My Little Boss at Home

I took a good look at my little boy the other day and realised with a pang that he was growing up so fast. What is it about motherhood, that you long for your child to become more independent and give you some breathing space, and when he does just that; you begin to long for him to 'need' you again. Personally, I was the happiest person in the house when I enrolled him in day care, simply because I was near exploding point myself what with the writing for clients, cooking, cleaning and a 100 other things that just have to get done. On top of that, the pressure cooker would be singing its own tune, a Barney video would be switched on the whole day, I discovered the existence of a highly irritating train called Thomas( why my kid adores him, I don't know) and I even began to hum the theme songs of all his favourite cartoons! That's when I decided that enough was enough and it was high time I got some  un Barney infested silence to listen to now and then.

Here are a few star sentences he now says around the house. Keep in mind that he is  a firm believer in the hippie tradition of addressing his parents purely on first name basis.-


- Shanjoo are you ok? ( no darling, most of the times am not!)
- Mama, is it painu? ( Once he saw me rubbing sunscreen on my arms and assumed I was in pain; the little sweetehart)

- Can you see this? ( He said this sentences just once)
- I don't wan it. ( This is said atleast 5 times during meal times and milk drinking sessions, every single day)
- I wan....( Kiddo always wan's a hundred different things everyday and insists he gets it pronto, unless I want to be punished with my ears ringing with his screaming)
- Hmm, its a tasty snack..( my kid is a true connoisseur of good food. You should hear him slurp and make loud sounds when he likes something he eats.. I sometimes think I too should take a page from his book and loudly show my appreciation of good food in a non verbal way)
- Oh-oh, ------ fell down. Baby is crying.. Mama, doggy is boiken.

I like the fact that my kid is so certain of his own individuality. He insists on having his own fork, spoon and plate, and no he doesn't want the bib because Shanjoo isn't wearing one. If we were to, then he MAY consider doing the same! He even plonks himself on the sofa and screams- MY chair, MY doggy, MY mama.

If you thought that kids were all about sweetness and honey and all that, let me tell you how wrong you are. They are by far much more intelligent, smarter and manipulative than we give them credit for. I've understood that they play us in their own way and allow us to think that we have the last say! For instance, when correcting kiddo and instructing him on behavior that is deemed proper by society; he will suddenly develop a 'painu' in his hand, toe or head. Concerned mother hen that I'am I used to fuss over his imaginary pain and completely forget what the conversation was about. And all the while, my little kid is smiling away to glory- in the end acting skills have clearly overshadowed crazy mum's lecture. I grew wise to his ways when I realised what was happening. And for a while, kiddo reluctantly subjected himself to my wisdom and mannerisms filled lectures again. Till he hit upon idea number 2.

And idea number 2 is a clear super-champion in comparison to tactic no , because he plays on something I have in excess- emotion! Just before he gets a dose or after getting one, he comes running and says- ' Mama, hug.' So while I'm trying to maintain my angry face, needless to say, it gets completely wiped out whenever I feel his small arms tightly hug my legs. And so ladies and gentlemen, I completely give in and I humbly state that I'm unable to do any further disciplining after that. I don't know if there's anything that gets to your heart directly the way a child's hug and kiss do. You really need to have a heart of stone, if that one innocent move doesn't melt you. I know it does me, and I have no clue for how many years, the hugs are going to keep coming; so it makes sense to enjoy them now.

I I have of course planned my revenge- hopefully kid no 2 will be a daughter who will have my crazy curls, my utterly unruly behaviour, will have stockpiles of confidence combined with stubborness and in other words- be a fantastic replica of her mother!!! But like a friend warned me- ' Don't plan so much. You may have another son instead.' That was enough for me to put all my enticing dreams back in the box and shut the lid. :-(

Anyways.. This blog post was supposed to be about my little guy.... Like any other parent, I have so many wants for him. And I'm learning another painful essential about parenthood- letting go one bit at a time. So, although I dread the day already when my kid will get even more independent and learn how to make an omelette by myself; I love him with a firm protective love that only a mother can give and with the hope that he'll always have a hug for me..