Can you have a companion who showers you with unconditional love? I guess so; if you have a 4-legged friend, irrespective of whether you have had one already or if it’s your first one, it is one of the most joyful experiences…

Covid was at its peak when my daughter, a single child, started pestering us for a Puppy.

It was a huge responsibility, a Commitment to take amidst a lot. She was relentless. We decided to ask a friend to bring home a 2-month-old Lab. The minute the little pup and my daughter met, it was like they had known each other for years; he held onto her dress and never let go; How could we say NO to that little fur ball running around so happily in our home…That’s how he came home; she named him CASHEW.

The first 3 months were sleepless nights. It was like having a newborn…. But the positive side to it was that when there was so much negativity and sadness during that time, we, as a family, were in a Cashew world. He kept us all super busy. We had no time to think!!!! We were busy trying to save our Furniture, Socks and Towels, shoes, and even hairbands. Even the switchboards were not spared! We baby-proofed the whole house!!!!

He is 2 years now, a lot calmer, and a charmer with all age groups. He just makes them feel special, and all he asks in return are Belly rubs n non-stop playtime…He deals with all of us differently.

His Akka(sister) is his partner in crime, and he is her best friend who knows ALL her secrets. Most of all he is her Morning Alarm, wakes her up showering her with kisses…even on weekends 😊

He is even a part of my daughter’s friend group. He falls under the “Annoying younger sibling category” when they get together. He wants to know what they are up to!!

He is quite a well-behaved boy and guards his grandma when his parents are not around.

His Appa is his Master – No one is allowed to love him more than him 😊

With his Amma, she is his constant! She must always be around to take care of him!!

Over the last 2 years, we as a family have had some changes in our lifestyle; we have become a very disciplined family, waking up early even during weekends, and going on long walks together. Any animal we see we tend to empathize with them. My daughter says they all look like Cashew. She has so much empathy toward all pets and the Elderly. Somewhere she connects them…We are not allowed to speak loudly or have arguments that upset him.

He is a part of everything we do…There is always a positive Vibe at home. Somewhere he is a godsend. When you see his innocent eyes, you see so much love, filling your heart with happiness. To all the kiddos pestering their parents to get a pet Go get one. It’s a responsibility that needs to be shared with the Parents. It’s an experience, but it’s also a commitment …… They say Dogs do speak and love you unconditionally, but only to those who know how to listen and reciprocate …

Author : Michael Northrop

Book Name : Trapped

This book gives us a sneak peek into the school life of a teenage boy who survives as an average student but ends up being the only hope for the school.

The story revolves around seven people and himself who get stuck in the school due to an extreme climatic condition and what happens next ends up to be the crux of this book.

It describes to us a real life situation and how they went about solving it with a lot of courage, hope and excitement. It reveals a presence of mind and a lot of humor which I really loved. Many twists and turns make this book even more enjoyable and interesting.

I will gladly recommend this book to all those teenagers who need a quick stress buster and hearty laugh. I would give this book a rating of 8/10 as there are some repetitive sections which could have been omitted. However, in overall context, description, character building, sequence of events, it is WORTH a read

So I would goad you to go grab the book and have some fun.

One of the most fascinating sights for me is to see children frolicking gleefully. I can say without any doubt that ask any child in the midst of a game whether his/her work/project is complete for the day. The child would probably halt, ponder, give a sheepish grin and then continue to play. The reckless attitude of the children to squeeze maximum out of life, out of that moment is what makes childhood an enviable phase of life which we all remember with nostalgia. There is something in childhood that tugs at our hearts. What is that we leave behind as we grow in years? When and where do we leave that wonderful saga of love for life behind? Are we happy in the rat race? Of course, we are not. Running around like ants and mice hoarding materialistic things!

We can be grateful to the Pandemic for at least one thing: it taught many to pause and ponder as to what they want in life. We discovered ourselves, we discovered our families and we discovered the little child within all of us. And that child blossomed when we allowed it to. And if some of us haven’t allowed it, it’s time to encourage the child to laugh, play and explore. I go for my regular brisk walk but there are days when I saunter and gaze at the tiny flowers that grow by the side. A flock of birds bathing in the small puddle makes me smile. My friends and I sing the ‘Happy Birthday’ song loudly in a restaurant for a dear friend, irrespective of the people around. And when I look around, I see only smiling faces, their eyes silently appreciating the small celebration. I shamelessly go and praise a stranger for their act of kindness or for their graceful sway. I love the twinkle in the eyes of strangers. Everyone likes a caring gesture.

I envy my friends who trek mountains, take classes to learn dance, music or indulge in sports. There is so much to do, there is so much to learn. The whole world is a classroom where learning is solely activity based. One needs the curiosity and eagerness of a child to see the bounties of Nature and of God. Go to a fair to see a puppet show, go and see an animation movie and take out time to hear the singer at the wayside singing a rustic song. My most memorable moment was when I heard two singers sing the famous song depicting the marriage procession of Lord Shiva. My friends had to pull me to the party that we had to attend. As I sat near the two singers, I got goosebumps. It was simple but pulling. I let the little child in me, sit on the pavement next to them and get lost in a trance. I was oblivious to the people around me. Gradually, many stopped to hear the two. And all those who stood there lost count of the time.

I am learning to enjoy the simple joys of life from you, dear children. You appreciate the little things and surprises that life throws at you. You move with a sprint in your step. You play with children who may belong to a different strata. For you the game is important and not the names of brands and clothes. You are trusting by nature. You have full faith in someone up there looking after you, your family and the whole world. You don’t doubt. You are secure in the knowledge that things work out for the best. You praise, love and enjoy. You don’t plan, you go with flow till we, adults, step in. We teach you to measure happiness according to our terms. We are bad, aren’t we?

But we are learning fast. There are so many people who are letting children be. There are adults who are going back to hobbies that they left behind. People are going to professions which they once wanted to follow. So a person who wanted to be a Chef but was forced to be an engineer (by not very understanding parents) floats videos to showcase his/her culinary skills. A doctor decides to switch careers to become a Radio Jockey! And more and more parents are letting go of their children and are allowing them to pick a profession that they would enjoy. We have been on life’s treadmill for too long. We are exhausted and we are slowing down. We don’t want to put you there. It’s tough, arduous and killing. We need to understand the joy in living a simple life. Mall culture, globe trotting is fine but one’s home with close friends and family members can be an oasis to soothe tired souls. Help us to explore this option. You have the secret to turn a plush living area into a play area. Never mind the artifacts. That is your beauty.

So, children teach us not to forget that life is precious. Teach your parents that they do not always have to be responsible. They can afford to laugh at anecdotes and silly jokes. Give us reminders that there is a child within all of us. Take out time from your studies to teach adults that life and fun can co-exist. And do remember to keep that child alive within you. Happy Childrens Day to all of us!

A smiling child is the purest form of beauty.

The most precious gift life gives to a living being is a child, and to take care of this gift is not just happiness, but a responsibility, a way to express gratitude towards life, nature and this world we inhabit.Our first Prime Minister, Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru loved children dearly and is fondly remembered as Chacha Nehru by them. In 1964, to commemorate his birth anniversary , 14th November, his birthday was declared as Children’s Day nationwide.

Blooming like vibrant hues of flowers in a garden, children are the tiny saplings of future trees.
With their endless wonder and innocent questions, their awe- filled eyes and toothy smile, chubby cheeks, pudgy hands, curious minds and tiny hearts full of love for all, they are the brightest stars of life.

Along with paying honour to Pandit Nehru, this day strives to raise awareness of their rights, care, and education. He wanted the children to be happy and zestful for life- traits which like all other learning, start from home. This day serves as an ideal moment to reflect on the needs and desires of a child, and how we as parents, guides, educators, elders and friends can help them bloom to their fullest.

So, what does a child need to be happy?

The answer lies beyond the seemingly important paraphernalia of riches, comforts and toys, and we find that the essentials are time, love, education, discipline and security.
Remember, time means the time of parents/ elders or family members not of helpers. We must remember that helpers are to ‘help’ us in certain areas so that ‘we can have time’ with the child, not the other way round.

Love means the patient love and empathy towards a growing child which is free of deadlines, conditions of our mood and situation, and which is not in the form of ‘anything my child puts his/her hands on’.
We must learn to differentiate between ‘buying a toy as a gift’ versus ‘ gifting a toy as a bribe’ to get rid of our passive guilt of not being with them or being impatient with them.

Similarly, education needs to be exceptionally well crafted, not merely branded. And discipline needs to be taught through our actions instead of compelling them to follow it. As Joseph Joubert , a French moralist has rightly said, ” Children need models rather than critics”

We must ensure that a child feels safe and secure.
Children with a strong sense of security grow-up as emotionally stable, responsible adults in relationships as well as social citizens.

Another aspect of raising a child with great emotional, mental, physical and psychological health is to spend quality play time with them. It leads to building team spirit, quick thinking, decision making and a plethora of other abilities in children.
Like, playing outdoors develops stamina, fitness and motor skills , while playing an indoor game leads to strong connections, memories and harmony.
A happy childhood is the best inheritance you can leave for your child even if you are not as rich , as smart, as happening as anyone else and find it hard to keep up with the Joneses.

A happy child is the sign of a future happy nation and there’s no better way of understanding a society than to observe how they treat their children.
If we raise them happy and healthy in childhood we’d be saved from the gargantuan task of reforming depressed grown ups and repairing broken adults.

So, for happy children let’s become happy parents… not just happy parents, but happy uncles and aunts, happy excited teachers, relatives, family friends, a smiling postmaster , a jolly electrician, a kind shopkeeper, a welcoming librarian, an empathetic neighbour…
In a multitude of forms we are constantly affecting them, like anything which falls on wet cement leaves an imprint, WE in myriad interactions impress something upon their impressionable minds, so let’s be sure of a beautiful imprint.

That will be the true celebration of Children’s Day.

Good habits, if inculcated at a young age, significantly transform a person’s character drastically. Nature being a good teacher, can teach us a lot. Its operation teaches us life’s lessons. Therefore, it is vital for humans to take care of our environment and act morally. Children can emulate the environment friendly practices as followed by adults around them. Going further, there are many unique ways through which they can “Care For The Planet” and become “Green Warriors”.

For young children, involving friends in activities that are eco-friendly can help in making these activities more fun.

• Borrowing books from seniors: Hand-me-downs can be an effective way to reduce paper wastage as well as usage. Instead of purchasing new books, seniors can always be requested to lend their books for use.
• Making books out of surplus pages: Instead of buying a new rough notebook, collecting pages from various old notebooks to make a new one can be an excellent way to upcycle registers.
• Using wooden pencils as clutch pencil substitutes: Wooden pencils make an excellent clutch pencil replacement. Additionally, the pencils include a seed that can be used to plant a tree.
• Using bamboo toothbrush- Bamboo toothbrush is the new substitute for plastic ones. They’re great bio-degradable standard replacements now and are cost-friendly too.
• Switching to steel straws from plastic ones. It can take a very long time for plastic straws to decompose. So, to do your bit for the environment, sip your cold coffee with a reusable steel straw that can be washed and used again.

For older kids and teens, the following can tasks can be taken up by them :

• Switch off the charger: Even when you are done charging your phone, but leave the charger plugged with the switch on, electricity continues to flow even then. This is called Phantom Power or Vampire Power and such a habit must be changed immediately. Turn off game consoles when not in use as well as the television instead of letting them stay on standby mode.
• Connect extension cords to make it easier to remember to turn off lights. By doing this, it will be harder to forget to switch things off because there is only one switch that will have to be pressed to turn off any gadget.
• Use low-energy bulbs. By using bulbs that do not consume a whole lot of energy, one can reduce one’s carbon footprint and make an effort to save as well as maintain the planet while sitting at home.
• Use a smart meter to know how much electricity is being used. By keeping a tab on electricity consumption, it will be easier to judge how much energy can be saved by using gadgets smartly.

Certain activities can be done by kids from both age groups:

• Celebrate festivals together while being environment conscious. For instance, gifting home grown saplings to one another and sowing them will not only prove to be good for the environment in the long run but would also enhance the sense of community, solidarity, and togetherness. Giving plants / saplings as gifts for birthdays or even as return gifts is another way to care for the planet.
• Garbage segregation: By keeping 2 dustbins adjacent while working on a school project, for example, one can imbibe the habit of segregating dry waste from wet one. It doesn’t always have to start from the kitchen. Doing it on an individual or a personal level irresopective of the place (school/home/community places)makes all the difference.
• Children must be taught to consciously consume the precious resource of water. ask them to take only the needed amoubt for water in a glass for drinking to ensure its wastage is avoided. They can refill if needed. Wasing of hands and activites like brushing of teeth and fresening up must be done without the water gushing away in the basin or bathrooms.

The above mentioned steps may seem very small or insignificantfor an individual. Yet, their combined impact would be monumental. We must teach children the importance of protecting the environment from an early age. If one wishes to protect the biodiversity of our earth, one must use natural resources wisely and consciously. By including children in this important endeavour, we are not only making them environment resource conscious but building a future generation of green warriors to whom we can safely pass on the mantle of taking “Care of the Planet”.