CervivingMom

The Vocabulary of Life is an A–Z journey through the unspoken . Inspired by my toddler’s wonder and his relentless curiosity for "why," I’m exploring 26 days of word-nerd gems and sensory wonders that name the feelings we often share but can’t always describe. Whether you're a parent, a dreamer, or a seeker, there’s a word here for you.

The Vocabulary of Life is an A–Z journey through the unspoken . Inspired by my toddler’s wonder and his relentless curiosity for "why," I’m exploring 26 days of word-nerd gems and sensory wonders that name the feelings we often share but can’t always describe. Whether you're a parent, a dreamer, or a seeker, there’s a word here for you.

The Vocabulary of Life is an A–Z journey through the unspoken. Inspired by my toddler’s wonder and his relentless curiosity for "why," I’m exploring 26 days of word-nerd gems and sensory wonders that name the feelings we often share but can’t always describe. Whether you're a parent, a dreamer, or a seeker, there’s a word here for you.

The Vocabulary of Life is an A–Z journey through the unspoken. Inspired by my toddler’s wonder and his relentless curiosity for "why," I’m exploring 26 days of word-nerd gems and sensory wonders that name the feelings we often share but can’t always describe. Whether you're a parent, a dreamer, or a seeker, there’s a word here for you.

The Vocabulary of Life is an A–Z journey through the unspoken. Inspired by my toddler’s wonder and his relentless curiosity for "why," I’m exploring 26 days of word-nerd gems and sensory wonders that name the feelings we often share but can’t always describe. Whether you're a parent, a dreamer, or a seeker, there’s a word here for you.

The Vocabulary of Life is an A–Z journey through the unspoken .  Inspired by my toddler’s wonder and his relentless curiosity for "why," I’m exploring 26 days of word-nerd gems and sensory wonders that name the feelings we often share but can’t always describe. Whether you're a parent, a dreamer, or a seeker, there’s a word here for you. 

  The Vocabulary of Life is an A–Z journey through the unspoken .   Inspired by my toddler’s wonder and his relentless curiosity for “why,” I’m exploring 26 days of word-nerd gems and sensory wonders that name the feelings we often share but can’t always describe. Whether you’re a parent, a dreamer, or a seeker, there’s a word here for you. I remember the day my son spent a very long time pointing out different places on the body and asking me what they were, repeatedly. “What’s this, Mama?” he’d ask, pointing to his elbow, then his knee, then his chin. We were on a roll until his tiny finger landed right between his eyebrows. He paused, looking at me with total expectation. I realized in that second that I had lived my entire life with that specific spot on my face, yet I had never once questioned what it was called myself. That small, flat space between your eyebrows, where worry and wonder often meet, is called the Glabella. The Glabella is more than just an anatomical land...

  The Vocabulary of Life is an A–Z journey through the unspoken .   Inspired by my toddler’s wonder and his relentless curiosity for “why,” I’m exploring 26 days of word-nerd gems and sensory wonders that name the feelings we often share but can’t always describe. Whether you’re a parent, a dreamer, or a seeker, there’s a word here for you. One day, while we were busy sketching or shall I say scribbling, at the kitchen table, my toddler stopped and began picking at the top of his pencil with focused intensity. He kept trying to pry at the silver band, his brow furrowed in concentration. “Mama, it’s stuck!” he said, tugging at it. “What is it?” I realized I had looked at that silver ring thousands of times in my life—used it, nibbled on it as well honestly, and watched it wear down—without ever once giving it a name. That little metal “stuck” thing is actually called a Ferrule. A Ferrule is a ring or cap used to strengthen a joint or attach one object to another. In the case of...

  The Vocabulary of Life is an A–Z journey through the unspoken . Inspired by my toddler’s wonder and his relentless curiosity for “why,” I’m exploring 26 days of word-nerd gems and sensory wonders that name the feelings we often share but can’t always describe. Whether you’re a parent, a dreamer, or a seeker, there’s a word here for you. One day, I caught my toddler whispering a new word he’d overheard me say during a phone call. He wasn’t using it in a sentence; he was simply tasting the sound of it over and over—Absolutely… Absolutely… Absolutely. It reminded me of the rhythmic, punchy delivery in an episode of  Maamla Legal Hai , where a single word, “Egregious”, is leaned into just for its dramatic weight. My son was doing the same; he was smiling at the way the “Ab” burst at the start and the way the “ly” lilted at the end. To him, the word wasn’t an affirmation; it was a melody. This rhythmic, sensory repetition is known as Echolalia. Echolalia is the repetition of word...

The Vocabulary of Life: An A–Z Journey through the Unspoken Inspired by my toddler’s wonder and his relentless curiosity for “why,” I’m exploring 26 days of word-nerd gems and sensory wonders that name the feelings we often share but can’t always describe. Whether you’re a parent, a dreamer, or a seeker, there’s a word here for you. One day, while we were sitting by the window, my toddler spotted a cluster of birds perched on a low branch of the garden tree. “One… two… fee… four!” he whispered, his tiny index finger tapping out a rhythmic sequence against his opposite palm as he tried to keep track of each flutter. He wasn’t just counting; he was anchoring each bird he saw to a physical touch he could feel. He was practicing an ancient, sensory art called Dactylonomy. Dactylonomy is the formal term for counting or expressing numbers using your fingers. While we often think of it as a “kid thing” before they learn abstract math, it is actually a sophisticated sensory bridge. It reminds ...

  The Vocabulary of Life: An A–Z Journey through the Unspoken Inspired by my toddler’s wonder and his relentless curiosity for “why,” I’m exploring 26 days of word-nerd gems and sensory wonders that name the feelings we often share but can’t always describe. Whether you’re a parent, a dreamer, or a seeker, there’s a word here for you. One day, a sudden afternoon storm turned the sky a deep, bruised purple. While the thunder rumbled, my toddler didn’t hide; he simply gathered his favorite stuffed lion and tucked himself onto the swing, pulling a knitted blanket up to his chin. “Mama,” he whispered, “I don’t want to go to the parc today. Want to stay home” When I asked why he said, “It’s cozy and quiet at home”.  His “loud-quiet” feeling actually has a beautiful name: Chrysalism. Chrysalism is the amniotic tranquility of being indoors during a thunderstorm. It’s that deep, primal sense of safety when you are “cocooned” away from the chaos of the elements. For a busy mom, these m...

Zara doesn’t like things. She worships them. She’s not a fan; she’s a one-woman fan club, marketing team, and spiritual ambassador for whatever she’s obsessed with that month. From K-dramas to keto, astrology to almond flour, Taylor Swift to tarot, Zara goes all in. There was the time she got into clean eating. She didn’t just cut sugar… she gave motivational speeches at birthday parties. Zara: “You’re putting poison in your body, but I support your journey.” Me (mid-gulab jamun frowning): “Thanks?” Then came her minimalism phase. She threw out half her wardrobe and tried to get me to donate my scarves because they “don’t spark joy.” Seeing my scarves go definitely didn’t give me joy! Once, she watched a documentary on cold showers. By the next day, she was ice-bathing and posting about “discipline over comfort.” It was December! She’s intense, convincing, and occasionally a little terrifying honestly. But when she loves something… or someone… you’ll ...

Yash is the kind of guy who could agree with two people arguing on opposite sides—and genuinely believe he’s helping. He once told one friend: “Yeah, she can be really blunt. It’s a bit much.” And to the other: “Her honesty is so refreshing! We need more people like her.” He thought he was being supportive. What he actually was… exposed. Because, of course, he sent the wrong message to the wrong person. Twice. Planning a trip with Yash is like playing emotional roulette. Friend 1: “Let’s go to the mountains.” Yash: “Perfect! Love the quiet air and nature vibes.” Friend 2: “Beaches are better, let’s do that instead.” Yash: “Agreed! Nothing beats sand and sunsets.” Me: “Yash, which one do you actually prefer?” Yash: “Honestly? I’m happy anywhere. I just go with the flow.” Me (in my head): No, Yash. You don’t go with the flow. You are the flow. The Yashes of the world appear kind, agreeable, but are scared of confrontation. In trying to please ever...

Xenia loves all things foreign. Accents, countries, cuisines, even confusing customs—she’s enchanted by anything with international flair. But the charm? It sometimes borders on… selective enthusiasm. I met Xenia for the first time during a short trip to India. We were at a friend’s get-together—warm, casual, filled with laughter and snacks. Xenia was polite, but distant. That surface-level, mildly distracted tone that says, “I’ve already decided you’re basic.” She asked me what I do. I said something casual, nothing fancy. She nodded, unimpressed, and moved on. Ten minutes later, the friend who introduced us casually said: “You know she lives in France, right?” Xenia (visibly transforming): “Ohhh my god, that’s AMAZING! Paris or the South? I love French markets! Have you been to Lyon? Do you just drink wine all day?” The accent in her voice shifted. The enthusiasm spiked. Suddenly, I wasn’t “a person,” I was “a portal to Europe.” It was like I had unlock...

Waman doesn’t take breaks. He takes his work everywhere. To cafes, weddings, family get-togethers… even to the hospital. He doesn’t believe in “resting.” He believes in “working in a different location.” When Waman was briefly admitted to the hospital for a minor procedure, we all assumed he’d finally be resting. He sent a message to the group: “Please don’t visit. I just want to take this time to rest and recover.” Sweet, right? Except… He had requested a special room because it had a bigger table. “For food?” someone asked. “For my laptop,” he replied. He literally used a hospital side table as a desk. While others sent him “get well soon” messages, Waman was on conference calls from his bed, saying: “Ignore the beeping, that’s just the IV.” The Weekend That Wasn’t One Sunday, I asked if he was free to catch up. Waman: “Yes! I’m on a break. Just catching up on emails, prepping two decks, reviewing a proposal, and ideating for next week’s launch....

Varsha doesn’t believe in rest and heal. She believes in “intensive nutritional restoration and cellular-level immunity rebuilding.” No.. She’s not a doctor. No.. She’s not a nutritionist. But she once attended a free online webinar, follows wellness influencers, and says things like, “Your gut is the CEO of your body.” She doesn’t just give advice. She gives dosages. And honestly, she pitches it all with the confidence of someone trying to hit her supplement sales target by sunset. Here’s an incident.. I had just recovered from dengue. Still moving slow, still living on soup, still figuring out how to feel normal again. Varsha came over to “check in.” She took one look at me and gasped like she’d seen a ghost. Varsha: “Oh my god, you look SO pale. Like… chalk.” Me: “I just survived dengue. Not a zombie apocalypse.” She pulled out a rattling pouch of tablets and capsules like she was about to host a pop-up pharmacy. Varsha: “You need vitamin C, zinc, ir...

While the rest of us spiral, stress, overthink, and obsess… Utkarsh just… exists. Calm. Quiet. Unmoved by chaos. Like a human version of “airplane mode.” The Day the Group Chat Was on Fire (and He Sent a Sunset Pic) We were in the middle of a full-blown friend group meltdown. Plans clashed, feelings were bruised, three people were typing aggressively at the same time. And then… Utkarsh casually dropped in a photo of a sunset. Utkarsh: “Look at this sky. Nature’s so healing. Hope everyone’s staying hydrated in this heat.” Amit (clearly not vibing): “Bro. People are fighting and you’re posting clouds?” Utkarsh: “Clouds are temporary. Just like this fight.” If you listen closely, you can still hear Amit rolling his eyes. But that’s Utkarsh. He’s the kind of person who: - Meditates - Drinks herbal tea because it “feels grounding” - Has never rage-texted in his life - Genuinely believes, “If it’s meant to be, it’ll flow.” When you vent to him, he lis...

Tanya could tell someone their haircut is uneven and somehow make it sound like a compliment. She’s graceful, intentional, and somehow never caught in any drama—even though she knows everything that’s going on. There was this one time when a group chat exploded—someone said something, someone else took it the wrong way, screenshots were taken, and emotions were flying faster than forwarded GIFs. Everyone had picked a side. Tanya? She picked… neutral ground. She messaged each of us separately like the UN Secretary-General of friendships. Tanya: “Hey, I think they meant it in a different way. Maybe take a break before replying?” Also Tanya (to the other person): “I get why you’re upset. But maybe give it a day? Emotions were high.” And somehow, we all listened. By the next day, peace was restored, birthday plans were back on track, and Tanya had once again managed to be everyone’s favorite without being anyone’s enemy. She doesn’t fake it—she just knows how to say ...

Ramesh is the kind of person who comes to a wedding out of obligation, stays for exactly 42 minutes, avoids all the relatives, and leaves with a plate of gulab jamuns wrapped in tissue. No small talk. No mingling. Just… strategic attendance. At my cousin’s wedding, Ramesh arrived exactly 90 minutes after the invite time, stood at the edge of the entrance like he was considering turning back, and finally walked in like he was doing us a favor. Me: “Ramesh! You made it!” Ramesh (checking his watch): “Ya ya, of course. Thought I’d just swing by.” Swing by?? It’s not a petrol pump. It’s a wedding. He avoided the photographers like they were bounty hunters, refused to sit near the stage because “too much attention,” and somehow always ended up near the exit, pretending to take a call. When someone tried to pull him into a group selfie, he waved from the back and said, “Just tag me if I’m visible.” By the time dinner was served, Ramesh had disappeared. No goodbye, no h...

Sanya doesn’t enter a party. She glides in like she’s in a slow-motion rom-com entrance. She knows everyone. And even if she doesn’t, give her five minutes—she will. The party where I was her Plus-One, or should I say her Plus-Zero? Sanya once took me to a friend’s birthday bash. I knew no one. She knew everyone plus their childhood nicknames. Within ten minutes, she had: - Hugged five people - Asked three people about their dog’s surgery - Made a reel with the bartender And - Casually reconnected with her ex’s sister’s best friend Meanwhile, I was by the chips. Me: “Sanya, can we just sit down somewhere?” Sanya (laughing): “Sit? We just got here! You HAVE to meet Aarti—she’s obsessed with memes too!” Spoiler: Aarti was not. But Sanya was already introducing me to two more people while complimenting someone else’s shoes. She thrives on social energy. And yet—she remembers the tiny things. She’ll send voice notes after the party saying: “You ...