Calvin on parenting

I wonder about this often as a parent.

None, unfortunately. In fact, it most likely is!

When dads "lean in"

Do you see anything wrong in this picture? Look carefully!

If something looks strange with Kabir's shirt, that's because he is wearing it INSIDE OUT!! For the entire day at school, he was wearing his shirt this way. Guess who got him ready for school this morning?! I suppose this is what happens when half-asleep parents have to get their kids ready for school at 6:45am.

(btw, to give some credit, you've got to appreciate the effort that must go into buttoning up a shirt thats inside out :-))

Kabir's school project

Kabir's school project ("A house") that we built this weekend (I can't believe he's already getting projects in the first standard!)

Srinagar

The last three days of our vacation were in Srinagar where we stayed on a houseboat. We found Dal lake to be beautiful (and clean) contrary to what we had expected. The visit to the Moghul gardens and the Shikara ride were great hits with the boys and very relaxing for all of us. We also climbed up to the Shankaracharya temple which offered beautiful views of the city (cameras were not allowed here). 

The only thing to complain about was the poor quality and availability of food on the houseboat. On our last day in the city both boys had an upset stomach and when it was time to leave, we felt ready to come back home.

Sunset on Dal lake

Chashmeshahi Bag

Nishat Bag (we spent quite a few hours here - had a little picnic, played in the garden and enjoyed the fountains)

Hazratbal dargah

carpet weaving

The leisurely Shikara ride on the Dal 

Saying goodbye to our houseboat

Sonamarg - Anurag's first trek

We stayed in Sonamarg for a day. The drive to Sonamarg from Pahalgam was about 6 hours long with a lunch break in Srinagar. The kids did well on the drive. We passed countless Army trucks/ convoys on our way and the kids found them to be fascinating. 

Sonamarg was beautiful and the weather was cold, but very comfortably so. We stayed at the glacier height hotel for the night. In the morning, once the rains stopped, we checked out from the hotel and started for the Thajiwas Glacier. We were hoping to trek to the glacier but since we were unsure about the conditions due to the rain (and also the boys' enthusiasm for it), we decide to take the mule-service instead. The trail was about 5km (easy but muddy and wet) and we let the mules go once we reached close to the glacier (not without an unpleasant argument with the mule-waalahs). Once at the top, Kabir and Saurabh played in the snow/ice for some time while I took some pictures. After a couple of hours we stared back. We were quite certain that Kabir would have no problem with the 5 km, but were pleasantly surprised that Anurag too walked more than 4km and that too very happily! After that he was so tired that he fell asleep the moment Saurabh started carrying him in his arms.

Celebrating papa's birthday

 

Anurag goes to Kindergarten

Today was Anu's first day in Jr. KG. I have been dreading this day for a while. As we entered the classroom today, the sight of 20 howling kids greeted us and Anurag quickly realized that something was very wrong and burst into tears. Fortunately, his class teacher is very loving and she tried to distract him (she was also Kabu's class teacher). When I went to pick him up, he was quiet but looked very sad. His eyes lit up when he saw me and the way he came running to me and clung on to me made me happy and sad at the same time. I hope he settles in his new school quickly. Kabir, who insisted on going with me to pick up Anu, was delighted to meet his old teachers. His UKG class teacher even planted one big kiss on his cheek which made his day!