My Angel

Tia is surely growing up to be a little angel. No doubt, she drives me up the wall but sure at the same time gives me so many reasons to smile.
Everyday I bring her back from school! (That is another set of battle each day) everyday she has different reason not to climb the stairs.
Moreover, now that she is grown, picking her up is no easy task for me. However, when she sees her father, then there is no excuse for him, he has to pick her up.
Of late, she must have realized that mummy cannot pick her so she never forces herself on me. Nevertheless, yes one phrase she definitely utters, “I am so tired”
When I offer to pick her up she will say, “You will get tired na maamma” (U cannot imagine my emotions then)
The other day Tia was not well, still I thought let me take her out for sometime so that she feels better.
So we went for sometime, then again while climbing up home, I picked her up. In spite of her fever, she still said in a feverish, feeble tone, “Mamma, you will get tired na”
I got enough strength to carry her all the way up.This is when I feel, how can anyone refuse to be sad with daughters?
They are angels!!!

Girls are Girls ! An angel in Disguise

When I look at Tia, I see so many naughty things about her. So many, stuff, that drives me MAD. But some things that really touch my heart. Recently, our family had gone for a vacation. Our itinerary had two nights halt at the houseboat in the backwaters of Kerala. The first night was great because it was full of excitement. But the second night looked more like a place struck with epidemics because most of us fell ill, touchwood Tia did not. I was seasick and everything was terrible for me. The early next morning I had the urge to puke and the moment she heard me throw up Tia woke up. I thought, “Oh! My God! Now all hell will break loose” But what!!!!! Where is child who cries for her mother each morning? Tia was not the usual self, she looked matured and most importantly brought me so much of relief when she said, “Mama, are you puking, don’t worry it will be fine” saying so she started rubbing my back.

Once Upon A Time...

Once upon a time.....Dhisssommmm, then dhiskau dhiskau. Shooooooooo. Pop pop pop !
Ha!Ha! Ha!Ha! Ha!Ha! Ha!Ha! Ha!Ha! Ha!Ha! Ha!Ha! Ha!Ha!
Maaaahaaaraj! B-bbbbbbbbbbb bandar
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Keep quiet
Whisper whisper whisper
Mamma finis. FINIS MAMA (accompanied by a scream)
Well! Sounding strange! This is a story narrated by Tia
Her story comprises of sound effects only.

Er! Hmmm! Gosh!!

Well! I have actually no words for this incident, so I thought I just let the guessing game remain. The other day I took Tia along with me to shop. Being aware of her fidgety nature, I did not take a long list with me.
But Tia is after all Tia, after a little while she was squatting in a corner and hurriedly putting something into the basket.
Oooops! There was red, there was green, there was blue and you name it you have it color packets. My basket was full multi colored condom packets and not to forget the erotic visuals were cherry to my embarrassment.
I said, “Baby, they are not meant for you,” but do you think she would listen. She screamed hoarse, “It is MINEEEEE”…
God! I have nothing to say after that.

Trip To School

Tia’s school is stone throw away. So it is obvious that I drop her forth and back. When she cried refusing to go to school, my heart would melt and ache by her tears! But now I have found an easy option! I never tell her where we are going. I just take her there and on the way, I narrate stories where she is too occupied to notice where we are actually going! Before I narrate one-fourth, her school is there. Once she sees the school she is ready to hop in but, before and after her session she is one sob-sob story regarding her school.

School Time Begins 11th July 2008

Now Tia has started going to school. Initial few days were fun, for her as well for me.

One lucky Mom, my daughter has no hassles going to school! But Oooops! One fine day she refuses to go to school wails and yells and kicks and screams… she does every possible emotional blackmailing stuff. But can that be ever possible

“Never Miss Your School!” He! He! He! (Sounds sadistic hah!)

A Bhaiya !!

Being a Mom is a full time job and without a doubt everyone will definitely agree to it. In the humdrum of day's chore, there are times when taking care of myself takes a second seat.
One day Tia was scrutinizing me very carefully, then all of a sudden she asked, "Ma, what is this?" she pointed towards my upper lip that looked miserably unkempt. I had to answer her so said "beta, it is ma's moustache". Prompt came her reply, "So you have become a bhaiya (a man) now?"
Any answer???

Imelda Marcos!!

Tia has great fascination for shoes,

the moment she sees them she slips them on.

I had to purchase shoes for myself so

I went to my regular shoes store.

This was Tia’s first visit to a store

that had numerous fancy shoes and sandals.

What more could she want for, one

after another she was trying on the high heeled

shoes and walking around with poise.

Ahaa! Little Imelda Marcos!

Etiquette First

Etiquette is what I thought should come first so, I introduced, ‘thank you’, ‘sorry’, ‘welcome’, ‘I love you’, etc. in Tia’s life. Once they were set in her everyday vocabulary, I started with the alphabets next.
I started gradually by often reading the alphabets aloud. Then one fine day I thought, it’s time I make her repeat the alphabets after me. It was fine till A to H, she repeated them very obediently, but the moment I said ‘I’ prompt followed “LOVE YOU”. I said, “No, Tia just say I”, again she went on “LOVE YOU”. Gawd what next!!!!!

Planes in Disguise

Thunderstorm’ is what Tia was aware of this time, when there was relief shower in the city. At times, she got scared and annoyed too. I had no idea what was going on in her mind, regarding the thunderstorms. But I was obvious that she was scared.
Until when one point of time she expressed herself, ‘uuufff mama planes!’ saying so she pointed towards the sky!

See didn’t I tell you before! Imaginations has no reins.

Identity Crisis

All these days Tia had either seen pups or street dogs, when it came to dogs. And by now she had formed the opinion of how dogs look like for example, their height, weight, etc, etc…

Considering the fact that Tia loves animals, I thought she would be amused to see Nimbus (that is the dog’s name). Therefore, I took her to Nimbus’ home.

The initial reaction was friendly, Tia was taken aback to see the giant in front of her, and Nimbus was his usual friendly, happy, doting self.

Tia was absolutely thrilled by his presence and playful with him. She looked at me, “see Mama!" She chirped then she stopped, probably confused, what to call the animal who was double her size. She paused for a while and then shot the knockout, “see Mama! A HORSE”

Taare Zameen Par!!!

I am the kind who loves watching movie only when it has a happy ending. The sci-fi types, the dhissooom dhissooom types hardly attracts my attention. But yes! Few of them get etched in my heart.
Recently, I decided to watch ‘Taare Zameen Par’. No doubt the movie was wonderful…. But to my surprise! I was amazed by the reaction of my two-year daughter.

The sob-sob story had reached the climax, my little one was growing intense too. I just checked her in-between to assure that she was awake… Indeed she was.

The scene: ‘open theatre where the child has been declared the winner’.
The atmosphere is quite tense, both on-screen and off-screen. Streams of tears are rolling down my cheek without control, then all of a sudden! WWWWAAAAAHHHH! Cries my daughter, without control.

Swear! was quite a difficult task: Flood Control.
The movie had to be stopped in-between till normalcy regained.

Good Work Aamir! Indeed ‘Taare Zameen Par!’
Now’s that is what I called touching the heart, of course! Of my little star!

Emotional Blackmailer!!

Right! That is what I believe what all children can be to their parents. One smile! One sad look and I bet any parents will lay their life for their little one. I do undergo, I do not know how many of them everyday. When she cries, my heart wrenches in pain.

Yet another emotional drama of my little one, where you feel like a little monkey dancing to the tunes of the prankster.
When she is naughty enough I switch off the TV (her favorite pastime). The other day too when I was about to switch off the TV. She raced past me and with the sweetest smile ever, said, “Ma! khong nokoriba moi kandhi dim” (Ma, do not get angry or else I will cry)
What then! What can Gandhiji’s monkey do after that

What an Invention!

Tia came running to me, this time, she had a bucket in her hands. She screamed ‘mamma!’ saying so she turned the bucket upside down and started beating it with both her hands. ‘See mamma drum!!!’ she exclaimed, with sheer excitement at her sudden exciting discovery. She was too delighted!
WOOOOW!!! How amazing! WOW!
Now she played with even more vigor and pride.

What you are to me...

You drive me nuts, you make me go mad, make me clench my fist and teeth. There are also times, when I feel like whacking you hard because you make me go crazy, there are times when I shout hoarse on you. There are also times when I have become more of a monster than a mother to you. In spite, of all the troubles that you create, I love you. I love all your innocent yet irritating ways. I love the way you have taught me patience, by growing naughtier by the day. I love the way you have taught me compassion, by running back to me even when I am rude and nasty to you.

I wonder how did I ever live without you for all these years.

Wild Imagination!

Being well versed with rhymes, I thought why not teach my little one rhymes at least. So I started my rhymes sessions!
Days went by I was on with my classes and yes it started bearing fruits too. She started picking up and humming along all by herself too.
One satisfied mother I was!!!!
Well yesterday, when I was in the kitchen she too followed me. As usual, she was happily singing her rhymes. “Are you sleeping, are you sleeping brother John” But wait a minute! What is it that I hear, ‘Aloo sleeping, aloo sleeping, brother John’
can you beat, she had a aloo (potato) in her hand, that’s how are you became ‘Aloo’

Right, Imaginations! after all you have no reins.

Yet Another Monkey Escapade

It was again that the irritable irresponsible primate came to my balcony.

Well this time he jumped on to my flowerpot with the season’s best blossom.
Not only the flowers, this time the stem was damaged too.
I was again dumbstruck, almost on the verge of a heart attack.
Once again, Tia came running to my aid, she had seen what had happened.

Probably she understood it was the monkey once again.
She went running straight to the balcony, and to my surprise, she screamed,

‘You naughty Monkey!’
WOW! She spoke in English.
Well monkey, you had a narrow escape again!

Hello Police!

I know imagination has no reigns, and I experience it each day with my little one.
Today, yet another story, from her never-ending bag of surprises.
She was busy over her little telephone, in a deep conversation. Of course how could I miss this opportunity, so I concentrated on what she was talking about.

Hah! Police, Maharaaj ko leh jao (Police please take the king away), she said.
Now, who the hell is this Maharaaja! Well King Kaansh! She is one fan of Krishna these days. Probably that was her way of giving a vent to her anger for being so nasty with Krishna.

Spiderman! Spiderman

To my surprise, I saw her, she had almost reached the top of the grill. I was scared at her dare devil act.
I almost froze, but my little one was busy enjoying her stunt. Not only that she had a background music to accompany her stunt this time.
She was merrily singing, ‘Spiderman, Spiderman!’

Monkey Menace

These primates are actually a pain in the neck. With time, their mischievous, in fact notorious acts have made me detest them even more.
All these days I was waiting for the rose to bloom, it was a yellow rose with red edges, and I couldn’t wait to see it bloom.
Alas! I will never see it bloom because this horrible creature jumped and right under my nose plucked it off the stem.
You ******** I yelled, but do you think he would be scared of me, instead he started showing me his presence by trying to jump back at me.
All I could do was run inside and bang the door repeatedly so that it would run away. In the mean while, my daughter who was sleeping in the adjacent room came running, asking with concern, ‘What happened?’ she sounded as though she would readily jump into the field of action (Oh! My two year old musketeer! I wondered) Her sweetness made me explain what had happened. I do not know how much she understood! But her exclamation did the wonders she answered ‘Oh! Ho’ (as though she understood everything) how cute!
That was a narrow escape you Monkey!

Where Am I?

It was the snapshot of the two of us, just after marriage and this picture adorns the walls of my bedroom now. Each time Tia (well that is what I lovingly call her) looks at the photograph, she screams, ‘Mamma’ then she goes again ‘Deuta’ (meaning father). Of late she must have realized, something is amiss in the picture.
One fine day, she was staring at the picture for quite some time. Then all of sudden she questions me, ‘Where is Tia here?’

The Woarad! Ooops!

Well yes! There is no meaning to this word! Nevertheless, it is one of the words that I have picked from my daughter’s vocabulary of strange words. Her words are more of an eyeball popper.
Early in the morning, she wakes up with a smile and then starts her day! (I guess she must be a terrible enemy of phonetics professor in her previous birth) She will scream ‘Mamma barash’ (brush).
However, that is not the end, her demand goes, ‘I want galass (glass) water, which means now she desires to quench her thirst by drinking the water in the glass well! There is nothing funny about it but her demand changes with her mood. Her needs may vary from drinking in the bottle to strange other ways.
Her other quotable words are garapes (grapes), fariend (friend), batharoom (bathroom). I know these sound funny! But I enjoy listening to her words.
For once, she grows, she will forget them, so let me enjoy them now until the time she picks up the right word!

21st December

It was 6.01 pm, when my bundle of joy was placed in my hands. I knew not how to react. The little wonder! I kept looking at her, both my husband and me. It was such a delicate gift we had just received.

Earlier, babies looked all crumbled up to me. They looked so tiny and their skin!!! God! All wrinkled!
But, as I looked at my child, she looked so beautiful even with those wrinkles! All I could feel was tears rolling down my eyes! Tears of joy.
Ever since, I do not know how each day has passed! Under her spell and charms, she has mesmerized me with her cuteness and kept me dumb fold with her interesting answers and queries.