Another year, one past, the next starts

  Time goes away, memory brings it back, round snd round, we go in circles. I thought it was yesterday, but did not feel it. My body, soul and spirit know better. It was today, and I felt it. The sadness, the tears, though far lessened, still flow easily when I miss her. Sometimes, when I think of her bravery, her fierce zest for life, I’m amazed. 

Climbing the St. Augustine lighthouse, at age 80! Insisting on using the stairs in their building, from the top third and fourth floor penthouse, in Hyderabad. Always. When the driver would come to take her out, even if he took the lift, she took the stairs.  

She was far from perfect. My dear beloved mother. But she was all I had, and with her passing, I became an orphan. Something I did not realize then.

However, I’m far from alone. Any child, every child must but have strong emotions with regards to a parent. Whatever that may be. I can say that I was blessed, but for her, I would not have been given the opportunities that I did. 

Just as we, as parents, are prone to err, she may have made mistakes, except I see none. I am amazed at her grit. In 39 minutes, this day will be over. Another year will start afresh, counting down the time. 

To my mother, grandmother and grandfather, and to all our ancestors before them, my humble obeisance. I live this day because you came before me. My children are here, because you did all things right. Why does one feel, that we don’t do justice to our ancestors? I wonder, if you all, my ancestors, felt the same in your lifetime? 

Never a moment when I do not look back in gratitude and adoration. Of you. 

Your ever loving daughter,

Veenu 

10/16/202211:26 pm

All Children are little people

Even babies. All children are little people. As adults, and especially as young parents, we tend to forget that children are little people, with personalities of their own, right from the time they are born.

When we truly engage with children, we realize how different each one is in their actions, reactions, acceptance, non-acceptance, and general outlook of their life and circumstances.

Children never cease to surprise me with their innate intelligence and quick grasp of the information they encounter. Sometimes, we as adults do not even realize how much they can grasp. Adults can unintentionally underestimate a child’s level of intelligence. In my opinion, we should not hesitate to introduce our children to new words and ideas that stretch a little beyond whatever level they are. You’d be surprised.

When my daughter was just over a year old, I hand-made her first book of Alphabet. I illustrated every picture myself and wrote the letter of each Alphabet, in both capital and small letters, using the Marion Richardson style we wrote in my school, the Convent of Jesus and Mary, New Delhi.

My daughter and I read this, her first book, every day before I read other story books to her. She was about eighteen months old when one time, as we were driving down a busy Main Street, she excitedly shouted A! She pointed her finger toward a billboard and saw the Apple logo on the computer company’s advertising. (A for apple) My daughter was a late speaker, and this A! was probably her first word! She was essentially reading before she could talk.

It was a happy surprise, and I am pleased to say that it inculcated a sense of curiosity and desire for learning in my child. Later, in high school and college, she always took on additional subjects than required and earned extra credits. She is well-rounded and extensively knowledgeable about various topics. Her love of reading has sustained her well.

Writing this blog post is to justify my use of vocabulary not usual in children’s picture books. I am not writing for the little child. I am writing for the little person.

My storylines are longer and more engaging than most books written for very young children. The reason for this is to encourage children to have a longer attention span, which is lacking in our cultural environment today due to excessive exposure to too many distractions, not the least of which is TV, with its quickly changing optical frames. The emphasis is on ‘gripping’ a person’s attention, not engaging it.

When my children were little, we read story books every day. Many that I read to them were later read and re-read by them as they grew older. They grew with the books and learned as they grew. They developed their own tastes. Now my children introduce me to different genres. They surprise me with their reading preferences, more so my son.

I sincerely hope your child finds my stories engaging, exciting, and informative. I hope your child feels they have progressed with the book and expanded their learning. As they read, they grow with the book. All children have favorite books, and I hope mine will be among your child’s favorites.

All children are little people, and all children are society’s most precious assets. It gives me immense pleasure to write for all the little people out there who look forward to having a book read to them or to read one themselves.

Veenu Banga
October 5, 2022