Safety measures to consider before you narrow down on a private school

If you're from India, you must be aware of the recent sexual assault of a 6 year old in an international school in Bangalore. As a parent who has trusted her precious with a school, I was totally dismayed to learn this news and wrote to the school even though they had sent a text assuring that they have all possible security measures in place. 

Few things I inquired are from the list below.  Probably, you can do the same if you are sending or planning to send a child in any school in the country. The school responded appreciably to my queries. 

Are our kids safe inside schools?

No, not anymore. For past few days, what you see below is the talk of the town.

Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle

Driving from Bangalore to Ooty - 04/04/2014

Often, I find my life locked in front of screens...
A WAH mom definitely has loads of benefits and privileges, however, mostly your world is gonna shrink within few walls, family and digital world, from the day you begin Working-from-Home (compared to working from office). We definitely needed a break. We chose Ooty, a hill station, which is on our way back home. We have been planning for home since it's summer holidays for Liya. 
Ooty is definitely the closest place if you just want to relax and have fun. 

Early in the morning ....

Homemade breakfast on the way! Malabar Pathiri and kadai chicken.
By the way, did you know how easy it's to wake a preschooler up early in the morning when (s)he already knows that you're all set on a trip. 

Silent Sunday 03/16/2014

Linking with MySundayPhoto and Silent Sunday

Silent Sunday :: 03/09/2014

Linking with 

A littered Country and learning from my daughter!

The other day Liya and I were on our way back to home from school. She usually keeps talking throughout the drive. Unlike usual, she sounded very serious this time. This is how the conversation went.

L - "Momma! Today, Ma'm showed me a video of a country which is fully littered."
M - "Fully littered?"
L - "Yes, Fully littered by the people of that country. They throw plastics carelessly and the country has become very stinky and dirty. It's no more clean and safe."

She continued - "Do you know Momma, which country is that?"
M - "Hmm.. No, tell me please!"
L - "It's our own country- this country-  India! "

When she said this, I could feel the shadow of sadness in her voice.

Photo - bangalore.citizenmatters.in

At Golconda fort - Hyderabad, India

Golconda is a mud fort founded by the Kakatiya Kings during the 13th century and attained glory under the Qutub Shahi dynasty. Read about Golconda fort here. 

The fort hiker!

Yet Another....

It's been a long gap.. I really can't believe that nearly an year has passed by, without being blogged about Liya's life. So much has happened in L's life, yet I haven't found some time to record those memorable events. Poor Mom!

Technically, life in India was suppose to be much easier for me in many ways. Unlike in the US, I had a maid to do household chores and a cook who takes care of cooking lunch and dinner. However, practically, it was the opposite. Ever since I enrolled into a work integrated MS degree, I have been drowning in the flood of work, books, assignments, lectures, exams and most importantly handling my little girl in the midst of all these... I hope I will be able to get back to blogging shortly. In sha Allah!

Happy Independence Day India!!!

Liya's school conducted independence day celebrations yesterday. Kids were asked to come in colorful dress. She got up early in the morning, got ready without any hassles. She was yelling "It is independence day celebration today..."

She got back from school and I asked her: "So, tell me what's independence day?"

"You don't know Momma? It's the day we will wear colorful dress to schools, sing, dance and do activities (around independence day theme)..." :) :) 

Hyderabad Preschools - Esperanza Review

Esperanza

Esperanza is very popular among IT folks. This is because they have tie up with NASSCOM and which brings a very attractive package for parents working for NASSCOM affiliated companies. Suiting for people who make it a routine to stay back office late.. ;)

Why popular?

Wordless Wednesday :: Dancing in the road

Taken from the road side of one of the busiest area, the IT hub of Hyderabad... On our way back to home, during our search for preschools... we were waiting for Pappa to return from office... This is how she spent nearly an hour!

 

   

Response from KinderKare Gachibowli for my review : Disgusting!

Today, early in the morning I was more than happy to see that KinderKare, Gachibowli has sent a response to the post I made after my bad experience at their school. However, as I read through,  I seriously thought if they wouldn't have sent this mail. The only word I could express my feeling is SHOCK... SHOCK... I am pasting the mail as it's below, adding my comments in BLUE highlight. I would really appreciate if my readers could take a moment and tell me if this is something you expect from a respected school management? Would you send your child to this school, after reading this mail. I would expect to read with a neutral mindset and share your honest opinions. 

~~~~~~~~~~~

Dear Mother of Liya,

I am Lt Col Rajasekhar Reddy and I am the Director and part of the management of Kinderkare Day care and preschool.

...and Liya goes to Nursery!

On 14th Nov, Liya started her official pre-schooling! Yay, Liya goes to nursery. I still can not believe how fast time flies by... my tiny bug has grown into a little woman!!!

In her school uniform

After a lot of searches, researches, analysis, thinking and rethinking, we have finally decided upon Globe Toter, Gachibowli, Hyderabad. Liya absolutely loved the school. On her first day, she was all excited to go to new school. On the way she threw up and lost her mood. So, she cried when J left for office. Even so, according to her teacher, she did a great job. Her teacher certified her "Brave Girl"!!!!  Thank God!

Search for Pre schools in Hyderabad...

I have heard so much and so much about the difficulties in finding a pre school in Indian metros. It's not that India has got very less options but we have more schools than the no. of kids in the entire city, I guess...lol! At every corner of cities, you will be bombarded with millions of billboards, advertisements, fake promises and some sugar coated words like 'holistic approach, child friendly, learning through fun, credibility, vast experience, excellent teachers etc etc. But the more you enquire you will know how far they live from their promises...

Liya's response to preparations...

Couple of months back, I was saying Liya about our 'big move'...

"Liya, you know we are moving back to India..."
"I don't want to..."
"What? Do you know what India is?"
"Yup, there are grandmas and grandpas, we can go to beach and play in the waves... But you know momma, I just don't like it over there.."

This is exactly what she told. I was so surprised that how much little bugs are lured by American life... lols!

Wordless Wednesday: Playing in the waves...

This is from our vacation back in the scenic land Kerala, India!

Things Liya loved in India

Chicks, Kittens, Ducks and Doggie...
...made her really happy. She was so glad to run behind live chicks, kittens, doggies, ducks. She was running behind a big hen of my neighbor and I asked what's she doing. Do you know what she replied?? "Momma this is chicken, we can eat it!"

Things Liya loved in India :: 2) Visiting Relatives

Yes, I said it, Liya loved to visit our relatives. This is something I personally find extremely exhausting part of every vacation. Well, I love visiting relatives, friends; grab a cup of tea and have some silly chit chats... That sounds exciting, but every time we keep running from one house to another, spend few minutes and get back home extremely tired...and the vacation just goes on like that till the last day. By then, we would have dropped a lot of things we wanted to do... but after all I love the warmth, ties and bonds of relationships we especially get in Kerala.

Wordless Wednesday :: Little Traveler...

...killing time at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi on our way back to US after vacation.

She was badly waiting to get one for her...

Things Liya loved in India : People!

Days in India were fabulous days of Liya's life. There are quite a lot of things she loved there and a few things she hated, as well. We 'll tell you one by one.

1) The People