The peapod will not go to playschool untill she is 3. Why? I have 2 good reasons.

1. This proud Mumma hasn't seen a sweeter, cuter, lovelier comradeship between two 2-year olds. They are just a lovely pair. All about sharing toys or food, playing together, taking turns, all happens effortlessly. They pick up stuff from us and then from each other, who ever grasped it faster. All the primary reasons of a playschool are met at home, so the playschool can wait.

2. I think the peapod will walk into a place full of children without a backward glance. I am not ready for breaking my heart yet. How do I know, you ask?

On the 6th of July, Sunday, there was thanksgiving prayer in Church. This was, the children in the church thanking the Lord almighty for everything they have, parents, teachers, food, shelter and so on. It was orchestrated very well by the sunday school teachers. All the kids(basically the ones who were studying) lined-up with a candle lit in their hands in 2 rows, walked the red carpet, right in the center of the church singing thanksgiving hymns(I cant recall which one), upto the altar. While the kids were lining up, one of the teachers asked me if the peapod would like to join. She immediately got down from her chair all ready to join the kids. Since she was ready, I just went with the flow, ready to pull her out anytime she was not comfortable. She joined them and stood there admiring all the girls and boys behind her. The peapod turned out to be the youngest kid walking right in front, towards the altar holding a unlit candle with about 40-50 children behind her. Her grand father was in Church and was pleasantly surprised to see his grand daughter walk down the aisle admist thanksgiving hymns. At the altar they all prayed, the priest blessed the lot and the kids made their offerings.

So yes coming back to the point. Once she joined the other kids she never looked for me. No preparation, no talks about school and she took off without a backward glance, what do they say about ducklings taking to water, yeah just like that. What more proof do I need? There were parents wowing at how she went off, only I knew what it was doing to me and then someone had to add, "oh that is because you anyway go off to work so she is used to it". Now that is a bigger dig.

There ought to be a law against driving with High beam headlights

I am not sure if it is all around, but in Pune, people believe, motor vehicles are suppose to be driven with high-beam headlights. People who drive know, how killing this can be. Specially for people who drive 2-wheelers back home (like me ofcourse) at 8-8:30pm. Trucks, Buses, SUVs, Cars with neon lights drive with their high beams as if they did never heard of a low-beam headlight. Yes Yes, there is a low beam. Can you go back to your vehicle and please check and please keep it there.

The high beams at night are very very offensive. It blinds you totally. Most city roads in Pune are well-lit and pretty crowded too. Everyone can very well do with their low-beam headlights.
We need better laws and regulations than the petty penalty of Rs 100/- for "Using High Beam where not required.".

So when is the high beam supposed to be used?

Will Quote "Zack" from yahoo forums to answer that. I think he says it pretty well. Plain common sense actually.

"High beams are meant to be used to give you more visibility at a greater distance in front of you. A driver is supposed to keep them ON as long as he needs to be able to see that maximum distance, EXCEPT when another car approaches in the opposite direction, or, when comming upon another car, ahead, going the same direction.

The lights should be dimmed to prevent blinding the other drivers with the glare of the high beams.

In the case of the car ahead of you, HIS headlights will illuminate the road ahead of him, so you won't need your high beams to do that.

Similar reasons apply to a car approaching yours from the opposite direction. His headlights illuminate the road between his car and the extent of your regular beams."