The chance to visit Australia!

It happened very recently. And it happened to my young boys who, although have only recently entered the tens place of the age numbers, think they can already think responsibly for themselves and for their little mom. But what exactly happened is a matter of subjective review. 

Yesterday was colorful, vibrant Holi. So, after the wild, messy and drenched Holi celebrations came to a close, and my sons had taken their bath to wash off the pink and yellow colors from their faces and dresses, we sat down before the TV to catch up with the second inning of the India Vs West Indies World Cup 2015 (Pool B) match, taking place in Australia.  

In the scheme of things, an ad flashed glorifying Australia as a tourist destination, which made my younger son, Darsh to recollect something and abruptly blurt out hence, 

"हमें भी ऑस्ट्रेलिया जाने का मौका मिला था मगर हमने छोड़ दिया। हैं ना वासु ?" (We also got the chance to visit Australia but we left it. Right Vasu?)

"वो कैसे?" (How come?), I wondered, honestly shocked more than surprised. I imagined "how" more than "when" did these two got the opportunity to visit Australia? So, I requested elaboration on the random comment.

"वोह! हमने कल वो पैकेट ख़रीदा था ना, उसमे लिखा था कि अंदर एक कार्ड है जिसे स्क्रैच करने पर आप ऑस्ट्रेलिया जाने का मौका जीत सकते हैं।"  (Well! We bought a snack yesterday and its wrapper read, scratch the card inside and win the chance to visit Australia.) 

"फिर ?" (Then?), I asked matter of factly, anticipating much but keeping it all to myself. 

"हमने सोचा ऑस्ट्रेलिया जाकर क्या करना है, इसलिए स्क्रैच कार्ड रेपर के साथ ही फ़ेंक दिया।" (We thought what would we do in Australia, so threw away the scratch card along with the wrapper.) 

As Darsh concluded his explanation, I was left rolling my eyes and laughing fit to split my sides. Though I wasn't expecting any miraculous opportunity passing them by, even remotely in my freakiest of imagination, but what came by was totally out of the blue hilarious. Now that's what I call making a mountain out of a molehill. 

What do you think?  ^_^

Dialogue-baaz!

 

Books arrgghh..! They are like sleeping pills to Vasu.  He has still not inculcated a taste for reading or writing for that matter. He isn't crafty.. Doesn't have a knack at any indoor or outdoor game though he is ever interested in playing any game he gets to play.  He has little table manners and still can't hold his spoon properly. I am still waiting for him to show a spark at something.... O' Lord  are you listening, up there? Pls help!

It was one of those days when we would sit and chit chat beyond routine matters. It would be our time to share our fears, seek assurances and draw strength from each other's benevolent expressions (honestly this was quite an overtly sophisticated and boring description for "being laid back, lazy, cribbing and demanding time" for Vasu and Darsh). Though I was holding this back with all my mental strength, it stumbled out of my mouth quite uncontrollably..

Me - "Vasu, you would make me proud one day, है ना   (Right?)?"

Vasu - "Yes."

Me - " How?" [Exalted to hear the affirmative response]
        "What  all competitions would you participate in  and win to make me feel proud of you?"  [I continued, very eager to know what he was thinking...]

वासू  - ""   आपकोproud करने के लिए competitions जीतना ज़रुरी नहीं है.  " 
[Vasu - I don't need to win competitions to make you proud.]

Me - (Disappointed a bit, I continued) "Then.. How do you think you can make me feel proud?" [ I was seriously wondering now..]

वासू  - "  मैं अपनी  weaknesses पर काम करूँगा और उन्हें ख़त्म करके आपको खुश करूंगा।   "
[Vasu -  I would constantly work on my weaknesses and eliminate them to make you happy.]

Me - "And.." [Amused, now digging for more.. ]

वासू  - " मैं आपके सिखाये हुए रस्ते पे चलूँगा और अच्चा इंसान बनकर आपको proud करूँगा।"
[Vasu - I would follow the path of goodness, as taught by you, and become a good human being and hence make you proud of me.]

Me - *speechless* *HAPPY*
        *Grinning and chuckling at the realization that my little dudes are gradually learning the art of smooth talking and turning polished dialog-baaz!?!*
         [wink] [wink] 

You INSPIRE me!

At Railway Museum, these summer holidays

I introduced Vasu to football by admitting him to a local low profile football academy. He and Darsh would go to this academy 3-4 times in a week; and thereupon would break glassware, bulbs and tube lights while practicing at home, during the remaining days. Nevertheless, I was happy since my kids were learning a game I always fancied to play well. Things, however, underwent a total change with time. The football academy closed down an year back and Vasu and Darsh now play all kinds of unorganized outdoor games with friends in the neighborhood park. Scenario has only worsened further with  advent of IPL season. Vasu has been head over heels in love with Cricket and wants to become a cricketer when he grows up.  I have discreetly discouraged him to make it a career objective.  

One fine day, I felt this desperate urge to play a good parent. I thought it was my duty to encourage my child at his passion, no matter how unfruitful and useless it was; and so, I had the following dialogue with him.

Me:  "Which cricketer would you like to become when you grow up, Vasu? Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Sachin Tendulkar?" 

Vasu: "दोनों में से कोई नहीं। मैं बड़ा होकर वासू ही बनूँगा " 
(Neither. I will grow up to become VASU only.")

I hadn't expected such a reply from Vasu.  I was all smiles. 

However, nowadays his interest has shifted from Cricket to Badminton it seems. The following is the excerpt of an online chat that took place between Vasu and my online younger brother AJ.

AJ: Which is your favorite game?

Vasu: I like to play Badminton. 

  AJ:  "With whom do you play Badminton?"

  Vasu:   "I play badminton with my brother Darsh, but he needs more practice. "

  

  AJ:   "Hahahaha... and you?"

  Vasu:   "I play well, but I also need more practice. "

 AJ:   "Good! So, you're going to represent India in 2020 in Olympics, dear?"

  Vasu:   "Yes, I will!"

Vasu's calm and confident reply left me all smiles again. Firstly, I am glad he has a healthy self-image and secondly, but most importantly, he is not there to emulate or follow anyone.  Way to go! :-)

Heartbeats

I was reading this detective story by Enid Blyton in which the author says through her character Daisy that not all that we laugh at is actually funny. Sometimes, we laugh in the moment and later on that particular stuff is not able to tickle any bone. This also happens with me. I have many amusing moments with Vasu and Darsh but not all are able to hold me for days and weeks or even months together. And then something absolutely different happens that leaves an imprint on my heart. Like what my younger heartbeat one night just did.

It was such an ordinary winter night of February 2012. Darsh with his characteristic playfuness asked me to feel his heartbeat. He had recently discovered it. Amusing it was how he had just realized that he also has a heart that beats.

I watched Darsh pointing at it, so excitedly putting my hand on his chest... unaware that I knew of his heartbeat way much earlier than he could imagine. Just 5 weeks after I had conceived him, the gynaecologist amplified his heartbeat for me to hear. It was a sign of him having arrived inside me.

The realization, however, brought something farther than a chuckle to me. It caused me a deep sense of guilt.

Darsh was so much oblivious of the string of thoughts that passed me following the audio-visuals at the hospital. The pregnancy was totally unplanned and uncalled for. For a few days,  I was so confused. Yes, I wondered what if  .... yes, the thought crossed my mind whether it would be a bad deed to.... to do something that today I do not have the courage to even put into words.  Today he is my heart beat. I skip a heartbeat even at the very thought of anything happening to him that could race up his heartbeats, let alone stopping them.

Changing Shoes

That's my boy! :P

Not long ago, I ( like many other Indian parents), would go to any extent to bolster up the confidence of my children. I would praise them generously (often overtly) for just about every simple job they would successfully accomplish. I would fetch sweets or goodies for them to reinforce a good action. I would shower kisses and hugs to show my affection and emote feelings of happiness and proud. (Even if, my tactics often proved to be rather fruitless turmoil of a "learner" parent :-/ ) Not long ago, I did all that and more, to behave like a responsible and dutiful parent.

But yesterday, I realized things are actually inter-changing!!??

Yesterday, extremely lazy and exhausted after a long day at work, I was reclining on our bed against a pile of pillows, lazily watching over their random activities. As time-to-sleep drew closest, Vasu expressed his, as usual, oddly timed desire to cover his rough notebook!!??

"Arghh.." I thought. "As usual!" But then I just let him be, lest I would only hurt my head more severly. Still watching the two in action, doing something with a lengthy scroll of brown paper... remaining at a fairly safe distance from the mess of it all. Darsh was actively prompting Vasu, bucking him up and showing full confidence in his "Uber-cool big brother."

Brothers bonding

Vasu is dismal at being crafty... and there he did it again!  He cut the brown paper too short horizontally, rendering it unsuitable to cover the notebook. I just behaved as if I wasn't watching.  Sitting by, but totally indifferent.

Vasu looked at me for approval, and may face gave away what I truly felt.

Observant Darsh spoke matter-of-factly, "मम्मा आप कर दो, वासु से नहीं हो रहा है. " (Mom, you do it, Vasu isn't able to do it.)

Vasu supported his suggestion and coaxed me a bit more. "Ermm.. Okay! Why not, if it pleases the two!" I said to myself.  

The pair of them watched me carefully. How I took a new piece of brown paper and folded it neatly on either sides of the hard cover; eagerly anticipating when would I use a pair of sicssors!

As I was doing it, Darsh blurted,

"वाह मम्मा! आप तो बहुत अच्छा कवर चड़ा लेते हो! है ना? देख वासु मम्मी कितने अच्छे से कवर चड़ा रहीं हैं!" (Wow Mom! You cover copies so well! Right Vasu? See, mom covering the copy so well!)

Vasu added affectionately (as if he was my elder someone obliged to boost my morale) ... his voice full of sweet smiles and kisses and hugs for his dear "little" mom showing promise and ability,     

" वाह मम्मा! आप तो बहुत सफाई से कवर चड़ा लेते हो! और वो भी बिना कैंची के! Very Good mamma!"

(Wow Mom! You can cover the copy so neatly and that too without using scissors!)

And for a second, I forgot I was their mom... I felt like a child, smiling with pride at my neat skills at covering a notebook. *BROAD grin on my face* [wink] [wink]

  

Changes in the Twosome Team...!

Not long ago, we carefully protected Darsh from Vasu, lest Vasu could harm the infant Darsh. Simultaneously, we let Vasu interact with Darsh quite freely, for it is important and a must between brothers. In the beginning, any lapse resulted into tiny Darsh erupting into bitter painful cries. For instance, once Vasu harshly bit some days old Darsh's tiny tender fingers between his strong milk teeth to leave clear teeth marks etched in his fingers. Yup, that was very bad. We doubled our vigilance from then on. Time passed and we needed to be less and less cautious about Vasu being with Darsh, on their own. And now that Darsh is three years old, Vasu and Darsh are more like friends than brothers. They play together and team up in their mischiefs. The latest favorite game up their sleeve all the time is role playing. Some six months ago, it used to be enacting power rangers' stunts or copying Shin Chan's whacky bum-show. Now, they take up roles of Harry-Ron and more frequently Ram-Lakshman. A stick in their hand and they become the wand holding pair of wizards. Anything that looks like a bow, including hangers in the almirah, stimulates them to take up the Ramayana act. Interestingly, Darsh becomes Ram and Vasu becomes Lakshman. One day I overheard and kind of silently observed their play। Vasu lied down, Darsh standing by his side... loudly delivering his dialogues, "कुम्भकरण!मेघनाद! तुमने मेरे भाई लक्ष्मण को क्यों मारा!... आओ अब मुझसे युद्ध करो !... मैं तुम्हे सबक सिखाऊंगा!" (Kumbhkaran! Meghnaad! How dare you attacked my brother Lakshman. Now get ready for a fight with me! Dare to fight me, I'll teach you a lesson!) Just three, I wonder how and when did Darsh learn so much of Ramayana? I was thoroughly amused. [:)]

Vasu is Greedy! Oopsss!



वासु को नूडल्स बहुत पसंद हैं

Those who have children aged between 2 to 6 must already know about "Bubbles" and all those who have read Bubbles might have also read one of the books in the series titled "Bubbles is Greedy." One of our story time (just before going to bed) shared this story recently. And that kind of gave me an opportunity to educate Vasu and Darsh about the meaning and cons of greed.

 Vasu loves to eat Maggi and other ready-to-cook-noodles, like many other kids of his age. He would eat a plateful of Maggi even if he had just had dinner and his tummy felt full.

Darsh, on the other hand, has altogether different object of desire. He enjoys Maggi, Top Ramen, Ching's Secret and the likes but not necessarily finishes them. He is more fond of biscuits - yes, much simpler choice! 



.  दर्श को बिस्कुइट्स अच्छे लगते हैं

The other day, I had the opportunity to revise their lessons about greed from the Bubbles series.  Vasu and I ate Hot

 Garlic of Ching's Secret and it was too hot for Darsh to share. As a result, we had a lots of it and Vasu needed to be told that greed would cause stomachache. He understood. 

 

 A similar situation arose when Darsh kind of replaced dinner with biscuits and demanded "पांच" (five); each time outstretching his fingers apart and showing them to me. Actually, he was asking me for the "सारा" (entire) packet, but each time I asked him to give me a number instead and "पांच" turned out to be the biggest number he knew. 

Every time he made a crying face and demanded the entire packet instead, when I served only five biscuits in his platter. I had to threaten him of a big cow approaching outside, as she is feeling angry about his stubborn ways. (Darsh feared BIG COW)

I also convinced him that I had met his demands precisely by getting the biscuits counted by none other than his trustworthy Vasu. And yet, his demand for more biscuits would know no end. So, the third time I declined.

I referred the case of greedy Bubbles to him too... and guess how the demand came to me next time.

"मुझे  पेट  में  दर्द  चाहिए , मैं  greedy  हूँ . मुझे सारे  packet  का  biscuits दे  दो!".  (I want stomachache, I am greedy. Give me the entire packet of biscuits!)

Lessons and threats don't work on certain people, do they?