Back Beat

Building Blocks

Blocks which had served to be me and my sister's play items is entertaining my daughter too, now after 20 years!

Ms. J v/s Mr. J

It's like a war between the father and his daughter to win over the mother.
The daughter cannot tolerate if the father sits next to her mother or if he holds her hand.
And father gets all the jealousy if the daughter gets the pampering from the mother.
Caught between the two mother becomes a sandwich.
Of course, in the end, it's the daughter who wins the battle!

In the Village

Looking at the open sky; walking bare foot on the vast fields; watching the first rain in awe and happiness; streching the arms to hold onto the rain water; sneaking the fingers through the soil and playing with it; soaking the body in easily available water; eating fresh guava coming directly from the trees; taking a stroll midst banana and arecaunut trees; plucking the flowers; listening to the singing birds; running behind the "meow", "bou-bou" and "amba"; at the same time, learning to speak the language of grownups by babbling her own dialect , ...all this and much more. My girl has had a time (away from city) that was never so carefree and gay.

Busy always

My daughter is more busy than usual these days.
Helping her grandparents in packing things, misplacing them, reorganising them and finally unpacking the packed items before it reaches its destination!
I am more happy for her being sooooo busy because the result is "she falls asleep in minutes and wakes up only once in between".
I only hope this continues even after returning home.

First Photo Album

No complaints and no grudges

Few days back Anvitha fell down from the cot (i still do not know if she actually fell down or came down by herself).
I felt miserable and guilty about as i knew it was my fault.
Yet there was no way and means for her to say 'amma you made me fall down'.

There are times when i am tired and frustrated at night when she refuses to sleep: i shout at her and a give beating too now and then.
Even then, the next day when she wakes up she gives me such a true smile and a hug!

She keeps no grudge against me and doesn't complain when i am at wrong but i shout for no fault of hers.

Anklet

Sleep and Noise

Every time i put Anvitha to sleep there starts all kinds of noises from all across this apartment.
My neighbour starts grinding something, the person staying in the next level starts repairing something, the maid in one more apartment starts washing clothes etc etc.,
And this whole process doesn't happen just a day or two but everyday!!!
She being a light sleeper wakes up instantly.

Fourteen months and many things have been learnt...

-To carry her favourite doll and mobile phone for her music to be played when she is sleepy...

-To wear chappals while going out...

-To cry while her dad changes clothes to go out...

-To sing when being asked...

-To hit her face when she is angry...

-To ask 'mum mum' when hungry...

-To look at the sky when asked to show pigeons...

-To show where her ears, eyes, head and stomach is...

-And finally to make us understand that she has grown up and a 'KID' anymore.

Socialisation

Children learn fast when left among their age mates...
No matter how great an effort adult puts in to teach the child, it is best learnt amongst their peers...
'A' copied, or in fact became sure of her 'walking' while she watched her cousin (of her age) who had already mastered that action. She would put more firm steps which otherwise would tremble.
She in turn showed and taught her cousin a few actions of her amusement.
Kids also show more confidence and expressions when they are with many people than just mother and father.
This i learnt when she was taken to her grand parents'.
She became more expressive and she learned things quickly.
I had just heard positive things about socialisation but never really realised the importance of it.
Even when 'S' had told me that he would like to have more people(at least grandparents) around his daughter i hadn't paid much attention but people like me believe only after seeing...
Now i know how much socialisation can contribute to a person's growth and development, especially during early years.

Pride...Joy...Despair...Surprise...Sympathy...Jealousy...Anger...Frustration...Love...almost all the emotions and feelings are xpressed by her at this point of time.
So much has been acquired in just one year!

Challenging...

Parenting is both difficult and scary job...
Scary especially when it comes to children's health...
Anvita has fever since last week and it's so hard to see her being so low and inactive- that too on her first birthday...
When she was fit and fine, i wanted her to sit for some time at some place so that i could relax....
But now,that she sits at one place and sleeps more than usual it's even more hard to see her this way...
Both ways parents are being tested...