I am Aneesh Gosangari. I am 7 years old. I love the author ‘Dav Pilkey’ and I made his fav character on canvas DogMan !!! I decided to paint my own favorite things to put on my room’s wall. I love legos and writing comics too.
Aneesh is a brilliant boy who surprised his mom with this poster. They were looking to buy some posters to put on his room he said “Please don’t waste money to buy those stuff. I will do my Favorite thing so that you can put on wall in my room!”
Needless to say, Aneesh’s parents are super proud of their son, his creativity and thoughtfulness.
My name is Adidev Sreehari. I am 6 years old. I like to draw and read about dinosaurs, whales, and planets. I like to make stuff with play-doh. This is a short story I wrote about Snowman.
A Story About a SNOWMAN:
It was a cold snowy day. I woke up to see white everywhere. I shouted snow. I ran outside and made a huge snowman. I named him Leo. Suddenly Leo opened its eyes and started talking to me. I was surprised. ‘Hello,’ he said. I want to go to the Arctic. Are you coming? I said no. Leo said goodbye to me and started walking all the way to the Arctic to see sea creatures.
Leo got excited and jumped into the water. He saw seals, penguins, sea lions and killer whales. Suddenly he saw a leopard seal coming towards him. Leo escaped to a hiding place. To his surprise, he found another snowman also hiding there. They both together managed to get out to the surface of the water. And they became friends and lived happily ever after in the Arctic.
Ramadan – the holiest month for Muslims around the world; the month when almost two billion Muslims around the world abstain from food, and water from dawn to dusk. The days when they dedicate their time to piety and prayer. Muslims believe that it was during this month that the Holy Qur’an was first revealed to Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him).
It is the month of peace and forgiveness. While abstaining from food and drink is possibly the most visible aspect, that isn’t all there is to it. Muslims believe that the rewards reaped for acts of worship, and other good deeds, during this holy month, are multiplied. A large number of Muslims also participate in the special ‘Taraweeh’ prayers in the evening.
It is believed that one of the last ten nights of Ramadan is Lailatul Qadr or the Night of the Decree. During this night, the first few verses of the Holy Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). This night is considered to be a night of blessings, and forgiveness.
That is just an introduction to what the Holy month means to Muslims from a religious standpoint. What I would like to talk about is the cultural significance of what Ramadan means to me?
Observing Ramadan in Childhood
As a young Indian Muslim growing up in the Middle East (Bahrain, to be precise), Ramadan was a time of joy! Of caring and sharing. It was a time for families and community gatherings. It was a time for worship, and learning. It was exhausting – oh, yes! Absolutely! But also immensely rewarding.
Almost a month before the Holy month began, we would start cleaning the house. It was pretty much our annual spring cleaning. As the days got nearer, we would start making and freezing dishes which can be prepped easily. My mom would start chanting religious prayers and songs – songs which I can recall easily to this day – many years after I have left home.
The best part about being in a Muslim country is that it is around you all the time.
The malls and streets are decorated and lit up with crescent moons, lamps and stars. Ramadan Kareem billboards are everywhere. The Azan (the call to prayer) is heard loud and clear five times during the day. People don’t eat or drink in public, and almost all restaurants are closed till the fast opens each day – in respect for those are fasting and well, because it is the law.
[bctt tweet=”The best part about being in a Muslim country during Ramadan is the convenience. It is around you all the time. ” username=”contactrwc”]
I remember days when we had to climb up our three flights of steps after school, at around 2pm, lugging our incredibly heavy school bags. After a long day at school, we would be famished! But we still had a few hours to go. Watching some television, doing homework, or playing were the activities while we were really young. As we became teenagers, and then adults, the role – in the hours that led to Iftar – was about helping mom in the kitchen, and setting up the table.
At the dusk prayer, we would all sit together, and break our fast as a family. Starting with dates – as Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) has been recorded as suggesting – and water, we then jump into a feast.
As adults, we obviously know that Ramadan is about anything but food – but as kids, food was one of the things we looked forward to the most during the days of fasting.
The common dishes on any Malayali Muslim’s table would be – the semolina kanji or the lentil kanji, Tang – usually the orange flavor, some fruits and a variety of typical snacks. The snacks ranged from the sweet – pazham pori (Plantain banana fritters), unnakkai (plantain banana missiles stuffed with sweetened coconut filling), Sweet Ada to the savory – samosa, cutlets, fish ada, prawns ada, erachipathiri and so on! Ah! My mouth is already watering.
Community Spirit
There were also a number of Iftar gatherings across the country. Not just family gatherings, but also organized by various associations and clubs like the Indian Club, and the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (and others – but these two I am extremely familiar with).
Many of these saw the participation of a large number of non-Muslims. I have listened to the sermon of a Christian priest, and the teachings from a Hindu pandit, as well as Muslim imam at the same gathering. I was and am always amazed at how people come together for a celebration – while fully respecting the religious values and ethos of those who are fasting. Such gatherings are extremely important – and as children, it helped us learn values of diversity, of respect, and of humanity.
[bctt tweet=”Garangao is an arab version of Trick or Treating during Ramadan where kids where traditional clothes and go home to home.” username=”contactrwc”]
Garangao
Another very interesting celebration during Ramadan – usually the fourteenth day is known as Gergaoon or Garangao. Children dress up in traditional outfits, sing traditional songs, and go from house to house collecting nuts or candies. An Arab version of trick or treating, one can say.
I have had the pleasure of participating in a few of those celebrations in Qatar (as an adult though), and I just cannot wait for my son to grow up. Big halls are set up with multiple booths for children’s activities, reading, coloring, traditional games, photobooths, it really is an experience in itself.
Celebrations Today
Even as child, and now as an adult, there is one thing every one always looks forward to – the end of Ramadan – not because it brings the end of fasting but because it brings Eid! The Eid at the end of Ramadan is known as Eid Al Fitr.
Of course the days leading up to is busy – the prayers being the most important element. And shopping for new clothes, putting henna on our hands, and one more round of house cleaning.
Once the moon has been spotted, and Eid has been declared, my mom would start reciting the Takbeer (a prayer chant) loudly at the house, and we would join in too. All this with uncontainable excitement about the next day.
On Eid Day, we would wake up nice and early for the special morning prayers which happened around 6am. Across Bahrain, there would be Eid gaahs (special grounds set up for community Eid prayers), or we would just go to the grand mosque.
Eis was really about family and community. And as kids (and even now for me 😛 ), there is an added bonus of (hopefully) getting Eidi. A token sum of money that children used to get from elders! We then go out and visit relatives, and of course there is some biriyani involved! And get Eidi from them as well.
Now in Qatar, we make it a point to go for the fireworks show that is organized every Eid. In India, it is a very common practice to have fireworks at home. I used to love celebrating Eid in India because of that!
But Eid is the Middle East is extra special – like Christmas probably is in the West.
Schools are closed for three days. There are decorations and festive bill boards everywhere. The entire country celebrates it – doesn’t matter if you are Muslim or not, expat or local, child or adult! Eid is a celebration for every member of the community! There is definitely celebration in the air.
With Eid coming up soon, I wish you a blessed Ramadan Kareem and an exciting enjoyable Eid Mubarak! Do share your experience of the Holy month of Ramadan.
Dilraz Kunnummal is journalist, public speaker, dancer, explorer, and mum to a cheeky one-year-old. She has a decade of experience working in the media industry across India and the Middle East. Her portfolio includes being the editor for a women’s magazine, heading a business publication’s editorial team, running a corporate newspaper, and producing radio shows for a channel with 45 stations across India. A lifelong expat, Dilraz loves learning more about different cultures and traditions. Her goal as a mom is to raise a child who knows empathy, kindness and compassion, while also being confident of reaching his own potential whatever that may be. Dilraz often pens her thoughts on mother hood, and life with her family on her blog, mommydil.com
Have you ever considered encouraging your kids’ creativity for the good of others?
Mayur Art Studio owner Neelima Ganta did just that with the kids in her classes. She got together all the kids work and helped raise funds for the ASK Childhood Cancer Fund.
Every week in Central Virginia, 1-2 kids are diagnosed with cancer. Kids like Caleb. ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation’s mission is to make their lives better by providing Assistance, Support and Kindness when kids and their families needs it most. From the moment of diagnosis, through treatment and beyond. You can help too. Click here to find out how.
Neelima Ganta created an art show at the Tuckahoe public library. At the event, her many students and she herself proudly displayed their works of art for the benefit of the ASK Cancer Fund. You can find out more about Neelima, her art and the classes she provides here.
Neelima Ganta is an Indian born and raised artist, currently residing in Richmond, Virginia USA, is a certified Art instructor.Her artistic progress began as a child as she grew up in a family of Artists. She began picking up in various kinds of arts and crafts since she was 6yrs. Though she did masters in fine arts she preferred to say she was self- thought. Her art is characterized by vibrant colors and bold composition. Most of her works are with acrylics and oil paintings but will enjoy working with other mediums like Oil pastels and pencil and Charcoal also.
India has often been recognized as a country of unique and distinct culture. India has many languages, religions, music, dance, foods, architecture, etc. which differs from its state to state. The Indian culture is an amalgamation of several cultures and has been influenced by the Indian history.
The diversity of Indian culture can be seen under the following heads.
Festivals
The Indian culture can be best observed during the festivals. India, being a multicultural and multireligious country, it has several festivals to celebrate. The popular Hindu-religion festivals like Navratri, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dussehra, etc are celebrated with full zeal and excitement. However, the way of celebration changes from state to state. Navratri is being celebrated in the western part of India by playing Garba-Raas and Dandiya, while the same is celebrated in the form of Durga Puja in Bengal which is an Eastern part of India. In North India, Navratri is being celebrated by worshipping and keeping fasts for the Goddess Durga throughout the nine days.
Apart from the Hindu festivals, India also celebrates Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha (Bakri Eid), Baisakhi, Guru Nanak Jayanti, Christmas and Easter with the same spirit in its several cities. Festivals make India united with different cultures.
Greetings
Indian culture is very famous for its greeting manner. ‘Namaste’ is the term which is used to greet people when they meet. This term is derived from Sanskrit which means ‘I bow to the divine in you’. However, this term gets changed a bit while moving from state to state. This includes Namaste/Namaskar (Hindi, Odia, Marathi), Namaskara(Kannada), Namaskaram (Telugu, Malayalam), Vanakkam (Tamil), Nomoshkaar (Bengali), Nomoskar (Assamese), Aadab (Urdu), and Sat Shri Akal (Punjabi).
These greetings or the salutations are used at the time of depart as well. This shows the respect.
Clothing
Clothing pattern of India varies from state to state but usually preferred and prominent style includes sarees for women and dhoti kurta or dhoti pyjama for men. Here Indian culture seems to be different in a way of draping saree. However, there are many states in India where regional preferences of clothing are observed. These preferences are observed due to the climatic conditions and the physical activities of a woman.
Apart from the clothing style, Indian culture also differentiated based on the make-up of Indian women, like bindi, bangles, sindoor(vermillion). Sindoor is a red or orange colour powder which is applied by a married woman after parting her hair. The application of sindoor is a traditional Indian culture.
Cuisine
India is rich in its spices and so in its cuisine. From Kashmiri mouthwatering Rogan Josh to Tamil Nadu’s Dosa and Uttapam, from Gujarati Dhokla to Kolkata’s Maachh-Bhaat (Fish curry and Rice) all are worth to taste. Indian food has a vast variety and variations. The taste and ingredients change its preparation style also while moving from one state to another. Indian cuisine is the best cuisine around the world as it has a blend of flavours and a feel of food.
Parenting
Parenting is also an important part of our Indian culture. The raising up of a child also varies from region to region. Despite having variations, the Indian culture always teaches Life values, Discipline and the importance of family support while raising the kids.
If we talk about the variations in parenting styles in India, we will observe that the parents from East India (Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and many others) are bit introvert and over-protective in nature. However, they provide better food and manners to their child. On the other hand, parents from western states of India (Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat, etc.) are quite extrovert and modern in their thoughts. The living standards are generally high which affects the parenting style too. The parents from the southern part of India strives majorly on education and cleanliness, while the parents from northern parts of the country give more focus to health and diet.
The diversity of Indian culture has inspired many people. Although the concept of Indian Culture’ is complex and complicated, still India has unity on its diversity.
Have you been to India? What struck you most about Indian culture?
Lives with a notion “SIMPLE LIVING, HIGH THINKING” and have an optimistic approach towards life. Always eager to learn new things. She is founder of a Parenting website called “Budding Star“.
Did you know that 30 million people in the U.S. suffer from eating disorders? And every 62 minutes, a person dies as a direct result of an eating disorder? There is a higher mortality rate from eating disorders than from any other mental illness.
After reading these statistics, I feel incredibly fortunate that I am part of the 60% of people who recover from eating disorders.
My eating disorder started rather innocently. It was the end of my second year of college, and I had started to focus more on exercising and eating healthfully to combat the dreaded Freshman 15. It didn’t take long, though, for my health kick to become an obsession, partly because I have an all-or-nothing personality, and partly because I struggled throughout college with low self-esteem.
I attended the best university I got into, a smart move in some ways, but not necessarily an easy one. From the first week I felt overwhelmed by how smart, talented, attractive, and socially skilled all the other girls were. Was I smart enough? Pretty enough? Funny enough? Talented enough? Would I ever be enough? These questions plagued me.
Once I started exercising obsessively, I found a way that I could be enough. Maybe I wasn’t smart enough or pretty enough or cool enough, but I could definitely be thin enough. That was one thing I could control. At that point, it seemed working out and eating as little as possible were the only ways I could feel really good about myself.
I kept up with those behaviors for about nine months before finally confronting the problem and admitting to myself that things had spiraled out of control. I don’t think it was a coincidence that I called my mom to admit my problem to her minutes after she had finished a nine-week prayer that I would recover from my eating disorder.
Over time, I did recover. The patterns of thinking lingered for years after that initial recovery, but I got much better. And once I became a mom, I recovered fully.
A mom to three girls, I feel immense pressure to help them develop a positive body image in the hopes that they will not fall into the same trap that I did. Early on, I researched ways of fostering a healthy body image and developed a few key rules:
1) Focus on qualities other than their appearance. I try to avoid overemphasizing aspects of their appearance, particularly their body shape. I had always been slim, and having people comment on how lucky I was to be slim made me feel like I had to maintain that shape to be liked. I try to focus instead on what their bodies enable them to do.
2) Avoid making comments on your own appearance. I decided early on to eliminate all the negative, body-related self-talk we women tend to participate in. I’m not perfect, but I try very hard to avoid making comments like, “I shouldn’t have eaten so much,” or “I feel fat.” I just don’t even want that kind of thinking to be on their radar.
3) Avoid commenting on other people’s appearances. It isn’t helpful to make comments about how skinny or pretty another girl or woman is, even if you’re talking about a celebrity. Instead, I try to focus on interior qualities or personalities. And if a celebrity makes a point of being photographed without makeup or airbrushing, I help them see that most celebrity photos aren’t realistic.
4) Help them find activities they enjoy and are good at. Any activity a child can do well helps develop confidence and self-esteem.
Parenting is tough, and even if we do all of the above, we may not be able to prevent eating disorders or any other problem our kids may have. As with most things, paying attention and engaging in open dialogue can be extremely beneficial. And, as I learned from my own experience, prayer doesn’t hurt!
Every parent wishes their child to be a lot of things. But what happens to a parent’s emotions when their child becomes an adult?
Here is a beautiful poem written by a mother for her daughter as she hits that beautifully adventurous age 21.
Ok, Let’s have that adult-adult talk today. Have a dream and follow it. Have a purpose in life and fulfill it. Have empathy and be empowered! Do Everything with passion. Do only what feels right in your heart When you follow your dreams, people may laugh at you Just ignore them and keep going. Then they start talking behind your back, Show off and Vested Interest are the weapons they use, Just overcome those and fly high!
Never talk behind anyone’s back, Be truthful to all, and be straight on their face. Be open with your feelings to all, Some may hate you for the time being, but that’s ok, They may come back to you eventually. Some may hate you forever, which is ok too, Because they don’t deserve you anyway.
Never break anyone’s trust in you, Always hear both sides of the story. Value experiences more than money, The money will come and go, But the experience you made will stay with you forever!
Never trust anyone blindly. Have friends who inspire you and lift you up! Set standards, expectations and goals for yourself, Once you realize who you are, reveal your true self to the world. Then you look around and see that boy with admiration, respect and love in his eyes for you, Hey, that is your partner girl! (BTW mom got lucky very early though) Fly high like a kite and stay grounded at the same time.
Always remember, Nothing is the end of the world, You have always a place to fall back, Your family is always here for you, Enjoy life one day at a time.
Mrs.Menon always exceeds the expectations of an average math teacher. After attaining an MA in Economics, a BS in Math, and a California Certified Teaching Credential, Mrs. Menon has worked various jobs in the educational field. Throughout her career, Raji has branched out from the ordinary roles of a teacher and dedicated her life to not only teach math but to reach out to youth and help each individual become a civilized member of the community. Mrs. Menon is the entrepreneur of her own business, Gurukulam , which derives from a thriving after-school enrichment center, where she teaches math both in-class and online, an active blog (http://rajimenon1.blogspot.com), and a social organization which participates in numerous projects for the less fortunate.
Time stood still. I had driven under a bridge in our home city and I had prayed, “Lord, if you are really real, please guide me to know you.”
At that moment I cried out to God because I couldn’t understand my purpose here on earth.
Don’t get me wrong – my life was great. We had a loving family. We attended a church with some “friends”. I had been treasurer of the growing church plant. I had taught Sunday School. We had enough money to be comfortable. I had enough time for some recreational pursuits.
But I had this ache inside. An emptiness. So I prayed that prayer.
And God led me. I found a new church home with loving caring, encouraging friends who wanted to know the real me. I attended their Bible study – I had gone to Bible studies previously but I didn’t feel comfortable.
I even made this stipulation to my new friends:
“I will attend your study if I don’t have to hold hands, I don’t have to pray out loud and I don’t have to share about myself.”
They accepted me. Loved me. Cared for me. They let me ask questions and patiently answered them.
I questioned. I really questioned. I read books.
Then I tried to read my Bible – failed.
Tried again – failed.
I bought another version of the Bible – failed.
My mentor friend said: “Why don’t you ask Jesus to open His Word to you.”
I tried again and the light started to penetrate.
But I still, even though I “prayed in Jesus’ name”, I didn’t know Him. I started to have some head knowledge of Who He is but I still couldn’t believe in my heart.
Such a doubting Thomas was I.
[bctt tweet=”How I connected to Jesus through my art. ” username=”contactrwc”]
One day, on the prompting of my spiritual mentor friend, I asked Jesus to reveal Himself to me. It was early morning; I was sitting in my chair in my family room. All was quiet. As I asked Jesus to reveal Himself, suddenly I felt this “whoosh” come over me and I dropped to the floor. I felt His presence so strongly. It overpowered me with a peace and understanding. And I said, exactly what Thomas said: “My Lord and my God”.
That was the beginning of my journey – almost 20 years ago. Since then I have had such a wild, crazy ride.
Some of the highlights:
I wrote daily in a journal while I studied the Bible.
I wrote 150 poems.
That led me to attend Christian writers’ conferences.
And over the years I occasionally took some art classes.
I studied early every morning.
I listened to God. I woke up and saw everything around me.
Janis Cox is a creativity catalyst with a heart to connect people to God. She specializes in creating art based on Scripture so that the Truth penetrates hearts and not just minds. The world needs more pictures, art and colour. God speaks through our creativity. We connect deeply with God through creativity because it is play. Our doubts fall away. We become like the little children that Jesus invited to Himself. Janis helps people play, connect to God and connect to each other. She gives honest simple reminders to remain rooted in Him. Janis lives in Haliburton, Ontario Canada with her husband and their small dog, Snowball. Besides writing and painting, Janis podcasts for HopeStreamRadio. She can be reached at Janis Cox.
As a lactation consultant, I spend my days helping moms with all issues related to breastfeeding. I use my expertise and meet with moms and their babies to help them overcome breastfeeding challenges they are experiencing. I am the host of the popular itunes podcast called – All About Breastfeeding where I interviews moms about their breastfeeding experiences.
2. How did you come about this passion/profession?
I became a “birth and breastfeeding junkie” shortly after the b irth of my first baby. Unhappy with my birth experience, I began learning all I could about pregnancy and birth. I soon became a certified childbirth educator and quickly moved further in my career and became a birth doula. Loving the art and science of breastfeeding, I became a lactation consultant in 2001 and have been helping moms with breastfeeding ever since.
3. Tell us about your family.
I am fortunate enough to be part of a big family of 5 kids. I am the middle child with 2 sisters and 2 brothers. My husband Alan and I have 3 beautiful kids who make us proud every day.
4. What do you think are three biggest struggles most new moms go through philosophically (just to make people aware of new mom problems)?
I find that the biggest struggles moms go through are:
Trying to keep up with the Jones
Feeling guilty they are not doing enough.
Figuring out ways that they can make time for their own personal growth and still be there for their kids.
5. What are 5 ways a new mom can help herself ?
Reach out and connect with other mothers in her community.
Check out your local library and see what is offered in the childrens section for you and your child
Get out of the house each and every day. Take your baby for a walk. Begin with just 10 minutes and gradually stay out longer. Weather not good? Dress properly and just walk from one end of your block and back. Go out into your backyard and walk back and forth, smell the fresh air.
Put a plan in place so that you know you will have a good dinner at least 4 nights a week and the other nights can be leftovers.
Try hard to not be too shy to ask for help & to tell loved ones exactly what it is you need.
6. How do you think friends can help new moms best? (gifts / etc )
When offering help, be specific in what you are willing to do.
Anytime you come over – be prepared with a healthy meal OR be prepared to listen to her
Anytime you come over – call first – say you are going to the “xyz” store and can you pick up anything for her.
If you feel mom is shy and won’t ask for anything – ask her husband or mother what they think she would like – don’t guess or get something that you would like – make sure it is s omething she wants.
Chip in with a few friends and pay for a house cleaner.
When I first decided I was a writer it was in the third grade. Sister Mary Donald taught us Language Composition by drawing sentence diagrams on the chalkboard and making us memorize the 35 prepositions.. About, Above, Across, Around, At… but she also taught us the magic of creating images and emotions through poetry.
I loved words and how I could manipulate them in a way to transpose reality in a line of poetry. Even though my first poems were only in song-song rhymes and very poorly written, I pursued with poetry as a means to escape my world of adolescence. Of frizzy hair and freckles and brown Catholic school uniforms and of the chaos that comes of house with five children.
Poetry helped me to grow, to learn about myself and my world. Poetry helped to move me as well as stay grounded when I needed to.
When I have a new writing workshop of fresh faced middle schoolers, I like to start with poetry, as well. They kinda freak. Poetry is scary to most. We have this idea that it needs to be high-brow and deeply meaningful and seems like it should only come from well-educated scholars or philosophers. But that’s so not true. First off, Dr. Seuss? Hello? And how about Shel Silverstein?
Silly, made up words that add rhythm to the page can also give different meanings and different points of view. Poetry is all around us: in songs, as symbolism in advertising, in art and on the page.
How can you add a little dusting of poetry to your child’s world?
Here are some of my favorite poetry games and exercises. They’re fun, easy and impactful. You can practice on your own, but it’s so much more fun to learn and write with your children:
Word War
Poetry begins and thrives on a love of words. But not ordinary everyday words: computer, car, pencil window, latte. Unique and rarely used words: thump, thistle, prickly, ginger, hobble. I play a game with my students to get them warmed up to new words and get them to say the words out loud. It helps to listen to the rhythm and cadence of the spoken words and to link or disconnect meanings.
We go around the circle and each person has to shout out the first word that comes to mind. I will veto their selected word, though if it seems pre-planned or shadows the word the writer next to them just shouted.
For example, if the first writer says kitten, the next writer might shout soft or fluffy or whiskers. Though on their own these words are good warm ups, I’ll veto them because it’s common to think of soft, fluffy or whiskers when someone says kitten. Now, if the next writer shouted “pepperoni” after kitten, I’d be pleased and we’d continue around the circle. Try it! Write down the words that really spark an interest.
The Answer Squash (inspired by Susan Wooldridge’s book, Poemcrazy)
This exercise can continue naturally from the word war or stand on its own. It can be a short five minute lesson or one that scales an entire season. Susan Wooldridge likes to name inanimate objects. Giving a smooth, empty gourd a title makes it more interesting, The Answer Squash, for example, came to be when she placed the words Answer Squash on a hollowed out gourd that sits on her shelf. What the heck is an “answer squash?” Maybe it’s like an organic take on the Magic 8 Ball. Maybe it’s just random words strung together and taped to the outside of fall decoration.
Try it:
Find words, whether handwritten from your word war session or cut from magazines, printed from digital pinterest boards, even using the magnetic poetry kits will work here. Tape words to objects around your house, your office, your room. Perhaps on the bathroom mirror you would find “Vanilla sky” Reflection, mirror, glass compared to sky, compared to the sweet soft flavor of vanilla. How might that connection insight a poem? Maybe “energetic muse” would be attached to running shoes. Running creates or releases restless energy, right? Muse often comes when we get outdoors. Do you see how this works? No real rules! Which is the freedom of poetry, that artistic license, if you will.
Name Poem
A simple poem that your kids have probably already tried in school is the name poem or acrostic poem, Writing down one word or phrase that begins with each letter of their name, but also describes their personality or interests. Here’s an example:
Silly, stretchy, stressed out easily
Animated, animal lover, action movie fanatic
Music maker, mover and a shaker
I Am…
“I Am” is another favorite of mine and pairs wells with the acrostic poem from above. It’s a great insight to your child’s mind and how they think and feel about themselves. Try it:
Collect words from each category and plug them into the template, below, to create beautiful, lyrical poetry:
landscapes: mountains, rivers, meadow, tundra, caverns, etc.
action/movement verbs: twirl, flip, flop, spin, saunter, glide, etc.
colors: acqua, magenta, tree frog green, watermelon flesh, elderberry
I am a (action verb) (landscape) , (action) (color) (noun).
You might get:
I am a twirling tundra, flipping acqua clouds.
Practice looking for, listening for and reciting words and poetry often. Magic will infuse your world with just a light sprinkle of poetry throughout your day.
And,next time you’re intimidated by someone reciting Whitman from memory, whip out your Energetic Muse running shoes and tell them how you are a twirling tundra.
Have fun with these? Try your luck at a kids-only, free-to- enter writing contest: WriteTheWorld-for Young Writers (new contests, themes and deadlines, monthly!) Be sure to read the Contest Rules.. https://writetheworld.com/competitions/upcoming
Mary Jo Campbell lives, writes, reads and breathes in Downers Grove IL. When she’s not coaching the next generation of young writers through in person and online writing workshops, she’s raising a few boys, a few dogs, a husband and the will to keep attending kickboxing classes. You can find her site and sign up for a free 30-page eBook of Story Prompts here.
I am a Research Scientist, in geology and hydrology. I study water quality in lakes and streams. But, on the side, I write books for children. Most of my books have a science theme, so these two professions really work well together.
2. How did you come about this passion/profession?
This is a tough one. I found that I did well in math when I was growing up, although I really didn’t know what to do with that. I went to college to study International Management, but then I took a geology course and that is when I realized how much I enjoyed science.
3. Tell us about your family.
I came from a large family just like the McCarthy family in my Curious McCarthy series. A lot of the funny situations from my childhood were the inspiration for those books. My husband and I have three kids. We live in North Dakota.
4. What do you think are three biggest struggles parents today face when teaching their kids about science?
First, I think a lot of parents today aren’t comfortable with science themselves, so they are not sure where to start. Just start with being curious. If your child has a question, google together or look it up in a book.
Second, I think a lot of people have the misconception that only the smartest people can do science. But that’s not true. The best scientists are those that are open minded and curious, not just book smart.
Third, when looking at books, some kids just aren’t interested in non-fiction (although many of them are!). This is part of the reason I chose to write a fictional series about a young scientist. We don’t always have to be so serious. Kids can laugh at the jokes and funny situations and learn a little science at the same time.
5. What are 3 ways a parent can make sure a child imbibes science in their day to day lives?
First, encourage curiosity! About everything. The kitchen can be your lab. Do you ever wonder why apples turn brown once they’re sliced? Or why ice melts? Do some tinkering in the kitchen.
Each book in the Curious McCarthy series has a simple experiment that can be done with items you’ll find in most homes. Second, get outside! Kids are naturally drawn to nature. There is so much to see and do. Try starting a garden.
Third, go get some fun books at the library. Make sure some of these have characters that your children can use as role models. Don’t forget to visit the fiction section, too. There are lots of ways to combine literature with science. For example, have your kids make a map to represent the setting of their favorite story.
On average 13% of students will have some form of disability that impacts their ability to access their education. Of these, 35% are thought to have a specific learning disability, which means they have a specific deficit that impacts how they take in, processing and retain information.
While learning disabilities have become more common, rarely do those without LD truly understand the challenges a student with learning disabilities faces. As a parenting coach and special education advocate, one of the first things I do with parents is help them understand their child’s perspective. The following video, audio and graphic files provide a simulation of the most common forms of learning challenges. This is your opportunity to gain some empathy and realize the struggle is real.
[bctt tweet=”Understanding learning disabilities and sharing with your kids is a great way to have some insight and develop empathy” username=”contactrwc”]
Dyslexia
Probably the most well known learning disability, dyslexia comes in many forms. The most common form is when a person flips letters and numbers, or mixes them up. This can happen when reading, or when writing. Keep in mind it is normal for a child to flip letters and numbers through the age of 6. After that they should settle on their proper direction.
Dyslexia shows up first as a problem with reading, but it can also cause writing difficulties, organizational problems, school refusal and attention challenges.
The following simulation shows what it might be like to read if you had dyslexia. Notice how the text is always shifting, so it is difficult to know for sure what the word is suppose to be.
Not all people with dyslexia experience the letters moving and shifting. For some, there is consistent letter flipping between similar letters, such as p and q or b and d. Click here for another Dyslexia Simulation by WebAIM to see what it might be like to read with dyslexia even though the letters are not moving and changing as you read.
Auditory Processing Disorder
Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) is said to be like dyslexia of the ears. In some circles there is discussion that it is an auditory form of dyslexia, but the jury is still out on this conclusion. A person with APD has normal hearing, but the brain misinterprets what the ears hear. As a result, the information that is taken in gets scrambled, and the person consistently misunderstands what is said to them.
APD causes significant issues in the classroom and social interactions, and can cause symptoms such as inability to follow directions, inattention, fatigue with listening tasks, hyper-sensitive hearing and poor social skills.
Below is a simulation of what it is like to have APD. This simulation was created by SoundSkills in New Zealand.
Visual Processing Disorder
When a child’s eyes do not function properly together, they can have what’s known as a visual processing disorder (VPD). They could have perfectly clear vision (20/20 acuity), but still have a problem getting their eyes to work as a team.This type of learning disability can mimic others and often goes undetected. When this happens, it affects ALL schoolwork, and can cause many symptoms such as work refusal, quick to fatigue, attention and hyperactivity difficulties.
Here is a simulation of what they eyes do when a child has eye-tracking difficulties, a form of VPD. Notice how the eyes jump all around instead of reading the lines straight across. Can you imagine how difficult reading comprehension would be if you read like this all the time?
Dysgraphia (writing disability)
Some children have difficulty learning to write when they get to Kindergarten and first grade. Learning to write letters, words and then sentences is one form of dysgraphia that is usually helped with occupational therapy.
But there is another form of dysgraphia that commonly goes with writing struggles, and that is difficulty putting together sentences, paragraphs and eventually essays. Often children who are gifted in math struggle with writing, and they may be diagnosed with dysgraphia.
Dysgraphia affects all aspects of learning, and usually the child needs more time for assignments, assistive technology and specialized instruction to help them learn how to write down their thoughts.
The following video simulation helps you experience what might happen in the brain of a child with dysgraphia when faced with a writing task. The rules and structure for writing can be so overwhelming, the child does not even know where to start.
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is diagnosed in 11% of school-age children. The general belief is that kids with ADHD have a chemical imbalance in their brain that reduces dopamine, thus reducing the ability to focus. The fact is there are many underlying causes of attention problems, all of which create havoc with a child’s ability to focus in school. The result is constant distraction from all sensory input, whether it is visual, auditory, or tactile. While some may not consider this a learning disability, it significantly impacts a child’s ability to access their education.
The following video simulates the input an ADHD brain experiences while walking down the street. Their mind takes in so much information, it is difficult to grasp the details and retain it. While not everybody with ADHD will have this exact same experience, this simulation does a great job of demonstrating how difficult it is to focus on one thing when so many other things are happening at the same time.
Autism
It is said if you meet one person with autism, you have met one person with autism. The disorder manifests so uniquely in each person, they all experience diverse symptoms. But one aspect of autism that seems to be universal is the sensory overload that is experienced. Many people with autism have talked about the overwhelming nature of the world that can become so intense it can actually cause pain.
The following video provides a window into the sensory overload people with autism experience. It is a difficult simulation to watch and hear, so prepare yourself. Then next time you see a child having a meltdown in a grocery story, and mom says he’s autistic, you will understand why.
The following video from ABC’s 20/20 TV show provides insight into the world Carly Fleischmann, a young woman who has non-verbal autism. As a teenager she learned to type, and for the first time in her life she was able to express what she couldn’t say. She shares her insights into what it’s like to have autism, and allows the rest of us to peek into the world that before was unknown.
Strive to Understand the Challenges of a Learning Disability
For those of us who do not have a learning disability, it can be hard to grasp the immensity of effort it takes for a child with LD to participate in school. If your child, or children you work with, struggles with learning, it’s worth your time to gain insight into how that struggle manifests. Through understanding you can find more patience, and along the way hopefully find resources to minimize the challenges.
This is box title
Bonnie is a special education advocate and parenting coach. She works with parents to help them get the right support in school as well as finding the solutions outside of school that help their child improve their learning challenges. She is a mom to two boys, both with some learning issues, although the oldest was severely delayed. He is now an honor student !
Do you live life in the messy middle? Watch the interview where Sherrie Mccarthy and Aditi Wardhan Singh discuss how hard it is to be yourself onsocial media as well as how to avoid the pitfalls many moms face when living life in the digital age.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SHERRIE MCCARTHY
What exactly it is that you do?
I’m an author and creativity coach. I have also recently added Doterra health consultant since discovering the joy that is esentional oils!
How did you come about this passion/profession?
I have been a writer my whole life, but it wasn’t until grief took me out at the knees that I realized how silly it was that I wasn’t claiming it.
Tell us about your family.
We are a Canadian, German family based in Berlin and currently afloat in the Carribean! We set sail from Poland on our boat Fallor in April 2017. My oldest is 5 and the youngest is 3!
What do you think are three biggest struggles most parents go through when regards to living their life fully these days?
1. Judgement 2. Information overload 3. Not enough support
Everyone has advice but fewer are there to actually help!
What are 5 ways a person can get over comparisons with another’s mom journey?
1. Yoga (seriously anything can be worked out on the mat!) 2. Journalling (Im a big believer in the power of writing to dive deep and discover if what you are upset about is what you truly believe or you are letting someone else trigger you) 3. Meditation (even 5 minutes will connect you with you and calm you down and bring you back to your own path) 4. A supportive community. Sometimes just asking like minded people can bring you back to sanity. 5. Digital detox. Unfollow anyone who doesn’t fill you with joy!
I am fortunate enough to be a Mum to two beautiful children who just happen to be on the Autism spectrum. My daughter, O, is nine and my son, L, is 5. To my husband and myself, and to others who have come to know them, they are the most caring wonderful children who are totally inclusive of other children. And yet, some children struggle to be inclusive of O and L because they don’t understand why O and L do the things that they do.
Long before we knew that O was on the spectrum she had an amazing group of culturally diverse friends. I can recall one particular afternoon when I collected her from day care and I asked her who she had played with that day. At the ripe old age of 3 years, she replied with “oh I played with my black friend!”
At the time we lived in a city that was quite racist and all I could think of was what, you can’t say that, what are people going to think that I am teaching you?
When I pressed further with O as to why she said “black friend,” O replied “well, she’s my friend and her skin is black.” This was the start of her literalness showing. She wasn’t being racist, she was simply stating a fact. I, on the other hand, was horrified. I also had to go back into the centre to find out her new friends name!
I grew up in a very culturally diverse community. Throughout school I could count the number of Caucasian students in my classes on two hands. The cultural diverse out-numbered the Caucasian by a huge number. And yet here I was explaining to my then three year old daughter what she should and shouldn’t say and why.
A few weeks after this conversation, I was in a government office with my daughter along with a lot of other people from young families through to elderly people. We’d being waiting in the queue for some time and during that time my daughter had started playing with a young Sudanese boy – neither of them understood each other as clearly English was not his first language. But they were having a blast and that is all that matters. At one point, an elderly person turned to me and said out loud “you’re not going to let your child play with THAT child are you?” This elderly individual clearly had little tolerance for other cultures. I responded with “I sure am, and they’re having fun” before turning away.
Again I was horrified, but not by anything that my daughter was doing. In fact I was incredibly proud of my daughter, for at the age of three she didn’t see differences in others as a bad thing. She saw differences in others as an opportunity to learn more about others and she still has this view.
We’re now at the point in our autism journey that the exclusion of O and L by others is becoming an issue. However the exclusion is not from children but by adults.
When we mention that both O and L are on the autism spectrum we receive comments of “oh I’m so sorry,” or “oh so they aren’t capable of achieving anything?” or “I guess they’re like Rain Man?” or “they don’t look autistic” or “I guess you want a cure” and many others. The responses really show a lack of understanding from the general community about what autism is.
There are numerous celebrations throughout the year in which we celebrate culturally diverse communities and yet society still struggles with the idea of being inclusive of those with differences that aren’t as obvious.
Autism is considered a hidden disability and as such society struggles with the idea that my children look “normal,” whatever that may be, and yet they behave differently at times. O struggles with loud noises and will wear block out ear protectors to block out the background noise so that she can concentrate. L struggles with busy places and will often end up in meltdown down mode due to the overload of sensory input. The number of times that I have been told “stop your children from being naughty” or have had other parents tell their children that they don’t want their children to play with my naughty children is beyond the joke.
So how we do we raise children who are inclusive of others when their parents are not inclusive of those with differences?
Worldwide the month of April is considered to be the month in which to spread Autism awareness and acceptance.
What is Autism Awareness?
So what is Autism awareness? It is about raising the community’s awareness of the needs and accomplishments of both children and adults who are on the autism spectrum. Autism awareness is about educating the community that there are many different ways in which autism can present.
Autism is better known as “Autism Spectrum Disorder” for a reason and it is truly a spectrum. Autism isn’t just Rain Man or an individual sitting in the corner of a room rocking back and forth. Autism is both of those ideas and everything in between. I can see the spectrum myself in my two children. There is no one look to Autism.
No, I’ll take that back, Autism does have a look.
Autism looks like a child with red curly hair and bright blue eyes that light up when he’s engaging in his most favourite past time – anything to do with superheroes.
Autism also looks like a child with strawberry blonde hair that goes super frizzy when the air is humid and whose eyes change from the brightest of blue to grey when she is confused, sad or anxious.
Autism looks like a child who excels academically but struggles socially and emotionally. Autism looks like a child who loves to read The Complete Works of Shakespeare for fun!
Autism looks like one child who struggles with her gross motor skills and yet her fine motor skills are on par with her peers. Autism also looks like another child who excels in anything to do with gross motor movements but his fine motor skills are below average.
Autism awareness is being aware of this fact, that there is no one look to Autism. Autism can and does look like anything.
When we raise the level of Autism awareness in the community, we can then raise the level of Autism acceptance. And in the long term Autism acceptance means the inclusion of individuals in their communities.
Deep down, I have the belief that we all just want to be accepted for who we are. We all have things about us that are unique, different, possibly annoying to those that have befriended us. We all have different perspectives about the world around us. We all have different strengths and weaknesses. And these differences should be accepted.
Individuals with autism are no different. They just want to be accepted for who they are, stims and all.
Autism is just a neurological difference. It is just a natural variation of the human form in the same way that cultural diversity is a variation of the human form.
Acceptance and inclusion of any individual, autism or not, is about being respectful and listening to what they have to say about themselves as well as accepting them for who they are. Acceptance and inclusion is about celebrating individual’s achievements, acknowledging their strengths and accepting that differences are a great thing.
After all, as Dr. Temple Grandin has said “This world needs different kinds of minds to work together!”
Instant pot – This Magical Kitchen gadget that has revolutionized cooking and got the family back to the dinner table.
It was late 2016. Friends around me were getting the newest kitchen gadget, Instant Pot . I was hesitant with the large number of things in my kitchen already. I thought I have the slow cooker, the stove-top pressure cooker and I don’t have much counter space…do I want to add another appliance to the counter? Then came Thanksgiving and it’s luring discounts. I gave in!
But guess what? I love it. You can safely call it the one appliance “I cannot live without anymore!”. After interacting with many parents, I feel that the instant pot has got people back in the kitchen with its convenience, which means more home cooked meals for the family and especially for kids in their growing phase when they need nutritious food.
So what is Instant Pot?It is a device that combines an electric pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice cooker, steamer, saute and yogurt maker in one handy unit. It can speed up cooking time, especially for meats, grains and lentils. Forgot to plan dinner with all the things that are on your mind, no problem! With the faster cooking time, you can still have dinner on the table in less than 30 minutes. Isn’t this exactly what all busy parents have been looking for?
Is it safe to use, especially around kids? I know that people have been afraid to use the pressure cooker, however the instant pot has done a great job with adding many safety features which can also mitigate many user errors. A few examples – 1. Lid Close Detection, which means it won’t start pressure cooking unless the lid is in place. 2. Lid Lock Under Pressure, which means if there is pressure built inside the pot, the lid will be locked to prevent accidental opening. 3. If the Instant Pot detects there is not enough liquid in the pot or if the temperature is too high, then the instant pot automatically shuts off.
What are the benefits to me as busy parents?
This is the place where I want to share one way that I use the Instant Pot. Right after I wake up, I come to the kitchen and add steel cut oats, milk and water to the instant pot and set it to pressure cook for 3 minutes. Then I go my happy way to get myself and my daughter ready for daycare. In the meantime, the instant pot has already cooked the oatmeal and switched to Keep Warm mode. So when we are ready, warm and healthy breakfast is waiting for us. With the breakfast taken care of, I feel there is one less thing to take care of in the morning. Some folks have been making their morning tea in the instant pot, which they keep on delay timer. Sounds like a great way to start the day!
Moving on to the benefits…
No baby sitting for the food
When you are already taking care of babies or kids at home, not having to babysit the food being cooked is a big thing. When I asked parents, what was the one feature that they love of the instant pot, this one jumps to the top. The ability to walk away without constant stirring and monitoring is huge. You prepare the ingredients and start the instant pot before taking kids to their evening or weekend classes and by the time you come back, food is ready to be served. Many people love the delay start feature, so they can set the food to cook on a delay start, so the food is ready when they come back from work. The Instant Pot has certainly helped families eat less junk food.
You don’t have to plan much ahead for your dinner
As a busy parent, I always forget and don’t plan ahead for dinner. So the instant pot has been great to cook simple meals in a meager 20-30 minutes. I started my instant pot journey with simple recipes such as lentil soup, rice & vegetable pilaf, chicken curry and pasta. Even a restaurant style butter chicken or a chinese takeout orange chicken takes just 30 minutes to make in the instant pot. One parent said, “I can cook a healthy meal from frozen when I get too busy and forget to pull things out of the freezer“. People are cooking meals that they always had as a take-out or in a sit down restaurant, so I will also add in the side benefit, that the instant pot saves you money.
One-pot meals with the built-in Saute function, means less dishes to wash
Let me explain, you can saute and pressure cook in the same pot. You can also do pot-in-pot cooking, which means I can make a curry in the main pot, along with the rice in a small pot kept on a trivet. So now you are only using one pot to make the whole meal, which translates to less things to wash. I love that…and my husband loves that even more (he doesn’t cook, so guess what he gets to do :-)). The more important thing, this translates to is less time in the kitchen and more time with the kids.
Food tastes better and you can cook do meal prep
I know I just mentioned that you don’t have to plan much ahead with the instant pot, however if you are a planner and like to meal prep on the weekends, Instant Pot is still a great choice for you. I can easily make ten servings of soup or curry in my 6qt instant pot. In addition, as this is a pressure cooker, it locks in flavors which results in better tasting meals.
Lentil & Vegetable Khichdi: A nutritious one-pot meal for kids
And some real benefits for new or soon-to-be parents, which will make you add the instant pot to your baby registry right away:
It can sterilize baby bottles and pump parts
New parents spend significant amount of the very little time they get, cleaning and sterilizing baby bottles and pump parts. With the instant pot, you can sterilize them easily. The newer models of instant pot even have a built in Sterilize function. Every minute saved is precious with little ones at home! One mom mentioned a not so apparent benefit of the instant pot, compared to a regular pressure cooker, “It doesn’t wake a sleeping baby (or scare a cat!)“
It can make baby food
Some people complain that veggies get overcooked under pressure. However that is exactly the texture you need for veggies, lentils or grains cooked for babies. Broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, squash can be cooked in 5 minutes and mashed to make perfect baby food. (To clarify, you can also cook veggies right in the instant pot so they are not overcooked and mushy).
Finally I do want to mention that Instant Pot has sold over 10 million units and been a word of mouth success (read about it here). This translated to an awesome online community to learn and share, who call themselves as Potheads. There are hundreds of Facebook groups, for every cuisine and culture. I am from India and want my kids to understand and enjoy Indian food. There is an “Instant Pot for Indian Cooking” facebook group with more than 100K members, who actively share recipes and tips. Just a quick search on Google or Pinterest will show great options for any dish you want to make.
Finally, here are some of my daughter’s favorites Indian dishes made in the Instant Pot.
Meeta is a Product Specialist by profession, and a foodie at heart. She strongly believes that each one of us has a chef inside us, we just need some inspiration to explore the ingredients and create great food. She grew up in Mumbai, the melting pot of various cultures in India, and now lives in the sunny California. She has a Masters in Management Science from Stanford University. She blogs about her culinary adventures at Piping Pot Curry or @pipingpotcurry.
Ready to check out the latest craze in kitchen gadgets ?
Cart is empty
Ramadan – the holiest month for Muslims around the world; the month when almost two billion Muslims around the world abstain from food, and water from dawn to dusk. The days when they dedicate their time to piety and prayer. Muslims believe that it was during this month that the Holy Qur’an was first revealed to Prophet Mohammed (Peace Be Upon Him).
Neelima Ganta is an Indian born and raised artist, currently residing in Richmond, Virginia USA, is a certified Art instructor.Her artistic progress began as a child as she grew up in a family of Artists. She began picking up in various kinds of arts and crafts since she was 6yrs. Though she did masters in fine arts she preferred to say she was self- thought. Her art is characterized by vibrant colors and bold composition. Most of her works are with acrylics and oil paintings but will enjoy working with other mediums like Oil pastels and pencil and Charcoal also.
Lives with a notion “SIMPLE LIVING, HIGH THINKING” and have an optimistic approach towards life. Always eager to learn new things. She is founder of a 
Catherine Brown is a freelance writer and mom of three who can be found at 
Mrs.Menon always exceeds the expectations of an average math teacher. After attaining an MA in Economics, a BS in Math, and a California Certified Teaching Credential, Mrs. Menon has worked various jobs in the educational field. Throughout her career, Raji has branched out from the ordinary roles of a teacher and dedicated her life to not only teach math but to reach out to youth and help each individual become a civilized member of the community. Mrs. Menon is the entrepreneur of her own business, 
Janis Cox is a creativity catalyst with a heart to connect people to God. She specializes in creating art based on Scripture so that the Truth penetrates hearts and not just minds. The world needs more pictures, art and colour. God speaks through our creativity. We connect deeply with God through creativity because it is play. Our doubts fall away. We become like the little children that Jesus invited to Himself. Janis helps people play, connect to God and connect to each other. She gives honest simple reminders to remain rooted in Him. Janis lives in Haliburton, Ontario Canada with her husband and their small dog, Snowball. Besides writing and painting, Janis podcasts for HopeStreamRadio. 
Bonnie is a 
