Skip to content

KQED

The Legend Of Lake M

Originally published in KQED Perspectives, Dec 23 2021 One cold, dark morning, the clouds seemed heavy, the sky ready to burst, and the air full of suspense. At school drop-off, I heard mounting whispers in the backseat of my car. Something big was about to happen. The legend of Lake M was about to appear. Every year, at least once, when days look like this — wet and ready for a downpour, my kids’ school has come to expect the phenomenon of Lake M. As the kids stay indoors for classes, rain falls without a break. And… Read More »The Legend Of Lake M

The Note

Our household, like many others, has been through numerous pandemic pursuits – hikes, swims, mid-day boogies, gardening, baking, board games, and every combination thereof. But one day, the books lying askew, the pom-poms strewn everywhere, the mud-soaked feathers and sticks lying on the carpet, the relentless meal planning, the fights for more screen time got to me –
I burst.

United by COVID

The status of the pandemic varies greatly depending on where you are, but Sandhya Acharya says the world is united by COVID more than ever.

End-in-sight

My kids went back to in-person school today. It’s just for two hours this week but still, the elation is real. It’s been a long year. A year of no field trips, no racing each other around the tracks, no monkey bar throw downs, no impromptu bey-blade battles, and no lunch-time shenanigans. It’s not all back to normal, but still, the end is in sight.

CONFIDENCE

Published on KQED(NPR) Perspectives on May 7, 201 Sandhya Acharya would love to have the soaring confidence of her six-year-old. Who wouldn’t like to believe that everything about you is just great? One afternoon, in my son’s schoolyard, I watched a little boy talking animatedly with his sole audience, a little girl in pigtails. I walked a little closer to observe. He bubbled up and down, his eyes dancing with excitement. “Watch my muscles,” he gloated. He flexed his thin arms with an emphatic “Grr.” The little girl looked at him straight-faced and said, “You… Read More »CONFIDENCE

Competitiveness starts young

First! (on NPR)

A piece of mine is on KQED Perspectives this morning. If you are near the radio, listen in at 8.43 AM How do you cope with the obsession of coming first in your children? https://ww2.kqed.org/perspectives/2017/07/01/first/    Recently, I was finishing a half-marathon. Several runners had already come in. Some had won in their categories, some had made PRs. They posed, took pictures and collected their medals. Finally my son spotted me. He rushed to welcome me and then somewhat sadly asked “Did you come last?” Lately, my 5-year-old has been a bit obsessed with ‘coming… Read More »First! (on NPR)

Chai story

An Invitation to Tea

A new immigrant in a new country has a lot to learn. The practical things are easy to master. It is the cultural differences that is the real challenge. Here’s a personal account of how an innocent invitation to Tea could get misconstrued in ‘translation’.
invitation to Tea.

Many-mes

Aired on KQED on Oct 04, 2016 06:43 AM Recently, I gathered with 454 applicants from 61 countries to pledge allegiance to the United States of America. I stood there, nervously examining my voter registration card, passport application, a notebook of the U.S. Constitution. Ahead on the stage, the proud flag – red, white and blue, 50 stars and 13 stripes — beckoned me. I remembered a conversation I had had with my four-year old son a few days back. We had spotted a flag on our way to pre-school and I had excitedly pointed… Read More »Many-mes

Naming rights – KQED

Perspectives Naming Rights Sandhya Acharya Feb 10, 2016 06:43 AM By Sandhya AcharyaFEBRUARY 10, 2016 SHARE It was evaluation day at preschool. I shifted uncomfortably in the little toddler seat feeling like Goliath at Lilliput’s table. My 3.5-year old’s sincere teacher spread out a sheaf of papers of work and grades. “This is your son writing his name,” she announced. She showed me incoherent scribbling. Interesting shapes, but no semblance of an alphabet. I grimaced at the 9-lettered challenge facing my son. S I D D H A R T H. It is a beautiful name… Read More »Naming rights – KQED

When Dad Friends you

Published on KQED (NPR) Perspectives on Apr 19, 2016 https://www.kqed.org/perspectives/201601134325/when-dad-friends-you Pe I woke up one morning to the petulant ping of a Facebook notification. It was a friend request, from my father. I ignored it, shuddering to think what it would mean to have my father as a friend. I would have to stay away from controversial posts, reveal judicious little about my everyday doings, filter my comments. The idea that my father would have a keyhole to peer into my life, was unnerving. Over the next few days, I got other disconcerting notifications. My… Read More »When Dad Friends you