The Crunchy Indian Mom’s Summer Survival Guide: Grandparents, Glitter & (Mostly) Organic Chaos

Summer vacation with a 2-year-old dictator named Kiku is like being the CEO of a startup where your tiny boss pays you in sticky kisses and sleep deprivation. My work-from-home life now resembles a chaotic Zoom call between a corporate meeting and a daycare riot. As a work-from-home, crunchy mom, I had visions of Montessori-approved activities, sugar-free bliss, and Instagram-worthy memories.

Then reality (husband and grandparents) happened.

Morning Standup with Boss vs. Kiku’s Standup on My Head

9:30 AM: I log into my morning standup, looking almost professional (if you ignore the dried banana on my shoulder).

Boss: "So, what’s your priority today?

"Me: "Well, I’ll be finalizing the Q3 report—"

Enter Kiku, scaling my chair like it’s Everest.

Kiku (loudly): "MAMA, POTTY!"

Me (muting frantically): "One sec, just need to—"

Kiku (now on my desk): "LOOK, I DRAW ON LAPTOP!"

Boss (blinking): "Uh… should we reschedule?"

Me (defeated): "…Yes."

WFH Hacks for Toddler-Wrangling During Meetings

My Plan:

✔ Strategic Snack Bribery – A quiet, time-consuming snack (frozen mango cubes, homemade granola) buys 10 minutes of peace.

✔ "Special Meeting Toys" – A forbidden box of random office supplies (tape, sticky notes) that only appears during calls.

✔ Grandparent Reinforcement – If Nani/Dadu are visiting, their new job title is "Director of Toddler Distraction."

Reality:

✔ Dadu sneaks Parle-G when I blink ("It's just glucose!")

✔ Papa turns on Peppa Pig the minute I take a work call

✔ My "sensory bin" becomes a floor buffet

✔ Kiku now thinks flour is edible confetti

Operation: Counterattack the Grandparent/Papa Spoiling

1. The Healthy Bait-and-Switch – Keep date-nut laddoos, roasted makhana, and frozen banana bites stocked so when grandparents reach for treats, they accidentally grab the good stuff.

2. The Distraction Gambit – The second Papa reaches for the TV remote: "Kiku, let’s show Nani how you can sort lentils!" (50% success rate.)

3. The Reverse Psychology Play – "Dadu, if she has sugar now, she’ll be bouncing off the walls by bedtime… and YOU’LL have to put her to sleep!" (Works like magic.)

5 Crunchy, Budget-Friendly, (Mostly) Non-Messy Activities

Because Pinterest lies, but desperate moms improvise.

1. Bubble Wrap Stomp Art (Outdoor Edition)

• Tape bubble wrap on the balcony floor, dip Kiku’s feet in natural dye (turmeric, beetroot), and let her create modern art.

• Crunchy Bonus: No toxic paints, just hosedown cleanup.

2. "Magic" Ice Excavation

• Freeze small toys in a bowl of water, give her a wooden spoon, and let her chip away like a tiny archaeologist.

• Grandparent Hack: Send Dadu outside to supervise—keeps them both busy and away from the snack drawer.

3. DIY Musical Instruments (Zero Plastic!)

• Steel bowls + wooden spoons = drum set

• Lentils in a sealed box = maracas

• Bonus: Annoying enough that Nani might volunteer to take her to the park.

4. Yoga Storytime (Screen-Time Loophole)

• Cosmic Kids Yoga (the only "cartoon" I allow) lets her "swing like a monkey" while I sneak in a 5-minute meditation (or just stare blankly at the wall).

5. Nature Mandala Art

• Collect leaves, flowers, and pebbles, and arrange them into patterns.

• Crunchy Perk: No glue, no mess—just pure, organic chaos.

  
  

6. "Office Work" Toddler Edition

• Give Kiku a notepad, sticky tabs, and a non-working keyboard—now she’s "helping Mama work!"

The Crunchy Mom’s Summer Report Card

✅ Healthy snacks? Mostly. (Dadu, we need to talk.)

✅ Screen time? Minimal. (Papa, that includes YOU.)

✅ Sanity intact? Debatable.

But at the end of the day, Kiku is happy, I’m surviving, and the house is only 40% glitter-covered. That’s a win in Crunchy Mom Math.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go scrub beetroot stains off the wall before my husband notices. 🧘‍♀️💀

How do YOU handle grandparent spoiling and summer chaos? Share your hacks below! (Or just send reinforcements. And coffee. Lots of coffee.) ☕😂