Verbal Confirmation

To be, to have, to think, to move – which of these verbs is the one you feel most connected to? Or is there another verb that characterizes you better?

More than all the other verbs I would place ‘To be’ on the top of my list.  The quality of being present of being aware and living in the moment makes life wonderful.  This is an innate quality that we all have as children but somehow we tend  to neglect as we grow up.

A child is a bundle of energy jumping from task to task with effortless ease.  Even after hours of play they do not want to stop.  The reason is they are lost in the present moment and fully enjoy whatever they do.   Children play like there is no tomorrow.

Who  does not love an innocent child?  They have no qualms about the future.  They are always honest and say what is on their mind.  They also do not build walls of discrimination based on colour, caste or creed.  Their love is unconditional.

Have you seen a child cry one moment and burst into laughter the very next moment?  They do not brood over trivial quarrels or misunderstandings.  They are able to forgive and forget.  This is one important lesson that we can learn from children.

Children are known to laugh a great deal more than adults.  Cartoons, comic books, jokes and mimicking are the best part of childhood. This keeps them intrinsically motivated and it also inspires and changes the mood of all around them.

Children do not bring any preconceived notions or prejudices.  So they are always full of wonder and curiosity.   As adults we have to learn to unlearn.  Our false notions and egoistic beliefs stand in the way of our quest for truth.

I would like to be myself and be present in the moment like a child .  I would like to fill my moments  with enthusiasm , love and positive energy and share this love and energy with the world around me.

Other interesting posts in this category:
1) http://tombalistreri.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/verbage-veiw/
2) http://vexingpoint.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/daily-prompt-verbal-confirmation/
3) http://www.ryanerickson.com/writing/2014/10/01/the-verb-of-life-move/
4) http://sayadpoet.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/a-bit-of-this-a-bit-of-that-daily-prompt/
5) http://linusfernandes.com/2014/10/01/verbal-confirmation-acting-on-motion/
6) http://lifeconfusions.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/to-think/
7) http://ofglassandpaper.com/2014/10/01/dailyprompt-verbal-confirmation/
8) http://mojowritin.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/i-think-therefore-i-worry/
9) http://threepsandq.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/prompt-to-create/
10) http://marthakennedy.wordpress.com/2014/10/01/do-be-do-be-do/

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Adult Visions

As a kid, you must have imagined what it was like to be an adult. Now that you’re a grownup (or becoming one), how far off was your idea of adult life?

 

We always think the grass is greener on the other side. So while I was young, I wanted to grow up fast and be a big man. I used to wonder what it would be like to be tall and strong.

I used to see the man with the ice-cream cart and wanted to sell ice-creams like him when I grew up.

I used to believe that grown ups earn money, enjoy luxuries and life would be happy-go-lucky.

But now when I look at a child I can see their innocence and their sense of wonder. I watch them immerse themselves in their games and toys and enjoying every moment. A little toy, a game, an icecream or a candy can make their day.

They have loads of energy and enthusiasm and even at the end the daythey seem to want more fun.

Little did I know then that -As we grow up we harbour ill-conceived notions of people, their colour, race and religion. We build walls around us and we seek to see differences rather than finding the common essence that unites all of us.

 

Other interesting posts in this category:
1) http://tombalistreri.wordpress.com/2014/07/23/grown-up/
2) http://underthemonkeytree.com/2014/07/23/all-grown-up/
3) http://tuckedintoacorner.wordpress.com/2014/07/23/all-growed-up/
4) http://lindaswritingblog.wordpress.com/2014/07/23/grown-up/
5) http://msbstories.wordpress.com/2014/07/23/am-i-a-grown-up-oh-well/
6) http://fibercompulsion.com/2014/07/23/whod-want-to-grow-up/
7) http://aminaahmedsblog.wordpress.com/2014/07/23/adult-and-me-lol/
8) http://angloswiss-chronicles.com/2014/07/23/daily-prompt-adult-visions-i-had-none/
9) http://flippyzipflop.wordpress.com/2014/07/23/i-had-it-all-wrong/
10) http://thinkingoutlouddotme1.wordpress.com/2014/07/23/daily-post-adult-visions/

 

Out of your reach

Was there a toy or thing you always wanted as a child, during the holidays or on your birthday, but never received? Tell us about it.
Photographers, artists, poets: show us DESIRE.

When I was in school, I was fascinated to learn about the planets, solar system etc. And I wanted to own a telescope so that I could see these planets at close range.

I used to love the pictures of saturn rings, mars, jupiter etc in the National Geographic and other magazines.

Long after that when I moved to Singapore,I was awed by the awesomeness of these planets when I watched the skies in 3D at the Science centre.  I also got to watch the moon and saturn at the newly opened Galaxy community club near my home.

Watching the movie Gravity in 3D also was a thrilling experience to make up for the ‘out of reach’ telescope.

Other interesting posts in this category:
1) http://underthemonkeytree.com/2013/12/10/daily-prompt-out-of-your-reach/
2) http://chasingrabbitholes.com/2013/12/10/red-shoes-to-make-you-fly/
3) http://kawaneehamilton.wordpress.com/2013/12/11/out-of-reach/
4) http://pattyryanlee.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/the-daily-out-of-your-reach/
5) http://zainabjavid.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/out-of-reach/
6) http://lifeisgreat0.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/the-bike/
7) http://ordibild.com/2013/12/10/daily-prompt-desire/
8 http://brecore.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/daily-prompt-out-of-your-reach/
9 http://johnnyojanpera.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/out-of-your-reach/
10)http://angloswiss-chronicles.com/2013/12/10/daily-prompt-out-of-your-reach/

What values would you like to pass on to your child?

What values do you want to pass on to your child?

As parents, I think one of the best gifts one can give one’s child is inculcating the right values from childhood to stand them in good stead throughout their lives.  Our core values are like beacons that light our path.

To children, parents are their role-models, their superstars, their idols.  They learn many habits through imitating their parents, so it is important that we set a right example for them.

We can provide them a good education and instill the right values from a young age.  This will enable them to become independent and mature individuals who can think beyond their self.

Teaching life skills gives immense confidence and empowers your kids .  They grow up with the belief that they can achieve.  Being with your child and sharing in their joys and disappointments, empathizing, collaborating and discussing their feelings will increase their self-awareness and develop their emotional quotient.

‘You have to teach them to fish’ rather than do the fishing.  So sometimes when I teach my daughter I let her explore the problem and come with solutions even wrong ones to develop her thinking skill rather than spoon-feeding her.  I also give her the confidence and faith in her ability to solve any problem if she can focus and work hard at it.

Here are 25 values which I would like to pass on to my child  are:

Honesty
Respect for people
Graciousness
Compassion
Ethics
Loyalty
Integrity
Strength
Patience
Love
Gratitude
Respect for nature
Work-life balance
Social skills
Reading
Sense of humour
Think before you speak
Responsibility
Perseverance
Speaking & listening skills
Take risks
Stand up for yourself
Agree to disagree
Time management
Money management

What are the values that you hold close to your heart and would like to instill in your child?

Change

From a seed springs forth a plant
Reaching  out to the sun
Branching out with vigour
Into a full-grown tree

A tender, helpless child
Grows into a teenager
Then matures into an adult
Grows old and dies one day

A tiny caterpillar
Nibbling on green leaves
Slowly transforms into a pupa
Until it breaks free into a butterfly

Seasons change
Plants, animals and humans change
Day changes to night
Change is all around us

Let us remain centred
While riding this wave of change
Soaring high into the sky like the redwood tree
Keeping its roots firm underground

 

© copyright skm, 1st Dec, 2011

The Witness

Clock ticks heard
Time flies by
The sun rises
New day dawns

Rush to work
The traffic jams
Deadlnes to meet
The project stalls

Time for lunch
Food is served
Back to business
Rush for growth

Love then marriage
Children and diapers
Priorities and choices
Arguments and clashes

Kites, boats, games
Dirty little feet
World of fun
And childhood pranks

Sky turns crimson
Birds fly home
Dusk sets in
Streets light up

Old and tired
Age is queer
Weary and wrinkled
Slow and cautious

The cycle continues
Day and night
A silent witness
Sees it all

Timeless and eternal
Pure and infinite
One and only
Substance of all

© copyright skm,  11th Sept. 2011

Spoil the rod and spare the child

Those sparkling eyes,| that charming smile
That look full of love
You cast a spell on everyone
Innocence – you are a child

When you are angry at your child or still worse spank them – have you ever looked into their eyes?
I have seen the look in my child’s eyes when I was angry – and I have decided never to use the cane on my child.

Corporal punishment on a child can dent his/her self-esteem and confidence. Caning can create resentment and rebellion in a child. It can terrify a child. A child who grows up seeing violence at home and also being subject to caning grows up with the notion that it is acceptable for the strong to use force against the weak. Such children when they grow up have higher likelihood of becoming aggressive towards their siblings, their classmates and their own children.

Children learn most of their behaviours through imitation of their parents.  Parents are their role model – an example of what is right and good.  They look for love and attention to their parents.

More often than not we hit our children when we are in a bad mood and not because they have done anything wrong.  Anger is nothing but blocked desire.  In such an angry mood, when your child comes and asks you an innocent question – we vent our anger on the kids.

Then how do we discipline our child:

Firstly, we have to set ground rules- they have to understand what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour

Secondly,  it is very important to communicate regularly with your child.  They have to understand why they are not allowed to do certain things.  As they grow older they develop assertiveness.  This is a good sign and should not be only viewed as disobedience.

Some parents ask for blind acceptance from children.  This does not nurture confidence and sets a poor example.A child who is always being ordered about is not going to develop the confidence  to think and reason for themselves at school and at home.

Next, we have to lead by example – You cant tell your child to stop watching TV while you are happily sitting in front of the idiot box all day.

Use positive language  – Instead of saying – Dont do that or stop doing that – we could use positive language like : I need you to  or I expect you to

Focus on the behaviour not the child.  Children should understand that they are being punished for their behaviour and not because you don’t like them

Dont take away their dignity – Show respect for the child.  Make sure you address the problem behaviour rather than attacking the character of the child

Let us not destroy that innocent spark that budding creativity.  Let us create an environment for our children by which they will develop into confident, creative and well-rounded personalities able to contribute to society.

Innocence

 

 

Those sparkling eyes, that charming smile
That countenance full of love
You cast a spell on everyone,
Innocence, you are a child!

Your naughty pranks, your witty lies,
Your cries and your giggles
I have no answer to your endless queries
Innocence, you are a child!

You know no caste, you know no creed
You know no envy and pride
You put to shame, men at war
Innocence, you are a child!

I watch you sleep, undisturbed
A picture of serenity!
With a smile on your face and a tear in your eye
Innocence, you are a child!

 

©copyright 9th Dec 2010, skm