Author Archives: Vinita Zutshi
When Parents Fight: How to Reduce Your Child’s Pain
At the heart of parenting is the idea that you are the best parent in the world when you are yourself. Sometimes, unfortunately, when the parents of a child are themselves, the combination is explosive. They clash too hard or … Continue reading
When Parents Fight
We are so unnatural around little children! We don’t want them to know about hurt, anxiety, anger, fear. More precisely, we don’t want them to know that any ‘negative’ emotions exist outside their little world. We behave like Gautama Buddha’s … Continue reading
The F-word You Don’t Want Your Child to Say
Background: In my family, we use bad language sparingly. I don’t mean sparingly around children; I mean even by ourselves or around an adult audience. We don’t use too many swear words. So my daughter has grown up in a … Continue reading
Motivating Your Child
Motivate (verb): to provide with a motive or motives; incite; impel. I’d agreed to conduct a few sessions on Fun with English as part of an Integrated Summer Workshop. One day we explored Creative Writing. The next day, a Grade … Continue reading
The Power of Expectation
A lot of people think I’m crazy. Well, it’s a free world, and people can think what they want, is my response to that. What’s interesting is why they think I’m crazy. One of the reasons people think I’m loco … Continue reading
What to Do When You Can’t Set an Example
One of the ways you show your love for your child is by telling him things which are good for him. Like ‘eat healthy food’, ‘get enough exercise and sleep’, ‘plan your work so you can get things done on … Continue reading
When Your Children are Embarrassed by You
“Hello! We’re having a meeting of Grade 3 parents with all the subject teachers on Monday at 8am. It will last one hour. I’m calling to confirm you’ll be coming. You haven’t attended any such sessions over the past 3 … Continue reading
What Would You Say If You Could Only Say One Thing?
Today is the 10th anniversary of the horror that was 9/11. On this day a decade ago, many people didn’t know it, but they had said the last words they would ever say to their loved ones, friends and acquaintances. … Continue reading
The Only Choice You’ll Ever Make
When you agree with somebody, there is no problem. You both feel the same. If there is a difference, it is a difference of degree. You like chocolate fudge sundaes, the other person loves chocolate fudge sundaes. Both of you … Continue reading
The F-word Your Children Want to Hear from You
I enjoy solving puzzles – anything involving words, numbers, and logic. I don’t always get the answer, but I still enjoy the effort. One morning, as I sent my 6-year old off to school, I told her, “I’ve got a … Continue reading