A Much-deserved Break

As soon as the recess break bell of my school rings at 10 Am every morning, I make sure I give myself and my children that much-deserved break. I usually enter the nursery classrooms and play with the youngest and cutest children, feed them from my tiffin box and chat with them. Sometimes I use this time to roam around the school and interact with other teachers. My children eat their food and play with each other and their friends from other classes.

A lot of teachers these days prefer spending their school recess periods with their children. They plan activities and games to engage their children during the break. While I respect their thoughts and believe this must be helping them connect better with their children, I feel by pushing them to stay in their classrooms during the period where they automatically get to connect with all children in their schools is not pushing them enough to be humble, respectful and confident while dealing with EVERYONE in the outside world.

The 3 Questions

For the next thirty seconds, I want you to reflect on these three questions. Scribble your thoughts on a piece of paper if that helps.

Question 1: Who is the most important person?

Question 2: What is the right thing to do?

Question 3: When is the right time?

While it's highly probable that your answers won't be same as mine, and that you may not agree with them, I would still request you to reflect over them, which are these:-

Answer 1: The most important person is the one who you are with in this moment.

Answer 2: The right thing to do is to treat that person right; to give your full attention and consideration to that person.

Answer 3: The right time is now.


* I had the privilege to be a part of a session where Shaheen Mistri spoke and she conducted this activity for us. It still takes my breath away. 

"No, I am not good..."

Today, I read a story to my kids, which is about a girl who wins the best student award for her good behaviour. After a series of activities and question-answers, I asked them to scribble their thoughts on this one last question: Do you think you are a good person? Why or why not? Now this is not an easy question to answer even for, us, adults.

To my utter surprise, almost everyone wrote no! And when I read their reasons, it made me chuckle.

"No, because I didn't come to school on time today."
"No, because I don't wish good morning to all teachers."
"No, because I didn't complete my home work on time."
"No, because I spanked Siddhi in recess."
"No, because I don't come to school daily."
"No, because I don't pray to God everyday."

Reading their answers, I wondered how growing-up takes away all our innocence and simplicity. We are obsessed with the idea of pointing out follies in others and cannot stand getting criticized by anyone. We conveniently reject the idea of looking at the mirror.

The kids, they have so much beauty. It gets reflected in their honesty and purity. How I wish it could be preserved forever.