Vaishali A. PatelAug 17, 20212 minRaising Daughters Like Sons #WhyDoWe "I have raised my daughter like a son” (Maari dikari ne dikaraa ni jem moti kari chhe) hmmm... How about “I have raised my son...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 16, 20192 minSO WHY DO I HAVE TO LEARN GUJARATI?Do you… Unconsciously take your shoes of when you enter a home? Bow down your head when you meet older family members? Greet them with...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 16, 20192 minDON’T YOU JUST LOVE A GOOD STORY? One of the best ways a culture is passed down is through sharing stories and fables. I remember going to my grandparents’ house in...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 16, 20191 minDAILY PRAYERS IN SCHOOL?Does prayer have a place in schools? Many private religiously affiliated schools in the US have this routine. Prayer does not have to be...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 16, 20192 minLIVING WITH EXTENDED FAMILY TOTALLY ROCKS!I know what you are thinking, “are you out of your mind?” How can living with other adults in the same house be good? let alone fun. You...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 16, 20192 minGUJARATI POSTNATAL CAREIf you are one of the lucky ones who was fortunate enough to have a mom or mother-in-law around after you delivered your baby and if you...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 15, 20193 minINDIAN (GUJARATI) – SUMMERSIn the afternoon, sitting with your friends on “otla”(front porch), playing games, singing songs, laughing your hearts out, eating...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 15, 20192 minWHEN THE TEACHER PAUSES WHILE TAKING ROLL CALL…Oh, whats in a name? If you are an immigrant child, you know this happens often. Your teacher taking attendance… Jennifer, Jack,...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 15, 20191 minSUMMER IS HERE… WHAT DOES VACATION MEAN TO YOU?Is it going away to an exotic location? Binge watching Netflix? Sleeping in? Having sleepovers with your friends? Visiting family? eating...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 15, 20191 minRAKSHABANDHAN / BADEV: FESTIVAL CELEBRATING BROTHERS AND SISTERSI love our Indian culture where we get to celebrate different bonds and relationships in festivals. Did you know Rakshabandhan is also...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 15, 20192 minDETACHED COMPASSIONFive ways I have learned detached compassion this past year: Oh boy! as a parent this is a tough one for many of us to grasp. There are...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 13, 20191 minLEARN NEW THINGS BUT DON’T FORGET THE VALUE OF WHAT YOU KNOW!There is a parable of a villager who goes to the city and learns english. Now he thinks he is superior and uses only english to describe...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 13, 20192 minWILL YOU JUST LET IT GO AND BE SILLY?Isn’t one of your ultimate desires, freedom? If yes, how are you going to get there? Will money, status, degrees, big houses, cars...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 13, 20192 minFEAR OF MISSING OUT – FOMOWe live in a world where you are constantly afraid that you need to be everywhere in every place, just so that you are not missing out on...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 13, 20192 minFAMILY AND HOLIDAYSHolidays, festivals, vacations and getaways are all more meaningful when shared with family. Yes, there are those solitary animals...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 12, 20192 minBAABRI – THE FIRST HAIRCUTThere are many traditions and rituals that are unique to a Gujarati family. It begins with birth. There are many performed upon arrival...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 12, 20192 minRESOLUTIONS VS INTENTIONSIs this a Western tradition to create new year’s resolutions? Not sure, but it’s great way to start fresh. Set goals and how you shall...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 12, 20192 minKIDS GUJARATI NEWSIn many ways, kids post or the kids section of Gujarati news is so appealing to me as this skips all the sad, negative news of what is...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 12, 20191 minSTORY TIME… VAARTA RE VAARTALearn to speak Gujarati The kids section of many Gujarati newspapers have stories filled with imagination, moral values, stories your...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 12, 20191 minWHAT GUJARATI GRANDPARENTS SAY…Gujarati news time! Grandparents in Gujarati is not simply grandpa and grandma. Your father’s dad is Dada and your father’s mother is Ba....