Bye Mama, I love you too..

Yesterday, i couldnt spend even a minute with him.. when i left home, he was asleep, and by the time i entered at 2330 p.m., he was asleep again. So this morning, i took time out just to spend time with him.. since the weather these days is nice, we went for a walk in the park, and i realised:

life mein baki sab mithya hai... running after squirrels, counting pigeons, running around a circular bush bunch, walking through the park.. and singing rhymes on top of ur voice.. thats all that matters.

We ran after squirrels, we counted pigeons, we said hi to people on the way, we asked for mom's exclusive attention (he is VERY possessive that way.. the minute i talk to anyone we meet on the way, he starts throwing tantrums , forcing me to focus back on him) , as came home and then asked for books to read.. picked the book with nursery rhymes and then ordered that the favorites be sung... in general, both of us had a ball and i was smiling for the rest of the day.. Amen, and to many, many more such days. Art of Living, take a hike.. i much prefer the Art of Loving!! :-)

While leaving, i told him i will be late again, and then said "I Love You Son... " and he responded with a lot of love in his eyes as he took my face in his tiny hands, kissed me and said "I Love you too mama. Bye."

if you need to learn how to use a laptop, just ask..

My return from Canada was tumultous to say the least. Ishaan had obviously missed me and was VERY angry. For almost a week, there was so much new to see about him, so much to learn, but the worst was his tantrums.. and his obvious rejection of me.. i cried out loud 2 days.. but thankfully, at the end of one week, he has settled down somewhat.. his grandparents are back and he doesnt miss me any more.. :-(

Sometime last week, he went into the study and said "Hang on, i need to work, go out of the room and dont disturb me." Then he proceeds to sit on the chair and "work" on the laptop. So i asked him "Ishaan, do you know how to work this? will u teach me pls?" and my son proceeded to show me how to use the laptop "Dekho, aise karte hain, phir aise karte hain, phir ye (mouse) karte hain..."

If you need to know how to use a laptop, just ask Ishaan.. simple.. he will teach u how to press each key once, go straight to settings (honest, i dont know how he manages that) and will also tell you that work does not happen with books, only with laptop.

Definition of work? Hippo Song, Old MCdonald, Baa baa black sheep, balooon song, Mr. Sun et al.. all on Youtube.. thats his office.. :-)

Happy Dussera.. and Out of Home..

I shld have written abt this much sooner.. but the days are a blur.. really.

We had a nice, small Dussera at home..this year was very important bcs we instituted a temple at home. Shortly after Ishaan was born, i realised that one wasnt visiting the temple at all, so i decided to send my Gods on a sabbatical. This Dussera, the temple was set up, right by the entrance.. AND Ishaan surprised me by taking the daily pooja ritual very seriously. He religiously bows at the temple before leaving for school and goes to it very often during the day.

But what surprised me even more, is this: One day, Ishaan and i were talking about something and we got kind of close to a fight. This boy, sensing that things weren't going too well, immediately ran to the temple and said, "Come pray with me.. u have not prayed this evening.. come, come, lets pray together."

Did I tell u yet, that this boy has the people skills of his father.. totally incredible!! :-)

Touch Wood and Kaala Teeka..

He is not at home these days.. he is on a 3 week visit to his grandparents.. per force, because i am traveling on work. This is the first time that he doesnt have me at home for this long (the longest before this was the one week in June when The Other and I took a holiday alone) , and for the first few days, he just refused to talk to me.. even now, he doesnt talk a lot.. he prefers to ignore me.. thats his way of expressing his displeasure (and in that, he has taken after moi) ..

God Bless you son, and i hope i never have to do this again.. stay away from u for so long..

I am a Rooo Rooo Baby..

Ishaan has developed this weird habit of crying a lot to get his attention.. for small things and big. I have no idea what is going to enrage him the next moment.

My way of handling it is also simple - i just leave him alone in the room to cry it out. Usually, he is ok in a couple of minutes. But the trend worries me.

He throws things around, his classic temper tantrum. Both his parents have legendary anger management needs, so am not suprised.. but he doesnt necessarily have to have our bad habits ;-)

To divert him, i have this story abt a good baby and a rooo roo baby. Predictably, the roo roo baby cries for everything and gets weak and small, while the good baby is big and strong because he is always happy. Usually, it works to ask him "Are you a good baby or a rooo roo baby?" last night, the tables were turned when he declared, quite simply, that he is the rooo rooo baby and doesnt mind being thin and small. *dumbfounded stare replaced by a fresh motivation soon after **

This is the way we miss my dad..

Ishaan was rather lethargic for the last some time. He appeared weak and anemic, and refused to eat a lot. I was beginning to get really worried and was considering checking him for works etc.

Last night, his father got home after a 10 day travel.. and was the boy bouncy!! No lethargy, no sleep, no loss of appetite.. perky as a bouncy top! (kaala teeka). To his credit, not once did this boy cry out loud or trouble us in any way for father.. i did not even realise he was missing his dad so much..

Mera Naam Ishaan Hai..

Ishaan has learnt to say it like that "Mera Naam Ishaan hai" . The speed at which he learns, i have no idea where he picks up all his new "things to do".

Now he sees a crayon, and wants to color. The trouble is, with crayons strewn all over the house, every time is painting time! :-)

He hasnt been putting on any weight at all and is constantly anemic.. plus, he displays signs of calcium deficiency too.. cld he be suffering from worms?

Lincoln’s Letter to his Son’s Teacher

He will have to learn, I know,
that all men are not just,
all men are not true.
But teach him also
that for every scoundrel there is a hero;
that for every selfish Politician, there is a dedicated leader…
Teach him for every enemy there is a friend,
Steer him away from envy, if you can,
teach him the secret of quiet laughter.

Let him learn early that the bullies are the easiest to lick…
Teach him, if you can, the wonder of books…
But also give him quiet time to ponder
the eternal mystery of birds in the sky, bees in the sun,
and the flowers on a green hillside.

In the school teach him
it is far honourable to fail than to cheat…
Teach him to have faith in his own ideas,
even if everyone tells him they are wrong…
Teach him to be gentle with gentle people, and tough with the tough.

Try to give my son the strength
not to follow the crowd when
everyone is getting on the band wagon…
Teach him to listen to all men…
but teach him also to filter all he hears
on a screen of truth,
and take only the good that comes through.

Teach him if you can,
how to laugh when he is sad…
Teach him there is no shame in tears,
Teach him to scoff at cynics and
to beware of too much sweetness…
Teach him to sell his brawn and brain to the highest bidders
but never to put a price-tag on his heart and soul.

Teach him to close his ears
to a howling mob and to stand and fight if he thinks he’s right.

Treat him gently,
but do not cuddle him,
because only the test of fire makes fine steel.

Let him have the courage to be impatient…
let him have the patience to be brave.

Teach him always to have sublime faith in himself,
because then he will have sublime faith in mankind.

This is a big order, but see what you can do…
He is such a fine little fellow, my son.

-I read this long before becoming a mother, in an email forward. Today, while driving, remembered this piece again and hunted it out to share. While reading through this, realised that only one teacher can teach all, or any of this - Example. At Home.

PS: i don't care if Lincoln wrote this or not. Love the piece on its own merit. The writer's celebrity status is immaterial.