and virtue of hard work and why it’s important to chase your dreams and make them a true.

Am I satisfied?

Oh, yes I am. I am truly satisfied that finally, I get to carve and shape my career. I am satisfied knowing that whether I choose to be a stay-at-home mom or a working mom, it is my love, attitude, faith and trust in my choices that’d help raise my child to be a kind, happy and successful adult.

Am I at peace?

Oh, hell yes. There’s no greater feeling than knowing that I played a big part in my child’s upbringing and was there for Shaarav during his early years when he needed me the most. And now that he’s beginning to get more and more independent with each passing day, I can think of me and my career aspirations which I had been putting on hold for so long. So, yes, I am at peace knowing that I have been there for all of his firsts and that our values are now his values too. And, it gives me immense peace in the belief that I am making well-thought-of choices for me and my family in the long run – the belief that it’s all worth it!

P.S. I am taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine

It’s just a phase

On September 15, 2019September 26, 2019 By Sweta KachhapIn Blogchatter Projects, Motherhood, Parenting55 Comments

Early motherhood years are tough and trying. And as much as young kids act as stress busters, in an inexplicable way, they are also a kind of stress givers too. Well-meaning relatives who have managed to raise a half a dozen kids say and even I know that it’s just a phase, but at the moment it seems like an eternity. Though Shaarav has never been a picky eater and he seldom fusses about food, of late he has become an obstinate child with a violent temper. He refuses to budge if he isn’t given what he wants.

I have been that mom who has tried to handle the situation by love, persuasion, diversion, or even resorting to more uncalled for means like shouting and screaming. I’m not particularly proud of them, but sometimes things do tend to go a little out of hand calling for more serious action when nothing else works. I have spent an absurd amount of time cooking food that I know he loves only to find out that he wants entirely something else at the moment. And believe me, no amount of reasoning works with a headstrong almost three-year-old. And of late I have been talking and shouting and screaming so much that I have begun to get irritated at the sound of my own voice. Why does motherhood have to involve so much talking? Not that I’m complaining or I don’t love talking but it is insane how much talking motherhood involves every day.

I know a couple of moms with children the same age as Shaarav who are also going through the same phase, and stressing over the same things. We try to derive relief and satisfaction from knowing that we are not alone and how familiar our worries feel.

Motherhood is unlike any other job in the whole world – you never get off the clock. But then, there’s no better job than motherhood. After having legitimately worn out at work and having a frustrating episode of mothering with my unreasonable toddler in addition to having a hotchpotch of other confusing mothering feelings, when my little one snuggles into me finding comfort in my arms I feel perplexed from a feeling of contrastingly mixed emotions.

There’s no denying that parenting is tough and motherhood is indeed confusing but what’s also true is the love. So even when I’m stressed with responsibilities that come with helping this tiny human grow up the way I’d like him to, I constantly need to make a conscious choice to never give in. I constantly need to remind myself to enjoy this phase because I won’t be having these same worries once he grows up a little. And for that very reason, I need to remember to worry a teensy-weensy bit less and take in the absolute love that being a mother brings; even when at the end of the day, after being spent at work it becomes a hell lot difficult to remember this.

I consider motherhood to be a lifetime experience which is full of conscious, effortful choices that I make every day. And I want it to be coloured and shaped with the right kind of choices that I make and the right kind of attitude that I bring in with me. So I work double as hard and with as much gratitude and love I can muster. And though I am more of a ‘word person’ when being a mom becomes overly overwhelming, I try to make my love for my child known to him by kissing his booboos, answering his nonsensical questions a 100^th time and sometimes giving in to his unreasonable demands.

A mother’s heart is never off duty. But, I do not want to indulge myself in over thinking about my child in a manner that’s unhealthy or obsessive, but is like a fragrance that constantly surrounds me with love and freshness. And for that, I need to keep reminding myself that in the grand scheme of things it’s really just a phase.

This post is a part of the theme “My Cup of Motherhood” on which you can read my first post “The Truth Behind My Picture Perfect Motherhood” here and the theme reveal here.

P.S. I am taking my blog to the next level with Blogchatter’s #MyFriendAlexa.

Love,

Mrs. Sunshine