Mind Your Language

Darling V,

After you have begun to listen to things are sort of understand things, your Dad and I have been forced to bring about certain changes in our err..language. We use swear words pretty often (read that as quite often, as we don't even realize). The other day your dad used the F word for something and we saw you turning and staring. We are trying to replace it with better words, but it has become such a habit.

Love,
Amma


P.S - I hope I remember to password protect this post once you start reading. 

Quiet Time

Munchkin V,

The parenting gurus and books say - engage your child, keep talking to them constantly, keep showing them things and the works. I am in serious doubt whether they themselves have tried doing it - it is exhausting. I figured it doesn't work for me. So, I give you quiet time where I let you play by yourself while watching from a distance. I surround you with your favorite toys and let you play until you come to me. At times, the quiet time lasts only for 5 mins and on good days, for half an hour - but then it gives me my sanity.

My house help commented the other day that - oh, poor thing, he is playing by himself. Again, it is working for you and me, so I do not care. I love it when you engage yourself - the satisfaction on your face when you throw a toy, or when you figure out how to switch on a musical toy.

Love,
Amma

P.S - I hope I have not jinxed the quiet time. 

Songs and More

Dear V,

You have transformed a total non-singer like me to a singer. You love your songs and I have seen you calm down when I sing. Probably you find it funny but then, who cares, it works. I know it is not going to last for a long time, and you would soon tell me to stop it. My glorious singing apart - here are some of your favorite songs. The list is here so that I can revisit it after a while and see if your tastes change.

1. Masterchef Australia Title Song
2. Monk Title Song
3. Happy Song - Pharrell Williams
4. The circle of life - Lion king
5. Lakdi ki kaathi
6. Vellimoonga

Love,
Amma

P.S - I have kept you away from Honey Singh and some of the bollywood trash purposely.
        You have another set of favorite nursery rhymes, which will go into another post.

Awe-struck

Dear V,

As much as we (your dad and I) are in a mad rush getting things done - feeding you, cleaning you up, changing diapers, and the rest of the so called annoying yet important work, we often have this glance that we share - which says 'Really, we made him?'. Then, we both stare at you with awe-struck expression and burst out laughing. You doing simple things like identifying the fan or drinking water is so awe inducing for us, that it is at times breath-taking.

Love,
Amma

Murphy Returns

1. The day your Amma doesn't carry a change of clothes for herself while going out (remember, she has carried it for 3 occasions in the recent past but never needed them), is the day when you will throw up all over her - that too only when we have reached quite a distance.

2. On those rare days when Amma wants to take an afternoon nap cuddling you, you decide to be the energizer bunny. After, she finally puts you to sleep and closes her eyes, a tiny little finger pokes her eye. Ah, you do not want to sleep.

3. Having given up the efforts to put you to sleep, she decides to take you out for a stroll - dresses you up and gets dressed herself, only to see you wearing your cranky pants - you obviously want to sleep.

There are more of these lil V, we are not yet done.

Love,
Amma

Playtime With Your Friend

Dear V,

You and your lil friend want the same toys at the same time and you guys scream when you are not able to get it. When you play with her, all the toys that have been royally ignored until now get a new lease of life because you both want them.

Its so much fun though!

Love,
Amma

Supersonic Time

Dear V,

With you around, I feel time has passed by with supersonic speed. A year and a month already? From this wee lil baby who would just flap the limbs to this brat who cruises along with great speed and determination when you see a piece of scrap on the floor. On the flip side, the days you are cranky and clingy and generally in a bad mood - time seems to be still. On nights, when you cry and refuse to go to sleep or get soothed - the clock doesn't seem to move. So, I can say that I had my fastest as well as slowest year with you.

Love,
Amma

Words of Wisdom -2

Dear V,

1. Be kind to animals, they are not there to be bullied. If you discover that you really do not like them, then show respect and stay away. Do not be the one who flings stones at them or bursts crackers near them.

2. Read Harry Potter. Trust me it is a lot of fun. Well, I leave you with lil choice here, I plan to read it to you after a while. He He.

Love,
Amma

Landline and You

Dear V,

We have already spoken about your gadget obsession. Now that we are trying to restrict you have taken a new fascination towards the landline. If the phone rings, you spring towards it looking eagerly. Thankfully, you cannot reach it yet. If mom talks and keeps the phone without keeping the receiver to your year, then you are determined to show the neighbors about your decibel capacity. 

Love you my lil howler,
Amma

How To Drink Water At Our Home

1. Take the water bottle or glass of water
2. Hide in some corner.
3. Drink quickly before the sneaky lil brat comes and catches you.

P.S - In case you get caught, be prepared for howls and wails unless you share the said glass of water with him, which he wants to drink directly, spilling all over. This is regardless even if the the brat has had a bowl full of water just two minutes ago.

Dear V - You and your ways!
Love,
Amma

The Idiot Box and You

V,

I know that at times I do a lousy job of using the TV as your babysitter. It helps me take the much needed pee break. It also helps me finish some chores when you are being so clingy. I know exposing you to TV is not great and I am trying my best to do away.

So strange that you stare at the TV when music plays or when advertisements come. Once the music stops or the ad finishes you turn away. It is tough to keep you amused the whole day - TV helps at times - Sorry!

Love,
Amma

Manners - Very Underrated but Important

Dear V,

Life has become very casual these days and so has conversation style. Dude, Yo Man, Bro, Braz  and the works. Amidst all these, people are forgetting their thank yous and pleases. It may seem that you are being formal and sort of prudish, but trust me, it is better that way.

I saw some kids rushing to the elevator and barging, pushing an elderly lady. That is something that I never wish you would ever do. If the elevator is full, wait for it to go and come back. If not, take the stairs.

Love,
Amma

Words of Wisdom -1

Dear V,

Okay, I am not very wise, but I will pretend to be all wise and learned in front of you until you grow up and call my bluff!. Here are some thoughts -

1. Never overload your plate at a buffet and waste more than half of what you have taken. Take tiny portions. Finish them. Repeat if you want more.

2. There is a thin line between being funny and being offensive. Hope you figure out that line someday. If in doubt about saying something - better shut up!.

Love,
Amma

Spectacles - Oh What Joy!

Dear V,

I know that all kids are fascinated by spectacles and are desperate to yank it off the moment you see it on someone. (Thankfully, Amma does not wear specs, else we would have needed loyalty cards at the opticals). What amuses me is that your joy is not in pulling them off, but in watching them fall to the ground as you release them from your tiny hands. Or in trying to fold the temples. You have managed to damage your Ammamma's specs successfully. Thank God for the non-breakable ones.

Love,
Amma

Paper - Yummy!

Darling V,

You are the famous gagger!. It took you ages to graduate from purees to mashed food. You would gag if there was a small piece which was left unpureed. So, it came as a great surprise to me when you bit off one end of the paper and kept it in your mouth. I thought you will gag as soon as you try to swallow it. You refused to open your mouth and you ate it - without gagging! From then, we are hiding paper from you.

Love,
Amma

P.S - What is with the gagging of food. Stop it already.

Teeth and Vanished Gummy Smiles

Dear V,

You have four teeth now and damn I miss those gummy smiles. I used to call you toothless for a while, but now you have out grown that name. The upper 'bunny' teeth are out and your smile looks so different now - as if you have grown up suddenly. Makes me realize you are no longer the wee-infant or the baby, but a toddler! Time, please slow down.

Love,
Amma

Books and Reading!

Dear V,

As you would have noticed, your parents have tried to surround you with all kinds of books. Board books, touch and feel books, flap-up books, story books. Well, initially you thought books are to be chewed. Later you thought that books should be flung away. Now, you seem to be taking a slight liking to the story time, only with the 'lift-the-flap' books. Whether you take to them or not is something which we will just wait and watch, but we will try as hell for sure.

Love,
Amma

P.S - Acha has even bought encyclopedias for you to read when you grow up!

Hail Murphy -2

V,
You and Murphy seem to be having some sort of connection.

1. Whole day of tantrums, cries, wails to be carried, screams, refusal of food and all the drama. The moment your dad walks in from work, you leap to him with the brightest of smiles and transform into the goody-goody boy. This is resulting in your dad doubting me on why I complain so much.

2. The other day you woke up when Amma's mobile beeped (mind you, it was a really low beep). Sunday when we had plans to step out, you went into a long nap and in spite of me talking so loudly to wake you up, you slept through for a good 2 hours (never happens during the day). Sigh!

There will be more to come I am sure.

Love,
Amma

Photo Ops!

V,
It has become so tough to photograph you. The moment you see the camera, you leave everything and come running - either a shaky photo or a snap where you are too close to the camera and your tiny hand is raised with an aim to catch the camera. You see what I mean -

The moment you see your dad's fancy camera, you become even more curious. Dear Child, please co-operate, you are growing up fast and we do not want to show funny pics of you to you when you grow up.

Love,
Amma

Gadgets and you!

Dear V,

All of a year and a month, you know that your pointer finger is the one to be used for touchscreens. The other day you tried to swipe the laptop with your finger and got annoyed when there was no activity on the screen. So, you hate the laptop and love the phone and tablet. I know it is way to early for you, and I am limiting the screen time.

Love,
Amma

P.S - That does not mean that Amma is getting off Whatsapp.

Going Overboard

Dear V,

Your Dad and I had decided that we would not be those parents who would be over-indulgent. We thought we will get you just the basic toys and not pamper and spoil you silly. Who were we kidding and what where we thinking? This house is filled up with your toys. We do not hesitate even for a minute before buying stuff for you. Makes me think we are going overboard. Last thing we want is making you a spoilt brat. Time to put curbs. Its all for the good lil boy.

Love,
Amma

P.S - half your toys are bought for us. Your dad has even a hidden a few of them for himself.

Acha & You!

Dear V,
It is amazing how to you have wrapped your dad around your lil finger. He would never let me fool around much with the iPad because I would spoil it (duh), now lets you bang on it, because you giggle so much when he lets you do that. He lets you scribble on notebooks -  you know, he had yelled at me once because I wrote down the grocery list in one of his precious notebooks. Its heartmelt for Amma all the way!

Love,
Amma

Hail Murphy -1

Dear V,

Amma has become a strong believer in Murphy's Law after you arrived.

1. The couple of times that Amma has told her friends that you take one nap in the morning and one in the afternoon, the next day you refuse your naps and sleep at odd hours and have your cranky pants on by evening.

2. Those rare successful times when Amma has managed to transfer a sleeping you to the bed, she invariably goes and hits herself on some furniture while tip-toeing.

Munchkin, this is resulting in me pulling the lil hair I have. 

Love,
Amma

Milestones - What the heck!

Of late, people have been asking me only two main questions - Is he walking? Is he talking? When I say no, some of them nod, some say encourage him, make him walk, keep talking to him. Then, some say how their kids started talking at 9 months, walking at 10 months. Some others say theirs took 15 months. I know it is a simple discussion but what slightly bothers me is how we begin to compare the children even though they are so little, well aware of the fact that all children are different. Am I over thinking, may be!. Lil V, we are in no hurry for you to grow up - take your time sweetheart.

Love,
Amma

Choices!

Darling V,

Sharing Amma's favorite quote here -

“It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
- Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

Tonnes of choices will come ahead of you and it will not be easy for you. I hope you make some good choices. There will, of course, be some bad ones, but I hope you learn from those. For starters - Intelligence over appearance!

Love,
Amma

Listening!

Vedu,

It is tough to be a good listener. I can already see how restless you get when I try to talk to you - you are more interested in that old toffee wrapper. In the coming years, you will see how I will try my best to make you a good listener. Please co-operate.

Love,
Amma

Avoid If Possible!

Lil V,

There are a few things which you should try to avoid to say as much as it is possible. They are - 'I told you so',  'No offense meant' , 'My intention is not to hurt you but..'. what happens is that you will end up hurting a person who is already a little hurt. No offense meant is not a disclaimer to openly offend someone.

Love,
Amma

Suspicious Lil boy

V,
My God - how suspicious you are of the food bowl and how you keep staring at it! Then, you give me the - 'mad woman is at it again' look. Please eat well, it will help me getting less grey hair. 

Love, 

Amma

Fake Crying!

Dear V,

I guess you think you will try to get things done your way with the fake crying which stops the moment you get what you want. Do not think I give in because I approve. At times, I am too tired and I want to you to just shut up.  Sign of the battles to come.

Love,

Amma

Snippets for a lil boy - Boy Toys and Girl Toys

Cars Vs Dolls, Kitchen Set Vs Outdoor toys! Gosh, they even have pink chocolate and blue chocolate for boys and girls. So, lil V, it gives me so much joy when I see you playing with the kitchen utensils. You seem fascinated with the potato masher and the puttu kutti. Keep at it.

Love,
Amma

P.S - I would love it if you played with that dolly baby too, but you always throw her away.