Long days and short months!

Dear V,

Excuse me for a minute, so that I can finish fainting and recover on realizing that my wee baby has now metamorphosed into a toddler who wants his way about things. Everyone complains about kids growing up so fast and I am no different. I wish I could pause time at each stage. That said, while time has flown, the days have not flown so much. Especially, the cranky clingy nights when you refused to be calmed unless we carried you. Especially, when you throw up your entire meal when we are on the last spoon - which means, cleaning and feeding again. Especially, when you resist your naps and you later put on your cranky pants.Still, do not grow up so fast my munchkin!

Love,
Amma

Never Ending Debate!

Over the past 16 months, if there is one thing that I have surely realized is that motherhood comes along with its own baggage of being judged. Your choices are always put to question. One of the most boring, over-discussed and dragged topics is whether you work or whether you choose to stay at home. Whatever your choice may be, be prepared to be judged - Oh! who takes care of the baby? Does the baby recognize you? I can't stay away from my baby for so long! I can't stay at home without work because I will go mad.

Whatever it may be, I think we are done discussing the pros and cons. Why is it so difficult to understand individual choice as well as circumstances?

Injured Soldier.

Dear V,

Well, for a change, it is not you that we are going to talk about. It is me - I have become the injured soldier here, with all the random accidents and some purposeful biting that happens in the house these days.

Most of it happens when you get too excited - the other day you were too excited and you swayed your head in such a way that it hit my lip and I got a cut. You seem to be getting a cheap thrill in pulling my hair (what ever is left of it anyway) and then you check your hand to see if you have plucked any! Though you are yet to understand the concept of hitting, I am pretty sure that it is not very far away - at which point, I plan to read you this

Loads of Love,
Injured Amma.

Hairdressers

Dear V,

If someone told me a couple of years back that I would be cutting a toddler's hair, I would have sworn that it was impossible. Here we are, armed with a pair of scissors to get your unruly mop into some kind of presentable shape. Since you always sleep on your tummy and you get up at the slightest touch, it is impossible to cut off while you sleep. The moment you see the scissors, you put on your curious face and you try to grab it!

So, the haircut happens in phases - bits by bit - over a couple of days. In the meantime, we do not hesitate to take you out with half cropped hair. By the time I finish one round, I see that the strands which I cut first would have already grown. So, it is a cycle! Until you are ready to sit in a hairdresser's chair without wailing your lungs off, yours truly will be doing the honors.

Love,
Amma

Distraction!

Dear V,

At times, I spend more than half a day distracting you. Refusal to eat - distract and feed. Toddler tantrums - distract and make you stop crying. Refusal to come out of the bath tub - distract and take away. Mindless wailing to be carried around - distract with toys! I know that going along it will be tough because you won't be easily distracted and also I would try to make you understand in a 'reasonable manner'. Also, some days I am so knocked out that I often give in - let you have your way. Yes, I am lazy that way - but I do not intend to be so for a long time.

Love,
Amma