Meenz Place

  On the last day of this year as I reflect on the year gone by, I feel a deep sense of realization and awareness of new perspectives I have developed. I am sure this year made each one of us to take a pause, step back and try make some sense out of this whole unpredictable event that happened. I think personally this year made me more aware of lot of different things, just adding some of them below. Do share what were your deepest realizations! YOUR PRIVILEDGE  : We are a lot more  privileged  than many others and that thought made me thank my stars many times and also feel guilty when I saw many others getting deeply impacted by what 2020 brought for them. FAMILY IS THE ROCK : Family is what keeps you going. When entire world and all external relations were shut for us, we all realized the value of near and dear ones and also how much important it is to have harmonious relationships with people who live under one roof. Family and relations are the foundation that k...

Best of our conversations comes out mostly when I am driving with Tim, it's either on ferrying him to classes or picking him from school or going to parties. So this was about a month back while on way to drums class and then way back: Drive to class:  So mumma in me preaching about how Tim can excel in things he is learning by doing them with full concentration and focus. Me : So Ishaan ( name I call when we have a grown up talk), I think if you focus and try to be fully in the moment you can get much more out of different things you do ..be it soccer, drums, robotics or even playing.  Tim ( little annoyed ) : I know mumma, but  " I am doing the best I can" Me ( displaying customary parental " we know it a''" tone) : Yes Ishaan, but you know we never reach our best. Our best is always yet to come and more we try and put in effort we amaze ourselves by how we can keep outdoing our best. Tim : Hmmmm... ok ok Drive back from class:...

It seemed she could never meet her standards. The high levels that always seemed so far fetched. To outside world she was great, an independent thinker, an achiever, value creator. But to her own self she was so ungenerous, stingy and demanding. One day standing facing the mirror, her inner girl demanded an explanation. An explanation for missed appreciations, an explanation for unexplained coldness. And she had no words to say in her defense, for once and all she felt ashamed.Ashamed of having failed to please her own soul, ashamed of depriving her of all the love. She looked into her eyes and made a promise! A promise to give her the due credit she deserved, a promise to nurture and celebrate her and make her feel proud. Since then, they have been  Best Friends !

This day Timmu seems to be too much interested in stamps while mumma doesn't seem to be Timmu -Mom, can you get stamps for me from your office Mom - Mein kya koi post office mein kaam karti hun? (Little disappointed, Tim goes to Papa.) Timmu - Papa can you get stamps for me from your office ( Papa decides to score points and agrees) Papa : OK beta, I will get for you for sure. Timmu - Papa...AAP kya post office mein kaam karte ho ?????

Timmu is four years now and till now have been thinking to let him take things easy and let him indulge in free play. But somehow feel that now is the time to introduce him to more serious reading.. my experiments with making him read have not been quite much successful.. can't nail a particular reason but I guess its combination of - My own laziness to set up a routine for him - He finding it more interesting to tear books than read it - he is still not comfortable recognizing words  Now what ever is the reason I want to now give it a serious thought so my first steps I took today are: 1- Ordered some kids books online - Junior Kumbhkaran - This is written by my ex-colleague( Arundhati Venkatesh) who turned author with this :) I feel excited to read out a story written by a person I know closely and below ones going by recommendations on blog of another friend Simran ( need to acknowledge to her) http://chipsnchutzpah.wordpress.com/ - Goodnight Moon -...

Tim is 3+ and already a seasoned actor as he knows how to throw a well thought tantrum act or when to butter his mom dad telling them " aap kitni sweet ho mumma ek dum toffee jaise". But this is about his first experience with professional camera.A friend was doing a video advert for his entrepreneurial venture and wanted kids to act.So he asked if Timmu could play role of Hanuman.I was not quite sure how is he going to respond to this whole acting thing so was ready for surprises on day of shoot.But to our pleasure he really cooperated and nicely acted  the lines and scenes for this age.I actually found my kiddo more patient and professional than the guy paid for shooting the video. Timmu happily changed the costume and behaved like a nice boy throughout the whole thing that took around 2-3 hours with occasional bribing of chewing gum. The final advert turned out quite nice with all kids really making it a nice watch.Here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViGKdN...

Hey There!! Before I start getting into details of the admission process I would like to share the reason why I am writing this post. While researching about the schools for my boy I reached out to friends who have kids in schools, read through blogs and posts, requested feedback on FB forums where people have shared their personal experiences and I really thank them all in helping me out with information. So I feel obliged to do the same and share mine. I had not gone through process for many schools since we finalized quite soon so below are schools I would be talking about 1. Lotus Valley International School- Nirvana County, Gurgaon 2. Scottish High International School - Sushant Lok, Gurgaon 3. Suncity World School - Suncity, Gurgaon Lotus Valley - Forms were out in last week of August and you could fill forms over a period on 2-3 days and submit at school reception. - Advertisements are put up on school website and newspapers week ahead so keep checking, ...

One year of study break over and I am back home, as Timmu will put it its time for “Gulgaon Chale”.It’s been a good break to dedicate an year for post graduation and to put it in the most cliche MBA terms it really gave me a “holistic view” of business and organizations. But it was for sure a good learning experience and I really enjoyed it. Thanks all for making it an eventful year!!

Timmu just picked up R's passport, me in an attempt to divert him and my compulsive habit to try to teach him show him the lion symbol on it. Me : Tim, see this lion symbol that's national emblem of India Tim: haa mujhko yeh bahut achha lagta hai Me: You have seen this before? Tim: Yes, it on coin also na Moral : Kids are learning anyways even when we r not trying to preach and teach :)

So today is day we got married 6 years ago. Day should not pass without remembering the moments of togetherness and achievements. Yes, we talk ..we fight.. we snob.. we make up.. but what is beautiful is we are a family. We also have our trophy Tim to boast about who gives us wonderful moments of absolute bliss and happiness along with testing times to our perseverance and patience. Have a wonderful Day today and days ahead!

Almost 9 months into my MBA it is my moral obligation to post something on my learning( if any) till now...No No.. I am not surrendering to this obligation but just putting across a thought after reading all stuff that shouts out aloud about importance of customer relationship programs (yes I have just been through a CRM exam paper today, so may be this is an after effect). Marketers today are focusing on retaining and nurturing most profitable customers, launching targeted campaigns and trying to create segments and micro segment customers.Guys! I don't deny your forward looking efforts and the potential that such programs have but my recent experiences have not been too encouraging.I am not worthy to comment on all industries but this is specifically with context to multi-branded fashion retailers in India. If I look at myself, I am a customer and member of many loyalty programs and few ones I value most in this segment are shoppers stop, central, pan...

Our city Dilwaalo ki Delhi has been witness to continuous torture, disrespect and discrimination against women, but one night of Dec 16 2012 this city witnessed a horrific crime of gang rape and immense brutality against a young girl.The city woke up to grief and shock at the extent to which animal instincts can take over some men who can treat a living human being like trash.The girl who just ran into immense bad luck that she and her friend boarded a charted bus unaware of what life has in store for them.Whole city felt the pain, grief and anger imagining the fate the girl had gone through.She battled for 13 days...battled against all hopes because she wanted to live, she wanted to live for her parents, for her brothers and to enjoy the whole life ahead, to live the dreams she had treasured and worked towards in last 23 years of her life...she so much wanted to live.But some men just took her life away, for a momentary joy ride, for a thrill ? My heart goes out at what she...

This one is from archive that just came across while looking for some data in old hard disk..may be I wrote it in first few months of motherhood..found it cute ..... Mom and Dad getting ready to welcome Tim Tim in this world! Mom is tense..told doc that I am scared.. Doctor says oh come on! you are a brave girl  when we all are here why do you care…                Few Minutes old Tim Tim ….All white and blue…                here you come fast fast much before you were due !       Here is first time I hold you in my arms..    Night before I was praying all goes well for you and my    girl..       But now that's a gone kahani       I am glad to be a proud NAANI !!! I feel as if it was a battle that I just now fought.. Finally came across an a winner and Tim...

KA51N 6610 There are many reasons why I love my Sweety (Midnight Grey Santro). Not that I am materialistic...its not a BMW yaar and " Treasure your relationships, not your possessions " also I am in full agreement with this.But these non living possessions sometimes become stationary witnesses of our experiences and relationships.And above that they teach you also, yes I have learnt lot of things through my car.My midnight grey companion is my first car that I owned (yes one of those middle class joys of your first car) and I also hold the honor of going alone to take its delivery from dealer..Yes I still remember 13th September 2007 when we were supposed to get its delivery and my husband(R) suddenly had to travel but I was determined to not delay possessing it.Not sure of dealer location I got down somewhere from office bus and started walking on swampy road on a wet raining evening when I was just hoping someone should drop me till my destination that a passing bike...

It's been more then three months and I think I am already very late to pen down this remarkable development in my Life.Yes it is..the idea to get back to college might not have been revolutionary when I perceived it but when it came to implementation I did realize its a huge decision for a working women with a toddler and not staying in a joint family set up to think of taking up regular college that requires you to stay in hostel away from your home.Lucky me that god blessed me with one person who is always there to support in all my rational and irrational decisions, trusting my capabilities beyond my own faith and that's my MOTHER.So here she was again supporting me again nth time to go ahead while she would take care of my baby full time and so am I here 3 months into this regular MBA course aspiring to become a post graduate hopefully at end of it :) Thanks mom.. you are my heroine!!!

From the day a child is born in family everyone right from parents to elders get into a mission to teach and guide the baby.No one can deny the fact that love, time and patience that we put in to help our baby learn right from first smile till being able to hold neck independently, eat and take first steps.Every first of baby be it first steps, first words, first letters, recognition of colours etc etc is an assurance and achievement for parents. But have we ever thought of what can we learn from kids while we are basking the glory of achievements of our child.There is a lot to learn or I should say re learn qualities that we were born with and lost with time.As the Brahamkumaris right put it "Be like a child". So here is list of teachings that my Timmu has to offer: 1. Smile, Laugh, Shout , Cry.. don't hold emotions 2. Always keep your self busy 3. Take power naps and refresh when not doing anything. 4. Always be ready to experiment with new things.Learn! Learn! L...

Today there was a competition to send  entries for "Share your sucess story" for women's week being celebrated in office.Since I had some spare time so sent below few words.... I always felt it’s unfair to men when women get this special treatment and all the admiration for being able to manage work and family until I became a mother or to be more specific a "working mom" myself. That’s when I realized that all challenges till now were nothing like this responsibility to nurture a new life and be committed to your job responsibilities at same time. I don't think drivers to perform best at work for women are any different than that for men, so at work what drives me to give my best are my goals in life and the satisfaction and sense of achievement that comes with a job well done. Yes you do need support of people and for me it’s my family who have been there to support me and share my responsibilities, my colleagues who showed trust in my work a...

We love weekends..we love time off from work and we all love breaks.. But today I found out best way to take a break and make most out of it.. This Tue I realised I am working too hard and getting too stressed, work is becoming an obsession and to outdo others at job a craze..so by wed morning I was already planning and afternoon sent out mail to my PM that I am on leave tomorrow.. Here I put few simple rules to make most out of a day off .. Rule No 1:Don't Plan- Take day off out of no where..don't plan too much as unexpected breaks are most treasured. So wed evening I made up my mind..Morning get a relaxing facial and some grooming along with mom..so called up and fixed an appointment..after that trip to Ambience Mall..I can schedule trips to that place until I cover all brand stores at least once...so here comes Rule No 2: Plan Day Well - Now once you have decided on your day off then don't let it go unplanned..else at end of day you will get into even mor...

Shifting from Bangalore to Delhi has been my consistent desire from time I shifted my base out for work.Although the freedom and success I got after moving away from home has laid the foundation of my life but Bangalore, London or Italy no place has been close to my heart as Delhi is..as they say Dilwaalo ki Dilli..so when R got an offer in Gurgaon and my company also gave me a transfer ..my joy knew no bounds...I couldn't have asked for more...So here we come here after tiring days of packing and shifting..but joy was short lived as getting adjusted to new city, people and so much household and office work with a small kid took its toll..and with R not quite happy usually used to put me off...but as they say nothing lasts for long and here we started with what I always missed...being close to my people. So here we had 2 wonderful days enjoying WC matches and bonding with my closest pal DB.Life is very different now from being chilled out and care free girls to being mom of baby ...