The Parenting Forum Blog

You have just extended a welcome to your little bundle of joy and are proud to be a new Mom. You have taken a break from a busy career to devote your time to this angel. As always time flies off and you realize your maternity leave is over. It's time to join office and you realize you are again in a difficult phase. You are happy about going back to work but are worried about setting your baby's routine. There are numerous questions hovering at the back of your mind.

Following are the tips that will help you be the best Mom and the career woman that you have wanted to be:

1. Right from the beginning, do not let the guilt of being a working Mom creep in your mind. You are going to work for your self esteem as an individual, for your family, and for your baby. So get back on your toes with confidence and happiness, not with a guilt. 
2. Plan your baby's routine and check on it few weeks in advance. You and your baby need to get adapted to it. This includes, switching the baby from breast feed to bottle feed for specific hours when you are away. If the baby is old enough for external feeds, you need to plan that as well.
3. Your baby needs a good caretaker when you are away. This could be a daycare or someone at home. Get trials of this routine as well. The baby and the babysitter should be comfortable with each other when you are away. The person should be skilled and aware of dealing with all the possible emergencies that can arise in infant care. Else, this adds to your stress.
4. Based on your nature of work and office schedule, plan the immunization and related leaves in advance. Ask the Dad to contribute and share this as well. Be prepared for unexpected illnesses and other challenges that are going to take up your time and energy as well. These involve sleepless nights, teething, food tantrums and some other adventures as months pass by.
5. Keep clear communication with office folks, Dad and grandparents if they are going to take care of the kid. If your office does offer flexible times or work from home options, you may possible need leaves. Ensure your office that you will not let work get affected. Similarly, counsel your husband that he needs to share the equal responsibility of being there for the baby at times. Grandparents' support and help are most required during this phase. 

Mathematics is the subject that scares most of the people, not just class 10 students. Apart from the aura that this subject has, getting comfortable with Maths, developing the skills in various topics and scoring marks in the board paper are some of the major concerns that students have.
The key to success in this subject is two fold: First thing is regular practice of a variety of topics, and I mean regular. Secondly, to develop a feeling that it is just a subject like any other subject and not a devil to get scared of. This notion can help you get over exam fears and in turn helps you score better.
Coming to ICSE class 10 Mathematics, they have one paper that includes Algebra and Geometry. The syllabus appears to be extensive, but if studies are well planned, that should not be an issue. Unfortunately you cannot risk your marks by opting out of certain lessons.

• If you start take up this subject right from the beginning that is your 9th standard vacations, it gives you a lot of time to concentrate on various topics. You can follow the pattern taken up by classes (if you go for coaching) or else, you can plan the school way.  
• For practice, there are 4 categories, namely, solved and unsolved examples from the text, questions from the previous years papers of the board exams, questions from previous years prelims and unit test papers of your school and other schools, and miscellaneous questions.
• One important piece of advice is that you maintain the books where you solve these examples and get them checked as well. This way you can keep a track of whatever you have revised.
• After you have studied 2-3 chapters, prepare and solve mock test papers. You can solve 20 marks tests similar to your unit tests. This is very important as it helps you managing time versus the sums that you solve.
• Paper solving can begin towards the end of the first term. Concentrate on making your paper more better by minimizing silly mistakes and making the presentation better. Pick out the topics where you are consistently weak and consistently excellent. Work on both to keep the balance.
• Do not hesitate to bother your teachers with doubts. Also, get the solved papers evaluated from the teachers. Mathematics teachers understand their students and their fears and are always willing to help.
• Do not run after too many classes and guides. The categories that are listed above for practice are enough.
• Formulae are the backbone of this subject. Memorize them and keep writing them. Prepare charts for formulae and display them in your room.
• Solve your paper the smart way. The ICSE paper gives an average of 5-6 minutes for each sum. Do not keep fighting with the tough lot. First solve whatever you feel confident about. Revisit the other sums later (keeping a track of time).
• Do not forget to check your paper. Do not leave any sum. Attempt to solve the basic steps and write the formula. That is the least you can do. Keep the habit of working out in the rough column. Do not solve orally, it results in silly mistakes.

For details of syllabus and question paper, refer to the ICSE website.

ICSE Chemistry initially seems to be extensive and tough. However, if you plan properly and understand the paper pattern, it becomes easy. Following are some of the tips that will help you get friendly with this subject:

Equations are an integral part of this subject. Create lists and charts of balanced chemical equations based on type of reactions or topics or lessons. Memorize them at regular intervals. Plan your equation time at least once a week.

Organic Chemistry is a new topic and will take up a lot of time. Begin your Organic self study early in the year. Understand and practice structural formulae and equations. Understand the concepts of nomenclature of organic compounds.

Numericals are equally important. Keep practising them as the syllabus moves ahead. Get your doubts cleared within time. Practice extra numericals from board and prelim papers.

The lab preparation methods are asked in a particular way in the exams. Do not mug up pages. Understand the questions and prepare the topic accordingly. You can prepare charts for lab preparations. That makes learning easy. Same applies for Electrolysis and Metallurgy.

Split the extensive lessons into sections to make study easy. Do not give up regular practice.

Your question paper will be based on the text but with no direct questions. Study the paper pattern thoroughly. Solve a lot of practice papers. This is very important for Chemistry.

Always get your solved paper assessed and work on your mistakes. Revisit your doubts and practice those topics regularly.
For details related to syllabus and question papers, refer to the ICSE website.

Wish you all the best!