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State of Our Household – 3.5 Years Old

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Kaiden is officially 3.5 years old! We have a full blown little man on our hands, y’all. He literally sounds like a teenager sometimes (which can be funny or not so much depending on the day).

I think I’ve said this with every age, but I love 3. It’s challenging and frustrating at times, but I love all the cuteness that comes with it (especially the things he says).

With that, here’s how our household is doing at 3.5…

State of Kaiden

Physically, Kaiden is on the smaller side when it comes to weight, but this doesn’t surprise me given that Vishnu was pretty small as a young kid too. Surprisingly, he seems to be a little taller than what we would’ve expected, given that no one is a giant in our families.

Mentally, this kid is as smart as a whip. And it’s not because I’m biased. He is intellectually doing really well (also per his teachers). He understand more than we would ever expect and remembers that much more. While he’s not reading or writing much just yet, his ability to comprehend and put two and two together just blows my mind.

Emotionally, he just gets it too. Not always with his own emotions, but in terms of how certain things would make others feel. He can read a room really well.

Speaking of his own emotions, K is still very much allergic to any word that sounds like no. And when he wants something, he wants it. And when he doesn’t want something he doesn’t want it. The kid’s stubborn! His meltdowns can be pretty epic, but I think we’re getting good at predicting them and bracing ourselves. We’re also working on setting more firm boundaries and then letting him feel what he wants to feel about them. He’s entitled to that, and while he may not love them, boundaries are incredibly important.

In terms of food, K is so hit or miss at home. Sometimes he loves something and sometimes it’s ‘yucky.’ There are some dishes that I can be 99% sure will be a hit, so I tend to rotate those more regularly. But he still loves most veggies, fruits, cheese, pasta (specifically mac n’ cheese) and bread. Thankfully, he still eats well at daycare, so at least there’s that!

In terms of play, the biggest development is K’s love for pretend play, and I’m here for it! He loves to pretend and turn ordinary objects into castles and wands, etc. I’m so thankful for this because it means we don’t need too many toys to keep him occupied. Not that we have much room for more stuff!

And finally, he’s getting into slightly longer books (but still loves his shorter picture books), so I’m thinking about getting him some chapter books we can work through. Should be fun!

So that sums up Kaiden at 3.5. Let’s move on to how mama and dada are doing…

State of Mama

Oh man! As much as I want to pull my hair out sometimes, this sweet little boy has my whole heart plus some. He’s so full of kindness and understanding and joy, and I’m so thankful he’s mine!

In terms of how I’m doing, things are going well. It’s a bit of a juggle with full-time work, Awarify, Kaiden, Vishnu’s schedule, and home stuff. Phew! But I’m learning to let some stuff fall through the cracks when it doesn’t really matter. Haven’t perfected this yet, but I’m trying.

I feel like since I started my coaching program, I’m starting to become so much more aware of my own thoughts and if they’re serving me or not. I’ve always thought of myself as a somewhat aware person, but I wasn’t…it take a lot of deep work and introspection and I’m working on it and discovering new things about myself. This is all to say that this new level of awareness is helping tremendously with my parenting. I’m learning new ways to think about things so they don’t get to me or don’t become a big issue.

I have some ambitious goals for 2021, but I’m tempering any expectations I place on myself, others, and any external situations. Given the year we’ve had, I think it’s better to stay agile when possible. Nonetheless, I’m excited for a new year and some light at the end of the tunnel.

Overall, I’m doing well and looking forward to new adventures with my kiddo!

State of Dada

Dada is BUSY! Lol! Fellowship is a lot of work and responsibility, but we’re lucky that Vishnu’s program is super organized and we know all his call/weekend dates ahead of time. This is the last leg of our medical training journey…next up is attendingship! I’ll be sharing more about that soon!

Vishnu and Kaiden have a really fun and rowdy relationship right now! I suspect it’ll stay that way for a while! I think K also looks to Vishnu as his source of calm because he’s so steady through all the emotions and ups and downs.

I will say that Vishnu is less emotional than me, so while he gives his love to K so openly and freely, he’s also less all over the place. Something I need to learn from him.

Overall, Vishnu’s doing well and really enjoying this age too, although a few times a week, he’ll tell me he’s sad Kaiden is growing up and won’t remain so little for long. #truethat

And that, my friends, is how our household is faring right now. I wish this update was a bit more exciting, but you know…these are Covid times. Hopefully year 4 will bring some better news with it!

Written on December 30, 2020 Related:motherhood, Parenthood, Uncategorized

Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

written by Parita Leave a Comment

If you’re still finalizing your Thanksgiving menu, feel free to steal some ideas from what we’re making.

Something to know about me is that I LOVE Thanksgiving food. Like LOVE! We didn’t celebrate it in the traditional way growing up, but since getting married, Vishnu and I started our own tradition. One that includes Thanksgiving food every year!

With that being said, we’re keeping things super low key this year in terms of having people. We’re not keeping the menu low key though! My mouth waters just thinking about it.

Like I said, if you’re still planning, feel free to make some of these dishes. Most of them are tried and true (ain’t no one messing around on Thanksgiving!).

I hope y’all have a delicious day!

Apps
– Pilsbury crescent rolls stuffed with Brie cheese with a side of strawberry jalapeno jam
– Strawberry, feta cheese, and pecan spinach salad

Sides
– Cranberry sauce (I’ve been making this for YEARS. It’s soo good.)
– Roasted broccoli (preheat oven to 425 degrees, chop the broccoli up into smallish pieces, drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and garlic powder, and roast for 23 minutes).
– Mashed potatoes

Main
– Instant Pot Mac n’ Cheese (SO easy, SO creamy!)
– Air Fryer Tandoori wings

Dessert
– Dark chocolate silk pie (vegan!)
– Broiler smores!

ENJOY!

Written on November 24, 2020 Related:Family, Food, Holiday, Uncategorized

Awarify Coaching is LIVE on Social Media

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Hello everyone! Since the last time we talked, I officially launched my coaching business, Awarify Coaching, on social media! Woo hoo!

What this means is that all of my social media channels are now live, including Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. I don’t have my website set up just yet (I did buy the domain though!) but am planning to launch that by the end of the year.

I am just so stinking excited. If you’re interested in learning more and/or joining me on this new journey, I ask that you follow me on Instagram and/or Facebook (for now). I’ll definitely let y’all know when the website is up, but for that, I’ll need some time.

I’m also planning on launching a newsletter in November (ish!), so be sure to sign up for my email list. Lots of goodness coming your way!

The one story I haven’t shared on social media is where the name Awarify came from. So, as you can tell, it’s not a real word. But if you take ‘ify’ and apply it to the word aware, it means to bring awareness to make more aware.

All of the credit for the name goes to Vishnu. We literally sat on our couch and brainstormed so many names, most of which were already taken. After the first night, I was ready to name my business ‘PK Coaching.’ So original right!? Vishnu told me not to give up, and on the second night, he asked me what I thought of Awarify. I asked him what it meant, and when he told me what it could mean (given it’s not a real word), I literally fell in love. He said I should sleep on it, and I said, “Nope, that’s it. That’s the name.” The rest is history!

I’m so glad I married a creative thinker!

The reason I love Awarify is because I truly believe awareness is the first step in any process, and I see my role as a coach being to help people become more aware of what’s holding them back/blocking them so they can move forward and achieve their goals.

It just fits!

I promise I’ll share more about Awarify as journey evolves!

And finally, if you’re reading this and you’ve been around for a while or you’re a new reader who plans to stick around, THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart! MIS and the community its attracted has been such a source of joy for me over the last almost 10 years, and your constant support fills my cup more than you know. Love y’all!

Written on September 29, 2020 Related:Awarify, coaching, Uncategorized

Friday Stuff [#6]

written by Parita Leave a Comment

Leave it to me to share a post about not blogging frequently only to blog again a couple of days later! I just can’t stay away. 🙂

With that, I thought I would share a few things that have either been on my mind or are good finds that we’re loving.

Here we go…

Parks and Recreation

I finished all seven seasons of Parks and Rec, and I LOVED every minute of it! If you’re looking for an awesome comedy series to watch (binge!), this one should be on your list. Leslie Knope for President!!

Kids Knives

I got K these Tovla knives a while ago, and the first time we tried to used them, he kept waving one of the knives in the air. A no go for a while! Then, last weekend, I let him use one to cut up some strawberries, and I think he actually enjoyed it. The look of pride on his face was priceless!

Toddler Masks

We’ve tried quite a few masks for Kaiden, and the ones that fit him the best came from…Old Navy! They aren’t super thick (but none of them are really!), but they don’t slide down his face, which is key.

Little Passports Subscription

My sister and BIL got K a Little Passports subscription for his 3rd birthday, and I must say, it’s pretty awesome. Every month, we get a new activity, along with stickers, a ‘toy,’ and an activity booklet. All catered to his age group. Kaiden loves opening his box every month, and I love how his creativity sparks every time. A great gift option!

Toddler Sunglasses

Kaiden hates anything that touches his face/head – sunglasses, hats, helmets, etc. BUT, when I realized it was ‘sunglasses day’ at school a few weeks ago, I bought these sunnies on Amazon because I didn’t want K to be the only one without a pair. 🙂 He’s worn them a few times afterwards but not quite a sunglasses lover yet.

Friends Reruns

Nothing better, am I right?! I wonder when I’ll be done with this show. Likely never! What’s a show that you never tire of?

Energy Leadership

I have to read the book, Energy Leadership, for my coaching program, and to be completely honest…I LOVE IT! It’s a really interesting read, and I think it’d be helpful for anyone responsible for leading teams, coaching people, leading a team (personally or professionally). Such powerful takeaways on every single page! Highly recommend this one!

Weekend Plans

We don’t have too much going on, except a play date with a good friend and her son, an ice cream party, and a visit to my sister’s place.

Hoping Vishnu doesn’t have to stay too late at the hospital. I want to have a wine and cheese night with him again!

Ok peeps, that’s all I have for today! Thanks for stopping by, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

No portion of this post is sponsored.  However, affiliate links are included. There is no extra cost to you, but I do receive a small commission on anything you buy through my links.  Thank you for reading and supporting My Inner Shakti!

Written on September 11, 2020 Related:Friday Stuff, Uncategorized

A Crazy Monday!

written by Parita 1 Comment

Well, Monday didn’t go as planned!

Let’s start from the beginning…

When Vishnu and I woke up, he happened to see that there was some unrest in Chicago the night before. We didn’t think too much of it, so he went to show, and I went in the kitchen to make his lunch and get ready for my day. I happened to glance at my phone and saw that I had a note waiting for me in the school’s app. It said that school was closed because of CTA being closed and the damage done in the surrounding neighborhood.

Of course, I totally understood why the decision was made, and I 100% agreed with it. But that didn’t make moving my day around any easier.

When K woke up, I told him there was no school, and he enthusiastically said, “YAY!” That made me smile!

Between a healthy dose of screen time and hands on time with me, we made it through the day. To be really honest, it made me very grateful for K’s school and all the precautions they take whether it’s Covid related or something like this.

Here are a few highlights/funny moments from the day:

  • Kaiden ate more for breakfast than he has in the past 2 years – a whole apple, a half a piece of Dave’s Killer bread with cream cheese, and 2 thick turkey slices.
  • Kaiden had to poop during a call I had (with an external speaker we’re working with on an event). Of course, I was frazzled, but it all worked out. I’m pretty sure my other colleague on the call with me wanted to bust out laughing.
  • Kaiden skipped his nap (of course!), but he definitely tricked me. At about 12:45 pm, he declared that he was tired and wanted to take a nap. I got him all settled, tucked him in, and of course 10 minute later, I hear a little voice yelling MAMA!
  • We read two Berenstain Bears books, and it made me excited because I feel like we can dabble in longer chapter books soon!
  • We also played in bed which means I ran and jumped and Kaiden laughed. Best 20 minutes of my day!
  • We watched Aladdin in the afternoon. Seriously one of my fav movies!
  • In addition to everything that happened overnight, we also experienced a crazy storm in the late afternoon. It spooked Kaiden out, and I was pretty sure out patio furniture was going to end up in the Chicago River. It didn’t. However, there as a lot of destruction across other parts of the city.

Anyways, that was our crazy Monday. Not as expected, but I think I handled it with as much grace and calm as I could muster. I give so much props and credit to those working parents who also have to play the role of teacher at home during this crazy time. Hats off to you!

Written on August 11, 2020 Related:home, Life, motherhood, Uncategorized

All About My Journey to Becoming a Professional Coach with iPEC

written by Parita 2 Comments

I can’t believe I’m writing this post. For a long time, I didn’t know how I was going to make this vision of mine come true. Fear was holding me back from pulling the trigger and signing up for a coaching program. But thankfully, my wonderful husband reminded me that all I needed to do was take the first step. The rest of would come. And here I am!

So I want to share an informational post to help those who aren’t familiar with coaching or who want to work with a coach.

Let’s get started!

What’s coaching?

Coaching is essentially a powerful relationship between a coach and a client. The coach works with the client to establish and work towards a meaningful outcome for each session that helps the client reach their overarching goal. From my perspective, I want to help people understand and reach their potential (very broadly speaking).

Why do I want to be a coach?

The short answer is I want to make a direct difference in people’s lives. I believe that my professional development and career so far has definitely set me up nicely for what I hope to be my profession (or a large part of it) one day.

I’ve also always wanted to be my own boss and ‘do my own thing.’ I think with my passion for this work and my desire to make an impact, I can do that in due time.

Why iPEC?

So once I decided that coaching was something I wanted to pursue, the next step was figuring out the program I wanted to join. I did a lot of research and talked to a number of admissions counselors to learn more about each program – the benefits, time commitment, support, etc.

iPEC stood out from the rest for a couple of reasons. The admissions counselor I spoke with was so knowledgeable (not the case everywhere!) and followed up with me and made herself available. I also liked the fact that iPEC has a business development component to their curriculum, which is super helpful to those who want to turn this into a business. I also resonated with iPEC’s core energy coaching model and philosophy. I feel like it aligns with my thoughts around self-development and how I strive to live my life.

What does coach training consist of?

So I can’t speak for other programs, but iPEC has a few different components. There are three 3-day classroom modules that occur over a 6 month period (I attended my first one this past weekend). In between those sessions, you have webinars, assignments, peer coaching, and a number of other things to help you with the education component as well the practice piece. The program in it’s entirety runs any where from 9-12 months.

How much does it cost?

So programs vary in terms of cost, but the iPEC one is ~$12,000. Not cheap by any means and definitely something to be seen as an investment.

Who is eligible to participate in this program?

From what I know, the people who participate in iPEC’s program come from all walks of life and have varying goals around what they want to do with this new skill. Some want to start their own business, while some want to bring coaching to their current job, while others, believe it or not, are doing it more for personal development reasons.

How is coaching different from therapy and mentoring?

Therapy – from what I gather, in therapy, clients often dig back into their past for answers and stay there for a while. In coaching, you explore your past for learning purposes, but you don’t stay there. Therapy is also about figuring out the why (hence the past), whereas coaching is ultimately about moving into the future by looking at who you truly are at your core.

Mentoring – Mentors differ from coaches in that they are there to show you the ropes by speaking from a personal lens of been there done that. Coaches never bring their own life into the conversation with the client. The coach is the expert in the coaching process and the client is the expert on their life.

What kind of coaching do you want to do and what are your goals?

Honestly, I have no idea. A lot of people assume all coaches are life coaches, but that’s not the case. Niches vary just like with other professions. I’ve toyed around with everything from being a female executive coach to a parenting coach to a mindset coach. I haven’t landed on any one thing yet. Who knows…I may go nicheless for a bit.

In terms of my goals, I eventually (like a year or more down the line) want to start my own coaching business. And if we’re talking big HUGE vision and goals, I want to write a book and do some speaking engagements here and there as well. All in due time!

How has the program changed you so far?

I’ve only gone through the first weekend module. That being said, I really truly feel like this program is life changing. I know that’s so cliche to say, but I can already feel my mindset and energy shifting. I’ve had three big coaching convos with people I love, and each person took action after the convo and said it made a difference. During a peer coaching session over the weekend, the person I was coaching started crying at one point and said, “I may have changed her life.” I think she was a little overcome with emotion, but if even 1% of that was true, I feel happy I was able to make a difference for her.

The lead coach facilitators also said you can’t unlearn what they teach us and what we experience. You are almost always going to approach situations from one kind of coaching lens or another. I love that!

But the biggest benefit I’ve seen so far is that I’m able to coach myself out of catabolic thoughts and shift them to ones that serve me more. I did it on Saturday evening when I got home and was irritated with Vishnu about something. I realized that my thoughts were doing nothing to help me connect with him the way I wanted to and I was able to quickly shift and have a fun evening. I’VE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT BEFORE (at least not that quickly).

Ok, that’s all I’ve got today. Let me know what other questions you have. Happy to talk more about this.

If you got to this point, thank you for reading! I can’t wait to share more about my journey and mayyyyyybeeeee even work with some of you!

Written on July 29, 2020 Related:Uncategorized

Kaiden Says the Darndest Things [1]

written by Parita Leave a Comment

I really wish all parents would broadcast the things their kids say (especially around the 2-4 age) because it’s so darn funny! Our little guy is a talker and always come up with the funniest (to me at least!) little sentences/phrases. Let me share a few examples…

Me: Kaiden, clean up all your toys before you start playing with something new.
Kaiden: [in a low voice] If you want to clean, you do it.

Ok fine, that was funny but fresh. Don’t worry, I talked to him about it!

Kaiden: I said you’re a silly goose.
Me: Who did you say that to?
Kaiden: To Augusta (his classmate).
Me: What did she say?
Kaiden: She didn’t say annnyyything.
Me: Oh, what did she do then?
Kaiden: She laughed and I said rawr!

Me: Ok, let’s say our prayers. Nana, nani…
Kaiden: No, just the ladies.

Me: God, we thank you for our health…
Kaiden: OH MY GOD!

Me: I’m going to give daddy a big kiss.
Kaiden: Aww, that’s so so sweet of you mama. So sweet!

[Walking out of his room one morning…]
Kaiden: Who’s that little man sitting right there? [It was Vishnu.]

Me: Ok, let me go get my phone and we can leave.
Kaiden: Mama, turn off the light.
Me: Why?
Kaiden: We don’t want to waste the light.

Me: Kaiden, you look so handsome.
Kaiden: Let’s go look in a mirror. [Upon seeing his reflection in the mirror, he stares and smiles.]

Kaiden: Mama, I’m going to fix your hair. Ok, you look so beautiful now!

And that, my friends, is the first edition of Kaiden Says the Darndest Things because I’m pretty certain there is more hilarity to come!

Written on July 22, 2020 Related:Toddler, Uncategorized

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