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Usha Pokharel

The contributor for Republica.
news@myrepublica.com

Given them public libraries

Published On: May 11, 2019 01:05 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

The other day while walking down Connecticut Avenue, my son said to me, ‘Look this is the same library that you used to bring us to’. I looked around. The place seemed familiar with the return book box still standing in the same place. Apart from that the whole area had changed in the past 29 years. We went inside and nothing was the same. It had become two storied and there were lot more books than before. Now the library had really grown big.

Video games are good

Published On: April 27, 2019 12:25 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Just reading the title parents may be thinking: ‘You must be crazy. How can video games be good?’ It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Actually, several studies support my statement. I know after so many years of cautioning your children not to spend time playing ‘good for nothing’ video games it may be hard for you to accept it as being good.

Benefits of coloring

Published On: April 13, 2019 12:25 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Reading the title you must be wondering, ‘coloring is for children, how come you associate it with adults?’ Well coloring is no longer something only for children. Surprised? Don’t be, I was also shocked to find adult coloring books in the bookstore. My reaction was similar. I too considered coloring as children’s pastime, until I found out the popularity of adult coloring books. So much so that most bookstores around Washington DC had whole section dedicated to adult coloring books. Turns out, coloring pages are no longer just for children, adults are also using it. Now the question is why?

Limit their screen time

Published On: March 30, 2019 12:05 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

The other day while waiting to board Qatar airlines I noticed a family rushing in to meet the boarding time with a toddler in tow. They were sitting just a few seats away from me. I was not paying much attention to them, but something caught my ears. The toddler was repeatedly saying something that to me sounded like iPad.

Talk to your children

Published On: March 16, 2019 01:59 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Parents should regularly involve their children in family conversation at home because that helps in children’s brain development

Setting right expectation

Published On: March 2, 2019 03:25 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Keep in mind children don’t listen to their parents, but will imitate them without a second thought.

Season of love

Published On: February 16, 2019 03:51 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Popular belief in France and England was that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season.

Those Saraswati pujas

Published On: February 10, 2019 02:42 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

The past five years have been, collectively, the hottest on record, with 2018 the fourth-warmest since modern records began.

The color dilemma

Published On: February 2, 2019 12:10 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Hair coloring is not a big thing now. You will find people with colored hair everywhere. Even middle-aged conservative women sport blond streaks on their head. Yes, I too color my hair. My hair started greying very early, in my twenties. I was not intent on coloring my hair, nor did I know of things used to color one’s hair. Upon a friend’s suggestion I decided to give it a try. I was happy when my hair looked normal.

Memories of Jatra

Published On: January 19, 2019 12:15 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Every Jatra had an allegorical figure called Bibek who commented on actions of actors and their consequences

Give them love and respect

Published On: January 5, 2019 12:15 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Old age is a fascinating subject.There are so many facades to it. I call it moving in reverse gear. We are indeed moving forward with each day, but so far as our body is concerned, it is moving in the reverse after a certain age. There is an age when we start acting like a toddler and have to be cared for. That includes being fed, washed and everything else that goes with it. Now, this whole thing is very frustrating for the person.

Dreaming big

Published On: December 22, 2018 12:15 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Do not push your children to fulfill your unfulfilled dreams. Let them dream for themselves

Being a grandparent

Published On: December 8, 2018 01:30 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Children with grandparents around are the luckiest people. Grandchildren look up to them as role models

Respect matters for all

Published On: November 24, 2018 12:25 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

I can almost read you reaction to the title. “What is it with this word ‘respect’?” Let me put it this way, for no reason at all, today I remembered a 1967 hit song by Aretha Franklin, “R-E-S-P-E-C-T”, and some where along the song the singer says, “Find out what it means to me” and that’s what got me started.

Understanding teenagers

Published On: November 11, 2018 02:00 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Teenagers are sometimes mischievous, but have you thought about it from their point of view? They may be trying to affirm their existence by thinking differently

How to talk about consent with your child?

Published On: October 27, 2018 12:15 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

One day I got a phone call from a reporter. She wanted my comments about talking to young children about rape. That got me thinking. Being associated with institutions dealing with the rehabilitation of child rape victims, I always felt the need to make parents aware of techniques to deal with the topic of rape with their children.

Why Dashain matters

Published On: October 13, 2018 12:25 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Dashain is almost here. Even the mornings look like Dashain. Looking around the market place, you see people gearing up to celebrate it with much fanfare. Each year it is bigger and better than the previous year. People look forward to the long bida (vacation) after a whole year of hard work. Bida is especially exciting for the children. They can go after their passion for linge ping (traditional swing built with bamboos during Dashain) and also chasing kites after changachet (falling of a kite after a kite fight).

Parenting modern-day kids

Published On: September 29, 2018 12:25 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

Our expectation of children is not realistic. We punish them for not performing well though they are doing well.

Save children from social media

Published On: September 15, 2018 12:15 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

I am sure you will agree with me when I say social media plays a role in our lives. I am tempted to ask you a very personal question: How many times do you check your social media account in a day? Now, don’t be embarrassed. At the same time also think of how you feel when you cannot check your social media account for a few days. Do you feel you are missing out on something someone said or even the reaction to your pictures that you recently posted? If you do, believe me, that is the beginning of anxiety disorder.

Wonders of elevators

Published On: September 1, 2018 12:15 AM NPT By: Usha Pokharel

On my recent trip to the United States, I had a connecting flight from Dubai airport. In the process of getting to the departure gate, I had to take an elevator, a very fancy one at that, with glass doors with opening both front and back. I got in from the front door and exited from the back door. This fancy elevator reminded me of the first time I rode an elevator long time back during the 1960s in Kolkata. At the time I was living with my father and attending school there. One day my father took me to a building where his office was located. It was in Russel Street. As I remember, at the time I believed, the building belonged to Subarna Shamsher’s family.