Ganesh chathurthi and the week before

 We celebrated Ganesh chathurthi with usual vigor. Good that the festival fell on a weekend. I had the best baby sitter to take care of NR. Made the typical Ganesh chathurthi dishes mothagam, sundal , pongal and vadai. I have made it as a tradition to take pictures and to see NR compared to last two years seemed like long time. Two years ago as a six month old baby he laid on my lap during the pooja and now he was helping me with ringing the bell. We had some setbacks with his health last year but I am grateful for everything in my life now. Pillaiyar aka Ganesh has been my favorite god since childhood.  I pray everyday to him to give me strength to deal with life’s challenges.

 Earlier I was little skeptical about introducing both our religion to our future kids. With NR things fell into place and we don’t even think about that anymore. NR loves church and enthusiastic about visiting temple. The one common attraction in both the places is the “MUSIC” he loves the most. May be my secret wish might come true after all.   

I spent the Labour day weekend  lazing around the house. I found time to make some handmade gifts for my friend's birthday . I've known her for last 12 years since we moved to Portland , oregon. She was so thoughtful to bring my fav food home after my delivery. She is a great mom to three kids  one of whom is a special needs girl. I learn the love and patience from her. They are such amazing parents and her husband worked with me and CB. He had a critical role in the product development yet always found time to spend time with kids. I mean he will work throughout the night, go home in the morning when the girls wake up and help his wife and come back to office around 9.30am. He used to do this so often and he did that with good smile on his face. I and CB used to talk a lot about him and we are very fond of them.

 I always believed that god chooses such special people as  the parents for his special needs kids. They have the best heart and soul to love their kids without expecting anything in return not even an “I love u” back.

 I see many parents in the play group/play area acting like drill sergeants wanting and teaching some stuff  kids beyond their age and taking much pride in their kids skills/achievement. Thank god I didn’t have such restless parents. Kids from such household inherit their parent’s restlessness and relate achievement with self worth . They focus so  much energy on being the best among their peers and feel so unhappy no matter what they have/achieve in their life. 

When see my friend and her husband I see the kind of parents we want to learn from.  I call her every time I feel scared or afraid of something in my life. She always had time for me which is so nice of her. I’ve had people cut me off - while talking on the phone, when I make a courtesy call to say hello. I used to think why on earth I am being so good to such people. Lot of my friends and even I used to excuse myself when I have some urgent matters to attend but I''ll always make sure to call them back. I always feel reluctant to  call her knowing her schedule but every time we end up talking  for a long time.

There is nothing better than a handmade gift to say "I love u" or " I treasure you" . I made her C & C (a cake and a Clutch). Made a purple & pink cake and made a clutch with a beautiful print having purple flowers. I paid a surprise visit to her house around 8.00pm before her birthday to hand deliver her birthday gift. Special  friends gets special attention no matter how long and tiring my day was.