Author Archives
from Susan Narjala
Where You Believe You Belong
When Disney teams up with ESPN you expect a feel-good movie about a sport star. Maybe a baseball movie about the kid from the inner city who ends up playing in the major leagues. Or maybe you expect a basketball flick about ... pretty much the same thing.
What you don’t quite expect is a movie ...
Under the Cover of Grace
Every afternoon, on my way to pick my kids from school, I pass by a somewhat dismal, two-storey building with a bright blue roof. It has the word GRACE boldly painted across the entrance.
Now, let’s play a little game: If you had to guess, what would you say was inside the building?
Let me give you ...
When You Don’t Do It All
Not too long ago, I would tune into “Chopped” on Food Network almost every evening. I loved the outlandish ingredients that were pulled out of the mystery basket (Durian and sheep’s hooves, anyone?) and the chefs with their unbelievable knife skills and risotto-making super powers.
In particular, I remember one episode. Not for its culinary wonders ...
Stepping Out to Build
"Akka, can I tell you a joke?” she asks, pulling out a neatly-folded newspaper from her backpack.
“Okay, sure,” I respond.
“What do you call security guards outside a Samsung store?” she continues eagerly.
“Hmm… I don’t know. What?”
“Guardians of the Galaxy!” comes her answer.
Lavanya, all of 10 years old, with bright eyes and a pixie haircut that ...
When Your Littles Start Growing Up
Her birthday is around the corner. She’s been talking about it for months now. She has the theme down, reminds me to buy juice, assembles the party favors. She’d like a butterfly cake for her garden-themed party – as long as it’s purple or blue. No more pink. She’ll be turning seven, after all.
We have conversation ...
Are You Looking for the Mangoes?
If you’ve ever lived through an Indian summer, you know that it’s often hotter than a sizzler doused in hot sauce served in hell’s kitchen. Your head feels like a wet mop that can never be wrung out. You towel off after a shower only to realise it’s a somewhat pointless routine. You have to ...
Summer Plans: 6 Scenarios that are Probably Better on Paper
School’s out! And you decided that camps were so last year. This summer you’re going embrace your inner chilled-out mama and let the kids be KIDS.
Except, things don’t always pan out exactly how you’d planned. Here’s a new and revised edition of What to Expect When You’re Expecting Too Much: 6 Summer Scenarios That Are ...
Will I ever stop being that mom?
It’s summer vacation. Which means bike rides and beaches, popsicles and picnics, library trips and lounging in PJs. And kids in your space all the time.
As a mom your patience has to grow quicker than you can pack on the pounds at an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Either that, or you turn into the summer version of the ...
10 Ways to Create the Best Ever Father’s Day for Your Man
It has an uncanny knack of sneaking up on you. Like heartburn after biriyani. Father’s Day seems to pop up before you’re even done recovering Mother’s Day “brunch” (i.e. toast and OJ in bed courtesy chefs under four foot high). It’s here quicker than you can say, “Remember to put the seat down!”
Wives and kids ...
MEET SUSAN
