(ABOVE)AT BLESSINGS WITH NIVEDITA...AND STUDENTS...

My last blog in the moonbeam series...this particular blog is about the post-marital moonbeams in my life during the period 1995 onwards.

Since this is all about my quest to find a vocation for myself its going to read a bit like a CV ---also I know for certain by now that a rolling stone gathers no moss!!!

a) When my son turned one, I joined IEC(a computer training institute) to learn computer programming and animation;I couldn't pursue this as a career option as it required a lot of time for practice that I wasn't able to spare. But IEC wiped out the dust gathering in my mind due to humdrum existence. One day, out of the blue, they awarded me with an outstanding performance certificate. Whoopie!

b) Next I took up a tupperware dealership.Tupperware products are a wonderful combination of style and utility;..I worked very hard and was soon a star performer.My manager Payal Bhutani was justifiably proud.From Tupperware I learnt the art of promoting products while looking at everyone's personal requirements, as the focus of the sale.

c) As Varun (my son) turned 4yrs old I took to parent volunteering as a serious pursuit .There were many moms doing it and far more talented than me but I still cherish those moments of unselfish contribution to the schools!!.These photos and notes of thanks are few of the memorabilia saved up by me.The highlights of the jobs done by me during this phase were the life-size models of sheep that I made for a nativity scene,"Ravan's ten heads " (at Apeejay School) and the most precious task---depicting the entire state of Maharashtra ,in the 3B classroom ,for the annual visit of the Japanese delegation to DPS EOK.

d) In the year,2002,a dear friend ,Nivedita recommended me for a summer camp at a

playschool ,BLESSINGS. My association with that school lasted a few years after which I was assigned a class-teacher's job(teaching classI for one academic session) in Varun's school.

e)In the interim( 2003 -2004) I started my own 'home-based enterprise' 'Niru's Home Bakes' ....the brownies and chocolate truffle cakes being the hotselling items!!

f)The last moonbeam on this list is my diploma in Nursery teacher training from the South Delhi Women's Polytechnic, quite close to my home. The faculty selected me for training at two of the most premier educational institutes---the American School at Chanakyapuri and Kangaroo Kids (GK1).

ALL these options and yet no career --:(....yet as they say ...its great to be a 'has been' than a 'could have been'.