Music- A way of life

Hi! Everyone. I know I have been away for a really long time. But have come back with a promise to be in touch with you regularly going forward!

I was actually helping a teen prepare for a speech for her hobby and ended up writing something that is close to my heart… MUSIC!

Music to me and to most of us is a way of life. It does something magical. It is a wonderful gift to humanity. Music moves us, and soothes us. It stimulates. It makes us want to dance or sing. It makes us feel happy or sad, inspired or uplifted. It affects our mood in all kinds of infinite ways. It can be exquisitely subtle or wildly raucous: from a lullaby, to a war cry for revolution.

It is no accident that the Latin word for breath – that prerequisite of music – is spiritus, for, music invokes the spiritual in us. It is of the spirit and so is universal, other-worldly.

Music has always been a big part of my life, from watching Barney and Nursery rhymes with my little girl or listening to my grandpa’s own compositions  and to the Latest “One Direction” band that the Teens in my life insist I listenend to. I’ve always loved music, whether its oldies music, Classical Karnatic or Hindustani or Rabindra Sangeet, or filmy music… Vocal or Instrumental.

Music literally turns my frown upside down! Even when there isn’t music playing, there is always a song in my head. I sing/ listen to music  in the car, while cooking or  when I’m cleaning, or at work all the time! In fact even during my school & college time my conv

EVER SINCE I can remember, music has been an accompaniment in my life. It would be impossible for me to even try and conceptualise a world without music. If you have a natural aptitude and appreciation for it, then music simply draws you to it and connects. Watch a baby nodding her head, clapping her hands, or bouncing in response to a rhythm or melody.

I’m not a music ‘expert’. I’m a music lover.  Music for me is pure ‘potentiality’. I can engage with it. I can commune with it. Sometimes, if I’m open to it, it takes me by surprise, and I step out of myself. Music is a friend, a companion, a guide and a teacher. Music is chord structure, harmony or dissonance.

Music is the universal language. I think it should be required by law for each student to take a music appreciation class. I have never heard someone say that they don’t like music. Music is an art form, an expression of thoughts and feelings.

Music also tells stories, breaks hearts, reduces us to tears, or seduces us into falling in love.  A human creation from a divine source… perhaps.

However, there  are other questions that need to be asked: what does the wind sound like, or a waterfall, the ocean, early-morning birdsong? Can this be a form of music too? A baby  gurgling, whispers, a log fire crackling, animal sounds, city sounds, laughter,  the roar of a cricket crowd, voice of a loved one ?……………… Are these sounds musical to your ears?

How does music make you feel? Does it make you nostalgic? Where does it take you in your internal landscape? How can a specific piece of music take you to a certain period in your life?

What does silence sound like? Have you ever experienced silence? Do you like it? Are your thoughts too loud? Where is your mind located? Is music located ‘inside’ your mind or ‘outside’ of you?

These are not just random questions; they are the kind of questions rarely posed when young people start to learn how to approach an instrument. Yet, I think they need to be asked, because music is so much more than just going through the motions of producing a sound. People may be able to play well mechanically – because they have learned to copy well – but in doing so they do not truly connect with the essence of music and express themselves.

WE HAVE BECOME so accustomed to recorded sound that it has become rather formulaic. When you can literally access any piece of recorded music at the touch of a fingertip, something valuable gets lost or devalued in the process. Music has become ubiquitous. It’s in shops, restaurants, bars, airports, waiting rooms – in fact, anywhere that people gather. Sadly, in a way, music has become just another kind of social ‘filler’, like small talk or gossip.

 I get frustrated when I hear the piano being played in the background at the lobby of a five star hotel and nobody pays attention to it. However good it may be unfortunately it has become a  ‘background’. And the artists rarely get appreciation.

Research has shown that music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. In fact, there’s a growing field of health care known as MUSIC THERAPY,  which uses music to heal. Those who practice music therapy are finding a benefit in using music to help cancer patients, children with ADD, and others, and even hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many other benefits that music and music therapy can bring.

To many, music is nothing like what it used to be, but, to some, it is so much more. There are no bounds to what music can bring us. It has no purpose set in stone. We will use it, abuse it, and reuse it to our very end. So, to me, music means everything. I love it because I can’t imagine a life without music.

Music- A way of life

Hi! Everyone. I know I have been away for a really long time. But have come back with a promise to be in touch with you regularly going forward!

I was actually helping a teen prepare for a speech for her hobby and ended up writing something that is close to my heart… MUSIC!

Music to me and to most of us is a way of life. It does something magical. It is a wonderful gift to humanity. Music moves us, and soothes us. It stimulates. It makes us want to dance or sing. It makes us feel happy or sad, inspired or uplifted. It affects our mood in all kinds of infinite ways. It can be exquisitely subtle or wildly raucous: from a lullaby, to a war cry for revolution.

It is no accident that the Latin word for breath – that prerequisite of music – is spiritus, for, music invokes the spiritual in us. It is of the spirit and so is universal, other-worldly.

Music has always been a big part of my life, from watching Barney and Nursery rhymes with my little girl or listening to my grandpa’s own compositions  and to the Latest “One Direction” band that the Teens in my life insist I listenend to. I’ve always loved music, whether its oldies music, Classical Karnatic or Hindustani or Rabindra Sangeet, or filmy music… Vocal or Instrumental.

Music literally turns my frown upside down! Even when there isn’t music playing, there is always a song in my head. I sing/ listen to music  in the car, while cooking or  when I’m cleaning, or at work all the time! In fact even during my school & college time my conv

EVER SINCE I can remember, music has been an accompaniment in my life. It would be impossible for me to even try and conceptualise a world without music. If you have a natural aptitude and appreciation for it, then music simply draws you to it and connects. Watch a baby nodding her head, clapping her hands, or bouncing in response to a rhythm or melody.

I’m not a music ‘expert’. I’m a music lover.  Music for me is pure ‘potentiality’. I can engage with it. I can commune with it. Sometimes, if I’m open to it, it takes me by surprise, and I step out of myself. Music is a friend, a companion, a guide and a teacher. Music is chord structure, harmony or dissonance.

Music is the universal language. I think it should be required by law for each student to take a music appreciation class. I have never heard someone say that they don’t like music. Music is an art form, an expression of thoughts and feelings.

Music also tells stories, breaks hearts, reduces us to tears, or seduces us into falling in love.  A human creation from a divine source… perhaps.

However, there  are other questions that need to be asked: what does the wind sound like, or a waterfall, the ocean, early-morning birdsong? Can this be a form of music too? A baby  gurgling, whispers, a log fire crackling, animal sounds, city sounds, laughter,  the roar of a cricket crowd, voice of a loved one ?……………… Are these sounds musical to your ears?

How does music make you feel? Does it make you nostalgic? Where does it take you in your internal landscape? How can a specific piece of music take you to a certain period in your life?

What does silence sound like? Have you ever experienced silence? Do you like it? Are your thoughts too loud? Where is your mind located? Is music located ‘inside’ your mind or ‘outside’ of you?

These are not just random questions; they are the kind of questions rarely posed when young people start to learn how to approach an instrument. Yet, I think they need to be asked, because music is so much more than just going through the motions of producing a sound. People may be able to play well mechanically – because they have learned to copy well – but in doing so they do not truly connect with the essence of music and express themselves.

WE HAVE BECOME so accustomed to recorded sound that it has become rather formulaic. When you can literally access any piece of recorded music at the touch of a fingertip, something valuable gets lost or devalued in the process. Music has become ubiquitous. It’s in shops, restaurants, bars, airports, waiting rooms – in fact, anywhere that people gather. Sadly, in a way, music has become just another kind of social ‘filler’, like small talk or gossip.

 I get frustrated when I hear the piano being played in the background at the lobby of a five star hotel and nobody pays attention to it. However good it may be unfortunately it has become a  ‘background’. And the artists rarely get appreciation.

Research has shown that music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. In fact, there’s a growing field of health care known as MUSIC THERAPY,  which uses music to heal. Those who practice music therapy are finding a benefit in using music to help cancer patients, children with ADD, and others, and even hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many other benefits that music and music therapy can bring.

To many, music is nothing like what it used to be, but, to some, it is so much more. There are no bounds to what music can bring us. It has no purpose set in stone. We will use it, abuse it, and reuse it to our very end. So, to me, music means everything. I love it because I can’t imagine a life without music.

Mom’s dilema

It has been ages since I visited my own blog.  No. It was not my laziness, though I must admit have been a bit preoccupied with life’s situations. On a seriouse note…I did not come across a good enough topic folks. You know, the kind of stuff that would just make you start typing in….And, today finally, I got that something and so here I am desperately typing in!

I have always been a strong believer that parenting is not such a challenging task as people make it out to be. And, handling issues of teenage child/children is not bad at all. All that one needs to do is… befriend them… talk their lingo… laugh…discuss every topic under planet earth … basically share with them everything possible and have an open door policy for them to reciprocate their feelings too.

I was so wrong… at every step it is a dilemma one goes through as a parent. Be it buying a new book for them or a piece of Jewellery or allowing them to have a day out or a sleep over, or selecting a new activity in school. Phew!! Just can’t figure out whether and how much of freedom is good enough. So risky…and some of them so scary too. And obviously, you can’t be talking to your peer group about these issues coz you don’t obviously want to tell the world about your inefficiency and least of all discuss your angel and his/her behavior.

I recall a time just a couple of months back  when I overheard my little one ( a good 14+ but little one still for me) making a plan for a movie and day out with her friends and I was so upset that she did not take permission from me before making the plans.. Was I being conservative? Was I feeling left out? Was I scared that my little one has grown her wings and will fly away/ fall prey in the wrong hands? Oh God! I wonder if all mothers go through this as well? Wonder if my mom also went through this?

As if this werent enough you have this whole new genre way of education. I must admit I am guilty of propagating this new system ie “do away with the marks thingy and for God’s sake start developing the overall personality of the child”… Yes! You’ve guessed it right! Focus on the Co scholastic education.

In fact I remember giving a piece of my mind to a colleague when he was obviously upset or rather overtly concerned about the different designated days in his 5 year old daughter’s school… The rose day…The hug day…The kiss day….He said he has already started having nightmares of being a father. I chided him for being such a conservative individual. But Boy!!!! Today I am able to relate to the feeling that my colleague went through that day.

Guess what is the latest that has fallen on my lap, Yes. You guessed it right, it is from the school. Today my Teen has to go and do some social service!  It is a compulsory activity. Fine! And yes I am glad she is also equally enthused about it… But what is this?.. There is more to it… Two of her classmates (boys) came home today and suggested that there is this XYZ organization and whether my daughter can  go along with them to complete the social service activity ( 14-16 weeks). Logically, it made a lot of sense, the distance to the organization being minimal, it will be done on Sundays, the kids all from the same building, and most of all  I loved the honesty and the innocence with which the kids asked me. So where is the problem? or question of refusal? Right! But I didn’t know how to react. I stared like a fool and my teen came to my rescue( as usual) saying we will let them know…I couldn’t believe my own reaction or lack of one… I…. Just…… Couldn’t…Digest. What do I do now? If I give her a nod… am I inviting trouble? Am I being a careless mom? And, If I refuse will I be reacting like those typical conservative moms? Remember I am a self proclaimed modern career woman with an open mind right. Gosh! I am completely perplexed.  I am unable to figure out what is bothering me…  Is it because she will be travelling with 2 of her classmates who happen to be from the other Gender? How will she go? Is it her security that worries me? Going out on a Sunday for this activity? Will I miss her? Shucks! Parenting is just the pits. I wish I didn’t have to go through this.

After a lot of thinking I realized that this dilemma is going to continue forever. I remember my mom’s reactions to some of my decisions until recently. I wish she was alive today so I would have shared with her and taken some guidance from her. But I guess it is my battle and I have to front it , fight and bear the consequence……

Pocket-money for a kid : Is it a must ? How much is good enough? How early or late should one start ?

A recent conversation with a friend triggered this topic. Last week as we were walking together, my friend  asked me how much should one be giving as pocket-money to a college going kid, I had no clue as I haven’t started the culture for my school going teens till date. But when I heard the amount that she was giving her son, I found myself defending the kid saying…… I found it quite in sufficient  and felt my friend was being a miser ( despite being from a  wealthy family)

But after that day I did a lot of thinking on this and developed a  lot of hypothesis which needed vetting and so I decided to ask a few of my friends who have school going/college going children,  to figure out what is the trend today.

These were my findings:

1. Most parents ( I am only talking about the working class, Upper middle class variety only not the HNI’s) don’t give pocket-money to their kids until they started college.
2. Most did not have any specific date for giving this amount and also the amount was not very consistent and had no basis
3. The logic for not giving any pocket-money to kids earlier in their lives mainly related to the  fear of mishandling, over spending, not able to develop any value for money and the worst fear being the kids might end up befriending bad company/ habits.

What baffled me even more was when I heard a few of my wealthy friends saying

‘we never needed any such thing in our childhood and we have survived quite successfully in life right’.

OMG! This used to be my dad’s dialogue and hearing the same from my age group….. Is this what is called the Gen gap ?

I felt like screaming ……..How typical of you diabetes age guys!

I could not  for the life of me digest this.  One question that I wanted to ask but didn’ t have the guts to ask them at that time  (for the fear of ending my friendship you see) was ……Hello! parents  do you not know there is this factor called ‘inflation’ that also dangles on todays’ kids lives too. Dont you have any clue as to how important it is for a teenager today to:

1. Sms his/her friend.. to know what he/ she was wearing/doing/what time he/ she will join for cycling/ guitar class/join the chat on FB or to know whether the new arrival German boy ( on an exchange program) in the school was hot and sexy and  many such important issues;
2. to access FB, Twitter through their smart phones
3. download or buy the latest ‘One direction; Ed Sheeran; The wanted ……’ songs
4. be the first to send their review on a latest movie ( first to see the movie amongst their friends)
5. be seen at the hard rock cafe or similar kinds  at least once a month, and at least frequent a CCD/Barista or even a food court in a happening mall
6. be on top of the viral world, buy the latest gadgets etc

Please parents, don’t be so outdated, come out your B&W TV days, wake up and smell the coffee!!! Children need to have money for all these things and ++

On a serious note let us look at a scenario:… Say you have a college going son and you give him Rs. 500/pm. ( according to you it is a looooooooooot of money as you are taking care of most of his/ her expenses like education, transport and shopping, eating etc right!). He goes for a movie with his friends and all of them decide to have dinner post that. Can you imagine what an awkward situation you have put your bundle of joy into? The child has to either forgo his time out with his friends by lying to them and get out or has to ask one of his close friend to come to his rescue by lending some money. Does that make you feel good?Your bundle of joy borrowing from a complete stranger?  Is this why you are slogging your donkey ( as my daughter politely puts it) off in your job? Think about it.

Also remember every time you make your child ask you for money, he would have applied his mind to come up with a convincing case so you agree Now ……are you not  training him to say super-duper lies, a habitual  borrower who thinks it is either his birth right and or it is absolutely okay to borrow money from those who love or like and it is fine to outsmart them with a convincing story?….Seriously, do you think this will make him realize value for money?

No! Nahi! Never!

In fact without realizing we, as parents are training /pushing the kids to the live on ‘future earning’s/loans/credit card’ kind of culture.

Here I want to slightly digress, I feel most of us parents from the middle class background (though thanks to our education/ job some of us may have migrated to become the Crore pathis on paper) still like to shield our kiddos from the household’s financial matters. Why? Is it required? This protection or over protection in my view by our earlier Gen is what has led to so many of the grownups to mismanage their income,  and end up in debt crisis. In my opinion every child should know what struggles their parents are going through( financially). It will make them more responsible.

I want to share an apt situation which impressed me a lot.

In 2006 my friend who was working with TCS at a very senior role had to go to the US for a year. With her son in the 7th and the daughter in the 5th grade, and a husband who was the CEO of a large company (used to keep crazy timings and was travelling frequently himself and hardly had time for household management), she was in a fix. Independent minded that she was, obviously didn’t want to burden her parents or her in-laws to come to rescue. So the couple decided to give charge of managing the household expenses  to their children. According to her the children did a brilliant job…. used to prepare the budget( under the guidance of the parents); spent within the allotted funds ( in fact not only had they maintained the minutest details of expenses including the amount spent for their junk food, the cigarette for the dad etc, they also managed to do some substantial savings). According to the couple, the exposure, the responsibility did wonders to their kids. They belong to a wealthy family and still the kids understand the value for money so well.

This really set me thinking, it would indeed be a good idea to start training our children in money management through this ritual called Pocket- money right from their school days.

Some suggestions on how to go about deciding the right amount for the pocket-money:

1. Ask your child to prepare a preliminary budget on his likely expenses for the month/quarter/annual ( if not anything else they will learn budgeting)
2. Specify things to include and exclude in the budget
3. Sit with them and arrive at an optimal amount as pocket-money
4. finalize with your spouse
5. Set date for giving the same and stick to it every month
6. Lay down rules that they have to manage within the given amount same way how you manage within your salary
7. If there is additional requirement then lay down tasks that the child can do at home and earn some extra amount
8. Pay rise… or bonus Time lines and how it can be achieved…….can also be set at the beginning itself.

Some pointers to parents

• Be prepared:  do not heed to your child’s request immediately let them fight their case
• Know the market rate: what are his friends getting; know from their parents
• Stick to the rules set

My verdict on this :

Is pocket-money a must?  100% yes

How much is good enough? Decide and arrive at an optimum figure depending on their age , needs and your affordability( it can be anything from Rs. 50; 100/500/1000/2000/…..

When to start? The day your child starts asking you for money to buy anything ( may be a chocolate/ book or anything)

I would love to know your thoughts on this, do leave your comments. Good luck! Happy ‘parent teen’ ing!

MBA- What does it mean?

Management programs in India have really become a joke today. I wonder if there is any charm still left for this hyped-up course! Barring the top few (don’t want to put a number because I don’t believe in the ranking that some them claim they have), the rest of the institutesare still struggling to get their seats filled.It was surprising to see well-known B-schools coming up with a front page ad last week (hmmm-so things are not so hunky dory there as well!)in DNA and DH.

B-schools have slashed their fee drastically, reduced their selection cut offs while some have even postponed their starting date for the new batch to September 2012. On a lighter note, one can foresee a day when these B schools will also offer schemes like the buy one get one free (Take admission into PGDM-HR and get a certificate in marketing for free or How about you join and your sibling will get 50% off at today’s fee structure, or pay the tuition fee, and your hostel stay will be taken care of?) Actually it’s not a bad idea;maybe I should suggest it as a strategy to some of those not so well to do B-schools.

Students have no clue of what to expect in an MBA school.  This probably extends to the curriculum designers as well. Most of them have no experience in the corporate world and use out dated case studies or “cut and paste” from HBR. Where is its relevance in the Indian market?And if thatdidn’t cause enough chaos in the market, you now have MBA, PGDM, distance learning, Laterals/Executive MBA.

God should drive some sense into these aspirants, in terms of what is their ROI going to be? One of the survey claims that majority of these aspirants don’t know the difference between a PGDM and an MBA degree. Then why do this course? It seems that a majority are doing this to increase their marriage prospects or as an assurance of a citizen of good standing….. Soon all Mom in-laws will put this as a mandatory criteria “kyaaapkibeti MBA hai”instead of “kyaaapkibetipadilikhihai”? OR when someone goes around looking for a PG accommodation they will ask for MBA/PGDM certificate as a proof? Most view this as an easy ticket to start a job at an envious salary.

So is there a makeover when someone struggles & manages to get that certificate? Do their personalities take a magical turn and are transformed into ready to use, industry/corporate products. Sorry, that is where we are all grossly mistaken. Many of them can’t even construct a few correct English sentences on their own let alone not exhibit any domain knowledge nor exude any energy whatsoever. Ask the B-schools how much they have to struggle to get a placement for these so-called “MBA taggers”. I have personally witnessed these kids freezing in the personal interviews after having scored pathetically in the aptitude entry-level tests.  But then what else can you expect if compromises are being made by these B- schools at the entry-level itself.

So where does it leave the Management certification and its sanctity, I wonder! I think corporates need to do a bit of introspection and just stop insisting on such useless degrees. Marks and degrees are not good enough anymore to identify talents. Companies need to have better system installed to pick out students of caliber.

Let us hear what the teens have to say about this.Do you agree? What do you think is the solution? Looking forward to seeing your comments.

Review of a timeless movie- Must read review for all audience! Worth watching more than once.

 

The Man in the Moon (1991)

You may wonder why I have posted a review of a movie released in 1991 and that too set in the 1950s. Ever wanted to watch a film that is about teenagers but deals with them as “young adults” and not merely hormonally charged juveniles?It’s also the fact that it’s beautifully shot, poignantly written and superbly acted that compelled me to write this review.

Directed by Robert Mulligan, “The Man in the Moon” has 14-year-old willful Dani (Reese Witherspoon-yes in her very first role!) as part of a family set in rural Louisiana. With a beautiful older sister Maureen (Emily Warfield), a younger baby sister and another one on the way, Dani is expected to help with the household chores which are the last thing she wants to do. Her father Matthew (Sam Waterson) is strict but loving. She runs of at every given chance to a nearby river to swim where she chances upon 17-year-old handsome Court who she later comes to know is a new neighbor and family friend as well. Initial dislike turns to a strong infatuation for Dani as they begin to meet for swimming. Court on the other hand is confused. He is aware that Dani is still much younger than him and has to keep his feelings in check. “I want you to be the first boy I ever kiss” she tells him. He obliges. She wants to know him as a person-his hopes and dreams. But her own are dashed when he sets eyes on Maureen. It is love at first sight for both. You can literally see the transformation in Courts eyes for Dani from an attractive young lady to merely a younger sister of Maureen. Maureen and Court soon begin a relationship with Maureen being aware of the hurt she has caused Dani. Her apologies fall on deaf ears. Watch the scene where Dani watches the way Maureen comes running towards the house and is immediately aware that she had been with Court – Dani herself had reacted exactly the same way when Court had kissed her. Her relationship with Dani is now completely fragile.

At this point there is a very unexpected and heartbreaking twist in the tale (forgive me for using such words but these characters really involve you!!!) that both tests and heals the relationships of all involved. You will have to watch the film to find out what it is. There are many other “hatke” things in this film. The parents of the protagonists and not merely one-dimensional “mum” and “dad” present only as supporting characters. Court’s mother and Dani’s parents are shown to be sensitive human beings with their own strengths and weaknesses. Again, focus on the scene where Dani’s father gets down from the car and rapidly moves towards Dani. You think for a moment that he is going to hit her but instead he wraps her in a remorseful embrace. His expressions are wonderful.

Reese Witherspoon as the free-spirited Dani is fantastic. This was no doubt no merely a debut performance but a promise of her potential. Jason London looks utterly gorgeous and acts well but it is Sam Waterson who owns every scene he is present in.

Must watch for all teenagers and those with a teen mind set , the characters stay with you long after you have turned the television off-and that’s a rarity these days!

–Megha Chandrashekar ( one of my teen contributors)

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My verdict on Cocktail– Bollywood latest release

COCKTAIL– The latest Bollywood release, fun to watch movie especially the first half . The dialogues, and the comic timing of Boman, Saif , undoubtedly send the audience into splits of laughter. Diana, a refreshing face on the screen, and Deepika looks super hot. Like any other cocktail mix, this one too is a concoction of everything that the Director has tried of course to present it in a modern stylish barware ( a swarovski /waterford may be!).

I think it would have been even more entertaining and interesting if the story had continued revolving around friendship post interval also. Don’t understand why there is a compulsive disorder among our Directors to give every movie the so called LOVE twist and that too, a ‘love triangle’ . Come on guys, think new, think modern, think new gen ( or is the need always same whatever be the generation?). Need not always play safe to get mass appeal. Love to hear a  ‘new teen’ version on this.

Also the Director has portrayed Diana’s character as the typical Bharatiya nari (in modern outfit) but strangely not once did she make an attempt to save her marriage?  Well !! Ok. Ok. Agreed one is not supposed to question the logic of Hindi movies.

Some of the take away from the movie for me :

•  ‘His bun in my oven’ dialogue
• New version of Shiela ki jawani dance
• Dimple’s resuscitation of Veronica and
• Of course the awesome, full of energy song ‘Tumhi Ho Bandhu Sakha Tumhi’

Unacceptable parts:

• Dimple in a Behenji attire ( though subtle comic dialogues makes it bearable)
• Wild, happy-go-lucky character of Veronica suddenly turned to super emotional and love stuck idiot( yuk!)
• Typical long drawn climax proposal of Saif ( though my teen feels it was nice and different )

My verdict: If you are OK with old wine in a new bottle and looking for fun, good peppy number and time pass, then it is worth one watch at the movie hall. By the way it is OK to take your teen kid along and watch too:)

Rating —7 on 10

When you reach the…

 When you reach the end of what you should know, you will be at the beginning of what you should sense  -Kahlil Gibran

Welcome All!

Hi! Let me first of all begin by thanking you for visiting my blog!

Why the name Teen U and me?

Well as it is clear from the name obviously for the teens, but my definition of today’s teen includes pre teens, teens, and post teens (11 years to 21 years). ‘Me’ in the name is pretty obvious isn’t it, but, what about ‘U’? Who would that be for? U in my blog …. Can be anyone; it could be another teen; it could be a parent; a grandparent. In short this is for anyone who is a teen, will be a teen or has been through teen sometime in their lifetime. Oops! Sorry for leaving out the <10 years and > 80+years. Maybe I will start another blog for you guys soon.!!!

What was the need for this blog?

I am a teen at heart and wish to remain so till the end. In addition I have to deal with two teens at home and also have a lot of teen friends. I am really awed by this stage of life. How is it that whatever be the progress humans make in the field of tech/astronomy etc, the dialogue between the teen and the parents never changes.  I have always heard parents comment ‘ it is the age; these teens and their tantrums or it has to do with the hormonal imbalances”, at the same time, I also have heard the sigh… from teens saying very loudly “ generation gap”. So I found a need to have a venue wherein the teens and the adults can join hands and get to know, and appreciate each other.

Is this going to be a problem solving venue?

No way.  You are free to post your likes, dislikes, discuss movies, give your reviews, share latest trendy stuff be it a place to hang around, clothes, tech stuff, latest lingo and so on.  Of course you can also share your challenges and hope that another member may help out by sharing their experience in a similar situation. We can keep your identity anonymous if you wish so.

Have something to say? Post your comment

Comments are moderated and will be allowed if they are about the topic and not abusive

Great! So lets Go for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!