First, a small introduction about me as a preamble to the topic. I am widowed about two years ago when my wife died leaving behind me and our 8 months old daughter and 7 year old son. From then on I had to play a dual role at home (father and mother). As a conscious fat(mot)her I wanted to give the best to my children and to an large extent they should not miss anything b’cos of loss of their mother.
Now, let me come to my daughter who is 2.5 years now and for the last four-five months she is in a play school, spends about 3 hours everyday. Mostly only moms come in to the playschool, to drop the children, school function, trip, etc and I will be lone dad in those school events. How do I make my daughter feel she is special?
I have started making her lunch box slightly different every Friday, the same food (dosas, chappati, etc) is made in a different look and feel. I started designing dosas on the “tawa” and called it (at least me and my daughter), aeroplane dosa, girl dosa, star dosa, shapes, giraffe dosa, traffic light dosa, etc. This little thing has helped my daughter to eat at school (without getting fed by someone) and at the same time she felt very special. In fact the school teachers are now looking forward for Jasmitha’s (my daughter) “Friday Lunch Box”
Thanks for reading; I need to think of what snacks for next “Friday Lunch Box” in the new school year.
Comments (169)
Leave a Comment
Disclaimer: The information contained within this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to substitute for obtaining advice from professional experts. The ideas and views expressed here are all from the authors of the content and not from Yokibu. Please seek assistance from professional experts for your specific needs.
Really u r Great Mr.Durai.
Others should learn from you.
Hi Jasmitha u r father is a gift for u…god bless u all..
Thank you
Take care
no way, mr.Durai. so great of you!
My husband used to write my children’s name in dosa (tamil & english) so that they will eat more he says. He use to find new receipes also. So, my kids like their father’s cooking more than mine. He has a great pleasure in cooking for his kids.
You are also having a similar interest so you kids will love you much more than their mother.
@Meera — nice to know about your hubby’s cooking for kids. I keep posting my collection at http://fridaylunchbox.blogspot.com ; have a look when you get a chance.
Its really great .
Hai Sir,
Even i follow this lunch for my kid. It is very useful for me.It is very interesting for making food like this.
Thank you.
ur story left me in tears, but really admire ur spirits even in tough times, lot to learn from you.
though i plan to do it different lunch boxes never do it.
Now seeing u i feel ashamed for being lazy will definetly try new ways to make her lunch box.
Every time i feel lazy next time your spirit will make me do it
thank you
and bless you and your kids
what lucky darlings
take care
Hello Ms Anita — Happy New year to you. Thanks for the nice words and your tears; every drop of those is translated to my strength. But dont know if I deserve those superlative words.
Thanks for your blessings for my children.
you can see my daughter lunch box collections at http://fridaylunchbox.blogspot.com
take care
Mr.Durai, Nothing is impossible for you if it is for your children as most of the mothers think and now you have joined our mothers group I believe.
Welcome and All the best.
Ms Deepa, I agree — the feeling of mother is great; hats off all the women, they are really gifted.
HATS OFF U FAT(MOT)HER.
Thanks Ms Usha
My dear friend, hats off to you. I do not find anything to say. May God be with you in all your deeds and thoughts.
Regards
Madhanan Natarajan
JAI HIND.
Thanks Madhanan for your wishes and encouragement.
“Spirits Up” Not only you kept the spirit up in hard times, you are bring your children up with all the right spirit and enthusiasm. good luck.
Thanks Madam for your wishes, it is certainly hard time, but pulling on with well wishers like you.
Duraivel, what a lovely inspiration you are, not just to your two precious daughters, but also to us parents. You are indeed blessed. Please continue to be a blessing to all. GOD be with you.
Thanks for your nice words. I agree, I am indeed blessed with precious children (one boy and one girl), life is centered around them.
Your role a model to others. I wish your dual role in your child life will definitely lead to great achievement in your daughter’s future endeavours.
Good keep it up.
Regards,
N HARIHARAN
Thanks Hariharan for you comments and wishes.
Good one. Best Wishes…
Great show Mr. Durai. You kids would sustain your enthusiasm for their life. Some day later during their life they would definitely be narrrating these small incidents to their friends or children and be very proud of your parenting.
God would definitely bless you and your family.
I would love to keep in touch with you.
Regards
D Srinivasan
97899 96569
Durai Sir,
You are great. Generally when I read an article, I just read. First time I feel I should comment on this. God will shower utmost happiness, confidence and peace to you and your children and your wife’s soul will rest in peace. Even though she is not physically present, I am sure she will feel proud of you and give you moral support in every step of life.
Regards
Padma Sundar
Padmavathy Madam,
thanks for your support, concern and your wishes. What you have said is probably right, I feel my wife is always with us (incidently my wife is Padma).
Thanks/durai
Mr.Duraivel,
Am completely speechlesss and zapped by ur attitude towards life:-)…My prayers will always be there for you and your kids.May u and you kids have al the happiness in the world….
Hats off to u Sir:-)
Rgds
LV
Durai Sir,
I really shocked and surprised to read your article. As a mother I could not spare more time for cooking for my daughter, as iam a working woman. But after reading your article i will try my best to give my child different lunch. I shall be proud of you.
Dear Durai Sir,
I am a mother of 6.5 yr old son, I am sure from now onwards every time I pack luch for my son, I definetely pray for you and your kids. May god be with your always.
Prema N.V.
I’m in tears after reading this.
your kids are very lucky to have a father like you. You are a wonderful dad and i’m sure you can bring them up with much more innovative ideas like this.
Good luck and i wish them a brigh future.
Thanks Krishna for your support and wishes, truly appreciate.
Dear Durai,
My Husband & myself do similar way to our 2 daughters. Different shapes of chappathis, dosas, variety idlies, etc. My d’ters are fond of chutneys & every day there would be a chutney of their choice. Childrens’ need to be taught the food habits and eating culture. Now-a-days, eating habits are very poor b’cos of junk foods. They seldom eat fruits. Cutting them in different shapes help us eat them easily.
Hats off Durai , Your kids will be proud of you .Let me also try Mickey Mouse Dosa for next Friday Lunch .
Duraivel,
I have become full emotional after reading this.
I pray to god to give you full strength and support to take care of your kids.
I wish you all the success.
Fantastic job!!! Keep it up
Thank you Madam for your comments and wishes. I started posting the collection of Friday lunch items at http://fridaylunchbox.blogspot.com
thanks/durai
I have started a new blog to post Friday Lunch box collections at http://fridaylunchbox.blogspot.com
Thanks/durai
..
very touched reading this. I recently shopped at Dhanya, in T.Nagar, they sell traditional pulses like Samai and Kuthiraivali – you cook it just like rice. try those and keep up the good work!
Thanks Pradeep for your comments and your suggestions. Let me try.
Can I have the full address of the shop for getting these traditional pulses.
Mr. Duraivel,
Im inspired by your way of showing your love to your children! Your children are blessed to have such a loving father.
All the best to you all, always.
mr.durai,your page has been very touching and very inspiring.as a mother to my two sons i feel i have not done enough for them. have learnt from your story that fathers are not any less than mothers in nurturing children.hats off to you and may god bless your children.
Thanks Madam for your kind words. As a mother you would have done much much much more than a father, it is the mother’s attitude that gives the modesty. I can tell you the feeling of mother is great, many times my daugther call me “Amma”, it is a great feeling.
Hello Mr. Durai,
After reading through your post..I can see that a dad can also be a gr8 mom when needed.. and it is people like you who keep the kids going.. I am a mother of 4.5 year old boy, I am working and mostly I will pack my kid’s tiffin with a quickly dished out stuff..
(we all are always in ahurry .. right!)
think I can’t do it any more
when a papa like you can take care and prepare a nice stuff for his princess.. why not me.. so its gonna be a special tiffin everyday for my little boy!
Thanks for inspiring…God give you strength, courage and lots of prosperity. Wishing you and kids a very Happy Diwali. Take care and Enjoy life.. no matter what!
Hello Indira Madam,
Happy Diwali to me, thanks for such wonderful words. I am never replace a mom, trying to do as much as possible. I fully understand a working mom, in some context I am like that now. I cook on weekends, something different (read experiments).
I am planning to start a seperate blog on Friday Lunch Box shortly.
Hai Durai sir,
I am unable to control my tears.
I lost my father in the age of 6.
After knowing about you i think i missed a lot in my life. YOUR KIDS ARE BLESSED.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Thanks Rajeswari Madam for your concern and support. You tears added drops of strength to me. I have lot of lessons in the last three years in a new way of life. I have posted some of my learning in http://agdurai.blogspot.com , inviting you to have a look and comment.
thanks
Hai Durai sir,
I am unable to control my tears.
I lost my father in the age of 6.
After knowing about you i think i missed a lot in my life. YOUR KIDS ARE BLESSED. MAY GOL BLESS YOU ALL.
Hats off to your dedication and love to your children…
They are very lucky to get a Father like U….
All the best to U and your children….
Thanks Amirtha for your comments and wishes
Wow, what a wonderful imagination!
good imaginative cooking which will make my kid also happy thanks
GIVING MOTHER’S FEEL TO THEIR CHILDREN IS SO HARD, EVEN BY FEMALE. HAT’S OFF TO YOUR DEDICATION AND KEEPING YOUR KIDS HAPPY.
Duraivel,
Really amazing to see your love for the kids and dedication for their care. Wish your kids a great future and all the best for your parenting.
durai sir
i can understand ur hardships in playing dual role. ur children are blessed to have a wonderful father like u.
be happy always
very good creativity for packing lunch
even i follow your way to pack lunch
be happy and make others happy
Hello Mr.Duraivel,
Even a mother would not have easily thought of doing it… you and your children are special…
Hats off to you Duraivel Sir, we wish your children good future..
Hi
more than the innovation, the special feeling for your child on the friday’s is something which would bind you both together to carry for long years…. it is “emotional connect” that make this relationship a special cherishing moment……
Hats off to you and prey GOD that he should continue to shower his bless on you and your children…
share such moments in future too…..
Hats off to you Sir. This is fantastic.
My Best wishes to you and your kids. God Bless All.
Hats off to you Sir . This is really fantastic.
My Best Wishes to you and your Kids. God Bless All.
Durai sir,
Can see a Dad^s love, care and affection in those mouth watering dosas. Hats off to your imagination and good wishes to your kids.
thanks for your comments and your wishes for my children. All these will certainly give me strength to take care of my children.
Innovation at its height !! Great Mr Duraivel. I know how difficult it is for you to bring up the children.
Hope your children see both father and mother in you.
Durai,,
it’s really great yar….
Great Duraivel!
Your love with your kids is amazing! My Hats-up!.
Cheers!
RAVI
WOW……. mouth watering Imagination .. Appaulse to your innovation.. let me also try,
All the best .. keep sharing such best idea..
Regards
Shridevi
Thanks for your comments, happy to share more pictures
Thanks Ms.Sangeetha and Ms.Ramalakshmi for your comments.
@Ramalakshmi – I am sorry to hear about your brother, appreciate your sister-in-law efforts in facing life; lot of courage and confidence required.
I really do appreciate your fondness toward your children.
I can understand your responsibility and the task of overcoming the pain as I can co-relate your pain with the pain of us – the loss of my loving brother in an accident two years ago. My sister-in-law who had been a house-wife is now playing the dual role as a bread-winning father and as a caring mother.
Your creative idea in making the ordinary dosas and chappatis is really marvellous.
I wish your children a bright future.
Really your gr8 for playing dual role.
Thanks for giving creative and imaginary ideas for packing lunch for kids.
Thanks Sangeetha for your comments and appreciation.