Vaishali A. PatelAug 17, 20211 minDo you own a Saavarani?#WhyDoWe Tell me you are Desi without telling me you are Desi... If you own a "Saavarani" "zaadu" or "peenchhi" raise your hand ✋🏾...
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 minARE ALL THESE EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES NECESSARY? WHICH ONES TO PICK? “Why do parents in america have their kids do so many after school activities?” My nephew who is here in the states from India asked me...
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, 20193 min3 THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN ASSIMILATING IN A NEW CULTUREWhen I was 16 years old, I came to America. We moved here for good. Many years since, there are distinct memories I carry with me about...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 16, 20193 minTULSI — THE WONDER HERBIf you happen to see a house or a business with a Tulsi plant in the front yard, chances are that place belongs to an Indian family. Holy...
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, 20193 minTHE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT IS IN YOUR DIYA LAMPS.The lamp has its own special place in Gujarati traditions as it represents leading us from darkness into the light. While the oil lamp is...
Vaishali A. PatelApr 15, 20194 minSUPPORT CREATIVITY WITHIN YOUR FAMILY AND CHILDRENDon’t bother if you are not going to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer! Have you heard your parents or other Indian parents say that? If...
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, 20192 minTHERE IS NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT… AND NO PRESENT LIKE TIMEYou want something done, do it now! I grew up hearing this in my family. During summer vacations when I stayed with my grand parents in...
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 minGIVE BACK – SHARE WHAT YOU ARE BLESSED WITH…We live in a world of inequality and that is the reality. Some of us are blessed to have it all while others struggle to even find food...
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 15, 20192 minBE HERE, BE YOU!I was driving yesterday and listening to the “Magic Lessons” podcast by Elizabeth Gilbert ( Author of Eat, Pray, Love) and she said...
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...