Author: Malavika
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Why Park Time Matters More Than We Think
When my older daughter, Aarna, turned one, the park became a part of our daily routine. Every evening, we would head downstairs together. What looked like simple play was actually helping her develop so many important skills. She learned how to climb stairs, balance on wobbly bridges, navigate uneven surfaces, judge distances, and build confidence…
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Who Is a Parent?
The other day, I asked my child a simple question: “Who is a parent?” I expected a complicated answer. Maybe something about teaching, protecting, or helping children grow. Instead, the answer was beautifully simple. “A parent is someone who takes care of me.” “Someone who gives me food.” And then came the answer that touched…
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Learning to Pause for the Little Moments
Being present sounds simple—until life gets busy. There are days that feel less like living and more like managing operations. Brush — check.Breakfast — check.Get through work — check.Lunch — check.Bath time — check.Bedtime — check. As parents, especially with young children, our days can become an endless sequence of tasks. We move from one…
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Not All Missing Looks the Same
When my husband moved to Australia for work, one of the things that surprised me most was this: our kids don’t really talk to him on the phone. No long conversations.No dramatic “I miss you” moments.No excitement to sit and chat for hours. At first, it felt unsettling. Isn’t that how children are supposed to…
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Holding Two Ends of the Same Move
As we prepare for our move to Australia, it has become clear that even in an equal partnership, roles don’t always look equal in the moment. Right now, my husband is carrying the weight of setting up our new life there—navigating the unknown, putting systems in place, making sure we land on our feet. On…
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Equal Partners, Unequal Days: Navigating Balance Without Conflict
The idea of an equal partnership is comforting. It suggests fairness, shared responsibility, and mutual respect. But in real life, equality rarely looks like a perfect 50–50 split every day. Instead, it’s something more fluid—an ongoing adjustment where both people take turns carrying more when needed. In a healthy partnership, equality is not about dividing…
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Should You Let Your Child Win All the Time?
Watching your child lose can be uncomfortable. The tears, the frustration, the collapse of tiny expectations — it often feels easier to just let them win. After all, confidence matters, and no parent wants their child to feel discouraged. But if a child always wins, they miss out on something just as important as confidence:…
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Playing the Same Game Again and Again: Why It Drains You but Builds Your Child
If you have young children, chances are your day includes playing the same game repeatedly. The same blocks. The same pretend kitchen. The same characters doing the same things in the same order. And while your child is fully immersed, you’re quietly wondering how something so small can feel so mentally exhausting. The monotony is…
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The Guilt of Prioritizing My Younger One—and How I’m Learning to Deal With It
No one prepares you for the guilt that comes with loving two children differently—not more, just differently. Ever since my younger one came along, I’ve found myself prioritizing her needs more often. She’s smaller. She needs me in ways my older child no longer does. She can’t wait. She can’t understand “later.” And my firstborn?She…
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Do We Ever Get to Put Our Careers First?
There’s a question that quietly follows many mothers—especially working mothers—through every major life decision: When do we get to put our careers first? I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately as we consider moving to a new country. On paper, it sounds exciting. A fresh start. Better opportunities. New experiences.But beneath that excitement sits…
Mom On The Rise 