*
*
Why my brain only holds a few of my childhood memories so vividly is beyond me, but one of them just came back this morning, as I walked, held my Kindergartener’s hands and went along with him, floating as if in a bubble, as snapshots of past, dreams of the future, all danced in front my eyes, crammed in those three minutes it took us to walk from home to his new school!
I was kicking and screaming in my daddy’s arms, while my mother and sister looked helplessly from the door steps next to the gate that enclosed our home in my home town.. I must have been 5 or 6, but I was refusing to go to school.. Getting packed in the rickshaw, with a bag and a lunch box in hand, I was going to be away from the comfort of my mother’s voice and the rattle of my toy friends for only a little while, for what felt like forever on that day..
As I walked on into the school building doors, I was flipping out inside that I should have some memento, some way of keeping this memory of my son’s first day in school alive… The thought did seem retro, but I still had to take a picture of him, his backpack on his shoulders, his lunch in his hands, you know, the works.. If I would have made an attempt to defy convention, I was risking at getting embarrassed for not treasuring a picture proof for those later-in-life moments.. , while all along carrying in my pocket, a six month old piece of 21st century marvel, the Iphone.
Surprisingly, I did not jerk a tear or let out a melodramatic wail while leaving him in a brand new setting, a new teacher, no daddy to listen to his chit-chat, or mommy to feed him… In fact, I was excited and squeezed his dad’s wrist a little while stepping out of the class room.. !!
The early morning pledge in the assembly line, the chalk and board, my navy blue uniform, the bell signaling the end of a class – the school that I attended more than a couple of decades ago might not be a match to this school, its programs, the library, the computers, and let’s throw in a hyperbolic football jersey in there.. – But it felt great, to just walk to school, just like in the old days..
Acting as a gentle critic to my writings is my mother, a writer, who tells me that in order to have a broader audience base, the content that I choose to pen down should resonate with people from all backgrounds, irrespective of their culture, their upbringing and their lifestyles. And in the classroom today, I saw precisely what every mother and father saw.. A foundation for our child’s creative licenses, whether he chooses to be a painter, an astronaut, a football player, a writer or even a dreamer like me..
With all the love in the world!!
Your Old School Momma
*
“Consistency is the last resort of the unimaginative.” – Oscar Wilde
* * *
About The Article Author:
Our mission with FutureSTRONG Academy – to grow children who respect themselves, their time and their capabilities in a world where distractions are just a click or a swipe away.
I see myself as an advocate for bringing social, emotional and character development to families, schools and communities. I never want to let this idea out of my sight – Our children are not just GPAs. I’m a Writer and a Certified Master Coach in NLP and CBT. Until 2017, I was also a Big Data Scientist. In December of 2044, I hope to win the Nobel. Namasté.
Write to me or call me. Tell me what support from me looks like.
Rachana Nadella-Somayajula,
Program Director & Essential Life Skills Coach for Kids and Busy Parents
The Indian American Life
The Story Of Rama – From Srilanka To Nepal Through India
About Sanatana DharmaQuestions, just ask! Text or Call: 678.310.5025 | Contact: Fill Form Bringing a Group? Email us for a special price!
Rama Vs. Ravana: Life Lessons By Lord Rama
* Plurality And Righteousness: Rāmāyaṇa is the epic poem of the richest and longest surviving civilization on the face of the planet. The essence of Rāmāyaṇa can be boiled down to two words: Plurality and Righteousness. Plurality: Rāmāyaṇa presents a wide...
The True Meaning Of Karma According To Gita
* Karma is more than just “what goes around comes around.” Karma is the universal law of cause and effect: each action and thought has a reaction, and this cycle is endless until one is able to perform virtuous action without expecting rewards. Karma means work...
Writer-At-Large – Is There A Need For Religion?
I We will all agree that we are all unique and have a great potential to be of extraordinary value to the world. For realizing our potential, we must cultivate the mind, so that we can discover the abilities, the energy and the power within us. We might have a...
Packing And Wellness Tips For Indian American Travelers For Mount Kailash Manasarovar Yatra
* Clothing: Do not wear cotton garments. Use synthetic / wool-blend material. Synthetic undergarments for women and men are available at REI and at A 16. Over undergarments wear the following garments in 4 layers: i) 1st layer (innermost layer): Polypropylene...
What Is The Shanti Mantra And Why Do We Invoke It Three Times
* Shanti, meaning "peace", is a natural state of being. Disturbances are created either by others or us. For example, peace already exists in a place until someone makes noise. Therefore, peace underlies all our agitations. When agitations end, peace is...
The Truth About the Varna (Caste) System In Bharat | India
* Hindu Dharma scripture emphasizes equality of all mankind. Rig Veda states: Ajyesthaso akanishthaso ete sambhrataro vahaduhu saubhagaya No one is superior, none inferior. All are brothers marching forward to prosperity. Caste-based discrimination and...
The Story Of Rishabha And Knowing Our True Value
* This is the story of king Rishabha who was a "jivanmuktah". A jivanmuktah is one who sees God everywhere, all the time and because of this vision, remains happy at all times. How does one become a jivanmuktah? By doing the right thing all the time. The story...
Becoming A Karma Yogi – The Gita And Krishna’s Teachings As A Way Of Life – Part III
* Part II: Find the Part II HERE. * Why do we perform karma? Because we have been taught that working hard will give us the desired results so that we can be happy. And isn't that what everyone wants? Upadesa Sara Verse2: Kriti mahodadhou patana...
How To Make Great Decisions? The Gita And Krishna’s Teachings As A Way Of Life – Part II
* Part I: Find the Part I HERE. * Decision making is based on two faculties. The mind and the intellect. The mind, in this context is defined as the faculty in us that takes decisions based on our likes and dislikes. And the intellect is the one...
How To Prepare The Mind For Meditation And Practice Vairagya (Detachment)
* Part I: Why Practice Meditation: Find it HERE. * How To Purify The Mind: The philosophy of Vedanta teaches us that perfection is our true nature. But, if we're inherently perfect why don't we feel that way at all times. As we have discussed,...
Living Our Best Life With The Dharma Code – By Simon Haas
* https://youtu.be/-NkpL65IY-0 * Want To Listen To The Article Instead? * Works Cited: --https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jz-74wya8pU Important Timestamps In The Above Video: Truth: 29:30Purity: 34:30Non violence: 45:05Discipline:...
Questions, just ask!
Text or Call: 678.310.5025 | Contact: Fill Form
Bringing a Group? Email us for a special price!
I tweeted a link to your post, if you’re ever on Twitter, check me it out, my user name is TonyVote.
I really loved this post. It brought back so many memories. As far as taking a picture of your little one on his first day of school, don’t be silly, that was the best thing you could have ever done for him, and yourself. Just think, you’ll have that picture not only on photo paper, but you’ll remember that moment in your head as well, for eternity. I can’t wait to have kids, simply for this fact. All of the sentimental “firsts”. I’m sure you’ll be a great parent.
Thanks so much for your review! This Twitter thing is turning out to be an enigma, I might as well check it out one of these days!! And thanks for defending my thoughts on the picture.. I feel a little awful sometimes, wondering if I am not enjoying the moment, but just busy taking pictures.. :))
This makes it all better!
Rachana
love it!