Leadership Parenting

Nitai is 21 today. The baby has grown up.

He's got chalk on his shirt from rock climbing. We frequently venture to the kitchen for ice cream breaks, bumping into each other at midnight. He plays flute, harmonium and sings like a dream, belting out heartfelt names when we do kirtan in the evenings. He's bright as a whip, loves studying, works hard and gets paid $$. But he will only do that which lights him up and follows his calling. He hates too much public attention. Which is too bad because he will always be our baby which means we're always gonna be pouring attention on him ;) He is so full of 'nakhras' antics .. Every day with him is like April Fool's Day lol.

21 means he's officially an adult now and our parenting babies journey is done. 21 means he is clear on his values and as he explained to me, "they all respect me for my standards, Mommy."

I'm so grateful to be blessed with my boys... they make me who I am. I can't wait to follow them now, as they show me how vaishnavas live and play in this world. Krishna by their side, always and forever.

Happy birthday, babudu. May all your dreams be fulfilled. May you dance in life's storms and find the deepest truest love in the names of our dear krishna.

💕✨💕

Thank you Laxmipriya Anna Peñate for the perfect yummiest cake.

I dream of dancing on the streets...
pulling my Beloveds into my heart...

I dream of quiet union...
no matter who is around...
quiet conversations only You and I can hear...

I dream of dancing on the streets...
with pretty colors and loud sounds...
royal drums heralding Your arrival...
and tall buildings that You own...

It may be some time before I can dance on those streets again...
but no matter,
I'll follow whatever is Your wish.

Your big eyes, Your massive smile,
Your commanding,
controlling,
overpowering
and possessive
embrace.

I'll take You wherever I may go...
I'll dance for You
in airports,
in forests,
on beaches,
and in conference rooms...

I'll find my voice and
sing as loud as I can
my mantra, my message,
which will bother all who know me.

Dearest Lords of the Universe,
when You are ready,
You call me back
to dance on your streets.
I am your insignificant servant.

*4/13/25*

*Own Personal Best and/or First Place*

Yesterday, at the Raytheon Autonomous Vehicle Competition, over 150 of the brightest engineering students from universities throughout the South showed off their skills. Universities from as far as Alabama, and El Paso were represented. Our 20 yr old Nitai's exceptional skills led his team to a major win, representing UTD.

The task was to build a drone that could find a "wounded soldier", and communicate to another vehicle that would drop medical supplies. All autonomous (press a button and they go). The first drone had to scan a football sized stadium for their wounded victim (a QR code). It had to communicate that location to the second vehicle, which would arrive and drop the medical kit. They were being judged on many things: speed, accuracy, and design. They had points for team spirit, reaching out to a STEM school project, documentation and more.

Every week for the past six months, this work has been our "dinner table conversation" . Nitai calls us on the way home and we discuss our new "children" (the drone and ground Rover they were building). "How's the drone doing? How's your progress? What do you need?" He is also juggling a full load of senior year classes, with a few master's level classes. His plate has been packed -- and all three of us (his dad, his brother and I) all in with him.

A week ago Nitai was confident.."We're going to win." He wasn't stressed. He has been systematically preparing for this. He's been working with drones since he was 12. His skill has always been finding his personal best through iteration: fixing, communicating with teammates, being frustrated, being elated, fixing and tweaking some more.

Yesterday, at the competition they had three challenges. For the second challenge, the team had 45 minutes on the field to do a few runs. They kicked into gear. They ran the process. Talked to each other, tweaked a few things, and ran it again. And again. As many times as they could until they were confident - this is our best.

(Rest in comments.)

Tomorrow morning!! Join us!!

Do you feel disconnected from your teenagers at times? Do you struggle to motivate your kids? If you're curious about how Leadership Parenting programs can help solve your parenting challenges, join us tomorrow for an interactive conversation on Leadership Parenting at the *Harvard Bhakti Yoga conference. Sunday, March 30, 9AM ET 8AM CT 6AM PT*

Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86351695730?pwd%3DnDGvaJltzeSaoFwYkyonFjf2Tp1ZG7.1&sa=D&source=calendar&ust=1743439307154043&usg=AOvVaw3rw-IdiTABE5_blmVvi02O

Full conference schedule here:
https://www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-yoga-conference-schedule

If the zoom link doesn't work directly (sometimes copy/paste cause tech issues), go to the conference schedule link and scroll down till you see the picture and date: March 30. The direct link is there. (Or replay, if you catch this after it's over.)

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I'm so proud of my Nitai. At 20, he just finished his first graduate course - going towards a Masters -- VLSI design, with a 98 on the final exam!

He shows me all the stuff he's learning. It's complicated and intense and sometimes I'm bored to death but I listen and learn. He'll test me on it afterwards. 😆

He works hard! In addition to a full load of classes, he's leading his capstone senior design project -- building a drone with his team for Raytheon. He recently presented this project to the vice president of Textron ($13 billion dollar company), as their team was identified as the most progressed project in not just the university, but the entire region. He was chosen to present it because of how much he knows.

He tells me everything about it. Together we recognize how lucky he is that he had a practical tangible Bhakti education, with a focus on skills and values, not just theoretical knowledge. He shares his frustration about those who seem to know a lot but don't have the practical skills required. He helps every member of the team. He pushes them to go go go get it done.

Who knew! This rubix cube fiddling, electronics tinkering, card stacking, flute playing little naughty boy, who hated reading comprehension and algebra, and bounced around most days -- he's now doing the highest level math stuff and genius level brain stuff. When he was a little boy he used to come home and do his homework first. He would get really annoyed if I had other stuff going on that would mess with his ability to do homework first. Even if he was super hungry, he would just do his homework "hangry" haha.

I'm so amazed by his persistence and commitment to his craft. He sincerely loves what he's learning. He challenges himself, has deep focus and keeps going! I learn so much from him every day.

We voted!

Which one? Blue or white? Launching new podcast soon. 🔥🔥

First week of school dance party for parents (check out the comments) 🤣🤣🤣 thx Kimbriel Dean fit the awesome laughs

〰️ The best dance-floors for me are the ones where I see people take moments for themselves. They close their eyes and fully feeling the music and the rhythm. When those people open their eyes again they shine differently and fully connecting with everyone on the dance floor. I would love to break the pattern of dancing in front DJ’s rather move around, connect with yourself and connect with others. Grateful for every single soul attending the Boogie&Brunch at @buenro on ibiza Thank you Playing tomorrow Saturday 15th of June for the first time in Portugal! Come and dance! @nomad.souk ✨🎶 🎶 Me veo - @notredame.music 🎶 #danceforfridays #fridayfeeling #friyay #friday #fridayvibes #fridaymood #fridayfeeling #fridaymotivation

Hey dear Facebook family,

I need your encouragement and love.

I know I've been quiet and a bit AWOL for some time. Rupes' health and my own health needed my attention and life changed somewhat. All with the knowing of everything spiritual watching over us, we are okay.

Through it all, my second book proposal was accepted by my amazing publisher on Gaura Purnima Day ✨💕✨ woohoo!! This second book will be for teachers, guided by the bhakti path.

The first manuscript -- full final rough draft - is due this Monday, June 3rd -- less than one week. 👀

I've had back to back trips last weekend after the school graduation and this upcoming weekend as well, for trainings and workshops for Leadership Parenting. Now I'm stuck with a high fever and heavy flu/cold. (Rupa's got it too.)

With less than one week to finish this first manuscript. Eeeek.

Y'all know I'm not the sort to complain about colds; life has given us way more to fret about than that.

But I would just love some of your happy, sparkly blessings to come my way, so that the words I write can have value to those waiting for them. So many teachers need support, and I've had the privilege of being at one of the most powerful schools in this life - with the wisdom of generations of educators to share.

Just wanted all y'all's prayers and blessings so that I can meet this deadline with ease.

Amazingly, June 3rd is also the appearance day of Srila Vrindavan das Thakur... ✨✨✨ who is a chief biographer of Lord Gauranga, and considered the gaura-lila-avatar of Srila Vyasadeva, the literary expansion of the Supreme Lord and the compiler of all the Vedas. (No I didn't choose that date!! It's been kinda phenomenal.. All these magical due dates for this new book.)

So yeah... I need to trust in Their desire, to meet this deadline with happiness and faith, and to swim and dance in the love They share for all parents and all teachers.

I'd love to read your encouraging words or quotes... author life can be kinda lonely at times. Your blessings will keep me going on this sometimes rollercoaster of a life.

💕✨💕 Thanks in advance.

(Here's some pics of last weekends connections - some deep and beautiful friendships made in the hills of Northern California...💕)

Mothering is my favorite thing to do. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms doing the hard things.