Dear Adi,
Where do I start? You are growing as a beautiful young lady now managing all the things on your own.
Academics – I am not following up closely on your studies except for reminding you randomly to check if there is any work due or is there any test/quiz to prepare for. You are doing amazingly well at academics though Appa always keeps his bar slightly higher so that you will keep up with your performance. Amma is very happy and satisfied with your academics (I might not say this loud to you) as you have understood the importance of being educated and able to manage it by yourself.
You were chosen as class representative out of 7 candidates and it seems one of your classmate told you at the hallway that “she voted for you and you deserve it” in spite of her friend being one of the candidate. You were expecting her to root for her friend. You won with majority of votes in a class where kids knew each other for less than two months. Can’t be more proud of you darling. I wonder how you made your classmates feel your presence in such a short time period. Your teacher says you go out of your way to help classmates.
Pattu – We have found a new teacher in local and you are starting to love pattu classes. I am glad we found her as she knows how to deal with kids. Now, you practice on your own and look forward to pattu class. You were even okay to skip few other events to attend pattu class. Can I ask for more? But I think this change is due to your love for your teacher rather than for pattu itself. I only wish you continue with this until you could make an informed decision about this subject.
Art – You are continuing with art class and here is another beautiful landscape you made to compliment the earlier one. They both are now adorning our living room. I have made it clear that we are not buying any art for our home. It should all only be proud display of your own work.
I have created an art board as a backdrop of your bed and pinned your art work there. Time to extend the board I guess!! Don’t the wall color look gorgeous? We choose the paint (named confetti) and Appa painted your room.
Piano – You are taking private class from one of the best teacher. I can’t say you are super excited about the class but we want to continue with it as long as possible.
Sports – This is seasonal. You choose between Swimming or Tennis. We want to keep at least one physical activity as an ongoing activity given the way you put on weight. We are those unlucky souls where the hip/body shows out double of what the lip tastes.
LHB – You call him baby. Yes and that is how you treat him too though he has now started to manipulate you. You behave like an adult to him. Actually more than an adult as your threshold of patience with him has always been more than us.
He looks after you for every step and you let him follow you. You include him in everything and I can’t thank you enough for that pattumma. Just including him when your friends are around itself is a big deal given your age in spite of him messing around. I try my best to give you your own time so that you don’t feel being bothered by him all the time.
We are potty training him and you take him to the toilet when the situation calls for it. Doesn’t that summarize everything about you? Reminds me of a popular tamil quote “oru paanai sotrukku oru sooru padham” (Eng: one morsel of cooked rice is just enough to judge the taste of one whole pot of cooked rice)
When he annoys you, most of the time you say “Just leave it Amma, he doesn’t really know what he is doing”. I learn from you every single day ma. You are the BEST big sister pattumma.
When he is in trouble or someone bothers him, he would run towards you bypassing us to hide behind you. When you ask “what happened baby? Is someone bothering you?” He would explain the problem to you in his cute innocent voice.. You would patiently listen with your “ohh and ahaan” and then take appropriate action to support your brother. It is a delight to watch the both of you together when you two are at your best.
You are well settled in middle school with your own set of friends. RAAMS is your group’s nick name and you girls plan for sleepover now and then. I am very glad that you got your own group now. I would love to be a secret listener of your chatting sessions just to hear that excitement and happiness and you girls echoing “I know right!!!”. May be it will come true very soon in the form of your birthday party.
You girls have come up with this phrase “we-ooun-weee”. You say that for everything in different modulation based on your mood.
You are in aftercare this year and Appa does the chauffeur job so you and I don’t get much time every day for casual chat but we try to catch up now and then. I do miss all our personal time and it is going to be worse from next year as we have registered you into school bus for morning drop.
You still think I am the annoying person and raise your voice at random times. But, we have learned to come to terms with it faster than before. We have learned to let go and proceed with our own work. And now that you are growing very fast, Appa has also taken some responsibility in observing and giving you gyaans as and when needed.
So, these days when you are mad, instead of pointing at Amma you start with “you guys spoil everything for me”.
As it is a tradition now, Amma will arrange for a treasure hunt as first thing in the morning on your special day (I am planning for a special gift too) and we will bake the birthday cake together based on your design. You are super excited about this year party theme. Me too!!! I instantly fly high when you say “Amma I don’t know how you manage to make my birthday party better by every year”. I believe in the saying “where there is a will, there is a way” darling. It could also be re-written as “when your heart is into something, the stars align to make it happen”..
Well, as a person I can’t be more proud to admit that I am very happy and satisfied with your upbringing pattumma. Your core characters are well formed and I don’t think they will change after this. You cannot hurt anyone knowingly and you care about people.I have noticed it in different occasions. You don’t say it loud when you don’t like something to outsiders just to make sure you don’t hurt them. You do this especially with ammachi when she gets you a dress that you don’t like or cooks something that you don’t like. You act the same way with your friends too. You don’t bad mouth about them in their absence or pass on the not-s0 good comments between friends.
When I have asked you in some occasions you have replied “If I tell her (your friend) what others said, she would feel bad Amma. So, I chose not to tell her”. I doubt if I can act so composed and matured anytime in my life.
You think from different perceptions and consider all possibilities while making a decision. You are able to identify what is right and what is wrong. You do get influenced very easily but that you could have inherited from Amma. As long as that influence is in a good way it is ok ma. You are growing to be a kind heart-ed, sensible and well thinking person. I can’t be more proud of you pattumma.
Wishing you a happy and healthy life ma. That is how I address you most of the times “Adi..mma”. You have questioned me “why do I call you “Amma”. Am I your mother or what?” Truly speaking after my Amma it is you and only you I can call as Amma da. I love addressing you like that “Adi…mma”..
Stay the same always darling. As always remember that, you have a family to back you up no matter what comes your way. I send a silent prayer to God for blessing me with such wonderful kids. I only count my blessings in multiples when I think of you both. You two are the sunshine of my life. May you always stay happy patumma.
Love,
Amma
Between my littles and me 