I lace up Laddu’s new hi-top shoes. She tests them out tentatively. I force a fleece jacket on top of her already cozy top. Her school bag is heavy. Her literature anthologies, fundations journals, composition books, iPad, charger, water bottle and lunch box weigh her down. She is ready though, masked, eyes twinkling and raring […]
Read moreCOVID-19 Diaries: Pandemic Pets
I watch as my middle child sneaks furtively into the kitchen and scamper out with a disposable plastic container. I call out to her and she freezes. She hands over the container and refuses to answer my questions on what it was for. I am miffed and curious but not suspicious yet. A little while […]
Read moreCOVID-19 Diaries: Battle Weary
It’s Friday. My oldest is sitting next to me, her earbuds plugged in, her school iPad screen reflected on her glasses. I am amused. She is supposed to working on a diagnostic. I watch her swap screens to youtube and call her out. At this point, I am just weary of trying to keep tabs, […]
Read moreEssay: On Loss and, Love
I talk as I walk to the voice on the other end which is a tad weakened as it traverses the eight thousand miles from India to make its way to me. I strain to listen, filling in missed syllables knowing the words she would have used from our years of association. By the time […]
Read morePersonal Politics
I step out in the predawn light ready for my walk when I spy the sign by the garage entrance. My walk timer is already on. I pause it while I consider where to put the sign up. I skip the lawn or the strip by the pavement even though it would be more visible […]
Read moreCOVID-19 Diaries: Rollback
Late afternoon yesterday, I swapped out the static page I have on my blog from the book landing page to my regular About page. It was bittersweet. From the beginning of the year, I counted down to my book release. I made plans and unmade them. The adrenalin rush between the release on Kindle and […]
Read moreCOVID-19 Diaries: Baking Away The Blues
Earlier this year in May, when COVID had just taken on the pandemic status and we were all bound to our homes, Instagram convinced me that I was missing out on life because I was not baking. Most of my baking over the years has been restricted to one of two recipes I knew off […]
Read moreCOVID-19 Diaries: The Demands of Virtual School
My fingers are almost frost-bitten by the time I am back from my early morning walk. We went from tee shirt weather to winter like cold over a day. The sun is an eerie orange ball on my evening walk. Despite the cold and the bitterness of the wind that swirls around me, these are […]
Read moreCOVID-19 Diaries: Virtual School
It is late Monday morning. It is also a long weekend. I should be cooking, instead I am seated at the breakfast table, two iPads, two dated planners next to me, my Macbook open to a spreadsheet, my iPhone showing me the schedule for the child whose planner I am attempting to fill. I have […]
Read moreCOVID-19 Diaries: Birthdays Are Non-Events
In the hazy blur that is since COVID hit, days run into each other, with no distinction between work and home, rest and action. It is a homogenous, seamless blending of hours demarcated only by the meal hours. We gather around the table two times a day, partake in a meal and go our separate […]
Read moreCOVID-19 Diaries: Back To School 2020 Edition
I woke to a home smelling of coffee and a child already awake and excited. By 6:30 am, Pattu and I set out on a walk around the development. I walked slowly, savoring the chill breeze and the warm sun’s rays. Pattu was clearly thrilled. She jumped, skipped and danced as we wound our way […]
Read more“Sadness Amid Joy”: Lakshmi Iyer’s Middle-Grade Novel Brings New Perspectives to Adoption Literature
When my partner C.C. and I decided we were open to adopting a baby of any race, we dutifully completed each module of our agency’s mandatory online … “Sadness Amid Joy”: Lakshmi Iyer’s Middle-Grade Novel Brings New Perspectives to Adoption Literature
Read moreCOVID-19 Diaries: In A Rut
Life post book release has gone from adrenaline highs, early morning zoom calls and, signing books to thinking of it all in the past. Work is busy. The children are starting online school in less than a week. Our routine is predictable most days. I wake early, have kaapi with Amma, walk for half an […]
Read moreMy relationship with food as a first-generation mom
I talk with my mother multiple times a day. “Saaptacha?” It is routine, this asking if I’ve had my meal. By Lakshmi Lyer The post My relationship … My relationship with food as a first-generation mom
Read moreAuthor Visits
I was up at 4:45 am and showered and in front of my computer, a cup of kaapi in hand, at 5:30 am. Today was the first of my virtual school visits to promote my book. My screen was filled with eager, hopeful seventh graders sitting half way across the world in New Delhi, India. […]
Read moreCOVID-19 Diaries: Past Midway Point
I casually look at the calendar one morning and I am taken aback we are in August already. August spells back to school, Fall, cooler weather, and festival season. In any other year, this would have been when I am scouring back to school lists, actively networking to find which kids are in my children’s […]
Read moreCOVID-19 Diaries: Back to School Rumblings
This week the school district my children are part of voted on a plan for the fall. Kids stay home until November. Then, they revisit the guidelines at that time, evaluate the safety of students and teachers and make a decision. The board meeting was telecast live. I tuned it and listened on and off. […]
Read moreThank YOU
I woke up this morning feeling incredibly blessed. Yesterday was a dream come true. It was my book birthday. I was live on FB, joined by a handful of family and friends. I answered questions. I cut a cake as they cheered on. My local friends joined for a bite of the cake. My brother […]
Read moreInsta Live, Facebook Live
Over the next few days, I will be online with different people at different times. Join in, ask me questions and learn about the book, the writing process or just say Hello! Instagram Live with Shweta Ganesh Kumar of Times of Amma on Saturday July 18th at 9:30 am EST (US) and 7:00 pm IST […]
Read moreDreams: The Long Story
In a few days, “Why is my Hair Curly?” will officially be out in the world in paperback. In itself, this day will be no different from the day the Kindle or Audible versions were released. In the words of a wise friend, “the story is no longer yours, let it fly”. Last year, after […]
Read moreCOVID-19 Diaries: Cleaning
My calf muscles and hamstrings are sore from bending over one too many times. This time I am on my knees and elbows reaching for a hard to reach inflated ball that is wedged right in the middle of the futon width. I let out a string of curses knowing no one can hear me. […]
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