Story Time

Her stories were exemplary. Sometimes she frightened me with ghost stories…sometimes taught me to be a better human being citing stories of morale.

At times, she would entertain me with stories on princes serenading princesses, going through tough challenges set out for them by the kings (princesses father)… sweet and tormenting, making me imagine myself to be one of them waiting for knight in shining armor…

In her stories, common man came alive… grandpa, grandma, farmer, washer man, fisher woman – people from all walks of life got prominence and they got to rub shoulders with kings, fairies, elfs, demons, ogres, princes and princesses, gods and goddesses.

Her stories had deep impact on me. She taught me to be humble, she taught me to be brave in the face of adversities… taught me beauty was only skin deep…there were lessons galore I learnt from her….

I recently came across her and found her in her new avataar…While I am happy to see the transformation…somewhere, I still wish she were what she used to be … my little chandamama

Q & A with Aakash

All kids aged 2 start talking in questions during all their conversations. My son Aakash, aged 6, does that even today.

He sees an aeroplane take-off. Immediately he asks “Amma, what will happen if the plane crashes?”

Or “What happens if the terrorists bomb Bangalore?”

Or “What will happen if Appa falls off from 2nd Floor?” — now, how do I answer to this latter question?

Here I present few excerpts from Q & A with Aakash:

Part – I

2 days back, we went and purchased loads of crackers for him. He had picked up only bombs and nothing else. No sparklers or flower pots – only sound-emitting bombs… And each time he wanted to light the agarbatti, he would take the packet of bomb along with him into the pooja room.

I told him twice “Aakash, please do not take the crackers with you when you light the agarbatti”.

Immediately “Why, what will happen?”

I  – “A spark may ignite the cracker”

He – “Then what will happen?”

I – “The pack of cracker will burst inside the house and you may get hurt”

He – “Amma, what will happen if I keep all the crackers (which he has purchased) in the pooja room and light them?”

I – “House will crack”

He – “Where and How?”

I – “Aakash do you have any better questions to ask, instead of only destructive ones?”
Part – II

We had been out for dinner with K, his wife and 2 kids. K said “Vidya, I did not know Aakash was so intelligent. He saw the crackers and said “Look K Uncle, they are causing so much of sound pollution”. I was amazed with this.

I immediately told K – “Did you ask him what he was doing the last 3 days apart from ADDING to the sound pollution?”

Aakash heard this and ran off with a smile

Part – III

Aakash – “Amma, where did you go today and why did you come home so late?”

I – “I had been shopping dear. I had to buy some more sarees for myself for your mama’s wedding”

Aakash – “Amma, why are you so greedy? You have so many sarees and still you went and bought more for yourself?” 

Note: I did not answer this question… truly did not know what to say

Questionning – A new paradigm

Have you ever noticed how kids start their conversations with a What, How, When, Why and Where?

My son belongs to this class of kids who ALWAYS starts conversing with a question. There are so many of my relatives who really get cheesed off when Aakash goes near them to converse. So many times they get irritated and shoo him off…

Do you also belong to thousands of adults who get irritated with this and scream “Hey you, buzz off” or “Oh…what a silly question…” or “Why don’t you just shut up?” – If yes, then understand right now right here that you are making a grave mistake.

Per child psychology researchers, curbing a child’s natural tendency to seek information makes the child an introvert. It curbs the child’s inquisitiveness and harms its imagination.

If you are still not convinced with this theory, ask yourself this “Are there times in office, when you are in a meeting or a presentation. You have several valid questions to ask. But you don’t ask just because you don’t want others to think you are either acting smart or that your questions are stupid”

Well, its because you as a child were stopped midtrack while your brain sought information. It has made you so internal that you have given up on your habit of asking questions and seeking knowledge.

So, at least now, next time you meet a child who is inquisitive, please have patience and respond to the child well. I am sure the child will thank you and remember you always as one approachable person.

109 BRATs

This brother and sister jodi is a dangerous combo – sister imitates everything the brother does… Right from “Appa, go out”, “Shut up”, to “Inu Pelima (Vinu Perima), vaanaa (Venda)”

This saturday, we had loads of fun seeing my son teach Taekwondo to his sister. It was so hilarious to see her imitiating each and every step with a “Khya Khya Khya” sound that one is supposed to make with every Taekwondo move

Birthdays and Childhood

Today is my son’s birthday. And he was soooo happy. The phone just won’t stop ringing from people wanting to wish him.. from grandparents to his friends and cousins.

He wore color dress to his school carrying chocolates to be distributed to all his classmates and not to forget his teachers…

He was so happy he has grown a year older. (I keep telling him that he will grow big only if he goes to school, else he will remain the small 6 years old guy. And this is something he truly believes in )

When I look into myself, I realize I have lost the enthusiasm to celebrate birthdays. I used to be a fun loving girl and my birthdays used to be “BIG” parties. I had groups of friends whom I had to definitely meet that day. College group (classmates, seniors, girls group), school group, old friends, neighbourhood friends, cousins so on and so forth. After treating each of the groups from breakfast to dinner, I would reach home only by 10 p.m. with all my gifts dumped into a big gunny bag.

And look at where I am today. I see my birthday as yet another day. No passion anymore to celebrate or buy gifts… where did I lose the child in me?

I am so clueless..never realized when it happened….