Few days back, someone asked my husband and me – “How old is your kid?” Both of us answered at the same time. I said 2 and ½ years while he said 2 years. Her exact age then was 2 years and 3 months. Subconsciously, I had chosen to round up her age to the higher denomination, while my husband, to the lower one.
As parents we try to teach our kids, new things right from birth. I keep hearing new mothers saying – “I just can’t wait until my son starts walking!” or “My daughter is really trying to talk… I am so eager to hear her first word.” But, when they finally do start walking, we think the crawling phase was so much easier. Just as the times when my daughter is bombarding philosophical questions at me from her car seat and I am trying to figure out those really confusing directions to a friend’s house, I wonder… why was I getting so impatient for her to start talking?
As my daughter learns new skills, I marvel and rejoice but secretly I miss her being a baby. I guess we want our kids to grow up and become good human beings… just not so fast!
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
For the umpteenth time...
I can watch a movie once, twice, if I really like it even three of four times. Yesterday, as I put my daughter to bed, we started the daily night time routine. As expected I heard for the umpteenth time, “I want to hear the Goodnight moon story.” I have tried everything from hiding the book, introducing a new book, telling a different story… no matter what, our day has to end with the Goodnight moon story.
Really, what is it with kids and reading the same story over and over? It’s not that I did not want to read that book to her, it’s a great book. I just felt like it might be good to introduce some new concepts and bring in some variety.
Yesterday, I decided to experiment! I opened the book and started constructing a new story from the pictures. She listened to every word I said…though with a question mark on her face. After making up something about the last page, I closed the book with a feeling of achievement and silent triumph. As I was reaching for the light switch, there came the words, “OK now I want to hear the REAL goodnight moon story!”
Really, what is it with kids and reading the same story over and over? It’s not that I did not want to read that book to her, it’s a great book. I just felt like it might be good to introduce some new concepts and bring in some variety.
Yesterday, I decided to experiment! I opened the book and started constructing a new story from the pictures. She listened to every word I said…though with a question mark on her face. After making up something about the last page, I closed the book with a feeling of achievement and silent triumph. As I was reaching for the light switch, there came the words, “OK now I want to hear the REAL goodnight moon story!”
Thursday, May 20, 2010
But Why...?
My daughter asked me her first question when she was little less than 2 years old. As I hung up the phone, she said “Who had just called?” My mouth was wide open with disbelief that I had just heard a question from this tiny little person who not very long ago was just going “gagagagaga”! That’s when it all started… ‘who’, ‘when’, ‘how’, ‘where’ and the dreaded one of all “WHY?”
Yesterday, as we sat down for dinner, she pointed to a tiny piece of cumin (commonly used in Indian cooking) on her plate and asked what it was. As I explained, the more important question came up – Mommy, WHY DID YOU PUT IT? You know… until that moment I had never really thought about it. The real answer was – “That’s how my mom taught me to cook and I blindly followed it!” But how can you explain this to a 2 year old?
It’s probably not too long until I say, “Because, that’s just how it is!” But I am not ready to give in just yet. So, I answered – “Its good for your health and it makes you strong.” Thankfully, that ended the discussion…the next thing I did was google “cumin” and find out that it helps with digestion!
It’s funny…as we grow older, we start taking small things for granted. But when a child questions every insignificant thing, it makes you wonder... and maybe relive your childhood in a small way!
Yesterday, as we sat down for dinner, she pointed to a tiny piece of cumin (commonly used in Indian cooking) on her plate and asked what it was. As I explained, the more important question came up – Mommy, WHY DID YOU PUT IT? You know… until that moment I had never really thought about it. The real answer was – “That’s how my mom taught me to cook and I blindly followed it!” But how can you explain this to a 2 year old?
It’s probably not too long until I say, “Because, that’s just how it is!” But I am not ready to give in just yet. So, I answered – “Its good for your health and it makes you strong.” Thankfully, that ended the discussion…the next thing I did was google “cumin” and find out that it helps with digestion!
It’s funny…as we grow older, we start taking small things for granted. But when a child questions every insignificant thing, it makes you wonder... and maybe relive your childhood in a small way!
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
To push or not to push...
Yesterday, my daughter had her first brush with “bullying”. She was playing in the park and two boys started pushing her around. I was standing few feet away, but to even my surprise… I did not do anything. I guess I wanted her to figure out a way for herself. However, my daughter being the easygoing type…kept going back to make friends with the boys and they kept pushing her. Finally, after trying 4-5 times, she came running to me with a question mark on her face.
At that moment it struck me…I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO TELL HER! Do I tell her to push them back and basically teach her – Be rude to others when they are rude to you? Certainly not! Do I tell her to just walk away and thus not fight the injustice? Do I tell her to just say, “Please don’t do it” and possibly ask for more trouble?
I never imagined that such a simple, harmless incident would leave me in such a clueless state! Yes, it wasn’t a big deal… I mean c’mon they were cute little boys, just being silly!
I just hope the next time she runs up to me with a question mark on her face… I have an answer.
-Blogger13
At that moment it struck me…I DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO TELL HER! Do I tell her to push them back and basically teach her – Be rude to others when they are rude to you? Certainly not! Do I tell her to just walk away and thus not fight the injustice? Do I tell her to just say, “Please don’t do it” and possibly ask for more trouble?
I never imagined that such a simple, harmless incident would leave me in such a clueless state! Yes, it wasn’t a big deal… I mean c’mon they were cute little boys, just being silly!
I just hope the next time she runs up to me with a question mark on her face… I have an answer.
-Blogger13
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Grocery Store Trip
There was a time when I would take a leisurely stroll through the grocery store having nothing else better to do…now I have plan not just for the time spent there, but also for the unexpected expenses!
One day I was standing at the checkout counter of a grocery store, just having rushed through the aisles, grabbing the essential grocery before my toddler runs out of patience. All my items were lined up at the checkout counter. To save time, I even had my credit card out and ready to swipe, when… my toddler said “Mommy can I have that red thing over there?” It was a chewing gum and there was no way I could have given it to her, so I said a firm no. Its enough to say…her reaction that followed this “no”, started getting me the glares from people around. I had two choices – leave all the grocery and my 20 minutes of hard work, and run out of there. Or I could forget that people around me are staring thinking I am the worst parent in the whole wide world and go about my business as if nothing has happened. Fortunately I found a third option – I quickly grabbed a small toy right next to the “red thing” and distracted my toddler by giving it to her. I did not even bother to look at the price… it did not matter.
As the kids grow the expenses are going to grow with them – there’s school, college, camps, the latest gadgets when they become teenagers! But do we fret about it? NO! As much as I was feeling guilty for rewarding my daughter’s grocery store incident with a toy, when we came home and she said, “I love this toy…mommy you are the best!” and gave me a huge smile… I melted! Its moments like these that make life.
I guess, saving money for the future is essential… but not at the cost of today.
-Blogger13
One day I was standing at the checkout counter of a grocery store, just having rushed through the aisles, grabbing the essential grocery before my toddler runs out of patience. All my items were lined up at the checkout counter. To save time, I even had my credit card out and ready to swipe, when… my toddler said “Mommy can I have that red thing over there?” It was a chewing gum and there was no way I could have given it to her, so I said a firm no. Its enough to say…her reaction that followed this “no”, started getting me the glares from people around. I had two choices – leave all the grocery and my 20 minutes of hard work, and run out of there. Or I could forget that people around me are staring thinking I am the worst parent in the whole wide world and go about my business as if nothing has happened. Fortunately I found a third option – I quickly grabbed a small toy right next to the “red thing” and distracted my toddler by giving it to her. I did not even bother to look at the price… it did not matter.
As the kids grow the expenses are going to grow with them – there’s school, college, camps, the latest gadgets when they become teenagers! But do we fret about it? NO! As much as I was feeling guilty for rewarding my daughter’s grocery store incident with a toy, when we came home and she said, “I love this toy…mommy you are the best!” and gave me a huge smile… I melted! Its moments like these that make life.
I guess, saving money for the future is essential… but not at the cost of today.
-Blogger13
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Baby Needs
When I started my first job, I was right out of school and hence, practically broke. My Indian mentality made me save a part of my paycheck in the bank, thus giving up on a lot of fun things which now I realize were possible only while young. My single account became a joint one after marriage. Soon, we were expecting a baby… what we were not expecting were the unexpected expenses that came with the baby. I mean c’mon, babies are these cute little cuddly people who have very basic needs like food, water and few clothes, right? Yeah right!
Even before our baby arrived, I was swarmed with – of course the advice from every other person you meet, but also the list of things I must, repeat must buy before the delivery. I waddled to the baby store, bought all the things on this huge list and thought – “I am finally done shopping for the baby!” Naïve that I was, it was the last time I said that sentence!
However, it wasn’t before I had spent a fortune on baby stuff that I realized - babies really do have very basic needs. Most of the things that we buy for them are mostly for the parents’ comfort.
Yesterday, I bought an expensive toy for my baby - it boasted “intellectual development.” With much fanfare, we opened the box. I started showing her how to play with it. Few minutes passed and I heard her giggles… I was still playing with the toy…she was totally ignoring it, quite content playing with the box and the packing material inside.
The money spent buying the toy was well worth it…my baby thoroughly enjoyed played with the box for days to come!
Even before our baby arrived, I was swarmed with – of course the advice from every other person you meet, but also the list of things I must, repeat must buy before the delivery. I waddled to the baby store, bought all the things on this huge list and thought – “I am finally done shopping for the baby!” Naïve that I was, it was the last time I said that sentence!
However, it wasn’t before I had spent a fortune on baby stuff that I realized - babies really do have very basic needs. Most of the things that we buy for them are mostly for the parents’ comfort.
Yesterday, I bought an expensive toy for my baby - it boasted “intellectual development.” With much fanfare, we opened the box. I started showing her how to play with it. Few minutes passed and I heard her giggles… I was still playing with the toy…she was totally ignoring it, quite content playing with the box and the packing material inside.
The money spent buying the toy was well worth it…my baby thoroughly enjoyed played with the box for days to come!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
My very first blog
Hello everybody,
I know that there are tons of people out there who write tons of blogs. Some are interesting, while others are just passable. I also know that each and every one of us is extremely busy with work, family, studies… basically trying to make something out of our life.
Once I was a decently career-minded person working at a good job. I quit to stay home and raise my kid. Don’t take me wrong… it has been the best decision of my life so far. But sometimes it makes me wonder… is that enough?
I am sure that there are so many stay-at-home moms out there who are running behind their kids all day long, longing for those 5 minutes of break without hearing “MOMMY!”, secretly wishing their kids would nap just 15 more minutes so that they can get something done……all that jazz!
But ask them – if you were to do it all over again, would you put your child in daycare and work 8 hours instead? I am sure most of them would say…NOT A CHANCE! In today’s world when everyone is scrambling to get the best out of life, I believe that being able to stay at home and nurture your child’s life is a privilege that not too many of us get.
So this blog is dedicated to all those ladies out there, doing the most difficult 24-hour, 7 days a week job. You are doing wonderful!
As life passes by us, the fame will fade, the money will drain, what will remain is the people and love around us… the THINGS THAT MATTER!
Blogger13
I know that there are tons of people out there who write tons of blogs. Some are interesting, while others are just passable. I also know that each and every one of us is extremely busy with work, family, studies… basically trying to make something out of our life.
Once I was a decently career-minded person working at a good job. I quit to stay home and raise my kid. Don’t take me wrong… it has been the best decision of my life so far. But sometimes it makes me wonder… is that enough?
I am sure that there are so many stay-at-home moms out there who are running behind their kids all day long, longing for those 5 minutes of break without hearing “MOMMY!”, secretly wishing their kids would nap just 15 more minutes so that they can get something done……all that jazz!
But ask them – if you were to do it all over again, would you put your child in daycare and work 8 hours instead? I am sure most of them would say…NOT A CHANCE! In today’s world when everyone is scrambling to get the best out of life, I believe that being able to stay at home and nurture your child’s life is a privilege that not too many of us get.
So this blog is dedicated to all those ladies out there, doing the most difficult 24-hour, 7 days a week job. You are doing wonderful!
As life passes by us, the fame will fade, the money will drain, what will remain is the people and love around us… the THINGS THAT MATTER!
Blogger13
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