Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Down
Sometimes, "Was it such a bad day?" would have been an infinitely better response than "What is your problem?"
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
I am here.
The night will start to fall
You'll lie awake recalling every tender thing she said
You'll think about her laugh
Her touch, her smile becomes a photograph
You can't forget
Not just yet.
You know you will for years, 'cause there's a truth you can't get past
Some bridges will not burn
(Some bridges will not burn.)
But some corners must be turned so you can love again at last
And not look back.
Still until that that night
You'll know love when you've lost it...
-You'll know love
Kenny Rogers
You'll lie awake recalling every tender thing she said
You'll think about her laugh
Her touch, her smile becomes a photograph
You can't forget
Not just yet.
You're gonna know that nightYou'll know the taste of tears
When you reach out an' she's not there
An' there's more pain than your heart can bear
Love's just a river till you've crossed it
Suddenly everything in your life feels wrong
You're alive but the reason's gone
You'll know love when you've lost it.
You know you will for years, 'cause there's a truth you can't get past
Some bridges will not burn
(Some bridges will not burn.)
But some corners must be turned so you can love again at last
And not look back.
Still until that that night
When you reach out an' she's not thereIt's so easy to recognise
An' there's more pain than your heart can bear
Love's just a river till you've crossed it
Suddenly everything in your life feels wrong
You're alive but the reason's gone
You'll know love when you've lost it.
You'll know love when you've lost it...
-You'll know love
Kenny Rogers
Friday, October 21, 2011
Mowglisms
Mowgli: Mama, teacher paranju Mowglinodu tomorrow school bagil little little crackers konduvaranam.
Suspicious Mama: Huh? Nothing is written in your diary.
Trying to look innocent Mowgli : parnju paranju. Diaryill ezhuthan forget cheytatha. Mowglinodu maatram paranje.
Hahaha.. As if!!! Just imagine the state if he takes crackers to school and his bright ideas!
Btw why 'little little' crackers. Beacuse 'Big Big" crackers cause sound polishan and air polishan! Am dumbstruck!!!
Suspicious Mama: Huh? Nothing is written in your diary.
Trying to look innocent Mowgli : parnju paranju. Diaryill ezhuthan forget cheytatha. Mowglinodu maatram paranje.
Hahaha.. As if!!! Just imagine the state if he takes crackers to school and his bright ideas!
Btw why 'little little' crackers. Beacuse 'Big Big" crackers cause sound polishan and air polishan! Am dumbstruck!!!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Happy 6 months sweetie!
two pearly whites... first word da-da... celebrated your first fall from the bed yesterday... started solids... refuses to lie down alone... thrown my specs... attempts to crawl... pulls your brothers hair... tried to count cocoa's teeth... smiles at every thing that moves... was the star attraction at Mysore zoo with girls queuing up for your snap... endures all our rough handling... your brother's pet...
to our brave daughter Cheers! You have made our lives beautiful :-)
School woes
Mowgli was initially very happy with school. But now the past two months, it has changed. He does not want to go to school “everybody is bad”. His personality itself has changed. Angry as can be for everything. Even if its for a small thing, say No and the tantrums start ending in huge tears. Shouting at us saying we are not his friends, going to another room and sulking, back answering us for almost everything and then feeling sad. We feel so helpless seeing him struggle like this. I spoke to his teacher and she says the same thing. That they have noticed the change in him, but as to what caused the change, they have no clue.
From what I understand, he has been labeled naughty and bad at school. And it hurts him. Other children push him and when he does the same thing back, they complain about him. Yes, kids will be kids, but teachers should have some sense, right? Either they sit down and talk to him and the other children about what is acceptable behavior or they take the easier route which is to call him a Bad boy and leave it at that. He is naughty, extremely naughty and hyperactive. I know that. But he is not bad. He is very loving beneath the naughtiness. His daycare teachers understood him better. He was one of the naughtiest there also, but there he was loved by all of them. He was made to stand in a corner if he hurt other children, but generally they dealt with him better.
Nowadays education is one of the biggest businesses around. Teachers are recruited without any thought given to their experience or their skills. This is an impressionable age for him and I’m sad that he has it so tough. Yes, it could be that I’m over reacting but however toned down I try to be it doesn’t change the fact that Mowgli has changed in a lot in the past two months. Unlike other parents, we have not hounded the school with complaints of XYZ fighting with Mowgli etc. The teachers themselves admit that, but somehow they do not have the patience to deal with him. The constant refrain is “ he is extremely hyperactive” and as an afterthought “also very intelligent”!
The holidays have started and he is much better these days. Maybe it also helps that we both have been actively trying not to show our irritation with him, praising him when he does something good, trying to be more patient with him rather than shouting at him. Have been reading the book “How to talk so kids listen and listen so kids will talk” and its been worthwhile. I still am not able to do even 10% of what the book suggests, but with what little I’ve changed Mowgli has also changed.
And the kids these days. I get naughty, but I don’t get Mean! And that’s what most kids have turned to these days. Mean with a capital M. “Who wants this chocolate?” and tantalizingly opens it in front of all the kids. Mowgli rushes to them shouting “Me, Me”. They seem to be waiting for this. “No, nothing for you, Mowgli” and then gobble it up in front of him. I’m not talking about kids his age, these are at least 6yrs+. The language, the politics, the mentality .. everything has changed so much. Kids do not talk like kids or even think like kids these days. “Stupid” “Shut your mouth” these are words that I hear 4 yr old kids saying to each other. Sometimes the urge to shake them is so strong!
It makes us more and more aware of our responsibility towards him, of what we will teach him, of principles and values, of behavior and manners. In this materialistic world that’s a tall order!
From what I understand, he has been labeled naughty and bad at school. And it hurts him. Other children push him and when he does the same thing back, they complain about him. Yes, kids will be kids, but teachers should have some sense, right? Either they sit down and talk to him and the other children about what is acceptable behavior or they take the easier route which is to call him a Bad boy and leave it at that. He is naughty, extremely naughty and hyperactive. I know that. But he is not bad. He is very loving beneath the naughtiness. His daycare teachers understood him better. He was one of the naughtiest there also, but there he was loved by all of them. He was made to stand in a corner if he hurt other children, but generally they dealt with him better.
Nowadays education is one of the biggest businesses around. Teachers are recruited without any thought given to their experience or their skills. This is an impressionable age for him and I’m sad that he has it so tough. Yes, it could be that I’m over reacting but however toned down I try to be it doesn’t change the fact that Mowgli has changed in a lot in the past two months. Unlike other parents, we have not hounded the school with complaints of XYZ fighting with Mowgli etc. The teachers themselves admit that, but somehow they do not have the patience to deal with him. The constant refrain is “ he is extremely hyperactive” and as an afterthought “also very intelligent”!
The holidays have started and he is much better these days. Maybe it also helps that we both have been actively trying not to show our irritation with him, praising him when he does something good, trying to be more patient with him rather than shouting at him. Have been reading the book “How to talk so kids listen and listen so kids will talk” and its been worthwhile. I still am not able to do even 10% of what the book suggests, but with what little I’ve changed Mowgli has also changed.
And the kids these days. I get naughty, but I don’t get Mean! And that’s what most kids have turned to these days. Mean with a capital M. “Who wants this chocolate?” and tantalizingly opens it in front of all the kids. Mowgli rushes to them shouting “Me, Me”. They seem to be waiting for this. “No, nothing for you, Mowgli” and then gobble it up in front of him. I’m not talking about kids his age, these are at least 6yrs+. The language, the politics, the mentality .. everything has changed so much. Kids do not talk like kids or even think like kids these days. “Stupid” “Shut your mouth” these are words that I hear 4 yr old kids saying to each other. Sometimes the urge to shake them is so strong!
It makes us more and more aware of our responsibility towards him, of what we will teach him, of principles and values, of behavior and manners. In this materialistic world that’s a tall order!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Confessions of two guilty foodaholics!
The BH at the doorstep on his way to office : "You know something. Yesterday by the time I reached office, I was hungry again and had a chikku shake" ( 30 min from home to office)
Me : " Thats okay. The other day I felt so hungry that I bought two packets of Pure Magic and ate them all." ( the intention was to share them, but the speed at which they were gobbled up defied all saintly intentions)
BH with a wide grin : " Oh, thats okay. I do that all the time. Order Gulabjamoon at office for lunch!"
At what should I feel offended? At the fact that I take the trouble to prepare a healthy lunch plus snacks for him and he goes and has jamoon on top of that? Or is it that he had jamoons and didnt even bring me one?
Definitely the latter! How dare he?
Me : " Thats okay. The other day I felt so hungry that I bought two packets of Pure Magic and ate them all." ( the intention was to share them, but the speed at which they were gobbled up defied all saintly intentions)
BH with a wide grin : " Oh, thats okay. I do that all the time. Order Gulabjamoon at office for lunch!"
At what should I feel offended? At the fact that I take the trouble to prepare a healthy lunch plus snacks for him and he goes and has jamoon on top of that? Or is it that he had jamoons and didnt even bring me one?
Definitely the latter! How dare he?
Thursday, August 4, 2011
I hate school!
Not Mowgli. Me. He loves it!
What did I expect from school? Facilities similar to his daycare minimum. He leaves home at 8.45 am and returns by 2.45 which in itself is too tiring for a small kid. He has a bus commute of close to two hours both ways. The school doesnot have a snack break, instead they ahve just one break for lunch at 12 pm which I feel is too late for kids who have had a small breakfast at 8.30 in the morning. By the time he comes back, he is tired, cranky and hungry and is just waiting to explode. The tantrums can sometimes start from the bus stop itself or once he reaches home. Most days the lunch is brought back untouched; good days are those where the lunch is half finished. I cannot give him rice/chapathi because both come back untouched. He doesnot eat fruits/raw vegetables. I dont want to give him chips/biscuits and stuff like that. So that limits the options for the lunch box. I try to make him have a proper lunch when he gets back and that is a battle in itself. I'm tired over this battle over food. Breakfast, because I know that is the only thing that will keep him going till evening and most days it is a shouting match and threats to take away his toys and what not. Peaceful breakfasts where he eats whole heartedly are very less. The late lunch that he has is even more stressful. He wants to watch Tom and Jerry, he wants to play. I know he is hungry and tired. The more I insist that he finish his lunch the more he dawdles with it. Extremely tired, I ask him to take a nap, at least lie down quietly on the bed with a book, he refuses. Every refusal is accompanied by tears and howls and throwing things. It ends with me shouting at him or spanking him. In the midst of all this is Bambi who most always has been rudely awakened from her afternoon nap by all this noice would be crying non stop.
Today I left him at the table and went to change Bambi's nappy. Came back to see him nodding off at the table. I picked him up and put him on the bed and he was fast asleep in seconds. Its all I can do to not cry in front of the maid, but I'm this close to losing it! Either the school should take responsibility about lunch, ensure that all kids eat their lunch or else send the kids home by 1 pm. With this timing, he has no proper lunch and no nap in the afternoon and remains a grumpy boy throughout! He has always been hyperactive and underweight, now he is even more skinnier and falls sick at the drop of a hat.
We have talked about this to his teacher, but she tells me that he is very stubborn and doesnot eat his lunch! (Then how did he eat in his daycare??? There all the kids were made to sit down in the dining area for lunch , they couldnot run about. They had to finish what was in the plate.) Here either the teachers do not know how to control kids or else they are just not paying enough attention to the kids.
What did I expect from school? Facilities similar to his daycare minimum. He leaves home at 8.45 am and returns by 2.45 which in itself is too tiring for a small kid. He has a bus commute of close to two hours both ways. The school doesnot have a snack break, instead they ahve just one break for lunch at 12 pm which I feel is too late for kids who have had a small breakfast at 8.30 in the morning. By the time he comes back, he is tired, cranky and hungry and is just waiting to explode. The tantrums can sometimes start from the bus stop itself or once he reaches home. Most days the lunch is brought back untouched; good days are those where the lunch is half finished. I cannot give him rice/chapathi because both come back untouched. He doesnot eat fruits/raw vegetables. I dont want to give him chips/biscuits and stuff like that. So that limits the options for the lunch box. I try to make him have a proper lunch when he gets back and that is a battle in itself. I'm tired over this battle over food. Breakfast, because I know that is the only thing that will keep him going till evening and most days it is a shouting match and threats to take away his toys and what not. Peaceful breakfasts where he eats whole heartedly are very less. The late lunch that he has is even more stressful. He wants to watch Tom and Jerry, he wants to play. I know he is hungry and tired. The more I insist that he finish his lunch the more he dawdles with it. Extremely tired, I ask him to take a nap, at least lie down quietly on the bed with a book, he refuses. Every refusal is accompanied by tears and howls and throwing things. It ends with me shouting at him or spanking him. In the midst of all this is Bambi who most always has been rudely awakened from her afternoon nap by all this noice would be crying non stop.
Today I left him at the table and went to change Bambi's nappy. Came back to see him nodding off at the table. I picked him up and put him on the bed and he was fast asleep in seconds. Its all I can do to not cry in front of the maid, but I'm this close to losing it! Either the school should take responsibility about lunch, ensure that all kids eat their lunch or else send the kids home by 1 pm. With this timing, he has no proper lunch and no nap in the afternoon and remains a grumpy boy throughout! He has always been hyperactive and underweight, now he is even more skinnier and falls sick at the drop of a hat.
We have talked about this to his teacher, but she tells me that he is very stubborn and doesnot eat his lunch! (Then how did he eat in his daycare??? There all the kids were made to sit down in the dining area for lunch , they couldnot run about. They had to finish what was in the plate.) Here either the teachers do not know how to control kids or else they are just not paying enough attention to the kids.
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