Play reveals a lot!

There are many things, I watch when children are at play!

When children below three years play with the peg board in the consultation room, I watch keenly how they use both hands for the play! The position of the opposite hand and foot is also something to watch for!

Every time when I watch a toddler use the left hand by preference, I enquire if any member in the family is left handed. If there is none, I take an extra effort to find out if the child uses the left hand because of pathology on the right side of the body or whether he is naturally left handed!

Most parents insist that children ought to use the right hand for the daily living activities. A naturally left handed child is terribly disadvantage by this insistence as the child would have to struggle with the dominance of the cerebral hemispheres. In majority of the situations the dominant cerebral hemisphere is the opposite to the side of handedness. Imagine the physiological challenge the child has, if he has to change to using the right hand because of insistence of teachers and parents, when actually his dominant cerebral hemisphere has predetermined him to be a left handed!

One of the causes of some children having a poor start with writing or struggle along in writing is because of the enforced change from natural left handedness!

What the body has designed to do is the best!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Shades of Pink!

The flowers from the same plant, when photographed from two different angles with different light conditions! There is an appearance of  difference! 

This set me thinking. The same flowers appear different slightly! The flower has not changed, but its appearance to the beholding eye has changed!

As I occasionally watch the TV debates on contemporary issues, the opposing arguments which sometimes become hostile, are only different perceptions each carrying some truth!

Yesterday, one domestic helper commented that it might rain during the day; while the other felt that there is sign of sunshine in the sky! But what happened was that there were couple of showers with sunshine in between! 

Ours is becoming an argumentative society without sound reason... what w need at difficult times such as it is now, is a collaborating tone in our voice and intent!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The hidden cottage!

The view of the cottage where Anna and I live is restricted by the greenery around it. We like it this way. The palms and other plants have grown well in the last five years that it gives us a good feeling of  staying in an environment which fosters healthy ambience. 

We have at least fifteen species of birds, and squirrels, reptiles, butterflies, and sometimes migratory birds in the garden. We are still waiting for some birds to nest in the foliage!

One of the special experiences is the quietness the premise offers us. The bird songs alone are the audible sounds we hear during the day and night!

We complete five years in this cottage this month and we feel grateful for all that my parents did to make this place wha it is! We are blessed by their labour of love! 

M.C.Mathew(text and photo) 

  

A growing tree!

VP and Nirmala planted this custard apple sapling in 2013 when they visited us first time. During their recent visit the tree appeared taller than themselves. We had a few fruits from it for two years now in a row.

It has been our custom to request visitors who come to our cottage to plant saplings in the garden. So we have an opportunity of keeping their memories when we walk through the garden! In fact few have come back to greet us and watch the sapling grow!

Humans thrive on symbols and signs!

Watch a sapling grow into a tree, is a transforming experience because, it symbolises the inner growth, all of us are called to be aware of and stay attuned to!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Remembering Annam on her wedding day!

Annam, we think of you on your wedding day and send you our greetings and good wishes for a joyful wedding service and years of blessed family life! We have plenty of memories of you that we keep returning to!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

The gardener's relief!

Our gardener, Sasi was waiting for a mechanised grass cutter for use in the lawn... VP and Nirmala brought the one they were using, which was a relief and delight to Sasi.

I wish, I had attended to this earlier, without making him wait for this!

A lesson about being aware of the unspoken needs of others!

Ever since he started using this, Sasi is happier and the lawn is better kept!

M.C.Mathew(text and photo)

Nearing the fifth anniversary of Dev Paed and child Neurology!!

It is the season of looking foreword to the fifth anniversary of the department in September, 2017. Let me share some photo memories of our journey from 2012.