Mother's Gurukul Podcast

Someday I will find my Prince, but my Daddy will always be my King.” So true, so cute, and so very innocent. Isn’t? I found this beautiful quote while exploring the greeting cards section in my local store. Father's Day in the United States is the third Sunday of June. It celebrates the contribution fathers and father figures make to their children's lives. Today, at Mother’s Gurukul podcast, let’s celebrate Father’s Day!!

I was curious to know more about Father’s Day, and I found something interesting. ‘A woman called Sonora Smart Dodd was an influential figure in the establishment of Father’s Day. She is also recognized as the mother of Father’s Day. Her father was a civil war veteran who raised six children by himself after the death of their mother. This was uncommon at that time, as many widowers placed their children in the care of others or quickly married again. Sonora was inspired by the work of Anna Jarvis, who had pushed forMother’s Day celebrations. Sonora felt that her father deserved recognition for what he had done. The first time Father’s Day was held in June was in 1910. President Nixon officially recognized Father’s Day as a holiday in 1972.’

Have you ever heard parents teaching their children to lie? Or able to control their reaction or response when they find out about the lie their child has said? Picturize a face of a child with a mouth covered with ice cream, and they are trying to wipe it off while telling us that they haven’t eaten anything. I am sure it must have brought a smile to your face. Children typically begin lying in preschool ages during 3-4 ages. Something that starts humorously take the form of big lies. May be because they think this is an easy way to save themselves. Or they must have seen their elders doing it. Or perhaps some other reasons. So, let’s talk about why they lie and how we can control that.

How to encourage them to tell the truth?

1. When teaching kids about behavior, role modeling

2. Help them not take help of lying for their actions.

3. Praise them for taking ownership if they have done anything wrong.

4. We don’t have to overreact.

While I was compiling my thoughts about today’s episode, once again, I had the same thoughts. If you have been following Mother’s Gurukul Podcast, you must have listened to it.  And if you are new here, feel free to check out that episode.  

Change is the deepest dream of the human heart. We’d all like to become someone new.

The first word that comes to mind is resolution whenever we talk about welcoming New Year or saying bye to the past year. Somehow, I never felt any connection or excitement in this word. I do believe in change or exciting things. But this word puts me under pressure.

Then what do I call them? I call it promises. Do you make NY resolutions? Or you are like me? Let me tell you why I do not make new year's resolutions; I promise myself to develop good habits!

5 steps to develop good habits: 

First, we have to Define the person we want to become

Then we have to Create the right environment for it.

Now is the time to Start with the two-minute rule: If following the new habit, even for two minutes, seems complicated, it needs to be broken into mini-habits.

Focus on daily success: Every small step towards your new habit is an achievement. Do not ignore them.

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I am sure you would agree that we often end up doing a few things we don’t want to do. For example, we have to go to a place we don’t like to go, or we agree to things we don’t want to. We are doing it to please our friends or to maintain our friendship with them. But, what about our happiness? We hardly think about it. And that’s where we make mistakes.

Why don’t we think about ourselves? Do we believe this as an act of selfishness? May be yes, but what’s wrong with that? Lets talk about it today in this episode.

Books have always been a part of my life. But, my work at KukuFm has given me enough chances to explore the self-help genre I will talk about a few books I read in the last couple of months. And I feel fortunate to compile them in an audiobook summary format. These audiobooks summaries are in Hindi and Marathi. The Secret: The Science and Art of Self assurance by Rhonda Byrne Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins No Excuses! The Power of Self Discipline By Brian Tracy The Confidence Code by Katty Kay and Claire Shipman 

Links to the audio book summaries: 

In order to expect a change, we need to have curiosity. We need to have the urge to learn new things, unfold new concepts and expand our understanding. And this is possible only when we have an attitude which says – “I don’t know but I want to find out.” We have to let go the fear of failure, discomfort, and may be embarrassment. We will talk all about it.

"Curiosity is the entry point to many of life’s greatest sources pf meaning and satisfaction."- Todd Kashda

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their choices are truly endless" Have you heard about Transformational Vocabulary before? If you have, I believe you must have used it and seen its positive effects. If not, then I am sure that you will start practicing it after listening to this episode. As the term suggests, transformational vocabulary is nothing but a change in our vocabulary.  In this, we consciously use our words to improve and change our life. For example, we often use words when referring to someone like “that experience has transformed him/her into a completely new person.” Or “this new look transformed you.” So, we all have some idea about the word transformation. Now let’s see how we can incorporate it into our behavior. It is not limited to just parenting. We can use it in our day-to-day conversations. Not just this, we can also practice it for ourselves and others.  Transformational Vocabulary gives you the power to change your experiences in life by lowering the intensity of negative emotions to the point where they no longer control you. Lets see how. 

Has it ever happened to you when your kiddos don’t want to read from the book? Instead, they want you to narrate them a story. Well, it happens with me many times. And I enjoy it as much as I enjoy reading from a book. In fact, I take this as an opportunity to convey some important lessons to him in the form of a story.

But it is not the same for many. Not everyone is always up for creating on-the-spot stories. But, I feel we all have a storyteller within us. Sometimes, it takes the back seat in the presence of other fancy and easily accessible resources. So, why not wake up that storyteller. Let’s see how to make the storytelling a fun and engaging experience. .

So, lets see how to do it

1.Bring your characters to life

2.Use that day’s happening to build as the story

3.Add a few personal elements into the story

4.Let your children complete the story

5.Maintaining an eye contact

6.Let them ask questions

7.Ending is important

In this episode, we will be talking about the Step ladder approach. As the name suggests, the step ladder approach is a gradual exposure technique to help people of all ages conquer their fears and tackle problems they previously perceived as overwhelming.When we experience anxiety, we feel overwhelmed, even in simple situations. As parents, we try to help children conquer some of these moments.  It’s one of the ‘behavioral’ components of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and it’s helpful to know about when encouraging your child to address their fears. We will talk more about it in this episode.

Fear is there within us. No one has ever taught us how to be fearful. And there is nothing wrong with that. It is one of the 9 emotions we are born with. But when this emotion starts showing its signs more often and affects our day-to-day life, then that is when we need to take necessary actions.

It happens with kids a lot. Quite often you must have heard them saying, I am so scared for my tomorrow’s exam. We keep telling them not to worry. They will be fine, but still, they are not able to relax their mind. And if, by any chance, their exam doesn’t go very well, then it becomes a permanent feeling that I am not good at this subject and I will never be good at it. Before our child reaches this point, we should take care of it. But how? 

• Don’t lie about your own fear
• Validate your child’s feelings by acknowledging it
• Never put a child down for their fear
• Touch therapy
• Be supportive but don’t go overboard
• Step ladder approach

We, as parents, love to give directions. But they, as children, don’t like those directions. Now, there is a clash; there are arguments, disagreements, and emotional outbreaks. How to handle all this? Should we stop giving them directions? Then how they will learn what is right and wrong? Well.. wait. First, take a pause, take a deep breath. And think- as kids, did we like directions? We say parenting is challenging; we say parenting has changed. Then how can we hold on to the old parenting style?

What’s that one thing you should’t be doing? - Don’t dictate, guide them.

-Negotiating works better than dictating

-Make it their idea

-Ask questions instead of imposing your views

-Avoid judgments and encourage pushback

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When we are surrounded by such heartbreaking news, how can we stay calm? Is it possible? Or, if we want to be calm, how can we do that? Let me help you with that. I said “help” because this is the time when we should be helping each other.

How to stay calm during tough times?

1. Control your breathing

2. Learn to ignore the news that disturbs us

3. Find a routine that gives you relaxation

4. Understand the situation and Look for options

5. Take a break

6. Clean eating

7. Adequate sleep

8. Talk about it

Before Covid hit us, we were in a perfect routine. Our routine was well-planned. But with online studies and work from home, our routine underwent many changes. There was no morning school or office rush. Our life was going at leisure. But when this situation wasn’t coming to an end, our so-called relaxed routine started to make us somewhat lazy. Many have experienced lethargy in their routine, work getting piled up as there is no deadline. Here I am talking about personal work. Many have joined online fitness classes and promised to continue practicing the exercises after the class duration is over. But something was lacking. It was the motivation to do it regularly.

1. Please don’t consider it a task.

2. Don’t stress out too much.

3. Make it casual.

4. Have something to motivate yourself

5. Change your self-belief

6. Don’t stay up late

7. Just start

“I am a blogger” – I get mixed reactions when I say that I am a blogger. Some ask me genuineand meaningful questions like my profile as a blogger, how I got into this field, how I get paid, etc. On the other hand, some people convey with their eyes that it is not a big deal and I am doing it as a pastime. . I don’t remember if I have ever talked about why I chose parenting and lifestyle as my niche or my personal growth from being a blogger/influencer? So, let’s have a candid conversation today.

Who am I - parenting and lifestyle clogger or a mommy blogger?

I started with parenting as my niche because I was experiencing it when I stepped into blogging, but with time, I also explored other areas like fitness, mental health, and lifestyle.

What pushed me more towards parenting?

Parenting can feel like a lonely journey sometimes, even when you know so many others who have been and are in the same shoes. We look for inputs, suggestions, and quick fixes. Other resources can help moms in answering their questions. I decided to share my real-life experiences – from the complex challenges to the joyful moments that make up modern-day motherhood.

Did mommy bulging contribute to my personal growth?

1. It made me a better version of myself.

2. My approach towards people’s questions has changed.

3. It has broadened my thinking.

The shift I have seen in reader's patience and receptiveness:

From time to time, we see Instagram or social media influencers coming into the picture. It quickly grabs viewer’s attention. But traditional blogs have once again gained popularity as more moms are looking to connect and find community.

Request to all mommy bloggers:

In order for others to take you and your work seriously, first you have to take it seriously. If you treat your work as a hobby, it will treat you the same. If you takeout seriously, then you will see the results.

It is good to be a crowd-pleaser but not on the cost of compromising with our self-respect of preferences. So, how to define boundaries? And handle its consequences. Yes, I said consequences. Creating healthy boundaries is empowering. But when we implement internal and external boundaries, it wil come as a surprise to the people around us. Initially, they may not take it seriously. 

Let’s talk about boundaries today. What are boundaries? Boundaries show where one thing ends, and another begins. They are the limits that you put in place to protect your well-being.

Boundaries can be internal and external. Internal boundaries are those which we make for ourselves. And external boundaries are those which we make for others. It also deals with our private and public image. Lately, there have been several talks about mental health. Boundaries play a crucial role in our mental health. Let’s take this as a base for understanding the boundary concept.

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless." -Mother Teresa

After all, we need such words to keep going, find happiness around us and spread joy among the people around us.It is hard to believe that we have been living through the coronavirus pandemic since the early days of 2020. For many, these past few months feel more like a decade. As communicators, though, we know that meaning is conveyed not just in what you say but in how you say it. 

For children, their introduction to music begins way before s(he) comes into this world. The moment a baby is conceived, there are waves transmitted to the fetus. When the mother talks or humm or is listening to any music, the baby also feels the vibrations. That is why it is always advisable for the mom-to-be to listen to soothing music. We moms experience the movements of our babies when we listen to different kinds of sounds. The formal introduction happens when they come into the world. Even an infant can differentiate between high and low pitch. Parents often make different sounds to create some instant music. Let us see why and how to incorporate music into kids routine.

Music is a fundamental attribute of the human species. You turn on your favorite song, and you automatically start humming or singing. Music instantly improves our mood and mind state. If we are upset with something and hear some soothing music, how quickly do we feel better? It doesn’t happen without any reason. Research has found that when we listen to music, it triggers a release of Dopamine – a naturally occurring happy chemical to the brain. Now Dopamine is not only released during peak musical moments but also when we anticipate those moments.

The human brain and nervous system are hard-wired to distinguish music from noise and respond to rhythm and repetition, tones and tunes. How can something intangible be so powerful?

Today, we all are going through a tough time. I hear concerned parents talking about their kid’s mental and emotional state. I am also a parent, and I can completely understand their concern. According to me, if we can convince our kids to develop a habit of journaling, then it will benefit them a lot in the long run. Let’s talk about the benefits of journaling for kids.

We all hope to raise responsible kids. Kids who are obedient, sincere show fewer tantrums. But for that, first, we have to rethink the reasons why kids behave irresponsibly. Today we will be talking about why do kids behave irresponsibly? Are you thinking that I am going to share some tips and tricks to make your kids listen to you? Or some ideas that you can apply so that your kids will start behaving responsibly just the way you want? Lets dive in.. 

People often get confused between self-worth and self-esteem. But self-worth comes first, and it is essential and crucial when we talk about mental health. Why?

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Noticing can deepen the relationship with your child. Our parenting mindset has the power to influence our feelings and actions. Noticing them, or being noticed by them is a part of parenting. The more we notice each other’s traits, appreciate them, suggest some corrections in them, the better it will be to understand each other.

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Emotional Intelligence's importance should not go unappreciated; the ability to understand and manage your emotions is the first step in realizing your true potential. How can we achieve meaningful progress if we don’t recognize and acknowledge the point from where we’re starting? Think about it. Y

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Resilience is the capacity to recover from difficulties or tough times. In the current scenario, we are learning to stay positive, stay together, hold on to the yester memories, and create some new moments. We have faith that resilience will sail us through this tough time. Do you think being resilient is a personality trait? Let’s decide it in this episode. 

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As parents , we have certain aspirations or expectations from our kids. Along with this, we also have expectations from ourselves too. But we should make sure to not to get carried away with those aspirations.

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Positive parenting is today’s need. We often say positive parenting means staying calm, keeping up with our sanity level, and guiding our kids in a positive way. But positive parenting also means visualizing the current situation and changing the parenting style according to the changing circumstances.

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