India trip is always fun. Our India trip is almost going to end. But every time we take a lot of memories with us till our next visit. While growing up, we all have experienced many moments that might not be important, like going to any neighbor’s place at lunchtime and not coming back without having lunch with them. Or visiting the temple and getting Prasad if any Pooja is going on, whether you are a part of that Pooja or not; or sharing lunch box with school friends and office colleagues. But now, when we tell them to our kids, we feel the warmth of our culture and values.

I believe in passing on our values and culture to our kids in every possible way we can. It could be through stories, examples, following certain rituals, practices. One of the ways is while visiting India, telling them about our special moments.

 

During my Kanpur (hometown) stay, I took my daughter to show her my school on the last trip, and this time also she wanted to see. She enjoyed the scooty ride on the IIT campus. I was telling her stories while we drove around the area. I showed her where I learned bicycle riding; my pre-school, elementary school; where we used to do flag hosting; where I used to work, etc. Both my kiddos are taking many memories and lessons from our India trip. I have never seen these experiences from this angle before, but I guess our parenting brain always thinks and works in a different direction. 🙂

 

• Love and trust are the base of any relation: For our Sunday breakfast, I went to get samosas. My daughter also accompanied me, knowing that I will be going by scooty. After asking for the total amount, I realized that I am in a shortage of Rs.5. So, I asked that uncle to pack one less samosa. But just because that uncle has seen me and my sister coming to his shop since childhood, he said, “paise ka kya hai beta, who to aate hi rahenge. Aap thodi fir se aaoge.. (don’t worry about money. It will come but you won’t.)” Then he asked, “olakhlas ka?”(did you recognize me?)(He knows my mothertongue). I said yes, I did recognize you and said namaskaar to him. He said, “thats enough for me that you still recognize me. Stay blessed.”

My daughter was registering all this, and I could see a lot of excitement in her eyes. Later, I told her that just because that uncle knew my family for a long time and there is a bond of trust and love, he gave me that one samosa.

 

• Atithi Devo Bhav: “Guest is like God.” That’s the notion in India. If anyone comes to our place during lunchtime or tea-time, we will not let them go without having a mini-meal if a proper meal is not possible. Or if that is also not possible, then water with some sweet is offered for sure. On a warm, sunny afternoon, one courier guy came to deliver my package. My daughter was there to open the door. After receiving my package, I asked him to have a glass of water with petha (sweet, especially eater during summer). I knew that a small piece of petha and just a glass of water wasn’t enough to cope with the heat, but that might have given him some relief from the sun. My daughter asked me why I offered him water and sweets? This was a lesson she has learned this time.

 

• Coming to my little one, he enjoyed his morning walks, making a conversation with store owners, or every pedestrian he came across, sometimes with vegetable vendors. And would come home with a small tomato in his hand or a candy. He also saw cows, dogs, and many other animals in person. All this is a part of his learning process.

 

• We create memories every day: At my mom’s place, there is a bakery in the IIT campus. We call that whole place, Shop-C. This time, when I went there to get something and saw Aloo Puffs, I couldn’t stop myself from having one. That shop owner greeted me with a warm smile and asked kab aaye beta? (When did you come?) While giving me the aloo puff, he said “yaha aaye aur aloo puff nahi khaya to shop-c ka trip adhura reh jaega.” (shop-c trip will remain incomplete without having aloo puff 🙂 

 

 Many such mini-moments make our trip memorable. It is I our hands how to convert those simple moments into teachable moments.