QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER
BY MOTHERHOOD CLUB
JOYFUL JULY
SERIES 2 - VOL 5
JULY 2025
Art By Smita Gupta
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.Contributors of the Month 2.Editorial
3. Advertisers Page 4.Kids Corner
5.Health Corner
6.Go Green Initiative
7.Book Review 8.Corporate Gyan 9.Parenting Corner
Fin-Guru Contribution
Poetry Corner 12. Articles ,Blogs & Stories
13.Art& Photography Corner 14. Our Associates
15.Meet the Team
CONTRIBUTORS FOR THE MONTH
1.Aditya Sabharwal (K)
2.Aisha Panda (K)
3.Akta Sehgal
4.Anshika Gupta (K)
5.Anshuman Srivastav (K)
6.Arunima Bhahadur Khare
7.CA Ratan Kumar Agarwala
8.Chaitanya Sabharwal (k)
9.Col ( Retd) Rajesh Krishna
10.Diya Khurana (K)
11.Dr. Anjy Kwatra
12.Dr Indu Bansal
13.Dr. Monica Goel Diwan
14.Dr Muktesh Sharma 15.Dr Smita Dipankar
16.Himani Rahul Patil
17 Ila Pachauri
18.Kamal Nimodia
19.Kavita Mittal
20.Manju Lata
21.Mukesh Bhatnagar
22.Neelam Dwivedi
23.Nikita Khurana (K)
24.Oshi (K)
25. Pooja Agarwal
26. Priti Sonawane
27. Rekha Agarwal
28.Rishimia Gulati (K)
29. Saradha Iyer
30. Shubhada Bhargava
31. Smita Gupta
32. Suraksha Khurana
33. Swetha Sundar
34. Vanya Malhotra (K)
35. Vrinda Singh (K)
Dear Members,
Editorial
Welcome to the July quarterly edition ofAntarman by MHC.Anewsletter carryingyour innervoice and emotions.
Last three months were a little harsh on Motherhood club.We lost the blessings of Ila's mother Mrs. Dwivedi.We also saw the impact of Operation Sindoor. Yet again reminding us all, that nothing is permanent and we should always live the moment - kal ho na ho.
Motherhood club consciously slowed down it's pace to take a birds eye view and to realise whether there is a need for the content that we offerWe saw a dip in storywriters contribution, creative challenge and in general there was a lull due to the environment that we were living in.
However , that gave us time to think and plan a lot of things at the back-end which shall unfold in the months to come.
We will soon be starting some new initiatives and we hope that our members shall support them.
Also, we have always maintained that we focus on quality and not quantity. That has always been our focus and shall continue to be so.
With many platforms around, we all have a choice and one must .We have also made a choice.We shall always advance forward no matter how many members stand by us.
We will keep our focus on Health,Wealth and Happiness and continue to Educate, Empower and Enlighten with Passion , Perseverance and Panache’.
Happy Reading !
BestWishes,
Akta Sehgal Editor in Chief & Founder Motherhood Club
The three pillars on which Motherhood Club stands tall. All our conversations and social drives are around these themes
KIDS CORNER - EXPRESSIONS
LIFE or RACE
You should grow up to change the world
This statement, most of you have never even been told.
As from the start you have been told to focus on your studies
How else would you accomplish more in comparison to your buddies!!
We've been told that grades are all that matter
And that if we fail, our whole life is going to clatter
But only a few wise men and women know
That education ,not literacy , is the seed for a plant that you sow
Don't compare life to a cricket match cause you only live it once
Life is a lot more than no. Of wickets and runs
Studies are a little important but don't always just sit there to read and learn
In life the most important thing is to have fun
Rishima Gulati 14 years
KIDS CORNER - EXPRESSIONS
Curious Questions fromVanya Malhotra , 8Years
Q1. How do police come to know that someone doesn't have a license , and they are still driving ??
Q2. How does artificial rain happen ??? Do they create clouds or how is it being done ?
Q3Why do we only see some part of the moon at times, but I can see a full circle shadow ???
Q4Why do parents sleep together , and kids have to sleep alone ?
Q5Why do mummy and papa look different ??? will I also look different when i grow up.?
Q6 How does money grow in a bank ??? Is it similar to how plants grow ??
Q7Why do men pee in the open on the roads ??
Home
Home is where I am safe It’s where I live and can be myself. I shield to the rain A hug to give me warmth when I am cold. A place where I can mould into the real me
Home is a place where you start your life to grow and to reach our goals along with some fun and jokes. .
Chaitanya Sabharwal 11 Years
KIDS ART CORNER
Art by Oshi 7 years
Crocheted hats by Nikita Khurana 12 yrs old
Sea gull by Diya Khurana 14 yrs old
Blue dog by Nikita Khurana 12 yrs old
Pencil Shading by Chaitanya Sabharwal 11 years
Pencil Shading by Aditya Sabharwal 8 years
KIDS ART CORNER
Art by Vrinda Singh , 8 years
Art by Aisha Panda - 19 Years
Vanya Malhotra 8 years
Abeer Singh , 10 years
GO GREEN
CORPORATE GYAN
Time is never enough
Time is a precious commodity which is never enough. It’s common to feel that there should be more hours to the day. We always have so much to do in so little time, thus causing stress. But have we ever thought that why do some people feel that time is less while others are able to manage. It is because we are greedy by nature and always want to get more and more of what we have. This constant desire to do more makes us feel that time is scarce, thus leaving us frustrated. Very basic strategies can help us manage our limited time well.
1. Set clear objectives with clearly defined milestones.
2 Make a to do list This would help prioritize the critical tasks
3. Bring efficiency. Think and devise ways of accomplishing the same task in lesser time, maybe by digitization or assessing the steps in the task and discarding the non value adding or duplicate steps.
4. Delegate effectively. Everyone has their unique strengths and if it is supposed to be a team task, then identify the capabilities of each individual and assign roles accordingly.
5. Focus on continuous improvement and skill development.
6. Take thoughtful and meaningful breaks. Rejuvenation is important.
7. Learn to say NO. Distractions would continue to come on the way. Be mindful of what to pick up and what to let go.
Most important in Time management is Being Aware. Know and accept the situation and be agile to adept. Time is never enough but there is enough time to achieve your dreams, provided you strive towards it with passion
Dr.Monica Goel Diwan Founder NaMo Consulting Services
PARENTING CORNER
It’s not their fault, it’s their brain’s fault
“How many times do I have to repeat myself?”
“When will you be organized? Will you ever be responsible?” “Stop being rebellious.”
“Couldn’t you just call or inform when you reached your friend’s place?”
Be it with your 10- or 19-year-old, do you have these complaints? Do you feel guilty of being a bad parent, wondering what’s your fault?
Well, breathe! It’s neither your fault nor theirs. It’s their brain’s fault. Specifically, the Prefrontal cortex and the Frontal lobe.
Around 80% of brain development occurs during first 10 years of life. Remaining 20% brain continues to develop slowly during age 10 to 20. The frontal lobe and the prefrontal cortex are part of that 20% and reach full maturity only by midto-late 20s.
Though it is the latest mature lobe, the frontal lobe control most crucial functions like thinking, problem solving, planning, organizing and many more. Being the rational part of the brain, the prefrontal cortex is responsible for behavior control and decision making by assessing risks and judgement.
Since there is minimal development happening in this lobe, these functions are not developed yet This is why your 10 to 22 years old are unable to meet your simple expectations.
Wait! Don’t panic!
There is a simple way out. All these functions are a learned skill, so repetition is the key Instead of getting upset for having to repeat things, be happy you are teaching them a skill.
Expert Tip: To avoid arguments, talk to your child as a 2-year-old and get creative every time you need to repeat the same things
Dr. Smita Dipankar
M.B.B.S, D.A (Anaesthesia)
Certified Teen Life Coach wwwforevermagicalteens in
Next time you feel angry, breathe, smile and say,
“It’s not my child’s fault. It’s the brain’s fault. My child’s brain is work in progress”.
FIN - GURU - CONTRIBUTION
What seems crazy to you , Might make sense to me....
Everyone has their own unique experience and every one has their own normal as was said in the movie Sitaare Zameen par. This holds true for our investment decisions and experiences.As they sayyou can spell SUCCESS without “U”.
While we make our investment decisions, we end up focusing on all the parameters that are beyond our control and are more keen to ape someone else’s portfolio strategy. There greed and fear becomes ours and hence we are impacted by their decision making, without realizing that one our needs, wants and desires are different. Ourway of thinking, our upbringing , our circumstances and above all our names are different too.
When we copy someone else’s crazy idea , two siblings come to work on it too.. Luck and Risk. They are both the reality that every outcome in life is guided by forces other than individual effort. Here our effort means making an effort to know ourselves , our risk profile as that is in our control , luckwe have no control on.Yet we don't learn our lessons and get succumbed to situations where the market tests our ability to withstand risk and how much luck do we have , doesn't it ?
Now all this seems to make sense but the bigger question is what should be done, that most often than not we forget to implement
1.Patience and strongwill - do not succumb to the market environment and the noise around you. Be focused on your goal only then shall compoundingwork
2.Planning and further planning to ensure your plan works.
3.Sensible optimism - Be positive, have discipline and above all evaluate the situation with all the knowledge with an eye on your goals.
Investment is a journeywhich needs to planned and followed . The waywe do our own packing and think of all that we will need for out trip, and alter our packing basis the location we are travelling to suit the weather condition and other aspects, similarlywe must plan our investments and think about all the small details and not just focus on the bigger aspects like market research, financial analysis etc... starting point should be to find your craziness.
Happy Investing
Akta Sehgal Founder ManasWealth
Poetry corner
Creative Challenge Winners Contribution
March 2025 - English
Life in a Metro
Rushing footsteps, and crowded streets, Where dreams meet is the city of my treats. At every turn, ambitions are on rise, Yet reality hides behind deceptive disguise.
Amidst the crowd, some lonely souls tread, Chasing goals, with their hearts unread. Days passing to unknown goal in frantic race, Nights weave dreams in silent embrace.
Neon lights shine on the weary faces, Running all round in endless chases. Relationships strained, moments confined,
Dismayed in time, yet no one ever minds.
Honking cars, and the sirens scream, Bridges of love all torn at the seam. Stations, signals, crossings, and office walls, Echoes of dreams chant in empty halls.
Yet this city of Maa Kamakhya teaches to strive, To fall, to rise, to stay and to move alive. Beneath the rush, and beneath the pain, The spirit of hope is there ever to remain.
- CARATAN KUMARAGARWALA, GUWAHATI,ASSAM
Creative Challenge Winners Contribution
April 2025 - English
Impossible
In the silence, a whisper calls, Avoice that echoes, through empty halls and shallow heart.
It's the impossible, that beckons me, Achallenge that taunts, with uncertainty.
The heart beats fast, the soul feels alive, As I answer the call, and take the stride. The path unwinds, like a thread so fine, Leading me forward, into the unknown's design.
The impossible, a test of will, Ajourney through darkness, to find my own self.
The voice within, that guides me through, Whispers secrets, of what I'm capable of doing a new
So I'll follow the call, through the dark and the light,
And see the impossible, as a challenge to ignite.
For in the pursuit, I'll find my strength, And turn the impossible, into a newlength.
-Akta Sehgal
May 2025 English
Life is a Journey
Life's journey whispers secrets, in the wind,
A fragile dance, between joy and grief within.
Moments cherished, memories so dear, Fleeting instants, that brings us near.
Tears fall like rain, as we walk alone, The path unwinds, where heart and soul have entwined
Laughter and smiles, that once lit the way,
Now distant echoes, of a bygone day.
In the silence, we search for peace, Arefuge from life's stormy release. Yet in the chaos, we find our strength, Aresilience born, of life's length.
The journey's twists, the turns we ' ve made,
Shape us into, the souls we ' ve conveyed. So let us hold, on to love's pure light, And guide ourselves, through life's darkest night.
For in the end, it's not the years we ' ve lived, But the love we ' ve shared, the hearts we ' ve given.
Such is the journey of life , in one moment a breath and the other death...
-Akta Sehgal
April 2025
Creative Challenge Winners Contribution
Hindi
May 2025
Articles, Blogs &Stories
How much is too much and how much is too little ?
It's not easy to be a Cancer Specialist.As an Oncologist my profession has never been a cakewalk. I have seen people angry and sad at the time of cancer diagnosis. I have seen them ecstatic when the reports have shown no cancer and I have seen them depressed and uncertain of their life when the disease has recurred. I have seen patients completely cured, I have seen them recur locally, I have seen their cancer spread to other organs as well. I have been mentally prepared to tackle everything. But I think the most tough decision for me is to counsel the families of terminally ill cancer patients in ICU.
I always wonder, "When is too much too much and when is too little too little?" For an elderly cancer patient with limited life expectancy forwhom we have no cure. I know sadly in my heart that all ICU admissions are not success stories but what I am sure is that they are stories of pain, anxiety, discomfort, depression, prolonged hospital stay, abandonment, separation from family and fear of needles, innumerable tests and impending death.
I wish I had a clear answer to this question, "If we have no cure for the patient, should we still keep on trying our best till the last moment of patient's life or counsel the family to take the patient home and spend the remaining time with family in cosy confines of home? It's always a tussle between, "What can we do " as to "what should we do?" Intensive care is not palliative care. It is a very expensive resource and it should be reserved for people who genuinely need it.
The two principles which have always guided me in decision making are -
1) Can the ICU stay contribute to patient's improved quality of life and well being?
2) Does the patient have a reasonable chance of living a meaningful life after the ICU stay?
As doctors we always tell the real situation of the patient to the family and give them the option of best supportive care at home if we have exhausted all our treatment options for the patient. But still I have seen many families choosingventilatory support for their loved ones. It's sad to see patients taking the last breath all alone in the cold environment of ICU rather than leaving this world in the cosy lap of near and dear ones.
I am trying to figure out reasons for this. Is it due to the optimism of last flicker of hope of their patient gettingwell? Is it due to religious sentiments of that is becomes a tough decision to pull out the plug ? Is it the fear of not being able to take care of the patient at home ? Is it because of societal pressures- what will other relatives say? Is it because of guilt of not doing everything possible for the patient?Whatever may be the reasons but I feel it's a very tough decision not just for me but the relatives of the patient. I wish the medical bodies make clear cut guidelines for these difficult situations keeping in mind the medical, ethical, medicolegal and other religious sentiments of the family.
- Dr Indu Bansal
Kitchen - Tips, Tips, Tips...
1. To put or pour atta or oil use the mixie lid (with a hole in the centre) inverted and place it on the container to save from spoiling the place.
2. Use tooth brush (new) to clean the tiny spaces, of the utensils and other containers.
3. keep green coriander and chillies and lemon in a stainless steel container for a long lasting freshness wrapped in kitchen paper roll.
4. Clean the gas stove when it is warm only.
5.Always wipe the kitchen platform before start using it in the morning.
6. Havingwarm waterwhile and after (esp jeera water) eating food helps in easy digestion.
7. Placing a small glass filled with baking powder in the cupboard, helps to get rid of the fungus smell.
8. Before filling hot water in the flask, clean the flaskwith hot water. In this way, the water remains hot for longer period of time.
9. Use Gulab Jamun mix to make vegetables koftas. It tastes so good. Even children love to eat and can be served as a snack.
10.Whenever a new cylinder is fixed, write the date and HAPPYCOOKING for a positive vibes, on the body of the cylinderwith the help of a chalk. It helps to find out the efficient use of the gas and number of days consumed.
Hope you find these tips useful.
- Saradha Iyer
Mantra for Making Good Selfies ��
1.Place the phone in a bright background.
2.Aselfie is like looking at yourself in the mirror. Express yourself well with a happy smile.
3.Position yourself at a proper angle where you look fit and slim.
4.Positioning the mobile camera also makes you look tall, so check for the same to place it.
5.Don't bring the phone too close if you want a closer pic. Instead, zoom and then extend your hand and click the pic; still, you'll get onlyyour face, not the hand, in the pic.
6.While editing, adjust the brightness or sharpen accordingly; see to it that you ' re not losingyour natural look.
Finally, use this method where your mobile stays safe, else someone will snatch and run away...������
Hope this helps.
- Saradha Iyer
Ingredients:
2 mangoes (for pulp), Paneer (cottage cheese), Vanilla ice cream (or any flavor of your choice), Chia seeds, Banana, Bread cake slice, Fresh cream, Sugar (to taste)
Method:
Take one mango and blend it with 2 tablespoons of fresh cream and sugar (as per taste) to prepare a smooth mango pulp.
Chop the other mango, paneer, and cake bread slices into small pieces.
Soak chia seeds in water for 4–5 hours in advance.
Now that all ingredients are ready, take a small transparent glass and start layering:
1.Add 2 tablespoons of the prepared mango pulp at the bottom.
2.Add chopped mango pieces, paneer cubes, and cake bread slices.
3. Sprinkle about half a teaspoon of soaked chia seeds.
4.Add another 2 tablespoons of the prepared pulp on top.
5. Finally, top it with a scoop of ice cream and garnish with a cherry.
Refrigerate it for about 15 minutes to set.
And your delicious Mango Masti Mazaa is ready to serve!
- RekhaAgarwal
Mango Masti Mazaa
Charcoal art by Priti Sonawane
From Ila’s Lens
Stone Art By Mukesh Bharnagar
Pen Sketch by Akta Sehgal
Pen Sketch By Kavita Mittal
Artwork by Shubhada Bhargava (Yoga Day)
Artwork by Swetha Sundar
Trip to Kinnaur & Lahaul-Spiti
The lush greenery of Kinnaur and the stark, rugged beauty of Lahaul-Spiti are absolutely breathtaking. Every turn of the road presents a postcard moment.An absolute must for people who have not yet undertaken this trip. Col ( Retd) Rajesh Krishna
WE ARE
HAPPY TO SHARE THAT
if any MHC member wishes to join hands or collaborate with either of our associates or Partners, s/he can please get in touch with team Motherhood Club for the same.
