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Culture Mom to Mom

The Evolution of the Samithya Veedu or Hindu Coming of Age Ceremony

Food Recipes

Rocky Road Bars

Mom to Mom Motherhood

Traumatic Births & Postnatal PTSD

updated on August 2, 2020July 26, 2020Motherhood My Life

Prioritizing Mental Health as a Mother

Do you guys ever feel like you’re just going through the motion of things? There are days, especially recently, where I’ve noticed myself moving about …

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updated on January 17, 2021July 21, 2020Healthy Living Wellness

Natural Skincare

Over the years, I’ve been asked to recommend/share beauty products, hygiene products, what I use on my kids, on my hair, etc. I’ve never known …

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updated on January 17, 2021July 9, 2020Culture

The Hindu 31st Ceremony: A Celebration of Birth

The birth of a new baby is a sacred time for families. In Hindu culture, it is customary for the mother and baby to remain …

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updated on August 2, 2020July 7, 2020Motherhood My Life

Arayana Shree’s One Month Ceremony

We originally planned on celebrating Shree’s 31st day at home. However my post-partum bleeding didn’t come to a stop by the 30th day so I …

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updated on January 17, 2021July 5, 2020Healthy Living Nutrition

Choosing the Right Veggie Burger this BBQ Season

With the recent trend to eat less meat you may be leaning towards swapping out your meat patties for veggie ones this barbeque season. However …

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updated on January 17, 2021July 3, 2020Homeschooling

Book REVIEW: Turtle Island

Today I’m sharing a book recommendation for those of you who messaged in regards to a good resource to teach yourselves/elementary to middle school aged …

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updated on August 2, 2020July 2, 2020Motherhood My Life

A Little Sister for Akshaya

Ever since Akshaya was born, I dreamt of her growing up with a little sister. My own little sister is 15 months younger and not …

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updated on August 2, 2020July 1, 2020Motherhood My Life

Celebrating Canada Day

My parents, like many Tamil immigrants, fled from the civil war in Sri-Lanka in hopes of rebuilding their lives in another country. Canada’s generosity allowed …

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updated on August 2, 2020June 30, 2020Homeschooling

Our Last Day of Homeschooling for the Year

We’ve successfully completed our first year of homeschooling and I couldn’t be happier with the whole experience. I honestly wish I had started sooner. Next …

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updated on August 2, 2020June 22, 2020Mom to Mom Motherhood

This is Post-Partum

Social media tends to glamorize the postpartum journey with picture-perfect moms and stylized photoshoots but in reality post-partum is far from glamorous. For most, it’s …

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About Me

Hello! I'm Geerthana Uthayakumar and I reside in Toronto, Canada with my family of six. I am a homeschooling mom to four fun loving and very energetic children who constantly keep me on my toes. My passion for cooking from scratch, wellness, and culture combined with my love for writing led to the start of Modern Day Brown Mom in 2015. Through my blog I share my parenting adventures, experiences as a young mother, recipes, tips for healthy eating and more. When I'm not looking after the household, experimenting in the kitchen, blogging or writing, I work on my passion project – Devi Wellness Company.

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Recent Comments

  • The Color of Your Food can Impact Your Health! - Actual Activists on The Benefits of Eating Red Fruits and Vegetables
  • Vaneta on Purattasi Shani & the Lighting of the Ellu Villaku (Black Sesame Lamp)
  • W on Your First Period – A Letter to My Daughter
  • LisaAnella on Natural Skincare
  • nirusha on The Evolution of the Samithya Veedu or Hindu Coming of Age Ceremony

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Geerthana Uthayakumar
Yesterday we celebrated Karthikai Deepam; an ancie Yesterday we celebrated Karthikai Deepam; an ancient Thamizh light festival celebrated during the full moon evening in the Tamil month of Karthikai (mid-November to mid-December). Karthikai Deepam is referenced in both Sangam literature which dates back to 200 B.C. and in the poems by Avaiyaar. Sacred texts state that Karthikai Deepam honours Lord Murugan (affectionately known as the God of Tamils) and the Karthikai maidens. Lord Murugan who was born as six flames from the third eye of Lord Shiva, was raised by the Karthigai pengal (six maidens) as six babies, before being merged into a single boy with six faces by his mother, Goddess Parvathi. These six maidens were blessed with immortality for rearing Lord Murugan and turned into the six stars that form the Karthikai (Pleiades) constellation, by Lord Shiva. On Karthikai Deepam, homes are thoroughly cleaned, new clothes are worn, kolams are drawn near the front entrance of homes, and deepams/lamps are in lit and around homes to welcome prosperity and auspiciousness into the home while warding off negativities and evil forces. The lighting of the lamps also represents the burning of the behaviours responsible for our egos, in place of spiritual wisdom, thus signifying victory of good over evil or light over darkness. As someone who partakes in the Skanda Sasthi fast for Lord Murugan/Lord Karthikeya, which occurs right before Karthikai Deepam, I accept the religious associations however @whatthepottu offers possible non-religious explanations behind the celebration which are available on her feed in a series of posts. They are quite insightful worth looking in depth into. Yesterday's lunch consisted of a warm meal perfect for the cold season and incorporated all six tastes. LUNCH: Parripu drizzled with ghee, beetroot piratal, okra stir-fry in sesame seed oil, served alongside basmati rice, pepper rasam, appalam, vadai, sakarai pongal, and sundal. The recipes for parripu, okra stir-fry, rasam, pongal, and sundal can be found on my blog. . . . #karthikaideepam #tamilfestivaloflights #moderndaybrownmom #mommyblogger #tamilblogger #southasianblogger #hinduism
If we, as a society, were aware of how much a moth If we, as a society, were aware of how much a mother's mental health at the time of pregnancy is directly related to the mental well-being of the child later in life, would we perhaps take maternal mental health more seriously? And offer more screening for depression throughout pregnancy in addition to more support for pregnant women? Over the last year I've thought over my pregnancy with Shree a lot in attempts to process everything that has transpired. As much as I wanted four kids, after having had a complicated pregnancy with Vishnu where I was forced to induce early after he showed signs of stress in-utero, being in the hospital with him for over a month as he struggled with seizures, and then the repercussions of it, I really did not see myself mentally prepared to have another child and I was very accepting of that. My pregnancy with Shree was unplanned and came as quite the shock; one I simply could not get over. I suffered from anxiety, HG (an extreme form of morning sickness), night terrors, and later insomnia. I had the same nightmare almost every night where I would wake up thinking I had lost Vishnu before reality set in and I realized Vishnu wasn't a baby; he was three and safe and healthy asleep next to me. I realized that I had not processed the grief/trauma that resulted from having almost lost Vishnu at 8 days old and feared that I'd lose the baby I was carrying or something would be wrong with her and nobody would believe me until it was too late. Even having Vishnu's old crib set up for the new baby triggered memories of Vishnu having seizures in them and the overwhelming feeling of helplessness I felt, resulting in me purchasing a brand new crib days before my induction. These feelings crept up on me and stayed with me throughout the entire pregnancy robbing me of happiness at a time I should have been excited and bonding with my growing baby in turn bringing forth feelings of intense guilt. It took me a while before I could open up and express what I was feeling to my mid-wife and obgyn and acknowledge what I'd been experiencing was characteristic of PTSD and furthermore depression. CONTINUED in the comments.
If you're wondering why I'm hardly active on Insta If you're wondering why I'm hardly active on Instagram these days, it's definitely because of this little one. Shree will be turning one a and half years old later this month and like most toddlers her age, she is constantly on the go. She runs, hops, climbs on top of everything, climbs out of her crib at night, jumps off the couch, and more. She's a risk-taker for sure. However she's definitely not a people person and being born during the pandemic probably has a lot to do with that. She shrugs her shoulders when people she isn't familiar with approach or interact with her and I have no idea why she thinks shrugging is a suitable response 😅. She does yoga in the morning with us and loves to pray so that she can put thirunooru (holy ash) and ring the bell. When she wants something she can't get herself, the first thing she does is call for her brothers because she knows they will come running to help her. She is definitely a little foodie and loves her rice and curries and of course appalam and vadai. She loves thosai, appam, and pasta as well. She also says "yum" as she savours each bite of her favourite meals and constantly eats off my plate. Although she can eat most meals on her own, she loves to ask her siblings to feed her. She is obsessed with lip balms and so it's probably a good thing I make them or we'd be buying them a lot at the rate she goes through them. She can open and close them with ease and her fine motor skills are excellent because of it. She enjoys scribbling, puzzles, reading books, brushing the few teeth that she has, and looking at photos and naming the people she sees. She refers to herself as "Amma Ku" because I call her Amma's Kunju/mommy's little one. Her dad is slightly jealous over that one but I'll be over here soaking it up while I can. Admittedly she is still a daddy's girl though; well until she does something she's not supposed to do and her dad says "no". Then she'll wave bye to him and tell him to "go" (probably back to work) and look for me instead. . . . 📸: @dilipan_honestrealtors @dilipan23 @akandaneeka #moderndaybrownmommom #mommyblogger #18monthsold #toddlerlife #momblogger #southasianblogger #tamilblogger
Happy Deepavali to all those that celebrated yeste Happy Deepavali to all those that celebrated yesterday and Happy Diwali to those celebrating today! Our Deepavali snack platter consisted of rava laddu, murruku, milk toffee, 7 cup burfi, coconut rock, kaju burfi, and poonthi laddu all made from scratch yesterday. #deepavali #sweetplatter #diwali #moderndaybrownmommom #momblogger #southasianblogger #foodblogger
On the rare occasion I attempt to make cakes. This On the rare occasion I attempt to make cakes. This Sunday project was a success thanks to beautiful Autumn hued blooms from @blueblossoms.ca and the most elegant acrylic cake topper from @signedandsealed.to #moderndaybrownmommom #emeraldcake #floralcake #foodblogger
This year's costume theme has to be the most fitti This year's costume theme has to be the most fitting one to date because it's always a circus around here 🎪🥴🤪 Featuring our ring leader, our very own strong man, circus monkey, and lion. Also note we do not support or condone the exploitation of animals in circuses but no one wanted to be a clown or acrobat as per my suggestion so we went with animals instead. #halloweencostume #halloween #moderndaybrownmommom #mommyblogger
@tildacanada Pure Basmati rice has been my go-to f @tildacanada Pure Basmati rice has been my go-to for all our rice incorporated meals; which to be fair is a lot of our meals. It tastes great, is non-GMO, and easy to make because it doesn't clump together as it cooks making it ideal for dishes like biryani and this Elumuchai Sadham or lemon rice pictured above. Elumuchai Sadham is a really easy dish I make during festivals like Navarathri but also during the week using leftover basmati rice and just a handful of ingredients. I find using day old rice yields the best results, similar to how day old rice makes the best fried rice. Typically lemon rice incorporates roasted peanuts but in my household we use cashews instead due to one member of the family having a strong aversion to peanuts. I know a lot of you have requested this recipe before and I finally got around to sharing it so remember to save this post and let me know what you think once you try it. What you'll need: 3 cups leftover cooked rice 3 Tbsp. Sesame seed oil 3 Tbsp. cashews, halved 2 red dried chillies, broken 2 green chillies slit 1 Tbsp channa dal, soaked in water for 10min 1 tsp mustard seeds 1/2 tsp turmeric 1/4 tsp coarsely ground black pepper 2 inch piece ginger, grated 2 strands curry leaves 2 tbsp chopped coriander 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice A Pinch of Hing Salt to taste Method: On a large frying pan, heat oil on medium heat. Add mustard seeds. Once they sputter, add the dried chilli, soaked channa dal, curry leaves, grated ginger, and cashews. Stir constantly to avoid burning. Once the cashews are golden, add the turmeric, black pepper, hing, and salt to taste. Give it a quick stir and then turn down the heat. Add the rice and mix well. Once throughly mixed, add the chopped coriander leaves. Let the rice cool to room temperature before adding the lemon juice. Enjoy warm! #TildaCanada #TildaRice #TildaBasmati #TheRightRice #EasyMeals #lemonrice #tamilfood #indianfood #Southasiancuisine #momblogger #foodblogger #vegetarian #moderndaybrownmommom
. Will they remember me For my love and kindness . Will they remember me For my love and kindness Or my battle with anxiety And the days my mental health Got the best of me Will they remember me For my gentle ways Or the storm that ensued As the chaos flowed out of me Triggered by my OCD Will they remember That I tried To fight the depression That lingered From not having gotten help sooner For the traumas that were Neatly buried alive With the hope they stay Buried forever Will they remember The apologies that followed after Amongst the lessons That mental health matters And talking about the Dark imprisoned in your mind Does wonders That it heals wounds The eyes cannot see And it heals generations That come after So no one has to suffer. NOTE: I wanted to share this on October 10th which is World Mental Health Day. However I felt hesitant to share even though the purpose of World Mental Health Day is to advocate against the social stigma associated with having conversations surrounding mental health and raise awareness of mental health issues. This just shows how much work needs to be done so that those suffering can one day feel comfortable in seeking the help they need and so that we are able to recognize the signs of mental illness in those we love and be of support. As always, if anyone ever needs support or an ear to listen, I'm only a DM away. 📸: @dilipan23 . . . #moderndaybrownmommom #worldmentalhealthday #mentalhealth #momblogger
Birthday dinner for the man who claimed to hate pa Birthday dinner for the man who claimed to hate parripu (lentil curry) but now can't eat a meal he loves without it 🤷‍♀️ DINNER: Shrimp kuzhumbu, shrimp sothi, parripu, spicy fried shrimp, leeks varai, biryani rice, egg, red onion salad, and fish cutlet. . . . #moderndaybrownmommom #dinner #seafood #southasiancuisine #tamilfood #lunch #moderndaybrownmom #srilankancuisine #foodblogger #tamil #tamilfood #tamilculture #foodblogger #tamilcuisine #tamilblogger #tamilculture #eeeeeats #foodstagram #foodie #instayum #instafood #feedfeed #momlife #embracingculture #tamil #southasianblogger #mommyblogger
Forever grateful 🙏 Thank you to our friends @ Forever grateful 🙏 Thank you to our friends @dilipan_honestrealtors and @akandaneeka for capturing this beautiful shot of our family at @riversidefamilyfarm. . . . #moderndaybrownmommom
Vijayathasami, also known as the 10th day of Navar Vijayathasami, also known as the 10th day of Navarathri amongst Tamils, is regarded as a highly auspicious day. It is customary for children to be taught to write their first few Tamil letters in a platter of raw red rice either at home by an elder or at the temple with an iyar (priest). Traditionally this is done when a child is of an odd number age and before he/she starts formal schooling (ages 1 or 3). To prepare for this occasion, a tray is filled with red raw rice and another tray is filled with fruit/coconut, vethaillai leaves (betel leaf), paaku (areca nut), flowers, and a small monetary gift of odd value ($5, $11, $21, etc.) to be given to the elder, teacher, or priest performing the ritual. Although babygirl Shree is one now, we decided to wait until she is three to carry out her first letter ceremony/edu thodakal. Vijayathasami is also regarded as a good day to start a new form of art or new ventures like a business. I hope all of you observing Vijayathasami today have a fruitful year ahead! SNACKS: Paneer and leek cutlets, vadai, and kollukattai. . . . #navarathri #vijayathasami #education #goddessofwisdom #hinduculture #tamilfood #srilankancuisine #vegetarian #lunch #traditionalfeast #moderndaybrownmom #mommyblogger #momblogger #southasianblogger #srilankanblogger #tamilblogger
This year Canadian Thanksgiving coincided with the This year Canadian Thanksgiving coincided with the Hindu festival of Navarathri which meant a purely vegetarian meal as our harvest meal. Given that the household is now predominantly vegetarian, this wasn't too far out of the norm other than for the lack of onion and garlic which we refrain from during Navarathri. Although anything associated with gratitude and harvest such as Pongal and Thanksgiving brings me immense joy, North American Thanksgiving is rooted in colonialism. Given all the new information that has been coming to light in regards to residential schools, it was a little difficult to celebrate this year. The first Thanksgiving on land was celebrated by colonists who reaped a bountiful harvest, thanks to the farming and hunting knowledge shared with them by Indigenous tribes. A bountiful harvest was essential for the surviving European settlers to get through the winter in the new land, as nearly half had perished on the journey due to disease such as scurvy. The first harvest feast most likely consisted of fowl, corn, herbs, and possibly cranberries as the pilgrims did not have access to butter and flour. Cranberries, high in Vitamic C, were introduced to the colonists as a cure to scurvy and were eaten during every feast for good health. Athough Thanksgiving is seen as a pilgrim tradition, traditions of giving thanks long predate the arrival of European settlers in Canada. The Indigenous People of Canada had their own traditions of giving thanks for crops and game as well as surviving winter which included feasting, prayer, and ceremonial dancing. The modern concept of Thanksgiving, which involves turkey and pumpkin pie, was actually influenced by our American neighbours who introduced it to settlers in Halifax which then spread across the country, eventually becoming a national holiday. Rather than remaining a harvest festival as originally intended, especially because farmers are still working and harvesting this time of year, Thanksgiving has become more of a time to gather with loved ones, give thanks, and feast so that's what I tried to remember as I prepared our meal. Happy Harvest to all those that celebrated! #moderndaybrownmommom
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