My kids are US citizens. When i came here, I applied for their PIO card. With visitor visa they can stay up to 6 months only. They can extend but not sure how long they allow you to extend. With PIO card, you can come here and register in FRRO, chennai within 180 days after they arrive here. It's easy and hassle free. So they can stay here for next 5 years without any registration/visa. You cannot apply for OCI unless "atleast one parent is US citizen". I hope your kids are US citizens. PIO card takes 30 days, so you better apply for it asap (irrespective of whether you want to return back or not, its like getting visitor visa, but a bit costly and takes time). So with PIO card they can be in india for 15 yrs and by then, they'll have to choose about their citizenship and their higher studies. You will loose your GC status if you stay away from US for 6 months and above. If you just plan a trip to US every 6 months also, there will be lot of queries when you apply for US citizenship. You might want to consult an attorney in US itself. Check with sheela murthy or their forums. They will have better answers. You have to decide if your husband wants to go to US for work on long term in future. He can definitely apply for a new H1 and go, but not with the old GC I guess. I am not sure if education in private schools in US is that bad when compared to India. Which part of US are you in? My friends have said that education in private schools are good in CA bay area. People say the universities in US is better. Only schooling would be good in India. Regarding living with family - yes. You cant get it in US. Friends are same everywhere. You get to know new people and make friends wherever you move to. Chennai is not far from us culture. In few years, chennai will be more westernized than US! With increasing nuclear families, keep your expectations low on chennai (as a matter of fact whole india). People who are here also meet during weekends for the parties and share very little with each other. Everyone is busy with their own lives. That too in many families both the husband and wife go for work. If you ask me one major difference between chennai and US - its the working culture and timings. Being a s/w engg, I have worked in MNCs in chennai before and after marriage/child. Before marriage, i didn't bother much to work late hours/extra office hours. But when I came back from us with baby and wanted to do only 8 hrs job at work and rush back home, I was just not able to do it. There is all this hype about working from home, flexi timings etc, but you just have to sacrifice either the time you spend with family or your fast track career.

Thanks dear bhraman for reply on gc/ citizenship. About schools in usa: hey do u think it affordable to make 2 kids study in a private schools in a usa??? Definitely not possible with single income. Even doctors and lawyers are putting their children in the best public schools only, not private schools yaar...they buy a good house in a very good rated area for education like north edison, princeston in new jersey and send their children to public schools only. May be for pre school all people afford private school, but from kindegarden most of the kids go to public schools only. family and friends: yes, india- chennai is becoming westernized in all means it can be...when i watched from sun tv news there are clubs for dancing, salsa dances and much more. Its really shocking to know that our culture is being risked very much to compensate these needs for westenized likes of the people. Its totally crazy when we think of these matters. We really don't want our children to get affected in mixed / westenized culture like in usa so we want to come to our country. Its a shock to see our country being affected and people getting confused and adicted by westenized culture. If all people including myself and my family don't get hurt emotionally and no troubles physically and if people are safe by following any culture then its okay..what shall i say...All your points are vaild with regard to family and nuclear familes developing more...i have also no high hopes in coming to chennai...just coming there for good schools plus my hushand's job and my children can visit their grandparents during holidays and we can also go to our native places for pongal, diwali etc...and i and my children can visit temples more often and so i have a hope that i can raise my children in a good cultured environment with out any confusions..i hope like this, let's see what god has in for each of us.. Regarding work: Though i did a costly course after my mba, i decided to stay at home mom for my children. Just looking for any jobs to work from home..but not go outside and work. i understand your trouble with timings...in usa, ladies who work will be at home by 5.30/6.00 pm, mostly..and manage home and office very well with maintaining the timings...its a wonder to see those things. Definitely with heavy work loads, and much power shutdowns..its impossible to maintain the work timings in chennai..so ladies who work have to sacrifice the timings they spend with the family when working... its tuff when u have babies. thanks take care. barmee.

My son of age 5 's urine is always surrounded by ants. Is he diabetic? Bcoz my father and grandparents are diabetic. I'm not. Please help me.

If your son is otherwise fine, Urine surrounded by ants is no indication that someone is diabetic , this is quite a common feature, but because diabetes runs in families so whenever you visit your paediatrician next do discuss your family history with him so that he/she  can keep a watch.

Greetings Doctor,

Hi Natalia,

No 2 kids are same so u cannot compare him with your daughter, From what you have written, doesn’t looks like there is a problem, some kids start speaking late, so if his understanding of things and hearing is all right,don’t worry, just continue talking to him, reading to him and otherwise stimulating him and just relax and enjoy your babies!