Apart from learning that I have the privilege to think about things I have learnt during the lockdown, these are some of the [mostly irrelevant] things life at home has taught me:
At the Work Desk First, get off the bed and sit on a chair. This might be the only relevant piece of advice in the whole post. When you hear “I love you too” on your conference call, it’s not some new found love your colleagues have for you. They are talking to their kids. Or pets. Sometimes, even their spouses. So, don’t give in to the urge to profess your love back. Wear clothes to your work desk. Always. Even when you aren’t on a video call. It’s a good practice and helps you continue some of the non-quarantine beliefs you held before, viz. that you do meaningful work that’s changing the world. Don’t miss out on gossip sessions. Make it a point to do a few coffee break conference calls with your buddies from work. There is no greater bond than the bond of hating the same people at work. And we all know bonds are extremely important, especially in a sinking economy. In the Kitchen Never ask your kids how they want something cooked. They will tell you. Ooooh, they will. But there is a 99.75 % probability that it is not what or how they like to eat it. If you do an “Awesome things to cook” pareto, french beans are that one thing that end up so far down the tail, there is absolutely no reason for them to continue to exist. The effort it takes to cut them into small pieces, the amount of cooking time, the whining from your kids on how they look like chillies - make this an absolute non starter. The kind of arm workout you get while trying to scrape the bottom of your freshly made (read over-cooked) Upma pan is roughly the equivalent of 12*3 dumb bell rows. Never put two pressure cookers on the stove at once. You, in all your corporate double hatting glory, might think you are saving time. What you actually end up with is a) not knowing the origin of the whistle and b) two burnt cookers, the cleaning of which is the equivalent of 12*6 dumb bell rows. Life and Style Stay away from people who encourage you to learn/ do/ experience something new during this time. These are the ones that have live-in maids and obedient kids who are mopping the floor while said person is experiencing the new thing. On the other hand, actively encourage your spouse to do this. I have had awesome made-from-scratch bread and pizza happen in my kitchen. Lastly, and most importantly, Let It Be. As the great Oogway says [since my son just watched this for the 23rd time during this quarantine] “Quit, don’t quit; Noodles, don’t noodles; Don’t be too concerned about what was and what will be”. There are things not in our control, like the TV remote and then there are things that are in our control, like knowing where the cookies are hidden. Reach for what gives you peace.
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Aishwarya KalakataThe loss of and search for individualism has never been felt more acutely. Everything changed after I had a kid. But this blog is not about me being a mom. It’s about the things I do when I want to stop being a mom. It’s about telling myself that it is possible and that it is ok. It’s about my little escapades. Mostly travel - sometimes physical, sometimes mental. A desperate bid to stop my identity from being rolled into a single word. CategoriesArchives
March 2021
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