Hindi Manch Sahitya Sammelan and Blue Saree - something for me something for Anand.

This entry is a part of #100SareePact blogseries on facebook.
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Saree no-#12
So this saree is a tribute to the love of family. I was in India in 2012 and was in love with auqa blue and so wanted a peacock saree. Offcourse I couldn’t find one. Later my sister Seema bought this saree in Chennai. It was not the aqua I was looking for but the whole saree was just right for me.

This saree is blue and I am wearing it in the month of April for Autism Awareness and acceptance month and that makes it special.

Anand was eight when we finally got the diagnosis. His comprehension wasn’t up to his age and it took us really long time to figure out. He was interested in art and music but language was just not his thing. It was a tough year for all us. We all were learning to deal with his strengths and weakness and trying to figure out the best for him. My sister Seema wrote to me – “this world needs artist and musician and good human being, we don’t need only doctors or engineer”.

My sisters Seema Varsha and Smita are my biggest strength. They learnt and read all about Autism and shower my son with their unconditional love.

Last Sunday I wore this saree to an event I was part of. I love being part of Hindi Manch. I was mcing and suddenly thought of my son. I got the love for literature from my parents and coulnot pass it on to my son. Made me sad for a bit but then this blue saree held me together.

So this saree didn’t come with the memory but made a memory.

My love for my son is beyond any color but here it is - A blue Saree in April for him.

This entry is a part of #100SareePact blogseries on facebook.
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Saree No 14
#AutismAcceptance
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#MomLovesAnand
The Saree itself doesn't have any story, simple synthetic saree from my sister's closet.
But the story is - it is a BLUE saree.
Many of you know that my younger son is on Autism Spectrum. he is a great kid with his share of strength and weakness like all of us.
Words and emotion and social norm dont come easy to him but music and art are his thing. He could play piano by ears when he was young. He decided he doesnt want to bothered by practice everyday and the piano lesson stoped that day. But still he is my to go person for artist and songs and albums. you want to know anything about any Pink Floyd song, he is your guy.
I decided to wear all blue sarees in the month of April to raise awareness and accept him the way he is..
The Saree pact gave me a reason to take all the blue sarees out of my closet. I was in Hindi Manch Program last weekend and some one asked about Saree pact and many asked about my son. I have been wearing blue sarees and people start to notice it. If I wore blue shirt or Salwar Kurta I don't think anyone would have cared.
I took out this blue saree to go to a Musical Gathering last night and someone again said -ahha, another blue. How is Anand doing?
So ladies here is a big shout out to you all - thank you for sharing this journey with us.. with much love and gratitude.

Anand wearing Dad's glasses and having fun..

Story about Samta - a last blue saree for the Autism month - April

This entry is a part of #100SareePact blogseries on facebook.

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#‎AutismAcceptance‬
‪#‎100SareePact‬
‪#‎MomLovesAnand‬
‪#‎blueisthecolor‬
‪#‎autismspeaks‬

Saree No - 18
A blue and yellow combination for today.
This saree is a gift from my Chachi – Samta. She married papa’s youngest brother but for us she is just Samta Darling. She came to our family in a very dark time.
Papa’s younger brother was killed in an accident in 1986. He was in his thirties, left two daughters 5 and 1.The next year Chhote Chacha got married but our home wasn’t the same. It was a sad house; But Chhoti Chachi soon made it better and became our darling, always happy and smiling. She is a good chhoti bahu for family and a great friend and advisor for us. Even now when I go to India, her home is my adda in MP. She loves me, my boys and my husband just the way we are.. She still fulfils my wishes with mouthwatering Khaza, Gujhia, Hara chana or any leafy vegetables, the food I love. My chacha is a lucky man.Chachi darling I love u.

This is my last blue saree for Autism month. I am thankful to have you all in this journey with me.
Thank you very much to all of you for all your love.
Your unconditional love means a lot to us.
Anand was 8 when we formally got the diagnosis in 2008. Feb 2009 we went to India for my sister’s wedding and the reality struck me. No one in the family understood what Anand and we were going through. My sisters read and learnt a lot but Autism is a spectrum, so wide that there is no explanation for so many things. I was shocked to hear the suggestions and reasoning from many of our own families for his behavior and limitations.

So when I came back I started a blog to write about our life, to educate family and friends, to let them know that he is a kid with different skill set and thinking. His abilities are different than other kids in the family, his own brother. I needed to talk about our strength, happiness and struggles, good days and bad days. Please take time to read about him, us and Autism. You might be more considerate to others that would be the best thing.
MomLovesAnand.Blogspot.com
I wore this saree to office today,and Anand took my pic after I came from work.