Wisdom, when you least expect it.

So my son picks out 'Splat the cat and the Hotshot' at the library. And I know I should not judge the book by its cover. But I do. Immediately. I had not read this series before, so I do not think much of the title.. and nothing about the cats posing on the front page. But no amount of persuasion worked and my 'Cat in the Hat' (yes, I sometimes pick the ones I want to read) had to go back on the shelf.

I love reading to my kids. I love how we cuddle up together into our sweet spots. I love how they don't judge my slight lisp.  I love how they get lost in the story. I love how I lose myself. The words and the pictures and the sounds coming together to create a memory. I can read till my throat is dry. And then some more.

But I pushed this 'Splat the cat and the Hotshot' to the last spot. We finished 'Princess Poppy' and 'Pintoo and the Giant'. And then I began reading rolling my tongue around splat, cat, Scott, scouts. My son can read this.. My daughter insists I read, because according to her, the brother reads way too loudly.

Anyways, the book is about how Splat is going on a hike with the Cat Scouts and a new Scout called Scott seems to be stealing the show. He seems to know how to tie fancy knots and build a mean fire. Splat is slightly insecure  and wants to be just as cool as Scott. As the hike progresses he soon he discovers his own talents and figures out what team work is all about.  

Whether you are four or forty, each of us is Splat. We meet someone who's pretty good at what they do. And suddenly we shine all the spot light on them. We forget what we can do. and we just want to be like them, do like they do, have what they have. We forget that 'there are stars in our skies too'.

You know how a book finds you at just the right time. Well Splat found me. In a 'Level 1- I can read book'.

Credits: Harper Collins

Busy June

More than 30 days have gone by since a post here and... to think I survived the April A to Z 2016 challenge!! Sigh..

June marks the start to the new school year and the monsoons.. and all the associated drama. With school there is new schedules, more clothes to iron, snacks to pack, more groceries to plan for, home work and projects, after school classes, making new friends, missing old teachers and always those 5 extra minutes of precious sleep everyone wants... Now that a month has passed things are falling into routine. My daughter who just started kindergarten is amused that she has to go to school everyday.

And the monsoons don't help either. Definitely a welcome respite after the scorching summer months. But aren't rainy mornings meant for extra cuddling under the blanket? You cannot forget your umbrella even if the sun is blazing because the rain clouds could come from nowhere and devour it splashing you in the process. Clothes take forever to dry and now I know what the wise meant when they said - Make hay while the sun shines.

But a lot has been happening... I have been trying my hand at various things... from story telling to some card designing to more decoupaging.

So yes, I have missed the blog and missed the writing and the reading that I got to do during the holidays, but feeling grateful that my June was packed with excitement.