Childhood memoirs

Address

2009-10-13T12:24:00.002-04:00

I was on the phone with a friend giving directions to my home. I was struggling to think of the street lanes or landmarks around my house so that it would easier for my friend to find my house. That's when curious little monkey came to my rescue. He said " Tell him we live next to our neighbor's house"!!!

Who is everywhere

2009-07-07T14:05:00.002-04:00

Sweet little pumpkin learnt the following prayer
"God is here, God is there
God God everywhere
God is one, God is one
Good is one for everyone."

Curious little monkey of course caught up, with a slight variation:
"Icecream here, Icecream there
Icecream, Icecream everywhere."

Who is a wife?

2009-07-01T12:58:00.002-04:00

Last weekend my uncle and aunt came to visit us. Curious little monkey was only 1 or 2 months old when he last saw them. So, I was explaining to him that the Grandpa who was visiting is my dad's brother. He listened earnestly and asked "Who's the Grandma?". I said she is Grandpa's wife. My soon to be 6 year old Sweet little pumpkin retorted "Don't say wife to him when he is 3 years old. Wait till he is 5 or 6. Then he will understand." I asked her if she knew what a wife was to which she replied "Yes. Wife is a girl who lives with a boy."

I have been laughing ever since :) :)

Can we eat that?

2009-06-11T10:51:00.002-04:00

I went to a parlour for getting my eyebrows shaped. I had to take curious monkey along with me. He sat through the whole thing quiet and amused. Later on the way back home, he asks me "Why was she eating the thread?"

When I grow up, I'll be....

2009-01-14T22:46:00.003-05:00

After Sweet Little pumpkin, its Curious Monkey's turn to startle us.

The other day, his dad asked him what he wants to be when he grows up. We heard him say Pilot. His dad got very excited as he is very much interested in planes. He started running around the room like a plane, sounding the take offs and landings when Curious Little monkey emphatically said " No I want to be a Pirate!"

Arrgh!

Curious little piglet!

2008-11-25T14:50:00.002-05:00

My curious little monkey's name is Ayush. One of the "Dora The Explorer" story had following in a page - Dora, mother and daughter sheep, father and son pig. He was saying them aloud. He said - "Dora, Mama sheep, baby sheep, Papi Pig, Ayush Pig!"

A new introduction

2008-11-01T21:10:00.003-04:00

I went to Sweet little pumpkin's school for their Halloween party/celebration. While I was trying to put faces to many names that I hear daily from her, a sweet girl from her class walks to me and says " Are you sweet little pumpkin's mom?" I said yes to which she replied " You look so much like her!"

Lunch, Lunch in the box, which is the yummiest of you all

2008-09-27T19:33:00.003-04:00

Unless I give one or two of her favorites as lunch, sweet little pumpkin always gets back food half(little) eaten. Yesterday, I got little upset and asked her why can't she finish off the lunch. She answered why does the school always have lunch time when she is not hungry?

Favorite Months

2008-09-11T14:37:00.003-04:00

Sweet little pumpkin told me that her favorite months are July (mine and her birth month) and February (her dad's birth month). I was happy that she liked the month of July not only for her birthday but mine too. I asked her how about June, when curious little monkey was born. To that she replies "These are my favorite months when I was a single kid. I have not changed them yet."

The first species to walk on earth

2008-07-01T15:02:00.002-04:00

While reading a book on dinosaur to sweet little pumpkin, I told her that these were one of the first species to walk on earth, millions of years ago. She replied -"No mamma, it must be nurses. Who took care of baby dinosaurs?".

When I grow up

2008-06-26T06:49:00.002-04:00

Sweet little pumpkin was telling me what she and her friends wants to be when they grow up. Suddenly she had a question and asked me "What will you be when you grow up and stop being mamma?". I said I don't know and asked her what she thinks I could become. She replies "Maybe a mamma".

Kid's day

2008-06-05T12:34:00.002-04:00

Sweet little pumpkin asked me yesterday when was kid's day. I could not understand the question very well but I replied -"All days are kid's days". She replied - "No we need to have a kid's day. We have Mother's day and Father's day and I make presents to you. I need a day to get presents!"

Train-ing

2008-04-23T14:04:00.002-04:00

Yesterday morning, while leaving for work, H said to me that he would in a training all day. Sweet little pumpkin, who was drinking her milk remarked looking at H "Why are you working in train today?" And curious little monkey from behind coos "Choo Choo".

Now What's that?

2008-04-17T07:07:00.002-04:00

Curious little monkey got hurt and I needed to change his dressing every now and then. Sweet littke pumpkin was curious about "dressing" and insisted me to show her what color it is. I was surprised and showed her the dressing. When she realised that it was only a bandange and all I am doing is changing the bandage to keep the area clean, she exclaims "When you said I need to change his dressing, I thought you meant you are going to change his complete dress and put him a colorful new one!"

All in a day's work

2008-04-05T18:03:00.003-04:00

Sweet little pumpkin has a demand. She said "You always ask me how was my day at school. From now on, you need to tell me how was your day at work."!

Aye Aye Captain!

Environmently Friendly

2008-03-11T14:09:00.003-04:00

Yesterday, on our way back home, sweet little pumpkin was telling me how her day went. They did some craft work in which all of them required sheets of paper. Her friend, X had to take the paper first and then it was her turn. She said "Mamma, you know X took 4 sheets of paper. I told her to make paper, we need to cut trees. So, we should not waste them. I asked her to keep some back but she did not listen." Curious, I asked how much sheets she took to which she replies "I took less, just three."

Timeout

2008-03-06T10:36:00.002-05:00

After a usual day, I picked up my phone to call my sis-in-law yesterday evening. Chatting to a friend always relaxes and refreshes me after a day's work. In the meanwhile, sweet little pumpkin was asking me to play with her, which I told her I'll do in a while. To what seemed to her eternity, which in reality was only 2 minutes, she comes to me and says clear enough to be heard on the other end of the phone line: "Mamma, when will you stop talking?".

Gimme a break, please.

The right way, is it?

2008-02-21T14:49:00.002-05:00

Sweet little pumpkin told me that her friend was troubling her in the afternoon by putting paint in her white top. She kept telling him not to trouble her but he did not stop (He is otherwise a sweet boy but of course kids are kids). She continued "I was brave Mamma and I did the right thing". I said "What did you do? Did you go and tell Miss XXX(her teacher)". She said "No. I just put some paint back on him". Oh Well!

Learn from Spiderman

2008-02-05T15:45:00.000-05:00

Sweet little pumpkin has a demand nowadays to pick her up little early everyday. She said "Finish off your work super,duper fast like spiderman. You can ask him how and pick me up early".

Okay Spiderman, I am ready for inputs !

Wake me up before you go

2008-01-16T09:55:00.000-05:00

To be honest, waking up sweet little pumpkin is really an ordeal for me. Okay, don't remind me of my childhood days. I was not at the receiving end then and those were different times.

We are going to Chicago tomorrow and have to leave early around 4:30 am to catch the flight. I was telling that to sweet little pumpkin preparing her for an early wakeup call. Till now, she has been nice to wake up early if we had to catch a flight or travel somewhere. I guess the excitement of travel catches up at all ages. She told me very excitedly "You know Mamma, when we went to SD last time, Papi (she calls her dad papi ever since she knew that Dora calls her dad papi {dad in spanish}) woke me up, this time you can wake me up". To this, I reminded her that I always wake her up in the morning. To which she replies excitedly - "Imagine Mamma, you got another chance to wake me up. isn't it great? Aren't you happy?"

Am I? Do I have a choice?

New nominations for N

2007-12-07T11:48:00.000-05:00

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

2007-12-06T14:26:00.000-05:00

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

2007-11-05T13:52:00.000-05:00

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

2007-10-16T13:13:00.000-04:00

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

2007-10-01T16:29:00.000-04:00

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

2007-09-26T12:47:00.000-04:00

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

2007-09-11T18:59:00.000-04:00

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

2007-09-05T16:16:00.000-04:00

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...

2007-08-14T09:08:00.000-04:00

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 ...

2007-08-06T09:27:00.000-04:00

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...

2007-08-02T15:53:00.000-04:00

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

2007-08-02T15:48:00.001-04:00

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 :)