My Child & I

We had a super Summer and our little family is now back on track with the school year commencing!

This post has been in the making for quite awhile. Quite a few friends asked recently  "So What's New(s) with the Boys", thought I should go ahead and publish this right away!


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The boys take a van to-fro school. Once, I wait outside after-school.

Second-born (Seeing me at the school gate) : " Have you also joined the school?"

Mom:  "Nope!  I am here to see your class teacher. You want to come along to see her?"

Second-born : "Why? I saw her all day - So, you go and see her!"


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First-born after finishing his school-work heads out to play while Second-Born & Mom are still revising Grammar lessons.

Mom: " Make sentences with these pronouns; First one- He..."

Secondborn: " He went out!"

Mom: "  I..."

Secondborn: "I want to play!!"

Mom: " You..."

Secondborn: " You are Bad!!!"

Mom (hiding smile) : " Let us stop"

Second-born  (frustrated): "  We are now doing identify the pronoun? Ok,  its US!"

Mom: " And we are Done!"

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Family is watching a movie , where the Hero plays double roles.

During a duet song sequence shot at a hill station, Second-born suddenly asks "How did he get a girl-friend?"

While Mom & Dad are preparing whether to answer it to context or joke it off, 
First-born (serious tone): "Hey, its the duplicate Hero, da! "

Second-born (declares) : " Appa, you should find a duplicate of me who can write tests at school while I can go swimming!"

Dad (couldn't keep quiet) : " Swimming? You don't want to go to cool places like the Hero in the song?"

Second-born  (shocked) : " Yuck,  And dance with girls? No Appa No!"


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Family is enjoying hot bajjis one rainy afternoon.

Dad (showing a bajji) : " What's the vegetable inside this one- shape looks like the stalk of a cauliflower"

Mom : "Actually its bread!"

First-born (declares) : " Dont't judge a bajji with its shape - Dig in!"

Second-born (patronizing) : " Its Ok, Appa! You now go chat with Amma"


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Its 8pm and Dad who usually is home by 7ish is yet to get home.

First-born (concerned voice): " Amma, where is Appa?"

Mom : "Should be on his way home, stuck in traffic I suppose? Let's try ringing him"

Second-born (Already on the phone - Demands) : " Hello Appa! Where are you and when will you get here?"


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 While playing Uno,  Mom was really truly losing to Second-born.

Second-born who wants Mom to continue playing (understanding tone)" I know its hard to keep losing, but you should try until you win. How about I deal the cards so you get 6 and I get 8? But you should do your best, OK?"


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First-born accompanies Mom to borrow a kitchen gadget from a friend. Friend says she does not have it.

First-born : "Could you please recheck thoroughly (For my Tamil friends: "Konjam Nalla Paarunga).
I remember borrowing it from you before. Maybe its on the top shelf ? I could help you reach it if you want"

(We had actually borrowed it a few months ago and recently the friend disposed it. Our man delighted about his recent growth spurt, couldn't help but showing off)


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At the movie theater, and dad has smuggled a chakli in the water bottle bag, but cuaght red handed and asked to collect after the show.

Firstborn (truthfulness personified): " This is why I stow my chocolate-bar in my pocket. But of course, chakli will poke"



That rounds it off folks! Looking forward to sharing more funny snippets of my fast-growing boys again!

A penny to ponder...Happy New Year!

Mom is catching up with a school friend who is now a successful business-owner.

Friend: "So, the kids are at school most of the day. How do you spend time?"

Mom: " Well, am attending Yoga classes, practice music or read a book- whatever catches my fancy"

Friend: " Hobbies! Um... what else do you do?"

Mom: " My blog covers events across Bangalore and I volunteer with a women's self help group"

Friend: " Does any of this make money?"

Mom : " No, but they keep me happy!"

Friend: "How can something make you happy if there are not financial gains or monetary returns? "

I saved my breath from having to explain myself that Money isn't the be-all & end-all!

And here I vow to step into the New Year and only do things which shall keep me in high spirits but don't cost (or give) a penny!

Yoga/books/music:   Physical, Mental and Spiritual health
Blog / Volunteer:      Community and Social well-being
Being with my Boys :  Happiness Abound!

My Child & I : In Memory of my Dear Grandmother

Mom is in the process of recovering from the loss of her dear maternal Grandmother.

Firstborn: "Amma! Why did you go out of town?"

Mom: "To say bye to Paati, who was going off to be with God"

Firstborn: "Why did she go to God?"

Mom: "She wanted to be peaceful"

Second born (listens carefully and brings a bag of green-Peas): "Amma, I will bring this Peas to Paati and she'll then come back, OK? "

Simply put by my little guy, it's Children who bring Peace and Love into this World- Let's keep it g (r) o(w) ing by not losing the child in each of us!


Tribute

Grandmothers are the blueprint of our own mothers - their love unbound and immeasurable.

My Grandmother was strong & open-hearted, truthful & outspoken, money-wise yet generous, well-read but religious and systematic & hardworking.

My tribute to my Grandmother will be to carry her memory lovingly forever in my heart and follow at least a few of her qualities throughout my life.

Love you forever, Aayal!

Great Advices from a Dog

Shared by a friend- wanted to pass on the joy!

If a dog was the teacher you would learn stuff like:

When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.

Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.

Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.

When it's in your best interest, practice obedience.

Let others know when they've invaded your territory.

Take naps.

Stretch before rising.

Run, romp, and play daily.

Thrive on attention and let people touch you.

Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.

On warm days, stop to lie on your back in the grass.

On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.

When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

No matter how often you're scolded, don't buy into the guilt thing and pout .... Run right back and make friends.

Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.

Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.

Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you're not.

If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.

When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.

My Child & I

It's Children's day and Mom is chatting up with the boys about Nehru-ji's love for children.
The topic moves on from the day to discipline, dreams etc.

Mom: " So, what do you dream to be when you grow up?"

First-born: "A Strong Boxing Champion!"

Mom: " Nice! But how does a boxing Champion become strong?"

First-born: "By eating healthy food and playing"

(Turning to Second-born)

Mom: What do you want to be when you grow-up?"

Second-born: "BIG!!!"

First-born (in an impatient voice) : " Not that! like a Pilot, Teacher, Farmer?"

Second-born (retaliates also in an impatient voice) : " I want to be just ME (i.e. his name) but just bigger!"

Sent a silent prayer upwards:

Please let them grow-up being themselves with just bigger limbs and even bigger hearts!

Happy Children's day!

My Child & I

Have been blogging forever about my sons' antics but for a change they've handed me a chance to brag about their actions.

Firstborn displayed immense maturity when he asked the X-Ray technician "I would like an adult with me when I take off my shirt. Could you please ask my Grandma to come in, please"?

Second-born showed great care & understanding when he handed his package of cookies to a homeless lady with an infant at the traffic-lights, saying "Give to baby also, OK?"

Sent a silent prayer skywards as my sons take small steps in making my post here a reality.

Election Day 2011: April 13 (Thu)

Analyze the Past. Register the Present. For the Nation's Future.

Its your Right , Responsibility, Pride and it counts.

Cast your Vote!

In ode to Bro

Is it a blessing to have a Brother?

Well, that leads to many other branching questions such as- whether they are younger or elder to you, how many you have and whether you also have another sister in the picture etc.

Here's my equation: I am a lone sister with two younger brothers (who're practically like twins, as they are only 1.5 yrs apart and kinda look alike too)

And to get to a good conclusion, let's rewind back to my childhood (and my brothers' too of course)-I know you don't have time for this as this was quite awhile ago, but please have mercy and hear me out!

Bro's Top 5 , Then:

1) The teachers at school knew me very well- my Music/Tamil achievements were outdone by my brothers' with their behavioral/handwriting skills.

2) I maintained a good BMI
a) Never sat through an entire meal ever without a fight and I always left the plat(c)e unfinished
b) Sweets always went missing from my stash.

3) Got to study each grade thrice for free- by helping (sic) handling them/their friends (for free, of course)

4) Was well trained at hide & seek a.k.a lost & found, passing the parcel/ tug of war a.k.a my dear things and grin & bear it.

5) Got towering (literally!) unwelcome body-guards during outings

Add to the above: Forgetting phone messages, empty fridge water bottles, piling undone chores and being teased mercilessly.

Alright, setting time machine back to "Present" where all of us are grow(a)n-ups.
Have 2 boys of my own now- reincarnating my brothers.
With all the training over the years am handling drama(n)dy with ease.

Bro's Top 5, Now:

1) Make their bike/car route via my destination, be it ice-cream, mall, concert - (check)

2) Listen to my never ending banter about anything and everything (Note: In his cell phone / calling card minutes) - (check)

3) Reminisce & recollect good times, praise your outfit/dish, bring a smile on my face even on the busiest day - (check)

4) Dote on my kids and play "Maama" perfect to the T - (check)

a) Brought the lovely "Maamis" (read, sisters for me) into the picture - (double check)

b) Entitled me becoming proud "Aththai" - (triple check)

5) Still act (and tower-over) as body-guards, as & when needed

Thee Brother is thus make you love thy Boys and Bring thy Blessings (& Body-guards)!