Skip to Content
Menu
  • Home
  • Food
    • Recipes
    • Lunchbox
    • South Asian Cuisine
  • Healthy Living
    • Nutrition
    • Wellness
  • Motherhood
    • Mom to Mom
    • My Life
    • Poetry
  • Culture
  • Homeschooling
    • Learning
  • Contact Me
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 January 17, 2021February 7, 2015Mom to Mom

The Terrible Twos

This is what I’m going through right now, except I would call it the Terrible 1, 2, & 3s. The terrible twos usually start around …

Read More
updated on January 17, 2021February 6, 2015Learning

10 Tips: How to Raise a Reader

Two nights ago my daughter read a sentence all by herself for the first time, and left me at a loss for words. I was amazed …

Read More
updated on July 30, 2016February 5, 2015Mom to Mom

35 Things I’ve Learned From Having Kids

  Being a mother is challenging and exhausting but also rewarding and wonderful, all at the same time. The following is a list of some …

Read More
updated on January 17, 2021February 4, 2015Learning

Teaching Your Child to Write

When my daughter was three and a half years old, I attempted to teach her to write her name in preparation for kindergarten, and failed. …

Read More
updated on February 7, 2018February 3, 2015Food Healthy Living Nutrition

6 Healthy Breakfast Options for Kids & Moms

Every mom knows the importance of breakfast and the role it plays in helping their children grow and succeed in school but most mom’s, including myself, …

Read More
updated on September 15, 2019February 2, 2015Learning

25 Toys I Love (for kids aged 1-4)

There are countless options out there when choosing toys for our toddlers and young children and sometimes you may even feel a bit overwhelmed as …

Read More
updated on July 30, 2016February 1, 2015My Life

Being a Healthy Mom

Growing up, I always disliked sports and gym class. Anyone that grew up with me knows that. It wasn’t because I was lazy or that …

Read More
updated on August 25, 2016February 1, 2015Mom to Mom

30 Things I Want to Tell My Sons as They Grow Up

While I was creating a list of things that I wanted to teach my daughter, I also started to think about things a mother should …

Read More
updated on September 15, 2019February 1, 2015Learning

Preparing Your Child for Kindergarten

Last February I registered my firstborn for kindergarten. It was a very bittersweet moment – I wasn’t sure if Akshaya would be ready by September …

Read More
updated on August 25, 2016January 31, 2015Mom to Mom

30 Things I Hope to Teach My Daughter Before She is 13

My daughter just started kindergarten this past September and since starting school she has become more mature, independent, and responsible. I couldn’t be more proud …

Read More

Posts navigation

Previous Page 1 … Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Next
January 2022
M T W T F S S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« Jul    

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.

My Small Shop

Recent Comments

  • LisaAnella on Natural Skincare
  • 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

My Amazon Shop

Click Here

moderndaybrownmom

Geerthana Uthayakumar
I'm sure I've spoken about this before but in ligh I'm sure I've spoken about this before but in light of Tamil Hertitage Month, I'd like to share my thoughts again. As a Tamil diaspora, I've been told I don't look Tamil. I've been mocked for my accent when I speak Thamil. I've been criticized for not teaching my kids the language or speaking it to them. To many, being fluent in the Tamil language seems to be the defining characteristic of being Tamil. People seem to forget that it isn't the shade of our skin or how much we are immersed in the culture or how well we speak the language (or not) that defines Thamil-ness. Regardless of where we live, we all share common ancestors and whether or not we speak fluent Tamil, I truly believe we can honour our ancestry in a multitude of ways. Our culture is rich but it's equally diverse and forever evolving, allowing us to carry our Tamil identities, each in our own way, no matter which part of the world we live in. I was born in Germany and didn't see another Tamil person outside of my own family members until I came to Canada at the age of five. Regardless, maintaining Tamil identity was an important part of my upbringing and now it's become an equally important part in my children’s upbringing especially because it will be one of the few, if not only tie that they have to their ancestors. As a Tamil diaspora, food plays a huge part in maintaining my Tamil identity and that of my Canadian-born children. It's also one of the easiest ways, in my opinion, to connect with our heritage. To not only eat the food but to be able to learn about the various ingredients and techniques and go through the process of grinding, soaking, fermenting, frying, steaming, and cooking similar to how my ancestors prepared their food is just so fulfilling in ways I cannot describe. That's why it was so important for me to learn to cook Tamil food from scratch. One day I hope to pass down these skills to my children so that they'll have the privilege of passing it down to their children along with other integral parts of Tamil culture. I'd love to know in which ways you are maintaining your Tamil identity. Plate: @kiddobloom . . . #moderndaybrownmom #tamilheritagemonth
It's been said quite a few times that despite the It's been said quite a few times that despite the lack of social interaction, pandemic babies are lucky because they get to spend more time with their parents or caregivers who would otherwise have been at work. When people say this they seem to neglect the fact that parenting during a pandemic isn't an ideal or easy situation given the uncertainty, lack of supportive measures, parental stress, grieving, illness, job insecurity, mental health issues and more that were brought on by the pandemic. Recently a study published in JAMA Pediatrics revealed that babies born during the early pandemic have a slight developmental lag due to lack of social contact, stimulation, and responsive parenting. The study went on to state that babies born between March and December 2020 scored lower than babies born pre-pandemic, on a test of gross motor, fine motor, and social skills whether or not they had been born to a mother that had been infected with Covid during pregnancy or not. The discrepancy is small but nonetheless there and the long-term implications are unknown. Surprisingly, or perhaps not, communication skills scored slightly higher amongst babies born during the pandemic than those born before it. At first glance one would expect lower scores for communication skills due to lack of social interaction and masks hiding the mouth but perhaps spending time with parents, overhearing parents work from home or siblings learning at home virtually is lending to increased language skills. This just reinforces how important it is for parents to talk and read to their babies, even when they are too little to respond. CONTINUED in the comments 📸: @saakshiphotography
There are a few days every year when life-changing There are a few days every year when life-changing energies are at the maximum on the Earthen plane. One such day is Thai Poosam as it is considered a highly auspicious time for spiritual and personal growth. Thai poosam is a Hindu festival celebrated amongst the Tamil community in honour of Lord Murugan or Karthikeya also known as the God of Enlightenment and the Third Eye/Pineal Gland. Falling on a full moon day of the Tamil month of "Thai" and on one of 27 astrological star constellations "Poosam" hence "Thai-poosam", it commemorates the occasion where Goddess Parvati gave Lord Murugan the "vel" or spear so he could defeat the demon Soorapadman/negative influences. The Vel is a powerful weapon which represents infinite wisdom, required for liberation. The poosam star is an important star as it is considered the star of enlightenment. Scriptures state it is the star on which Shiva descended to the Earth plane to reduce suffering and grant enlightenment to the people of Earth and the star on which Swami Ramalingam turned his physical body into light. The poosam star is ruled by Shani, the planet Saturn, the powerful planet which most influences one's life and fortune and thus thai poosam is an auspicious day to seek blessings and start new ventures. On Thai poosam, it is customary for kids to start learning to write for the first time, get their ears pierced, or start a new venture. My own Karthik, named after Lord Murugan, learned to write his first letters on Thai Poosam instead of Vijayathasami when he was just a year old. Others, mostly males, perform Kavadi Dance at temples which is a devotional sacrifice dedicated to Murugan. Long bamboo sticks with pails filled flowers or other devotional items suspended on the ends are placed across the devotee's shoulders as he dances while traveling long distance on foot with the belief that it will bring good physical and mental health. LUNCH: Parripu, potato piratal, paithangai, ginger sambol, okra fry, pumpkin curry, beetroot piratal, eggplant curry served with rice and appalam. Payasam on the side. . . . #thaipoosam #moderndaybrownmom
Usually right after new year day, the kids and I g Usually right after new year day, the kids and I go sugar-free meaning we eliminate all things with refined sugar until Thai Pongal. After over indulging on sweet treats throughout the holidays, our sugar detox is much needed and surprisingly welcomed by the kids. Often the first few days are a bit of a challenge as cravings for baked treats or waffles and Maple syrup hit. They surely don't kid when they say sugar is eight times more addictive than cocaine. But after those initial days it gets much easier to follow through for the remainder of the two weeks. I imagine it would be much more difficult if we were to fully cut out flour along with sugar and just focused on consuming vegetables and protein. We cut out bread, as it was easy to do since we normally don't consume bread as part of our diet but we occasionally had pasta in place of our usual rice. All in all, our two week refined-sugar free diet went pretty well. Today the kids and I made hot cocoa and cookies; our first real treat since the new year, not including the jaggery Pongal we had a couple days ago of course. It was a much welcome treat after the snow day we had. How did you guys spend your snow day? . . . #moderndaybrownmom #hotcocoa #cookies #momblogger #foodblogger #chocolatechipcookies #vegetarian #foodpics #foodshare #whatifeedmykids #instayum #instagood #foodstagram #eeeeeats #momlife #mommylife #motherhoodthroughinstagram #mommyblogger #foodblogger #tamilblogger #southasianblogger #mothersofig #moderndaybrownmom
India and Sri-Lanka are lands of agriculture with India and Sri-Lanka are lands of agriculture with abundant harvests feeding its population so it's really no wonder that harvest seasons are celebrated with harvest festivals which signify the end of one harvest season and the beginning of another. Each region, given the various cultural influences, has its own harvest festival with distinctive rituals and foods in celebration of the harvest. During mid-January rice, grains, sesame seeds, sugar cane, jaggery, lentils, and nuts are harvested as part of the winter harvest and thus these specific foods are centric to the winter celebration. The winter harvest festival which gives thanks for a bountiful harvest and nourishment for all, goes by many names, according to the region, including Lohri, Makar Sankranti, Bihu, Baisakhi, Thai Pongal and more. Last Friday our family celebrated Thai Pongal; an ancient Tamil festival which dates back to the Sangam period. Thai Pongal falls on the first day of the first month, Thai, of the Tamil calendar and is often viewed as the equivalent of Thanksgiving in North America as we give thanks to the Sun for a bountiful harvest of crops. Although Pongal continues to be celebrated by Tamils all over the world, the festival is usually a multi-day celebration in the motherland as Thai Pongal is followed by Mattu Pongal. Mattu Pongal is a day devoted to the cattle that plough the fields so that crops can grow and to the dairy cows that provide milk to nourish our young.This multi-day festival commemorates the passing of the winter solstice and the beginning of the new harvest season. On Thai Pongal, Pongal, a sweet mixture of rice, milk and jaggery, is made early in the morning as the Sun rises and then offered to the Sun. The mixture is allowed to boil over while cooking to symbolize abundance. While Thai Pongal is an elaborate celebration consisting of many rituals such as pongal being cooked outdoors in clay pots decorated in mango leaves, Tamils living in foreign countries celebrate and give thanks by making pongal at home. Pongal Day Lunch: Pongal, banana, sundal (tempered chickpeas), sambhar, rice, vaadai, chutney, and appalam. Sugar cane, not pictured. #moderndaybrownmom
Growing up with a Thamil name in the 90s and early Growing up with a Thamil name in the 90s and early 2000s meant teachers often butchered your name, you were teased for your name being too long, you were often embarrassed of your name due to aforementioned teasing, you were either asked for a shortened version or given one, or you, yourself, gave a shortened version to make things "easier." As we got older, we were told our names didn't look good on resumes and as a result many shortened their given names to anglicized versions or completely changed their names in hopes of better economic opportunities. When I had my first child, many asked why I chose a name that would hinder her chance at a future that didn't discriminate her solely based on her name. However it was important to me that my children be recognized by a name that tied them to the rich heritage of their ancestors. My children have never shortened, or accepted wrong pronunciations of their names. Whereas my generation was hesitant to correct teachers or authority figures, my children have had no problem teaching others the correct pronunciations of their names. The piece above was inspired by an interaction I witnessed between my mom and her very white/Caucasian co-worker and actually written several years back. Given this month is Tamil Hertitage Month, I thought I'd share. On September 6th, 2016, Canada declared the month of January as Thamil Heritage Month. How fitting is it that as we prepare to celebrate Pongal - perhaps the biggest festival celebrated by Tamils irrespective of religion - we get to revel in the fact that our adoptive home recognizes and celebrates not only our many contributions to society, but our language and culture all across the country. Canada is the proud home of the world's largest Tamil diaspora. Despite having the weight of the Tamil Genocide bearing down on our shoulders, we as a collective have undeniably enriched and continue to enrich society through our many achievements. That is something to be proud of. Our names are something to be proud of. If you're comfortable, feel free to share your thoughts below. #tamilheritagemonth #tamilblogger #tamilculture #momblogger #southasianblogger #moderndaybrownmommom
If the past few years have taught me anything, it If the past few years have taught me anything, it is that life is too short because regardless of what is going on, be it a world-wide pandemic or isolation, the years will continue to fly by. As yet another year comes to an end, I want to leave you with this thought: If you're a parent you have a total of 18 years with your children before they become adults and venture out to lead their own lives. And while 18 years may seem like a lot, it's just a small fraction of the average human life span. To put it into perspective, it's just 18 summer breaks or 18 Christmases and New Year celebrations. Ever since I became a parent 11 years ago, I've been thinking about how to make those 18 years count. We often, without hesitation, say that we'd die for our children in that we'd do anything for them because that's how much we love them. But the reality is that our children don't need us to die for them. They need us to live, and not only just live, but really live. Just imagine how differently we'd all parent and the lasting positive impact we'd leave on our children, if we took charge of our well-being, nourished both our minds and bodies, got in tune with our spiritual side, prioritized our happiness, valued our time, exerted boundaries, healed our traumas, curbed addictions, and practiced making better overall choices. So, much like the last couple years, this new year, and every year after that, I'll continue to prioritize myself and my well-being so that I can be the best version of myself, give my children the best version of me, and ultimately make those years raising them really count. If you're the type to make goals for the new year and would like to share, I'd love to know what they are. Wishing all of you a very happy and healthy new year! . . 📸: @saakshiphotography . . . #moderndaybrownmommom #2022goals #2022 #newyear #mommyblogger #southasianblogger #tamilblogger
The kids are I are currently baking up a batch of The kids are I are currently baking up a batch of these delicious double chocolate marshmallow cookies or as the kids like to call them - Hot Chocolate cookies. We spent all morning outside sledding on a nearby hill so the warmth of the oven is definitely nice in contrast. Also a reminder that the kids will selling their last batch of cookies for the season on December 31st. If you're interested in purchasing an assorted box, please check out @foursprinklesofsugar for details on how to order. NOTE: You can find some really inexpensive plastic sleds at Canadian Tire for under $20. Ours have lasted us for 5 years now with no signs of wear and tear. #moderndaybrownmommom #momblogger #foodblogger #chocolatechipcookies #holidaycookies holidaybaking #vegetarian #foodpics #foodshare #whatifeedmykids #instayum #instagood #foodstagram #eeeeeats #momlife #mommylife #motherhoodthroughinstagram #mommyblogger #foodblogger #tamilblogger #southasianblogger #mothersofig #moderndaybrownmom
Burn out has become an unwelcome part of our cultu Burn out has become an unwelcome part of our culture. It is especially evident during the holiday season where some are so overworked during the year that they'd rather use the time off to rest and recharge than find joy in celebration. Then there are many mothers like myself, who want to make magic happen for our kids/families and do so at the expense of ourselves. Thanks to social media a lot of us also feel the need to document how we celebrate, feel inadequate when we see how others celebrate, thus taking on more than we can physically or mentally handle. Shopping for the perfect gifts, decorating our homes, wrapping presents, planning elaborate Christmas meals, baking cookies, making gingerbread houses, standing in line for pictures with Santa, getting snow gear on children so they can enjoy snow days, driving to see the best lit houses, and planning visits and activities pre-Covid, is a lot to do in the little time we have off. We all want our children to have happy holiday memories to look back on, but children don't require much to be happy and we often forget that as we try to tackle impossible standards and impossible to-do lists. The past few years I've simplified the holiday season for our household thereby reducing the stress and overwhelm that falls on me. I'm a firm believer in that kids need presence above all. To me that means less presents, less of me on my phone, less of me overworked, stressed and as a result snappy, and more uninterrupted quality time, more teachable moments about consumerism, materialism, and their impact on the environment, and more acts of kindness to foster empathy and gratitude. Admittedly I'm still working on letting go of the pressure to do it all. Regardless of all the things I do, when I ask the kids what their favourite part of the holiday was, without fail they always mention the one that took the least effort on my part such as a sleepover on my bed or baking cinnamon buns in the morning, or the walk to the fire station to deliver cookies. All this to say; give yourself a break and take part in whatever it is that brings you joy. Happy Holidays everyone! #moderndaybrownmom
Every holiday the kids and I bake cinnamon buns. I Every holiday the kids and I bake cinnamon buns. It's been tradition ever since Akshaya turned two. This year we got a bit creative and attempted a wreath shaped cinnamon bun complete with homemade sticky caramel sauce. It was perfect in every way; crisp on the outside and spongy on the inside with the perfect amount of spice and sweetness. If you've never made them, I definitely urge you to try because they are fairly simple to make, with ingredients you probably already have at home, and taste heavenly! If you're interested in the recipe do let me know below :) . . . #moderndaybrownmommom #momblogger #foodblogger #cinnamonbuns holidaybaking #vegetarian #foodpics #foodshare #whatifeedmykids #instayum #instagood #foodstagram #eeeeeats #momlife #mommylife #motherhoodthroughinstagram #mommyblogger #foodblogger #tamilblogger #southasianblogger #mothersofig #moderndaybrownmom
Just a cute, little festive charcuterie board to a Just a cute, little festive charcuterie board to accompany our afternoon Christmas movie marathon. A very merry Christmas to all those celebrating today. May your hearts and homes always be full of love, happiness, and peace! #moderndaybrownmommom #charcuterie #charcuterieboard #holidaytime #christmas #tistheseason #holidaypartyideas #christmaswithkids #healthykids #healthyfood #vegetariankids #whatifeedmykids #whatmytoddlereats #lifewithkids #momlife #momblogger #mommyblogger #southasianblogger #tamilblogger #moderndaybrownmom
The kids are currently on break from homeschooling The kids are currently on break from homeschooling and are excited to make this year's handmade ornaments. If you're looking to do something with the kids, give these salt dough ornaments a try. We made these ones last year and they were so much fun to make. To make your own, you'll need: - 2 cups flour - 1/2 cup salt - enough warm water to form a dough - some cookie cutters - paint/paint brushes Directions: Form a smooth dough, roll and cut out desired shapes with cookie cutters. Keep in mind to roll thin (quarter of an inch thick or thinner), to prevent air pockets/crumbling while your ornaments bake. Make sure to poke a hole prior to baking for threading your string. Bake on a parchment lined baking sheet in an oven preheated to 200 degrees Fahrenheit for about an hour. They will be soft right out of the oven and harden as they cool. Let cool completely/overnight and before painting and threading your ribbon/string. If you'd like to perserve the ornament better, try a coat of modge podge to seal in the paint and give it some subtle shine. If you make these tag me, I'd love to see! . . . #diy #diyornaments #ornaments #artsandcrafts #saltdoughornaments #christmasornaments #holidaytime #christmas #tistheseason #holidaycrafts #holidayart #christmaswithkids #tistheseason #lifewithkids #momlife #momblogger #mommyblogger #southasianblogger #tamilblogger #moderndaybrownmom #moderndaybrownmomhomeschool
Load More… Follow on Instagram

Popular Posts

  • Healthy LivingNutrition

    The Benefits of Eating Red Fruits and Vegetables

  • Mom to MomMotherhoodPoetry

    Your First Period – A Letter to My Daughter

  • Lunchbox

    The Yumbox: REVIEW

  • Culture

    The Hindu 31st Ceremony: A Celebration of Birth

  • Culture

    Purattasi Shani & the Lighting of the Ellu Villaku (Black Sesame Lamp)

Tags

baby back to school birthday party breakfast cake curry dental care dessert Earth Day fall health Hindu Culture home homeschooling learning lunchbox idea meatballs motherhood muffin nutrition ontario pancake pasta poultry reading recipe review seafood soup southasianculture spring summer superfood Tamil Celebrations Tamil Culture Thanksgiving Valentine's Day vegetarian winter
© Copyright 2022 . All Rights Reserved. Hello Fashion | Developed By Blossom Themes. Powered by WordPress.