Archive | May 2011

This is my first letter to you. I was contemplating on penning this down as I was not sure about what to write. I almost record most of your updates in this blog then and there and felt there is nothing much left. But, the very thought of getting lost in the sweet memories we have been through in last one year made the point. We celebrated your 5th birthday at Chennai with both grand parents and you had a blast the whole month at India. This year we will keep it as a small affair with cake cutting at school for some reasons. We will also sponsor pizza lunch for kids at school. You are getting your special gift as a surprise. The one that you wanted to buy but didn’t cry for it at the store. When we were in the shop last weekend you saw that toy but kept quiet till we moved out of that aisle. Later you pulled me down and whispered on my ears as “Amma do you remember that toy I was asking for a long time I saw that at the toys section in this store” and didn’t say one more word after that. I reacted in my usual way of “we can buy it later da”. You didn’t know that visit to store was to confirm that toy was in stock, you didn’t know that dadda is going to get it for you as surprise. I can’t wait to see your reaction when you find the toy through treasure hunt. It is a simple toy but it is special as we know you have it registered on one corner of your brain.

During last year India visit I was amazed at the way you picked up Tamizh in those four weeks and the efforts you took to speak in our mother tongue. I am glad you liked the language. It is one of amma’s desire to introduce you to those mind blowing idhigasams and seiyyuls. I love it when you say “amma enakku Tamizh romba pidichirukku. namba rendu perum Tamizh-lae pesalama?” and when you react as “ennanga amma”… Your vanga, ponga’s to elders sounds very cute. Now, you want to go to India for two reasons to see the cricket world cup Trophy and to look at the cattle’s on road side.

You have started Kindergarten this year and is doing great at school. You are very religious in completing the homework assignments and your teacher’s words are vedha vakku (final words) for you. Though you hate it when amma erases the dancing words I know you like perfection. You can frame sentences with given word in less than a minute. You don’t like it when amma spoon feeds or helps upfront. You will say “Ammaa let me do it myself. I will ask you if I need help okayyy?”. The way you practiced snapping fingers and making stylish move with head/neck for songs says that you believe in “practice makes perfect”. You have recently learned about counting money and telling analog time. There are times when I ask you to check the time you will check the digital clock first, then pretend to count the long hands in analog clock by 5 and then say the time. Amma knows when you do mischief’s. Every evening I had to send you back to the bathroom to wash your face with soap when you come back to me like a bouncing spring from the bathroom. Sometimes you even do ask how do you know amma that I just washed with water? Its the time you take pattumma.

You hardly demand for anything. It will start like this “Amma I want to ask you something. Only if you say yes, only if you say yes I will do it fair enough?” who can say No to this kid. You win hands down most of the times. You clearly know the capabilities and differences of appa and amma. You agree when appa or amma tries to explain something but most cases you cut good deals though. You need options for everything. While shopping you want amma/appa to choose few options and then you decide on what to pick. You are an amma pleaser. You hate it when I shed tears. I remember you holding my hands tight and hugging me when I couldn’t control my tears. You don’t like me to be mad. When I shout at you sometimes and then apologize you will just change the topic with “Its okay amma”.

You are scared of being locked out. It doesn’t matter even if it is a candy or toy shop you absolutely cannot stay inside the shop if its time to close. Unfortunately we hit most of the stores at this odd hour. This fear started when a storekeeper pulled down the shutter in front of you couple of years back. Hope it will fade away soon. You are not ready for adventures yet. You hate roller coasters. You are scared of dark. Safety is always your priority.

You love it when amma showers you with kisses, hugs you tight and share secrets on your ears. You love to pretend like a baby in amma’s lap. You can be easily pacified by kissing or hugging. When you get hurt all amma has to do it kiss at the place it hurts and hug you untill you say I feel better now and run away.

Counting works better with you. This is amma’s brahmastra for now. You can either drink a glass of milk at the count of 20 or take an hour without counting. You laugh out loud when amma makes funny statements like “Adi go to the kitchen and brush your teeth or Adi go to the bathroom and sleep” and then correct myself when you laugh. This is another way to change your mood and get the work done. You mimic me most of the times and this has become your favorite these days. You like to have evening snack by sitting comfortably on the couch with legs stretched and watching TV.

Even in sleep if we ask whom do you love the most your response will always be “both”. Honestly that annoys me sometimes. I wish you can say “Mommy” one day. I don’t mind you saying “Daddy” as long as you say “Mommy” first 🙂 🙂 . You will be at your best in defending appa’s mistakes. Like the day he forgot his mobile and we couldn’t reach him till 9pm you said “appa pavam amma (poor guy) we have to remind him in the morning to take his mobile. He forgets easily”, the way you run around to find car/house keys in the morning rush hour for him shows your love for your dadda. Every time I want to take him for a ride you will respond with a “poor guy its okay amma”. You have learned to dial numbers from home phone and these days you phone him to check if he is not home by 7pm.

You have your own bad/mad times too but dadda says without that you will not be one happy kid.

I can go on and on and on da pattumma. I never thought I will be able to recollect so much. It may sound cliche but you are the best gift we could ever ask for. We are blessed to have you in our life. Wishing you a very happy birthday and a wonderful year ahead.

Love you always,
Amma

Mother’s Spa

May10

Better late than never. Though work is eating up most of the time these days I want to quickly record what we Adi did for Mother’s day. Her class decided to host Mother’s Spa event on Friday. This girl has been checking with me since Monday if I will be able to attend it and I was responding with the usual parkalam (let’s see / I will try my best). On Wednesday when she came to know that they can take not only mother but anyone they like may be cousin, grandma, sister or any other woman I heard my heart breaking into pieces. She coolly said “Amma its ok if you cannot come I will take grandma (patti H) from next door”. The table turned and now I started pestering her “Are you sure you don’t want me to come? So all these days you were just looking for someone to represent you and you were not in particular to take mommy to the Spa? ” I reached the pathetic level of begging and her final response was with shoulders shrugged “Ammmmmaaaaa it doesn’t matter if you really want to come you can join us too”.. Poor me.

In between I called patti H on Wednesday evening to check her availability and she said she cannot make it as plumber is planning to visit her home on Friday. Adi was very down and asked me again with a sad face “Amma will you at least come?” You should have guessed my response by now . I said with a villan smile “Let’s see” ha ha ha ha. Literally I did this and she was very upset with my response. Without adding more fuel to the fire I hugged my darling and promised to come.

The saga did not end there. A twist is on its way. On Thursday evening when we were heading back home I called grandma H so we can stop by if she is at home. She said she would have called me in 5 minutes if I had not called her and asked what time is the Spa event. It was at 1pm. I showed her the invitation that Adi’s teacher sent home inviting us for the Spa event. Grandma made arrangements so plumber can visit her as first thing in the morning and she can make it to the event. We spent some time at her home that evening and Adi was jumping in joy. She asked grandma to keep the invitation with herself so that she doesn’t forget the next day. Adi is probably bored of taking me for all the event at school. After all she needs a change and more importantly I should take it easy when she needs the change.

It didn’t end still 🙂 Adi had a surprise element on Friday and that was my visit. She assumed grandma will come on her own but was surprised to see me tagging along with grandma. She was at her best in servicing us. We were welcomed with pink streamers hanging on the entrance. While polishing my nails she reminded fellow kid “hey did you forget what our teacher said? we should give some treats to our mom so they can relax and enjoy what we do”. The best part is kids made these treats extra special by dipping them in chocolate syrup. We had chocolate dipped strawberries/marshmallows/pretzels/crackers. Here is a glimpse of the different stations we had in Spa.

Apart from this she also bought a plant from plant sale held at school, made cards/photo frames and planned her usual surprise treasure hunt at home. She made her dad buy lettuce/carrots secretly and was also planning to make breakfast, lunch and even dessert for me on Sunday but unfortunately we were not at home.

Not to mention the whole week she was threatening me every other minute as “Mommy if you don’t say yes to this then you don’t have to come to my school on Friday, I will not make breakfast for you on Sunday, I will not give you any surprises, I will not even wish you on Mother’s day. Is that what you want? tell me? If no then better say yes for this”

Good reason

May5

Adi: Amma, can I please have kids meal (store bought) for my dinner today?
Amma: Sorry pappa. I don’t think you can have it today.
Adi: I know you will say NOO. You always do this to me. You never ever want me to be happy blah blah blah

After ten minutes (past ten minutes was spent by lying upside down on the couch. Technically five minutes on the couch and five minutes facing wall with hands criss crossed, face down, eyebrows shrinked)

Adi: Ammaaaa, can I please have my kids meal for dinner today?
Amma: I am really sorry da pattumma. Didn’t you hear me before?
Adi: Ok. If you say no to something there will be a good reason behind it. Tell me what is the good reason behind this?

The moment I was yearning for. It was a moment of mixed emotions and my eyes were welled up. I explained the reason and my sweetie pie agreed to it.. what more can I ask for?

Spring break

May2

We tried our best to keep Adi engaged and happy on the spring break and guess we succeeded in it. She was mighty happy when she headed back to school after the break.

We started off with spending the Friday evening at friend’s place. Myself and my friend made murukku, omapodi, strawberry cake and cupcakes on that evening. Then, I also made one batch of rava laddu and stocked them all for the girl to enjoy for next 10 days.

On Monday I worked from home, Tuesday and Wednesday she was at different friend’s home playing with their kids/visiting park, Thursday M worked from home and Friday was holiday for me (Good Friday).

We bought few gifts (mostly dollar items that she likes) and one grand (in her terms) gift the week before spring break and planned to play treasure hunt every day. M prepared the clues and played with her every evening. Each clue will have the details for next hop and the final clue will say “Hurray hop to this place for the gift”. This idea was borrowed from Adi. She has been giving us surprises for a while now. When I open snack cupboard I see this.

M sees this closer to the place where he ~~keeps~~ throws his keys and id card. Ignore the b in “inside”. She still gets confused at times but definitely not like before when she was confidently writing b as d and d as b not missing even one time.

It is very thoughtful of her to stick these notes at our frequently accessed points and even chose the right color marker to write down. She knows green is my favorite. One fine day after being tired of giving surprises she said very sadly “why is it only I am giving surprise to you guys? I know you guys don’t love me”. Thus the treasure hunt happened.

This is the grand gift. We spent around two hours on Friday morning to make these gemstone ornaments and stepped out in the evening for a cultural affair with Adi holding this purse proudly and wearing the jewels. She would have opened the purse a million times in that ten minute ride.

She also made few crafts on her own and this is the one I got to click.

We wrapped up the weekend with watching Rio 3D in big screen, roaming around a mall till we cannot take a step further and inviting friend’s family for lunch.

I called her with a special name this whole week. Just the very thought of the name brings a broad smile in my face :).

I called her “Jimikki” as she wore Jimikki (long earrings) all that week. She loved this name. The moment I call out as “Jimikki” from kitchen she would promptly respond with a “enna amma?” (did you call me?) .

Overall she watched less TV than expected, played more, crafted few, snacked enough (for the record omapodi and murukku containers are empty) and had loads of fun. This is like a preview to the long summer break coming up soon.