Summer and crafty bits

Some of the fun crafty bits A and I enjoyed doing this summer...

Tree made by real twigs, dry flowers, beans and dals...

Ducks in the pond using small stones and ready made arty ducks...

Something for Earth Day

My daughter's entry for the Earth Day Poster Competition...

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Yes, That's the book I am reading to my daughter these days.

The story though interesting, she laughs in excitement when she knows that her mouth starts watering at the mention of all different kinds of chocolates that Mr. Wonka is capable of making in his factory: the colour- changing caramel chocolates, most delicious chewing- gums and sugar balloons.

Of course, we are yet to complete the book. But I am letting her make all the predictions about who wins the 'Golden Ticket' to see Wonka's factory. As she first saw the ticket given in the book, she was happy that she was the lucky one! But once I told her that the ticket's place must be inside a chocolate and not a book she was disappointed. She says it's too difficult for Charlie to get the ticket as his chance is 'one- time'. And I had a nice time contradicting it.

Today, truth about the Golden Ticket will be revealed to her and am waiting for her reaction.

Conversation...

Daughter(drawing something on a piece of paper and suddenly remembers something): Amma, every day in the school bus we all have to sit in our respective places given by ma'am, we can't change the place.

Mummy: Yes, they have that arrangement so that nobody fights in the bus.

Daughter: But amma there is a problem...

Mummy: What is that?

Daughter: BUT I DON'T REMEMBER WHERE I WAS SITTING THE PREVIOUS DAY. ALL THE SEATS LOOK THE SAME HOW WILL I REMEMBER!

Mummy: ??!!@@##

This is the third time she's been away from us now.
There is an unusual quietness around without her.
The whole house would be bustling with laughter and shrieks of cries in her presence.
Now, it's all STILL.
The otherwise unkempt corners of the house are now clean and tidy untouched by her foot prints.
The only noise that can be heard comes from outside: the shrill sound of the concrete mixture next to the apartment, children splashing water in the swimming pool, the brushing of the broom sticks on the floor as a maid tries to push aside puddle of water that entered the corridor because of an unusual downpour.

The heart felt bitter when she cried on first two days as she wished to be with her mother in Hyderabad.
Though regretful, some corner of the heart felt happy for this fact.

But now, she semms to be enjoying in her world with her grandparents. This is heartbreaking:(
Parents are SELFISH (for their children)... The only reason for that could be LOVE.

MISSING YOU my dear.

Together

It's been eight months since I've been working yet, my girl wouldn't leave me to go to school on the days when she doesn't have to go to school.

Initially when it just started, I thought she needs time to settle down. But now I know, all that she wants is me.

It's my company that she longs for, the bike ride from home till our bus stops where we depart. She likes it.

She wishes to see me picking her from the bus when she is back from school, which I have not been able to do even once till now.

She missed me for her 'Show and Tell' program. She misses our 'reading together' times which seldom occurs these days.

I regret for having to go to school to teach other kids when I am not finding time to teach my own child.

Waiting for the next four months to pass by so that my girl wouldn't miss those beautiful moments which we share together.

I do not mind missing my job.

Little foodie

She is choosy about her food when we go out but when at home she knows exactly what she wants. A small change in taste, she will refuse to touch the food. She is learning to share her eatables now, with us of course. She offered her tic-tac to our divine God today:) She relishes on the little ghee-sugar combination that's offered as naivedya everyday. As far as mother and daughter as a duo is concerned we enjoy our pasta dish together. We also shared a bar of chocolate today sitting on the terrace as though we didn't want anybody else watching us!

She finds immense comfort in holding my arms while sleeping.

Though, she takes a lot of topsy- turvy turns before she rediscovers her particular point of consolation each time.

Finally, when she does find solace either on my cheeks or elbows and presses her warm palms against them to go into her dreamy world, I too sleep like a baby.

Desire of growing up

Anvitha has been eyeing on my high heeled sandals (which i bought after so many years). She is not even three years and she wants to wear a 3 inch heeled sandals. I explained her that she has to grow up to wear them. Now, because of that, she wants to grow up fast. She is ready to drink her milk and eat food to become big and strong- the result would be growing up fast so that she would try on all her mother’s belongings ranging from fancy ear-rings to sarees to cosmetics to sandals.

There was a time when I too wanted to grow up fast and study in college because I thought all the people who went to college enjoyed and had a great life. Never did I realise the responsibility that came with growing up. My daughter too will realise it one day but then she would be a grown up girl.

Happy Mother's Day

Both of us got our palm printed...courtesy Johnson and Johnson.

Story Telling

It's story telling time these days!!!
I was wondering if this is the righttime to start telling storiesftro her as i was apprehensive about her comprehension abilities.
But she surprised me by understanding and re-telling the story in her own language.
At first, i told nearly three stories and asked her a few questions about the story and she answered them all.
These days, she takes the initiative to either tell stories by herself or she will express her choice for a story.
Of course, i have to modify the characters in the story a bit (as for example: In the story The Fox and the grapes, the fox will become a dog as she doesn't know what's a fox) but who cares.
And at times, two or three stories get mixed up and some real life instances which she remembers creeps into the story.
But even then, whatever she tells is a STORY.

Our growing friendship

There are lot of things these days which me and my daughter enjoy doing together: dancing to some of our favourite beats, acting crazy at times, our evening walks, daily visits to her favourite temple, our story telling session and more importantly both sharing and enjoying our chocolate bars:)
And thus, there seems to be another relationship forming apart from just mother and daughter: friendship.
Of course, we do have our times of tantrums but both of us have learned to make up after the fight.

Understanding pain

The cry of the infants when they are in pain is completely different from how they would cry when they are hungry or bored.
By the time they turn 2 years, at least they can verbalise as to what pain they are undergoing.
They can even start understanding the pain of others, especially of their parents.
Of course, not the kind of pain that they inflict on us while they are playing pranks on us such as pulling hair or biting or pinching but the real pain which one undergoes when someone is not well.
Anvitha can clearly make out when either me or S is in pain and it hurts her as though she herself is in pain.
When I underwent surgery, she completely understood that her mom was not well and transformed her own self not to trouble others.
And when, I stopped lifting her because of the surgery...she silently obeyed by not asking me to carry her.
Recently, when I tried to carry her (first time after two months) the first words she said was 'Amma abbu' (abbu means pain).
Now, each time I try to lift her (which I seldom do) she repeats the same words.

Reunion

There are so many emotions and experiences which are best said in silence...
Looking at my daughter after 6 days was one such experience- Indescribable...
Both of us didn't know how to react...
I just cried while she found comfort hiding her face in her papa's arms.

There were times when I wished that I would get some spare time for myself midst cooking and taking care, and playing with my girl.
How I wished to go away for a little while (alone) from the mundane activities of life.
Now, that I am on complete rest- no taking care of anybody, no cooking and the like whatsoever.,I am indeed missing all those.
Especially my daughter!
It's been 5 days since I saw her and may be one more day will go by so...
But all that i can do is watch her videos recorded in cell phone.