Madras Mom and Lil Madras Girl

Dear Ri,

Your mom has her own column in a local paper and what am I writing about again ? You.
http://madrasmusings.com/Vol%2021%20No%206/quest-for-that-precious-blue.html
http://madrasmusings.com/Vol%2021%20No%204/ups-and-downs-in-the-poonga.html

My Lil Madras Girl.

Love,

Amma

Chitti marries Puh-pappa – July 2011

Dear Ri,

It’s been a while since I blogged. Your aunt who you finally met got married and we were all really busy with her wedding. Someday when you’re big and wise and strong and can do Google searches, you will find this note and remember that your chitti got married in July 2011 when you were 17 months old. The first two days of meeting her, you seemed a bit wary but then eventually you both got along like a house on fire. Blood does run thicker than water, dear Ri. I cannot wait for you to meet your other aunt.

The wedding was a great success. We all had a great time at the reception in your new Uncle’s hometown and you looked beautiful in all your special outfits. Chitti and V are an amazing couple, so easygoing, good-natured. They threw no bride-esque or groomy tantrums, greeted everyone with a smile and seemed to enjoy each other and the wedding. I only wish they both had more time to just enjoy themselves, kick back and relax instead of having to run around all the time.

We all love the way you call V, ‘puh-pappa’.

During the wedding, I spent most of my time running around in circles. I confuse myself Ri. Am I really that busy or do I just get worked up about needing everything to look perfect and pleasing everybody? I wish for you to inherit my ideas and obsessions, yet tempered with your dad’s easygoing attitude. Now, that would make life more fun for you.

There is so much more to write about. Yet, your mommy finds herself unable to put everything she feels down in writing. 

Soon…..

Love,

Mom

Ana Ana Ana

Ri has learnt a new expression 'Ana' which in Tamizh means 'No'. She has a grand time saying 'Ana' for everything even when she may be inclined to say 'Yes' to it.

Her 'Ana' is entirely compulsive. Sometimes she will say it many times over till her point comes through which I think is something like ' Leave me alone. I am not interested in anything you have to offer me right now". Other times ( which is rarer though), she will say it to satisfy her impulse and then sweetly oblige.

Shall we have lunch now? Ana
Would you like to drink some milk? Ana
Can we change your diaper please? Ana
Can you hug Amma? Ana

She says it more than fifty times a day and while RD and I find it adorable most times, it can be frustrating after a point. Especially when RD has started saying it in an attempt to be cute. Not.

Did do some online reading about it and it looks like children all over the world go through this 'No' phase. It's amazing how independent, smart and self-assured little kids are. They know so much more than we give them credit for. I often wonder how Ri makes connections between visuals and words. How does she map them in her head? I've used the word 'No' with her but it's nowhere related to 'Ana'. How did she come up with her own word to indicate that she does not want to do something?

She sees pictures of Sonia and JJ on magazine covers and affectionately refers to them as 'Patti' (grandma). When Pranab, Manmohan and Karuna are on the News, she calls them 'Thatha' (grandpa). Middle-aged people are 'Mamas' (Uncle)and younger people are 'Annas' (Elder brother)and 'Akkas' (Elder Sister). I wonder how she knows how to differentiate between people based on their age.

RD and I often wonder what she thinks about, what she dreams about and what makes her smile in her sleep.

Would we trade these emotions and thoughts for anything else in the world?

'Ana'.

I want it that way

I tried teaching Ri to close her Funtainer after she had her sips of water from it. Sometimes I see traces of what could be the early onset of the Terrible Two’s but then quickly pacify myself with unrealistic self-conversation like.

‘ How could something that looks and smiles like an angel be capable of cunningly planning this high-shrieking till she gets what she wants’? Nah…..
or
‘ How can I expect my baby to understand instructions and discipline at 16 months when I have not understood it in 357’.

I went all Montessori mom on her, gentle and instructional, teaching her step by step the many hazards of keeping the Funtainer’s cap open. Well, she did look bored when I tried to explain that germs would touch the bottle’s straw so I tried a different approach.

Me2Ri: Ri cap moodu (close in Tamizh)   

Me (to myself) – What if she only learns to understand instructions in Tamizh?

Me2Ri: Ri close the cap

Me (to myself) – Maybe I need to associate the instruction with a sound. Hmmm

Me2Ri: Ri bottle a ‘top’ pannu (do in Tamizh)
* top – closing sound of the bottle cap.

Me (to myself): Ok…… That was Tanglish accompanied by sound.

None of the above had the desired effect. Not only did Ri do the opposite of what I was asking her to do, purposely opening the bottle everytime I taught her to close it, she kept hitting her head everytime I said ‘top’. Followed by a teeny tantrum where she insisted that the Funtainer’s cap remain open. More teaching lead to tears and Montessori mom had to make do with watching Ri playing with open dripping Funtainer where she banged it like cymbals against an empty stainless steel tumbler.

P.S : I love Blogger Stats. This week, I have 1 page-view from Japan and 6 from Iran.
Not that I don’t love you readers from India, United States and the other lovely countries in the world. But, Japan and Iran were exciting.

Konnichiwa my dear Japanese page-viewer. And to my fans in Iran, Chetori.

Blog Title: I want it that way – Backstreet Boys