To potty train or not

For some days now I have been contemplating whether or not to start potty training lil Ryan. Actually, I wanted to start before his first birthday, but then I read somewhere that babies are taught much later, mostly after 2 years of age. So I happily postponed it. Recently when we visited a family I saw their son exhibiting his potty trained behaviour .. he said "Appi" and ran to sit on his potty. This rang an alarm within me !! Maybe I should have started earlier, but it's not too late. I need to start soon though. Lil Ryan is 14 months old now, so this would surely help him once he joins a daycare center. I am planning to get a stand-alone potty, because this would help Ryan sit on his own. The one that we are having right now is to be put on the toilet seat, but I guess, he can use this once he's a bit bigger. One of my first tasks going to be is to take Ryan to the toilet to pee every time he wakes up after a sleep, and maybe during the day as well. Once he's accustomed to that routine we can teach him to poo then. Well, the coming days will tell how successful I am ...

Last time for the First Time

It's the first day of the new year 2011 and I thought what better way to start the year than to post something new in my blog. The last day of last year has been a pretty hectic day in which I felt sadly drained out. And it kind of summarizes the year that was. So certainly one of the top things on my list of resolutions for this year is to be a more relaxed person. I want this year to be one of the best I've had so far. God has already blessed me and Roy with a lovely son, so I just want to add to this ... Add more and more wonderful and memorable events to the "Life of Syl". Recently, I came across the line "When was the last time you did something for the first time ??" It made me think and I felt it makes sense. In our busy lives, as we grow older we do less and less new activities. We settle down on a rusty, old platform that shrieks with its wear and tear. Instead we should always oil our gear and explore the unknown, looking for fun,laughter,maybe a few tears and adventure down the road travelled. So, go out and enjoy ... - Happy New Year, friendz !!

A Time For Everything or Nothing

There is a time for everything for every living thing on this earth.
Just as it is mentioned in the Book of Ecclesiastes of the Bible. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to find love and a time to lose it. A time to laugh and a time to weep.For some, they have too many people to love and take care of. For others, they long to be loved and taken care of. Some are lucky to be drowned in love their entire lives. Others wish and pray for a moment of happy bliss.

Morgenstund hat Gold im Mund

The above is German and means "The early bird gets the worm (literally, "morning-hours have gold in the mouth")". My son Ryan is just 10 months old but he seems to follow this already very religiously ! Little Ryan's been waking up every day at 7 am. And to break all records, he got up at 6 am today, knocking me off completely.

I have to think back to those times when I was a little kid and my mom had to wake me up at 6 every day so that I'd get ready for school. Here and now my son is waking up his mommy ! Keep it up, dear :) !!

Silent Marriages

Is it enough to have a husband,and never mind the fact that he has not looked at your face for years, ... not spoken to you in decades? I was reading "A Matter of Time" by Shashi Despande and this line struck me. Or rather made me think about the marriage system in India. Can a husband and wife live like this? I guess, yes, in India it is certainly possible. And why is this system of "Once married, always married" so prevalent ?? It's because people don't search for their soulmate. Instead bride and/or groom look for wealth, family name, prestige or plain just some family who can "adjust" to THEM. Yes, you heard it right, one does not marry a guy/girl but the entire hierarchy of his/her family tree as well.There is no place for "Shall we dance in the rain?" or "Do you like strawberries with Cream?" or "Let's gaze at the stars?" questions. And,once married, it's like having acquired whatever one wanted to acquire and nothing else matters. It doesn't matter whether the wife and husband get along with each other or not, or if they love each other or not.What matters is that you are married and society should be shown only that certificate, not the intricate workings or non-workings of it.

The West is so different with respect to marriage or relationships per se. A guy will marry a girl only if he likes her well. He doesn't care much about her family and vice versa.And very often you get an interesting set of new in-laws.
Also,the girl will never allow her husband and in-laws to harass or abuse her. Sadly though, the people in the West have little patience and if there arises a problem between the couple very few give it a serious try to rescue their relationship.

If we could combine the attitude of the guy/girl in the West with the patience and perseverence of the couples here in India, we would certainly get some great relationships!!

Had a chat with a class mate of mine who got recently married. When asking about his wife he was telling me that "She is an amazing person" !! This was the first time that I heard someone praise their better half. I know, I know, Change has to start from within oneself. But, when was the last time you praised someone at all ?!?

Simple Family - Happy Family

Now being a mother I religiously follow parental & baby e-magazines. I was reading the following article in http://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/advice/20-simple-ways-to-have-a-happier-family/?sssdmh=dm17.467635&esrc=nwpmmdailytip090310&email=2734178923 and thought I have to keep this with me .... I need to keep reading this once in a while, coz these tips are all that matter to have a simple but extremely happy family life. So, here it goes:

These instant happiness boosters take little time, money, or planning, but they can make a big difference in your life.


1.Snuggle Time

2.Mood Music

3.Deep Breathing

4.Indirect Compliments

5.The Talking Napkin

6.A Cure for the Postparty Blues

7.Lullabies of Broadway

8.Checking In

9.The Never-Ending Game

10.One at a Time

11.Hitting the Road

12.Counting Blessings

13.Sunday-Night Soiree

14.A Very Merry Half-Birthday

15.Relax-Ercize

16.Once is Enough

17.Dinnertime Switch

18.Media Blackouts

19.Share the Care

20.Think Small

In our run for material gains, for money to enable our children a good education , a good life, we forget something very important. That when they are still little children, they don't need our money as much as they need our LOVE.

Bon Anniversaire !!

This Sunday I accomplished a small but nevertheless historic milestone in the life of Sylvia R. On 23rd August I completed 5 years in my very first company. This day being a Sunday, I did not have to hurry to office but instead could recapitulate my golden days from the comfort of home and family. 5 years ... wow. In the beginning, I would have never thought that I would celebrate this occasion in my first company.
But in the last few months I was desperately hoping I can cross this landmark. The reason for both being extreme opposites. I joined this place along with a group of 60 or so "Mermaidians" but hardly few are left now. When I look back I see many familiar faces coming back to my memory. The thing I cherish most is the 2-day Personality Development session with Mr.Kim. A lot of introduction and interactional games. That was real fun !! I came out winner in one of the games, and Mr. Kim gifted me a small blue keychain in the shape of a fish as prize. I was really thrilled and looking forward to a wonderful future ahead. Also,met some nice people on this journey. Although we were split into various projects after the training period, we still kept contact and once in a while sent mails to the entire group. On completion of 1 year we (all those who could and wanted to) met in amphi and exchanged old memories. We also planned a trip to Palace grounds where we played some indoor games coz of the rain and this was followed by go-karting. Nice time indeed ! Now all that is gone. We have settled into various new roles over the years. On Sunday a flower bouquet arrived for me.. a thankful gesture from my company. I was pleasantly surprised. Somehow in these times of recession and layoffs, I didn't expect such things. And I felt very thankful to God. Thankful that I have been given the opportunity to work all these years. I realize that this certainly has helped me in living the life I have tried to live and improving the life of dear ones, even though I may not have felt so.