Tara recites a Sanskrit shloka

The girls love to sing. They learn an inordinate number of songs in school, at home, I play them Raffi and other CD's that folks have gifted us. I'm baffled by the ease with which they have picked up Marathi and Hindi songs. Unfortunately I don't understand much (thanks to my English-medium upbringing) and it disappoints me that I can't encourage the songs at home. We attended a PTA meeting for Tara recently and I asked the Teacher how good Tara's attention span was, cause this girl, she can't sit still. The Teacher gave me a surprised look and said "Tara concentrates the most, haven't you heard her sing Guru Brahma?". I responded with a GURU WHA? Tara was immediately summoned and she recited the shloka with such ease that all the parents in the class paused and listened to her.

I often lament that if we were in the US, the girls would have picked up so much more. There are so many opportunities for them to learn swimming, an instrument, tennis, etc. In India, children are made to spend time with family till they are 6ish and then the EC classes begin. What didn't strike me is they are learning far more important things in India, things I would not have been able to teach them as easily in the US. Swimming and Tennis can wait.



[Guru Brahma, Guru Vishnu, Guru Devo Maheshwara. Guru Sakshath Parambrahma, Tasmai Shri Gurave Namaha. Om Shanti, Shanti]

Early morning ramblings

A few minutes before we drop the girls off to school every morning, we hang out in our balcony. They sit on tiny-tot stools, while I comb their hair and put their shoes on. We spot parrots and crows fly past, school kids walking with their over-burdened bags, maids tucking their sarees in and entering buildings, milkmen pulling cows, old people slowly climbing the hill to do yoga, and we play a game of I-Spy. The girls are at their innocent best, they don't fight with each other, they do their own thing and have priceless conversations. I'm so very fortunate I get to watch this, not in a hurry rushing them off to school, so I can rush to work and start my day. Instead, I sit with my cup of chai and listen to their ramblings and mentally record it. I'm enjoying this mommy thing, more than I ever thought I ever would.