New nominations for N

Last evening, I asked Sweet Little pumpkin what would she like to take for her Show and Tell for letter "N" and she responded "N..N..Na.. Na.. Nothing".


Today morning, while fastening her car seat belts, I noticed she had a post-it with something written on . I asked her what was it, to which she replied "For N, I am taking my Name"

We belong to one world

Sweet little pumpkin goes to pre-K and has friends from different cultures and customs. They talk and play with each other well, unaware of which part of the world their roots belong to. Maybe they don't even need to know. This is their world and they are very happy being in it.

Last week, the school organised photo session for each class. We got the photograph yesterday and she was showing it excitedly to her grandfather. Her grandfather pointed to one kid and asked her if he was an Indian. She replied - "I don't know all that. He is my friend, xyz".
(I think that's all we need to know too, who is our friend regardless of where he belongs to.)

Imagine that

Every Friday, Sweet Little pumpkin needs to take some stuff for show and tell. Last Friday , she needed something with letter "I". I asked her what she would like to take and she immediately responded - "How about Imagination?"

Eh? :)

Mummy Mummy

Yesterday, me and my sweet little pumpkin were reading "Curious George Goes to Costume Party". (For those who still enjoy late night parties: Curious George is a children book series about a curious little monkey named George and his adventures). In the story , George and his friends were dressed up in different Halloween costumes. Sweet little pumpkin pointed to a boy who was wrapped in white stripes and asked me what costume was that. I told her it was "Egyptian Mummy" and she would know/understand it better when she is little bit older. We finished the story and went on to read "Curious George visits Library". Looking at one of the illustration, she spotted the same boy and said "Look mama, the Egyptian mother is here!".

Electronically yours

During our short trip from school to home, sweet little pumpkin generally briefs me up with the activities she did that day. The details depends on her mood, though. The other day she mentioned they had read a story which had all mamma and baby tigers. She asked me whey there were no Dad tigers. I was trying to figure out how to respond to that question, when she came up with the answer "I know. Dad tigers had gone to work and mamma tigers were working from home."

To where we belong

It is so amusing to hear kids conversation. Nowadays, sweet little pumpkin lectures curious little monkey a lot. He responds in his baby babbles. The other day she was telling him that we "picked" him up from the hospital. I remember after I had my curious little monkey, I made sure I spend some time with sweet little pumpkin. At that time, she used to think that the nurse in the hospital was his mom as she first saw him in the hospital nursery. After couple of days playing with him, she once remarked, "I had played enough with him, you can take him back to the hospital. "

She loves hearing her baby stories. Every now and then, she asks me to narrate few of those beautiful moments. One day I told her that even she was in my tummy before. When I saw her gazing at me surprisingly, I realised she did not understand it and of course only time and age can make these clear to her. I had a hearty laugh when she asked me "Why did you eat me, mamma?"

Brat, Sweet Brat

Sweet little pumpkin was checking her new notebook, that I bought for her. It had a laminated shiny cover. She asked me why was it so sparkling as if there were lights on the cover, I answered lovingly "because you are the light of my life". She replied immediately " I am not light of your life". I asked her what was she ? She replied " I am brat of your life!"

Small desires

We had a great time in San Diego with my brother and his family. Sweet little pumpkin was pampered and had a gala time with her cousin. I wanted to prepare her for her return flight, letting her know that our vacation would be getting over and we would have to go back to reality - she to her school and me to my work. When I spoke to her a day before our flight, she argued back saying "Continental flies only from NJ - San Deigo. It does not fly back." How I wish it were true. On the morning of our departure, she had one of the various trifles with her cousin. I talked to her calmly if she could be nice today. Trying to distract her, I mentioned how about she helps me in packing to which she replied - "Our flight is only at night, till then I am going to be naughty!". Well!

I know what I want to be...

In this world, career is second nature to life. In my generation, when we grew up in India we hardly had any choices other than being doctor and engineer. But I do see whatever you do, it's the attitude and perseverance that sees you through what you want to be. Anyways, thats besides the point. I wonder what the next generation see themselves in 20 years from today.

I was playing Doctor set with my little pumpkin. I can visualise her successful in so many different professions. I asked her "What do you want to be when you grow up?". Initially she said "Nothing". I said you have to be something, you need to have a career. She thought for a moment and said "I know..".

I was eager to hear what has inspired her so much at this young age -
Could it be doctor - we hardly have any in immediate family but she has her pediatrician who is a very nice man.
Could it be engineer - we have many in family, not sure whether we even inspire.
Could it be teacher - she likes to teach (read boss around) on her little brother but that hardly qualifies to be a teacher (My mom would twist my ears for saying this :) ).

Her eyes were wide and bright , happy that she has made a decision. "I know Mamma", she went on, " I want to be a mermaid !"

Counting and still going on ...

Last weekend, we were invited at one of H's cousin's place. They have a sweet 6 yr old daughter , Anj . My sweet little pumpkin and Anj started playing hide N seek. Anj mentioned she would hide and sweet little pumpkin has to seek her after she counts 20. All is well. My sweetie starts counting at a rocket speed and reaches 20 before Anj takes 2 steps. Anj tells her to count slowly so that she can go and hide. My sweetie slows down but still fast enough that Anj is not able to go out of the room. Sweet little pumpkin offers help - Do you want me to count more? Anj agrees that would be good. So my sweetie replies - "Ok I'll count till 21" !!

Words and words is all I have...

Sometimes, you wonder how these kids learn to talk the way they do.

I have a sweet little pumpkin (4 yr) and a curious little monkey (1 yr). I am forever indebted to God for making me part of their life and teaching me so much about life through them. Some conversations between us are very interesting.

Episode 1 : The other day my sweet little pumpkin was coloring with her crayons and I was playing with my curious little monkey. They seemed to be pretty absorbed in what they were doing. So, I took a quick break to get a cup of tea for myself. I didn't realise that my sweet little pumpkin followed me to kitchen to get her share of cookies ( Well, I love to eat cookies with tea and I just am not able to get over that habit). While enjoying my cup of tea, momentarily, I forgot what my other baby was doing . Curious as he is, he went over to the crayons. When I saw him, he had a piece of crayon in his mouth. I yelled rushing to him " Don't eat the crayon".

From behind , my sweet little pumpkin says : "Which color?"


Episode 2: I am trying to get something ready for the dinner. My curious little monkey in on the kitchen floor playing but well within my eyesight. My sweet little pumpkin is playing something safe closeby. Curious as he is, he wanders off to the shoe rack in the washer -dryer room next to kitchen. I shout while rushing to him "Don't put her sandals in your mouth"

From behind comes the sweet voice "Which foot mamma, right or left?"

Oh these girls

Yesterday, my sweet little pumpkin was playing with her friend Arush . They both were having fun. Sometimes they would shout or snatch things from one another but that just lasted for few sec and they would be fine again. So, all was well. Good. Suddenly Arush is mad and goes inside his home in huff and puff. His mom tries to cajole him and me looking at my dear sweetie wondering what went wrong. That's when Arush gave us the clarification

" She did not allow me to complete my sentence.. She just kept talking like a parrot! "

Welcome to the world of girls, son :)