Leaving Kindergarten... memoirs of a five and a half year old of his "youth"

Today is a very special day in my academic life ..I have officially graduated from kindergarten. So I decided to pen down my thoughts on those "golden days". Like any hero worth his salt (they always start off  fighting with the heroine right? ) I started off, completely hating to go to school. It was my worse night mare come true, having to leave the safe confines of my home and venture off to an alien land filled with rules and teachers. My first year at school was filled with adventure ranging from attempted heroic escapades( I was caught sneaking out of the gate by the security and brought back kicking and screaming  to the class room) to being the only child posing for a class photo with my school bag on my shoulders!!!( my pre nursery teacher still remembers me as the child who refused to enter the class room and stood at the door with the school bag on his shoulders for the better part of the year) I refused to be parted with my bag even while being taken to the bath room!!!
  well, by the end of the first year, somewhere along the way i fell hopelessly in love with my class teacher ..Rekha Ma'am.  Every word she uttered became the gospel truth for me,much to the irritation of my mother(who until then had been the reigning queen in my life). In spite of all this I still hated going to school. It was only after I started L.K.G, that I began to be initiated into the beautiful world of friends. It was wonderful to be able to have little folks like me (who hated school too) to play with. The highlight of the year was the annual day where I was Michael Jackson(so what if there were 29 other Michael Jackson's all yelling "Just beat it!!!)
All of a sudden I became a "senior" in our little world, and   we "big boys" used to look scornfully at "little" kids clinging to their mother and crying. Slowly I began to look forward to going to school- to play with friends, share snacks, ask my teacher a thousand questions, do craft projects(though I still can't bear  copy writing!!!)
Now I feel I have  come a full circle...I have already started missing kindergarten. I shall never forget those wonder years which has taught me to savour life in all its colours.

PS: I thank my mom for letting me air my thoughts on her blog...

Sibling Revelry!!!!

This morning I chatted for more than 30 minutes with a friend from college days whom I've not seen for over 6 years. For all this time he had known me, he was under the impression that my younger sister and I were twins!!!( my sis and I did our MBA together -same year same college so i guess it justifies it) Anyway after 6 years he wanted to know whether we had married twin brothers  and whether we were finally living separate lives....So sweet of him!!! well, the point is it got me thinking as to what a big part my sister has in my life.
Now even though both of us are so far apart physically, we share a special bond that only sisters can share.... so this is for you Juju and a special thanks to my friend for inspiring me to write this post
My sister is 2 years younger to me and for the first few years of my life I was insanely jealous of her for usurping my position in the family!!!!
                                          Sister of my heart
                                         When we first met, my life turned upside down;
                                         I was the reigning queen, with a tiara and gown.
                                         When you first said "Anu chechi", my heart did a flip;
                                         I was the"big sis" with a stiff upper lip.
                                         When you first fought with your tiny fists;
                                         I lost, and my ego was forced to call it quits.
                                         When you first had your own pals;
                                         I had to act busy with various phone calls.
                                         When you first cried 'cause I hurt you;
                                         I felt the pain inside too.
                                         Now when we first part;
                                         my life once more turns upside down.

                          Now when you are ready to spread your wings;
                           may god bless you with all the best of things.
                          Anytime, any place you need something big or small;

                          I'm there ..you just need to make a call . 

                                        

                                  

Here is a picture of us with our grand parents.

A "normal" child

Last week at a parents teachers meeting, a lady sitting next to me was telling me how she was worried to death that her 5 year old daughter has not shown any signs of being a" maths whiz kid" even after a month of rigorous abacus classes . The poor lady was spending sleepless nights trying to convince herself that this was"normal". While i sympathise with her wholeheartedly ( i believe that to each parent his/her own..after all its their child!!!!) it set me thinking as to what would be the things which i would worry about in the case of my son(although only illness has the power to give me sleepless nights..i can sleep through a storm ;duly certified by my husband)
I would worry if my 5 year old son(as of now)

• did not give me bear hugs and slurpy kisses after coming home from school
• did not pester me to play with my maid's child as he pesters me to play with my neighbour's child
• did not believe that "Ben 10" and "chotabheem" can do "anything"
• did not daydream
• did not have friends
• did not think his amma and achan knows answers to "everything" (hopefully this phase will last for some more months..its such a ego booster!!!!)
• did not feel like"having something to eat" throughout the day
• did not know how to "live in the moment"

and most of all..
did not feel happy "just being nachikaet"!!!
Lets hope i can worry about the same things when he brings me(god forbid) a C minus maths report card!!!!

God of plastic creatures(We have not yet graduated to a complete plastic free life!!!)

Nachikaet has always been fascinated by animals ever since I can remember. He has always found them more interesting than humans (speaks volumes about the humans in his life). We have quite a large “zoo” at home and all kind of creatures ranging from farm animals to prehistoric creatures dwell in perfect harmony. The amazing part is that he has never “outgrown” these animals like he has with all his other toys. He takes them out at least once a week to assure himself that all his well in his “little kingdom” . Its heartening to see him line them up in military order and conduct a guard of honour.

For all their worth in plastic these little creatures sure have given one little boy many hours of pure joy and fun .Here is a picture of our apartment cleared of all furniture for the “drill”

 

Toothy Tales

Last month Nachikaet lost not one but two teeth!!! Having being brought up on a steady diet of stories (and a mother with an over active imagination) my son was anxiously waiting for the tooth to come out and the tooth fairy to do her bit. We had even got out a bottle and decorated it for holding the first tooth which would come out. But it was not to be. The first time, I was brushing Nachikaet’s teeth (being extra careful not to touch the wobbly tooth) when suddenly he grinned at me and I noticed a gaping hole in his mouth . Then began the frantic hunt for the “touring tooth “. Nachikaet couldn’t decide whether he had spit out the tooth or swallowed it. After frantic calls to an amused doctor we finally decided that the tooth must have slipped down the sink. It was a very proud boy that went to school that day showing off his toothless grin to anybody who would care to listen.
The second time we were very vigilant. The moment the second tooth started shaking we beefed up security. Every morning we could examine the tooth throughly and see if it was ready to be pulled off.

Then one day after school Nachikaet came running , words tumbling out in excitement . He had news about the second tooth..it had fallen off during a game of run and catch and the the little tykes who had never touched a “real” tooth before went wild with excitement. The precious thing was taken and washed in the class room sink and after detailed examinations was safely tucked away in my son’s pocket. How it got lost is an entirely different story altogether!!!!

So the bottle still waits ..maybe next time!!!!

Here is a picture of Nachikaet grinning toothlessly for the camera!!!

Hush Little Baby!!!

Keshav's first gift was from his dad; who was in London when he made his grand appearance into our lives. I don't think his proud dad realised, when he bought that teddy bear from the duty free shop in the airport, that he was buying a piece of history!!!(I am a drama queen!!)
"Hush"(that was what the teddy was christened..refer to how Hush got his name at the bottom of the post)
became an inseparable part of Keshav's life. It sometimes became hard to remember that it was "only a toy".
  What does one call something
      -  that gets the most hugs and kisses from the baby of the house
      -  is the only one who can turn torrents of tears into dimpled smiles
      - can coax him to eat his meals
and can make the baby reach out to him in a toy shop full of attractive toys.(.to name a few of Hush's accomplishments)
Well, i can think of only one name ...a perfect friend!!!
Here is wishing my nephew a life filled with lovely companions,who make his life richer and fuller with their friendship and may they be able to live up to to the reputation of his "first friend"

PS: How Hush got his name
"Hush little baby" was Nachikaet's favourite bed time lullaby when he was smaller. When my nephew was born i passed on the book to my sister and it soon made it to the top 5 bed time lullaby's of my nephew ..and the name stuck!!!

Here is a snap of Keshav with Nachikaet holding Keshav's precious "Hush"

scrap-o-mania!!!

I've recently added to my list of addictions..scrapbooking being the latest in the list. I have been scrapbooking for quite sometime now. This is my initial foray into digital scrapbooking. As  they say a picture is worth a thousand words so for once i'll let my picture hog the lime light. Let me know your comments!!! Click on the picture for  clearer view.