Sitting on the couch, on New Year ’s Eve, I can’t help but reminisce on the past months and want to capture some snippets before it is over. (Yes, our plans for new year celebration involve sitting in front of the couch and enjoying my brother’s cooking with Ken & Cathy who are our neighbors, friends & surrogate parents all in one.)
“This was the year of the princess and the frog” – Cathy’s words from her Christmas party rang in my foggy mind while I was attempting to wake up this morning. Why did those words get stuck in my head? Somehow they sounded appropriate for our lives this year.
Cathy, of course was referring to Diya & Aadi’s Halloween costumes this year. Diya had chosen the theme as she got to be the princess and Aadi really did not mind being a frog. The costumes suited them perfectly :)
As, I look back over the year, I can trace ‘the princess’ and ‘the frog’ over and over again. Here are some instances:
- Diya got into gardening this summer. She spent a lot of effort and focus on this and grew beautiful flowers. Aadi ate them.
- Diya is already reading fluently just 6 months into kindergarten while Aadi can croak only 3 words: 1) ribbit; 2) choo-choo and 3) car.
- Diya was a picture of perfection at Cathy’s Christmas party in her long flowing dress and impeccable table manners. Aadi ran around their house chasing cats – his tie askew and shirt untucked (yes he wore a suit !) and almost set fire to their house as he tried to hand me a burning candle.
- Diya is learning to control her temper and keep some patience. Aadi’s latest trick is to throw himself on the ground and bang his head on the floor at the first sign of being denied.
- Diya is now sleeping in a bunk bed being very careful to climb up and down from it. Aadi hopped on the bed so much that I had could not allow him on it even while I watched over him. I had to put him back in his crib right away. He tried to chew his way out of there.
- Diya shows her love for Aadi by kissing him. He reciprocates by pulling her hair.
It is amazing to see the change this year has brought in Diya as she matured as a big sister. As for Aadi, maybe our collective love and the thousands of kisses that we shower him with will turn him into a prince some day. I hope not too soon though, I wouldn’t mind if he remains a frog a little while longer. These years are too precious and they are going by too fast !
Happy New Year !!
Friday, December 31, 2010
The year of ‘The Princess & the Frog'
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Party Animal
Diya and I went to buy groceries. We ended up buying a lot. Noticing this, Diya launched the following conversation:
“Mamma, we bought lots and lots of stuff”
Yes, looks like it.
“Hey ! I have an idea !!”
What?
“We can have a party”
Okay
“Whose birthday is next?”
Hmm, no ones birthday is near. But Mamma-Baba’s wedding anniversary is coming up. And you know, it will be our 10th anniversary. That’s big ! So we can have a big party.
“Oh … are you going to get married again?”
That’s a neat idea – it has been 10 years, maybe we should get married again !
“Are you going to marry someone else this time?””
(Hmm …. tempting thought … but maybe I should not freak the little girl out )
No, I really like your Baba and he really likes me. So we will marry each other again.
“Good, then I get to see it this time. Last time you two got married, you did not invite me! “
“Mamma, we bought lots and lots of stuff”
Yes, looks like it.
“Hey ! I have an idea !!”
What?
“We can have a party”
Okay
“Whose birthday is next?”
Hmm, no ones birthday is near. But Mamma-Baba’s wedding anniversary is coming up. And you know, it will be our 10th anniversary. That’s big ! So we can have a big party.
“Oh … are you going to get married again?”
That’s a neat idea – it has been 10 years, maybe we should get married again !
“Are you going to marry someone else this time?””
(Hmm …. tempting thought … but maybe I should not freak the little girl out )
No, I really like your Baba and he really likes me. So we will marry each other again.
“Good, then I get to see it this time. Last time you two got married, you did not invite me! “
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Favors
We (as in Suvo and Golu) bought a 52 inch Sony Bravia HDTV with a home theater system to match, last Christmas. Today (12/12/10) was the first time Suvo and I sat down in front if it together – that’s almost a year later. I was already numb with exhaustion, the end of the year gets to you at work plus we are planning some home renovation before the holidays and that has us doubly taxed.
I jumped out of my quasi-coma as an obnoxious commercial flashed past my consciousness – “Instant Defense” serum for women between the age of 35 and 60, to reduce lines and wrinkles. ????? Women between age 35 and 60 – is that one age group??Q!W@E#@#%!!!!!
I am going to turn 35 in little over 3 months (at least my honest math tells me so). All the alarm bells started tolling simultaneously. I am not ready for this. What does this mean? Some hidden part of my brain issued a, not so subtle hint, - “Your shopping sprees are not going to focus on finding the perfect skinny jeans – instead they will revolve around finding some ointment to remove crow’s feet around your eyes”.
The sane (or insane –depends on the way you look at it) part of my mind rebelled against this and I frantically looked for a grip. My eyes rested on Suvo, who seemed to be carefully immersed in some private reverie, clearly not interested in engaging about this particular topic – hmm…. If I were a third party I would call this a wise move.
So I had no reprieve, until the next day – when I decided to engage the most perceptive audience of all - Diya. I posed a simple question to her – after she had had a prolonged bath, after a sleep over at Cathy’s, that ended with chocolate chip pancakes - the best possible circumstances. My question to her was –“ Diya – what will you do when I become an old woman”? While I waited with bated breath, her response was cool, automatic, premeditated and dismissive as always – “I will buy you stuff”. !@#@#$???????
I struggled to keep my anxiousness in check, and as I probed further – “What kind of stuff?” – may be that will give me some clue and bring peace to my wild heart. She shrugged her little shoulders and said – “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit”. This is my standard line to her when I get her something. So, she is planning on returning all my favors – not sure what the right response to this is – “!!!!” or “?????” or "@#$#$%#$%”.
I really need to think this parenting thing through before it comes back to haunt me.
I jumped out of my quasi-coma as an obnoxious commercial flashed past my consciousness – “Instant Defense” serum for women between the age of 35 and 60, to reduce lines and wrinkles. ????? Women between age 35 and 60 – is that one age group??Q!W@E#@#%!!!!!
I am going to turn 35 in little over 3 months (at least my honest math tells me so). All the alarm bells started tolling simultaneously. I am not ready for this. What does this mean? Some hidden part of my brain issued a, not so subtle hint, - “Your shopping sprees are not going to focus on finding the perfect skinny jeans – instead they will revolve around finding some ointment to remove crow’s feet around your eyes”.
The sane (or insane –depends on the way you look at it) part of my mind rebelled against this and I frantically looked for a grip. My eyes rested on Suvo, who seemed to be carefully immersed in some private reverie, clearly not interested in engaging about this particular topic – hmm…. If I were a third party I would call this a wise move.
So I had no reprieve, until the next day – when I decided to engage the most perceptive audience of all - Diya. I posed a simple question to her – after she had had a prolonged bath, after a sleep over at Cathy’s, that ended with chocolate chip pancakes - the best possible circumstances. My question to her was –“ Diya – what will you do when I become an old woman”? While I waited with bated breath, her response was cool, automatic, premeditated and dismissive as always – “I will buy you stuff”. !@#@#$???????
I struggled to keep my anxiousness in check, and as I probed further – “What kind of stuff?” – may be that will give me some clue and bring peace to my wild heart. She shrugged her little shoulders and said – “You get what you get and you don’t throw a fit”. This is my standard line to her when I get her something. So, she is planning on returning all my favors – not sure what the right response to this is – “!!!!” or “?????” or "@#$#$%#$%”.
I really need to think this parenting thing through before it comes back to haunt me.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Bacteria
This happened just a minute back! I just had to get on the web and put it up on our blog.
Diya was feeling sick at her school daycare (called the "Adventure Club"). Stuffy nose, fever, tummy ache - typical symptoms of flu. Ankur and I decided that I will pick her up, go home and work from there (I have no meeting to attend today). That way we can get some medicine started and Diya can get also some rest.
When I reached her daycare, she looked very down. We drove back. She was unusually quiet all the way.
So, we reached home, Diya got tucked in and I got her some warm soup to her bed. After a couple of spoons, she got back her voice. And along with that her propensity of constant talking!
We started chatting as I was booting up the laptop. Here's the conversation which took place:
Diya: Baba, why do I need to eat the hot soup?
Suvo: So that you feel better. :)
Diya: But why?
Suvo: Well, the heat will kill the bacteria. Bacteria and virus can live through cold - they just freeze up - but when you put them in a hot place, they die. That's why people boil drinking water.
Diya: Baba, then we should all go to India.
Suvo: ??!!
Diya saw the expression on my face and explained.
Diya: In India there is no bacteria. Remember, you said that India is a hot place. There is no snow. So all the bacteria are already dead. ....
... after a brief pause ...
Diya: ... And please remember to go to the internet and read the report which says if a one year old can sit on the lap or need to have a his own seat.
Admittedly, she was already thinking of how to put Aadi on the plane!
Diya was feeling sick at her school daycare (called the "Adventure Club"). Stuffy nose, fever, tummy ache - typical symptoms of flu. Ankur and I decided that I will pick her up, go home and work from there (I have no meeting to attend today). That way we can get some medicine started and Diya can get also some rest.
When I reached her daycare, she looked very down. We drove back. She was unusually quiet all the way.
So, we reached home, Diya got tucked in and I got her some warm soup to her bed. After a couple of spoons, she got back her voice. And along with that her propensity of constant talking!
We started chatting as I was booting up the laptop. Here's the conversation which took place:
Diya: Baba, why do I need to eat the hot soup?
Suvo: So that you feel better. :)
Diya: But why?
Suvo: Well, the heat will kill the bacteria. Bacteria and virus can live through cold - they just freeze up - but when you put them in a hot place, they die. That's why people boil drinking water.
Diya: Baba, then we should all go to India.
Suvo: ??!!
Diya saw the expression on my face and explained.
Diya: In India there is no bacteria. Remember, you said that India is a hot place. There is no snow. So all the bacteria are already dead. ....
... after a brief pause ...
Diya: ... And please remember to go to the internet and read the report which says if a one year old can sit on the lap or need to have a his own seat.
Admittedly, she was already thinking of how to put Aadi on the plane!
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