Smiles, care, and a Red Wristband : A Day of Belonging Canobie Lake park

Sometimes, something feels unthinkable. Someone dreams, someone wishes, and someone decides to make it happen. People come together and support the idea — and before you know it, it becomes a reality.

An amusement park usually means thrill, screams, crowds, long lines, chaos, and noise — exactly the kind of environment most of our children struggle with.

We were exploring outdoor activity options, and Canobie Lake Park came up. Many families wanted to try, though they were nervous to go alone. But once we decided to go as a group, everything began to fall into place. A few phone calls and emails later, the park team offered us discounted tickets, red wristbands so kids wouldn’t have to wait in long lines, and even the flexibility to bring our own food. They were incredibly accommodating.

Finally, the date was set: August 3rd Sunday

Even that morning, I wasn’t sure how many would actually show up.

But for the first time, no one dropped out last minute — in fact, two families joined at the last moment. Maybe the excitement gave them courage to take the leap.

In total, 29 families came together, around110 people including grandparents and had a beautiful day at the park. There were so many moments of friendship, support, and care. And yes, I’m sure there were moments of meltdowns and chaos too — but those are part of our everyday lives anyway.

Some of our kids went on the rides over and over again. Some never set foot on one — but they walked around and took it all in.

Some spent hours in the waterpark. Others just sat nearby and watched. One grown child explored the whole park on his own, while his mom enjoyed her ice cream — comforted by the fact that she’s not alone on this journey. She has her village.

I’m just so happy our children got a day to enjoy — like everyone else.

I'll write more soon — the good, the bad, and the messy. But for now, I want to stay in this moment of happy smiles, deep gratitude, and the quiet joy of accomplishment. 

The woman, their Guest Service manager who made this possible. 

The first set of family pics, Kids were not ready to wait. Lesson learnt. Dont dream about group pics in amusement park 

The bathroom had the supplies for women 

My Fav ride at the park

A cotton silk for a photoshoot for an inclusive show

#InclusionMatters

#AutismCommunity

#SpecialNeedsParenting

#VillageSupport

#NeurodivergentJoy

#EveryChildBelongs

#FamilyDayOut

#MeltdownsAndMagic

#RealLifeRealLove

#ParentingJourney

#TogetherWeThrive

#OurKindOfDay

Beyond Roles: Living for Ourselves Too - Turning 50, Turning Inward

In a beautifully decorated backyard, eight women met to celebrate womanhood, friendship, strength, and joy.

The host had just turned 50 without making a big deal—without even mentioning that. She simply invited us for a summer backyard party.

While toasting, she shared that she hopes her 50s are for her—focusing on her health and preparing for a life doing what she enjoys the most.

Most of the ladies were in their late 40s and early 50s, and almost everyone was going through the same thought process—realizing that they had spent their lives as daughters, wives, and mothers. Now, they want to live for themselves too.

Life, thinking beyond responsibilities. Beyond what will people say?

How interesting that is. It shows that sometimes aging makes you wiser and smarter—and more so, a no-judgment person.

We could all openly talk about our roles in the household, society, and community—various aspects of parenting and raising children with the weight of expectations on our shoulders.

The best part of the evening was the women talking about the host.

She is such a genuine person, and that’s what makes her special. As we all talked about her, I realized that everyone looks for the same things in friendship: authenticity, honesty, kindness, trust, and simply being there.Isn’t that the basis of every relationship? 

It was more than just a gathering—it was a gentle reminder that we are allowed to grow, to change, and to choose ourselves.

A beautiful linen, a gift of love from a dear friend. 

Jagjit Singh Sang - Har gosha gulistan tha kal raat jahan main tha.. So true

Why Social Health Matters More Than We Think?

During my walk, I came across a TED Talk by Kasley Killam where she talked about how important social health is.

She explained that while mental and physical health are important, it also makes perfect sense that we need to feel like we belong somewhere. We need people around us—not just friendships, but meaningful, nurtured relationships in our lives.

She shared something called the 5-3-1 Rule, which I found very interesting:

• Connect with five people each week

• Nurture three existing relationships

• Spend one hour each day connecting

While listening, my first thought was, Who has that much time? But she addressed that right away.
She said the average person spends over four hours on their smartphone daily. So instead of listening to news headlines all day, make a phone call to a family member. Instead of listening to another TED Talk, write a thank-you card. If you're at a coffee shop, don’t just grab your coffee—say hello to the barista, ask about their day.
Instead of getting lost in random news, schedule a meetup with a friend.

I totally understood her point about making phone calls—something I’ve been doing all my life.
But I did wonder: does connecting with mothers in my Desi Moms Network count?
I think it does.

Still, my lifestyle isn't the same as everyone else’s. I’m now inclined to read more about her studies, because just like nutritious food and meaningful relationships are essential, a meaningful community is equally important.

I often feel that if I could go back in time, I would’ve spent more time at local town events. I wasn’t really part of my town’s community. I volunteered a lot in schools, but not much within the town itself. Now that I have the time and ability, I’m focusing on broader community work and organizations—sometimes leaving my local town behind.

I’ve definitely built a strong community among Indian families, but not so much with my local neighbors.
And this reminded me: health is not just physical or mental—health is also social.

Ted Talk link - 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpSDuDIaBGk

A simple Bengal cotton for Saree at work day.

 

When nothing works sunset at the beach always does. A quick trip to Cape with Mr. Husband

Thank you all so much for your kind wishes!

 As always,  Anand’s birthday with our annual tradition—Wahlburgers at Fenway Park, his favorite hangout spot. Anand took the day off, and so did his mom and dad. We decided to do lunch instead of dinner.

I called the restaurant this morning to confirm, and we even found parking right outside—such a rare treat in Boston! Cheryl, the manager, was wonderful as always. The three of us sat at the bar as every year  and had a relaxed, lovely lunch. Anand didn’t want dessert (a surprise in itself!).

When it was time to leave, Cheryl smiled and said, “it’s a milestone birthday—the lunch is on the house today.”

We were speechless. It was such a kind gesture. Good people are everywhere.

If you’re one of the many who sent Anand a message and didn’t get a response, please know that he read every single one. It’s just not in him to reply, but your words matter deeply.

I still have to go through many thoughtful messages on my Facebook post, but know this—your love and wishes brighten our world. Thank you for being part of it.

A quarter century - celebration - Anand's birthday.

25 years ago motherhood came on repeat -Anand brought a whole new verse to my life. I wanted children but I really had no clue what it would entail.  It started with sleepless nights, endless diaper changes, kisses, laughter, cuddles and joy. Then there was crawling and walking and running, 100s of hot wheels cars and legos around the house. There was play and fun, music and books, park visits and birthday parties. And in 3 years the cycle repeated for Anand. With two adorable boys life felt full—and exhausting in all the right ways. 

Then slowly, the challenges crept in.

Raising children far from everything familiar—our families, culture, and support systems—was already hard. But the hardest part was not knowing what to do or who to reach out to when things didn’t go the way they were "supposed to."

In my 30s, I often felt lost. Like I didn’t have a grip on anything. We were just living day to day, reacting to what life threw at us. The present was too busy, too consuming, and the future was too uncertain to even think about.

And yet, somehow, we kept going.

Anand taught me to live in the present, made me redefine milestones and victories. He made me authentic and real

 As he turns 25 today I look back at my milestones too. We both have grown together in many ways.

Happy 25th, my son. Here’s to your light, your laughter, and all the arguments and fights we have together. 

But you changed my life

Came along in a time of strife

You come down the line, give me a new mind

You changed my life"

-Bob Dylan 

The Bengal cotton for a saree at work day

From Strangers to Support: The Power of a Village- Moms Meet up.

 A mom with two young kids got connected with me two years ago. They were moving to Massachusetts from the South. Her sister lives here, and the realtor connected them to me.

She was on her way after finalizing the house and called to say hello. I invited them for a quick visit. I added her to the group and connected her to many moms. She was here for a short house-hunting trip, and before she even set foot on this state as a resident, she already had her village.

When she moved a few months later, she had a sister—and a village.

Last weekend, she invited mothers to her home for a meet-up.
I usually don’t prefer meet-ups at homes during summer, but she was convincing enough, and the plan was in motion. It’s hard for moms to come out on Saturdays, but 13 of us put things on hold and came together—sharing dishes from everyone’s kitchen, hanging out, and talking about life: what bothers us, what makes us happy, and how we can make each other’s lives better.

It was special.

Another interesting thing happened—someone connected a mother in Texas to me. They were considering moving to Boston and wanted to explore the area, talk to other mothers, and understand the community before making the big decision. She had been in the group for a few months, reading everything I wrote and silently watching what was happening.

Four days ago, she moved to Massachusetts. I posted about an event in her town—and she was the first one to show up. I told her how proud I was of her. Then yesterday, she came to the moms’ meet-up. Instead of unpacking, she chose to spend her afternoon with us.

She’s still feeling sad about leaving the big house in Texas, and her lifelong friends—but she’s already looking forward to building her world here, even in a small apartment. She walked in not knowing anyone and left with 12 moms holding her hand.

This is the power of village—showing up, reaching out, and knowing you’re not alone.

In the movie Once Again, Shefali Shah wore such beautiful sarees. In the very beginning, in a scene she wore a saree, humming a Jagjit Singh ghazal—and I was instantly in love.

A dear friend  found a similar saree for my birthday.

Such a thoughtful and precious gift. Saree at work :) Pic taken at 6 AM .so glad Mr Husband woke up early that day.

The Dads Meet-Up - The Dads’ : Beer, Banter, and Beginnings

Years ago, when I had the idea of bringing moms together, dads were nowhere in the picture. I took my own life as an example. Mr. Husband never needed a village. I think he married me, and that brought him plenty of villages. He just didn’t have for another.

What began as a small group of women became something much bigger, and I needed to accommodate more than just the moms. What I hadn’t anticipated is that I might also need to think about dads. Again, I was going by my own household experience I couldnt  imagine Mr. husband going out to seek support. When I was raising my children, it was very norm that women handled everything related to the home and kids.

But as the group grew, I realized the shift. Many dads were stepping in  specially in the families where women were not very active or very fluent in English.

That is one change I noticed—dads becoming equal partners—and they needed their own village. I was asked many times , "Why not a dads’ group?" It ended up being my responsibility to start one.

The dads’ group grew slowly, but they were not very active. One or two dads initiated something, and then it fizzled very soon.

During the family celebration last month, this idea came up again—why not have a dads’ meet?

So last month, I finally made plans and convinced Mr. Husband to go with me to a local brewery with the dads—and it was a blast.

Over a pitcher of beer and some fun foods, these dads talked and hung out together. I don’t think they talked much about disability, but spent time getting to know each other and then slowly talking about other things in life.

I hope they get to meet frequently and connect. 

Because even dads need a village.

Anand came along for a short time too, if you can spot a man with headphones. They mixed up his order, I spilled his coke, there were kids making noise and it was very hot. But he managed, waited for his right order. Dad dropped him at nearby Mall so he could walk for next hour and half.

A simple Bengal cotton for Saree at work day.