Excerpts from 2012

All summers, Chinipie had written her stories and added some nice drawings to enhance her story. Once during our bedtime story reading, she had asked me, " mom what's an author? wt's an illustrator?"

On being told the meaning and the difference, she had said, "so i do that.. does that mean i am one of those?"

 After getting an affirmative response, the very next day when her lil sis was trying to get her attention while she was trying to write something, she had said, "sugar plz don't disturb me.. I am authoring a book and then I have to illustrate it too.. I do not have time to play with u today." Sugar, obviously, didnt understand a bit. All she knew was that her big sis was shooing her away and that was enough to enrage her. Mommy, on the other hand, just wondered on her child's radiant personality!

Soon after, there was an introductory picnic for the incoming kindergarteners, where the teachers were shaking hands with each child and introducing herself. Something like. "Hi. I am Ms.W and I am the assistant teacher." Following the similar lines, To my utter amazement, very confidently, Chinipie had introduced herself as,  "Hi. I am Chinipie. I m an author and an illustrator."

******

After her dropping the guitar from the second floor, Mommy was trying to explain to Chinipie why this was wrong, and, at the same time, the concept of gravity(wonder why?) when she gave an excuse that the whole guitar-falling-episode was unintentional and she was just experimenting trying to sway and hang it from the lobby but the guitar fell too fast before she could catch it. Patiently, I tried to reason with her, asking has she wondered why doesn't she stay up in the air when she jumps. 

Immediately, she quips... Coz i am not a fairy!!!

******
This one was very soon after my car accident.

Are you not going to exercise downstairs? 
No
You are not even going to run on the treadmill? 
No
You Are not even going to do any yoga?

No honey. Not today.

Why?

Coz remember mommy had A car accident. Mommy's still hurting from that. 

So what? you can still exercise.

No beta, mommy feels tht she might start hurting even more if she exercises today. She doesn't want to take chances.

For a while, it looked like she has taken it well, when she said, "why should I care? Anyways, you will become fat!"

A few months later, mommy had started going to the Y for the aquatherapy or pilate classes, which seemingly benefitted her. Those being summertime, the kids were very much at home, so they used to go to babysitting facility within the premises. They had made a few friends there and had actually started looking forward to it. Once or twice, Mommy would have to skip it owing to other commitments. "Mommy, we are not going to the Y today?"

 "No beta. We have to go some place for lunch. So we will have to skip the Y or else we will be late."

"Anyways, you will not learn anything new today, I guess" 

Now, this was a relief. Coz mommy had mentally braced herself to hear those dreaded words from her. About learning new, I know comes from the fact that I used to ask both my girls what did they do at babysitting while I was away. In turn, they used to ask me what I did and I used to show them a new move or pose each time. As I used to show them only one fitness move at a time, probably, she thought that I learnt something new each day.

******

 

Adios 2012

And welcome 2013...this post, albeit delayed by 23 days.. U still are being looked forward to with lots of hopes, promises and resolutions. U are the year, when we all will grow stronger as a family working together to achieve our goals, spreading joy as we go along. U are the year, when we are trying to manage our anger bouts with love and calm. U are the year, when we are trying to resolve our conflicts by talking them out rather than pouts. U are the year, when we are learning to take initiative rather than waiting for someone to offer(e.g. playdates). U are the year, when we are working towards speaking upfront rather than talking around in circles. U are the year, when we started with lots of gratitude, most importantly, having each other, together, as a family. U are the year, when we are making positive attempts to say the magic words of 'sorry' and 'please' and 'thank-you' to each other, for we realise that respecting each other feelings and emotions is very much important (After all it's so eay for taking each other for granted, and hurt in the process). Most importantly, U are the year, when we are giving each other loads of hugs and kisses to each other, coz they are, for sure, the most encouraging, loving, and caring gifts we can give to each other! With these and many such positivities, 2013, we are certain, you are going to be awesome!


2012- for most part, you have been great too! You were the year, when we, finally, learned to say NO, instead of giving in or being a pushover (a major achievement for mom herself as now she can set an example of assertiveness and stance to her kids). You were the year when we learnt to stop showing our vulnerability (as a family) to others. You were the year when we struggled and later, succeeded to become independent in many ways. You were the year, when we experimented with lots of new sports and haven't lost hopes, even though many a times, they didn't turn out as we had expected. You were the year, when we successfully cut our screen time to a bare minimum and realized that there's so much else we can do, otherwise. You were the year when we learnt to treasure each other and cherish every little thing we do for each other, as a family. Yes 2012, despite all odds, you were good. And this is how, we had bid farewell to you..


As all the new year eve parties go, we, along with a few friends, had waited for the clock to strike midnight. Looking at the screen, doing the final countdwn, watching the times square ball-drop, cheering and wishing each other a very happy new year, when sugarbun decided, enough is enough, happy or not, new or not, year or whatever, I am out! And there, she plopped on their couch! Her tired z's could be heard distinctly amongst all the chaos. Leaving the company of her friends, chinipie came over, looked at sugarbun with a huge question mark on her face and then looked at the wall clock.
What? It's past twelve o'clock already? Way past my bedtime? Now, I will never get my complete rest and full night sleep! UHAAAANNN!!! I hate new year eve parties!!!