INDIA: Entertaining Kids During Summer Holidays

A crowded swimming pool.

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When we were little kids, my brother and I used to look forward to summer holidays. Usually, it was a full two months in most parts of South India. Both of us were book worms, and being the voracious readers we were, our parents had no problem in managing us during the summer holidays.

We both learned to read by the age of six because we were products of a strict education system, unlike today where the education system requires children to learn by themselves.  And,  most kids learn to read by eight or nine.

To make matters simpler for both us and our parents, there was a library just across the street where we used to live. We used to go there together, select our books, return the previous day’s books, pay our dues and come back home with a fresh huge stack to pour over.

The librarian became a great friend of ours. Life and holidays were indeed benevolent. We used to visit our maternal grandparents during part of the holidays, and there too, we became members of the local libraries.

In those days, in our little town in India, the concept of summer camps, summer activities for kids, special fun classes, and the like was still a novelty. And, even if some such classes sprung up in our locality, not many kids garnered enough interest to go over and check them out.

Everyone was more or less satisfied and well pleased with their own thing to do during the holidays. And, we were more than happy that our summer pleasure of reading from morning to bed time was not disturbed. Oh yes, our parents were a lucky lot in this aspect. They never had rambunctious kids at hand.

Ah, and now fast forward to the present day and, it is summer holidays for my son. He will be in the next grade sometime in mid June. I have 2 full months stretching in front of me, and I need to keep him entertained not only in the most educative way, but also with fun things in mind. (more…)

Purnima Ramakrishnan

Purnima Ramakrishnan is an UNCA award winning journalist and the recipient of the fellowship in Journalism by International Reporting Project, John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Her International reports from Brazil are found here . She is also the recipient of the BlogHer '13 International Activist Scholarship Award . She is a Senior Editor at World Moms Blog who writes passionately about social and other causes in India. Her parental journey is documented both here at World Moms Blog and also at her personal Blog, The Alchemist's Blog. She can be reached through this page . She also contributes to Huffington Post . Purnima was once a tech-savvy gal who lived in the corporate world of sleek vehicles and their electronics. She has a Master's degree in Electronics Engineering, but after working for 6 years as a Design Engineer, she decided to quit it all to become a Stay-At-Home-Mom to be with her son!   This smart mom was born and raised in India, and she has moved to live in coastal India with her husband, who is a physician, and her son who is in primary grade school.   She is a practitioner and trainer of Heartfulness Meditation.

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INDIA: The Miracle of Life

Great Grandmother

Great Grandmother

That fact that I am here today to write this post, or rather, that I am even walking the face of this earth, is actually a miracle. A miracle that occurred three generations ago, when a little lady persevered with her son’s life. This post is a tribute to that wonderful woman who was my great-grandmother.

In an age where having 10-12 kids was considered the norm, my maternal grandfather was an only child. And, not by choice either.

My great-grandparents had completed over 16 years of married life before their one and only son was born. Living in a little town called Thrissur in the royal state of Cochin, they had tried just about every treatment that was available to them in India in the early 20th century, somewhere in the 1920s.

It was around then that an acquaintance told them about a big hospital in Madirashi (later called Madras and today known as Chennai), where they had had success in treating infertility. My great-grandparents must have been pretty well off then (history, a.k.a my aunts from whom I learned this story, are not particularly clear on that point), for they decided to go to Madras to pursue the new treatment there.

Unlike today, in those days if a couple did not have children, it was thought that maybe God had cursed them and things were left at that. (more…)

Veena Davis (Singapore)

Veena has experienced living in different climes of Asia - born and brought up in the hot Middle East, and a native of India from the state known as God’s Own Country, she is currently based in the tropical city-state of Singapore. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ Several years ago, she came across World Moms Network (then World Moms Blog) soon after its launch, and was thrilled to become a contributor. She has a 11-year old son and a quadragenarian husband (although their ages might be inversed to see how they are with each other sometimes). ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ On a professional front, she works in the financial sector - just till she earns enough to commit to her dream job of full-time bibliophile. ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ You can also find Veena at her personal blog, Merry Musing. ⠀

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Travel Itinerary for the Week of April 18th!

Join us in the Pacific Northwest of the USA on Monday with writer, Tara B. from Seattle on Monday!

Tara’s son has “the gift of gab”, and she often hears herself through her son’s words.  Be sure to check out her top 5 “kid comebacks” in her post this week, “The Comeback Kid.”

Tuesday, we fly east to Cape Cod, Massachusetts to hear from Courtney Cappallo! She asks, have you packed a “Go-bag” for your family to have handy in a disaster situation?

In light of recent world natural disasters, Courtney takes us through what she has packed for her family in her “Go-bag” in her post, “The Bare Necessities.”

Wednesday, we head south to Arkansas, USA, where Margie Bryant takes time from her busy parenting and student schedule to tell us about life in the deep south!

Get your passports out on Thursday and fly with us to Chennai, India, where we meet up with writer, Fire Crystals!  **This is truly a “Wow!” post.**  She writes about fertility treatment in India in the 1920s and her great-grandmother’s undying persistence to conceive a child, Fire Crystal’s own grandfather.  An inspiring read for all mothers, and also one to forward to that good friend going through fertility treatment.

And, be sure to chime in with our writers on Friday for this week’s Friday Question presented by Eva Fannon at the end of the week.

In news, we have added Malaysia to the blog — welcome Alison!  We’re soon to be writing from 11 countries!  Thank you to our readers and writers who have been helping us spread the word about World Moms Blog!

We also hit a 200+ fan milestone on Facebook.  We love our fans!  Do you want to help us inspire and unite more mothers around the globe? If so…

Share your favorite WMB posts on your Facebook Page and tell your friends all about us!

Our writers would be thrilled if you did!  Thank you!

— World Moms Blog

Our World Moms Blog logo was designed by the creative Erica Joyner Designs in Virginia, USA.

World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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INDIA: Reflecting on a Son’s Birthday Party

“Mama, how long until my birthday?” asked my son the umpteenth time in February. I said, “Fifteen more days.” He was turning five full years and was becoming quite a handful.

He was growing up into a boy. He was climbing up trees, gazing at new models of Hot Wheels cars, race cars, collecting dead rubbish and doing everything a boy would do.

I could no longer call him a young toddler. He was almost a little boy, and he kept counting down the days to his birthday from one month before. (more…)

Purnima Ramakrishnan

Purnima Ramakrishnan is an UNCA award winning journalist and the recipient of the fellowship in Journalism by International Reporting Project, John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. Her International reports from Brazil are found here . She is also the recipient of the BlogHer '13 International Activist Scholarship Award . She is a Senior Editor at World Moms Blog who writes passionately about social and other causes in India. Her parental journey is documented both here at World Moms Blog and also at her personal Blog, The Alchemist's Blog. She can be reached through this page . She also contributes to Huffington Post . Purnima was once a tech-savvy gal who lived in the corporate world of sleek vehicles and their electronics. She has a Master's degree in Electronics Engineering, but after working for 6 years as a Design Engineer, she decided to quit it all to become a Stay-At-Home-Mom to be with her son!   This smart mom was born and raised in India, and she has moved to live in coastal India with her husband, who is a physician, and her son who is in primary grade school.   She is a practitioner and trainer of Heartfulness Meditation.

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Travel Itinerary for the Week of March 21st!

We have an exciting start to the week on Monday, as we go to Mexico to hear from first-time writer and Mom of twins Dee Harlow. Dee talks about a topic that really helps put life in perspective.

On Tuesday, we’re back in the United States with Eva Fannon, the Washington working Mom whose busy lifestyle has taught her that sometimes, you just cannot plan things the way you want.

On Wednesday, we fly to India to hear from The Alchemist, the Mom who has worn many hats, including one as an Engineer!

And on Thursday, we’re in New Jersey with Kally Mocho, the part-time social worker who has a passion for helping people less fortunate than herself.

On Friday, Eva Fannon leads our Friday Question.  Don’t forget to check in and join in the conversation with our World Moms Blog writers!

We are thrilled to welcome two new writers, Inspire to Dream from Australia and DC Blogmama from Washington D.C. Look out for their writer profiles, which will be posted soon.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to our writer Sunny Springer, who is anxiously awaiting information about the safety of friends and family in her home country of Japan. We hope to hear good news soon.

— World Moms Blog

Our World Moms Blog logo was designed by the creative Erica Joyner Designs in Virginia, USA.

World Moms Blog

World Moms Blog is an award winning website which writes from over 30 countries on the topics of motherhood, culture, human rights and social good. Over 70 international contributors share their stories from around the globe, bonded by the common thread of motherhood and wanting a better world for their children. World Moms Blog was listed by Forbes Woman as one of the "Best 100 Websites for Women 2012 & 2013" and also called a "must read" by the NY Times Motherlode in 2013. Our Senior Editor in India, Purnima Ramakrishnan, was awarded the BlogHer International Activist Award in 2013.

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