Photo credit: Arlene Amitirigala This is part of the series Lessons from the Backseat...I remember the precise moment five years ago when I realized that my daughter, Lauren, understood the meaning of empathy. Tears were streaming down her face when I picked her up from elementary school. Sitting in the backseat with her brother, she … Continue reading How to Cultivate Empathy: Stand in their Shoes
Intact…A Poem
I recently read an article about a man who had physically abused his wife for twenty of the twenty-seven years that they have been married. He found religion and redemption in year twenty and they are now living in wedded bliss. It was hard for me to not sit in judgement of their journey and … Continue reading Intact…A Poem
Ask Me: How was my day?
This is part of the series Lessons from the Backseat…Do you make the time to truly see others and find out what’s on their mind? When my daughter Lauren was in kindergarten, we had a nightly routine. We would snuggle up in her bed and I would ask her to tell me all about her … Continue reading Ask Me: How was my day?
Moving Countries? Self-care is a must
Relocation is stressful. Even if you are simply moving to a townhouse in the same complex, it’s still stressful. We’ve done that by the way. We thought we could just load up the car and drive back and forth 300 meters between places. Worst plan ever. Planning the moving logistics kicks off anxiety. Packing boxes … Continue reading Moving Countries? Self-care is a must
Becoming American
Touring D.C. When my husband and I got engaged, I realized it was a possibility that we would end up living in the United States. But I didn’t believe we would really pack up and leave home. I didn’t imagine one day I would vote in a U.S. election and I certainly never thought one … Continue reading Becoming American
Are You Chasing Perfection?
The holidays are a wonderful time for movie marathons in our family. We mix in the old and the new, and ‘Elf’ is always on the playbill. This Christmas, we watched Soul, the latest movie from Pixar. Soul is about Joe, a black music schoolteacher who suffers a tragic accident the same day he gets … Continue reading Are You Chasing Perfection?
Adieu 2020
There have been many clever memes about this year. You’ve likely seen dozens. And you are probably as eager as everyone else to see the back of 2020…with a swift kick. To a large extent it has been bizarre, painful and just plain crappy. This year I mourned the passing of people I had never … Continue reading Adieu 2020
A Seasonal Friendship (Fiction/Short Story)
I had introduced them to each other figuring that two high-profilers with a penchant for tanning and drinking sangria would really get along. It was uncanny how they hit it off instantly and we became a happy trio. Jenna could be reserved at times and her other friends were a bunch of snobby professionals who … Continue reading A Seasonal Friendship (Fiction/Short Story)
“I Don’t Know How To Not Invite Them”
Party in progress. Photo credit Arlene Amitirigala. All rights reserved. This is part of the series Lessons from the Backseat…I was getting impatient with my daughter, Lauren. We were a month away from her 9th birthday and I had made a simple request – pick a maximum of seven friends to invite to your party, … Continue reading “I Don’t Know How To Not Invite Them”
Moving Countries? Schooling is a Priority
photo credit: Arlene Amitirigala In a previous blog post I listed getting schooling right as a top priority. Most parents I know are obsessed about getting their child into the best school but it’s not easy and requires a lot of close attention, especially when you are moving countries. Budget time for lots of research … Continue reading Moving Countries? Schooling is a Priority
TrulyArlene 