Hmm, Next Steps?

So one of the things I havent done recently is blog!

And in all honesty, for once I dont have a few blog posts in my mind as well. It pretty much is, too busy to think phase, or I can honestly say- No motivation to write!

I am half contemplating closing the blogs, or just leaving them, or making it private for the three-five loyal readers I have left. I haven’t made up my mind.

Though I love chronicling V's years, chit chats and developmental milestones, I am somehow not enjoying the writing part of it.

Recently I was going over some scrap books I had made for V in her first year. It felt good to go over the material. It made me think, its nice to capture it in some form. I am too lazy to make a book for each year, writing felt easier. But at the same time, just 'publicly' writing about it has me in a limbo!

I will figure it out in the next few weeks. I am hoping to at least.

Blogging helped me when I needed it most- When i was new in the parenting world, had a lot of friends but not mom-friends. You know the ones who understand- its okay to have no freaking clue about this parenting thing. We are in it together. I met a lot of people, read countless blogs and got this re-assuring feeling- It's okay. You are a lot of things at any given time and being a mom is one of them. There is no right or wrong, you slowly start figuring it out. There will be working moms, stay at home moms, there will be comparisons, kids tantrums, kids understanding. But with blogging and more importantly with reading other blogs, meeting other moms, I realised- it falls into place. Slowly but surely.

And Sumit reassures me all the time: 'You will be best parent for your child'

There are a lot of milestones to capture, a lot of V to be written, new revelations, new contemplations, new realisations. I get all that. For now, I am just thinking about the next steps. I may continue writing, I may not.

I did start the blog(s) on an impulse. My next steps may be an impulse. For now I will leave this post- in a limbo- just like my blog!

Winter Wonderland.......

Idea for this post definitely came from Smitha!

Now that its December, winter is upon us!!!! The only one person who is missing snow since past two months is V.
Her questions are down right cute:
- So leaves have fallen, its cold, where is snow?
- It's cold already, Christmas is nearly here, where is snow?
- I want to make snow man, where is snow?
- In Chicago, there is so much snow with the cold, where is snow?
- I want snow and the sun and less wind! Then we can have fun
- Where is snow?
After reading Smitha's post on this... I think let me clearer on behalf of V, Just a light snow shower would be good.

For the record, IL's once braves early December in Chicago to see snow, and it didn’t arrive. Within 6 hours of them leaving from US, we were greeted by 2 inches of snow! This year, they are braving the weathers in London till end December. I am hoping we see some snow before they leave!!!

Friend Loving- Dedicated to my Brother

Most of my adult life, I remember my brother telling me 'You am a friend lovign person.'Yup True. I like being around friends, chit chat, chill, gossip, discuss, socialise. Basically, I am a social person (Surprise surprise!) I am slowly starting to see a lot of that in V now.

We met some friends recently whose kid is within a years age difference of V. They both were two peas in a pod! While we were chit chatting in the living room, we could hear laughter, chit chat, and giggle from V's room. The kids were awesome together. Ate together, played well and when the adults got buried in discussion, the kids sat on a table like bored toddlers! Knock on wood, it was amazing. She displays the same enthusiasm when she recants stories from school to us. Her teachers tell us that if she sees a kid in a corner, she will pull the child and play with her. And yes of course, she loves to talk!
Hmm... Social!

Over the past few months, I have seen some intresting changes in V. She is less shy outside of home. Of course in her own turf, she is loud and clear. But outside, when once she was happy to be by herself, would not chat with firends..... she now reaches out to people, plays with them and engages them in conversation.

It is a big step for her.

I am liking it. Like us, she is outside her comfort zone after moving to London. But unlike us, she is settling way better than us. And thats a good thing.

So bhaia, the 'Friend Loving' gene continues on!

The little bag of laughter

By the time V was out of her diapers, I suddenly saw her in new light. No more podgy toddler but a pre-schooler. Only now I am realising the gravity of that one line!

A preschooler (And please may I add, with a very clear mind of what she likes and would rather not like)
Her way of words generally keeps us on our toes and Sumit and I keep stealing glances at each other and say 'OMG' She is getting adorable, adorably naughty but overall adorable.
Conversations with her are well- conversational and now somehow I get the whole point of 'Kids say the darnest things!' so true. They really do.
When I be a bit stricter with her, she is quick to respond and say: 'I dont want to talk to you right now, you are being angry. I like the happy mummy more'.
When Sumit eats her share of the food without permissions, she says 'Papa you need to learn to ask' When her Daadi broke the window latch 'Dadi did it, she was not being careful. She just pulled it, wham!'
Bottom line, she speaks the way it is. And that is something that puts the kids apart. No polishing, just saying.

Sumit and I generally appreciate her mind. We encourage her to make choices, I admire her assertiveness (most of the times) and those pouty lips, I keep laughing out so loud. Its just so cute. I know, I know.. dont patronise the kid!

Luckily for me- Memories captured in the one below, remind me- She is still a kid!

Parents to a 'School Going Kid'

Ok, pre-school kid to be more precise.

This post is much delayed... but as they say: better late than never

(On a completely separate note, I should start blogging often, else I will continue to use cheesy line like above)

Anyhoo.. If you have followed my scarce writing the last couple of months, miss V is now in her big-girl school a.k.a Pre-Reception (LKG/ Pre-K in other parts of the world) Bottom line, bye bye day care (And the comforts of afternoon nap, wear what you want and complete working mom's scheduling love) and welcome School (Strict drop off/ pick up times, ironing uniforms, link books and school projects)

Ok, I am being too lop sided. Let me rephrase, Welcome to the big girl school and big kid parenting (Yes V is still under 4, but by her standards she is a big girl now!) Like everything for me, this is new!

Being parents to a school going kid.

Wow. Our weekdays are pretty standard, V wakes us up, pulls me in the rest room to help her brush her teeth. Then she claims 'I am smelly and need a shower' After that, its less push from her and more pull from me:

'V are you done with bath?' 'V change into uniform... yes the PT one. Today is Thursday' 'V lets come for breakfast, jaldi jaldi' 'V are you done now?' 'V, the bread butter is yummmy, yes mummy is eating it as well' 'V have you worn your shoes?' 'Yes, V mummy has packed your snacks and juice..oh sorry smoothie for school' 'Yes V, mummy will be ready in a minute as well' 'V ready, lets go!' 'V you should have gone pee pee before being all packed up for school.. yes I will wait' and phew... :-)

--- No, I am not a ring master.... just in my mind, I am like 'come on, every morning I need to go over this'!

Next, we chit chat while walking to school answering questions, listening, nodding, smiling. I kiss her cute yummy cheeks bye and then use the power of flats and run to the tube to get in my train. Work awaits.

Right now, I have IL's visiting; so thankfully, they do the pickup runs at three. Yes, the big girl school is from 8:30 - 3:00 period. And that’s the norm here in London. Luckily for me, the school has after hour programs and might help next semester to meet my work schedules and keep her entertained et al. From what I gather, not all London schools (read: public and most private) have after school programs for such young kids. Its more, nanny culture than after school culture.

Read: Additional expenses.

I have met so many wonderful school kids-parents who swear by the nannies to run the evening pick up round! I have started looking for one now. I imagine a wonderful nanny who picks up V, they snack and then takes V to the park or do some wonderful activity at home. I come home from work greeted by a well-played and fed, cheery V. All I need to do is read, play, practice, enjoy, cuddle, smother and smile. I digress.

Back to reality, so this being parent of a pre-school kid is exhausting. Her social life is busier than mine. Her list of questions and answers gets longer than my shopping list. Her quest for newer projects every hour is challenging and above all, I am tired. Yes, I love every minute of it, but as kids gets older, I was told it gets easier. I agree, but it didn’t say it gets more exhausting.

I miss little V. Give her a plastic glass and some rattles. She was happy for hours, napping in between.

But yeah the power of reasoning rocks with kids! I can actually explain a concept, a rule, a pattern and she gets it. Her questioning is downright honest. I am often at loss for words, need to brush up my geography, botany, chemistry all again to answer her truthfully. My brother often tells me 'Dont let her inquisitiveness go away. Let her ask away and you respond correctly'

I do that, a lot. I check myself if I am about to say 'Because it just is' I think, and simplify and explain her.

The standard interview question: 'Explain the concept like you would to a child' I get it now, its tough since you need to break it up, simplify it and in turn ensure it reaches the right audience.

Summing it up, being parent of a 'school aged kid' is the gradual next step. Fun, tiring and is making me learn and relearn a lot of, simple facts.

What are your big kid parenting guides?

A date of a different kind!

Ever since being back from India, I have been extremely busy. Work, Diwali, scheduling social calendars and upcoming husband's work trip has left me with little or no time. And the worst of it, I haven’t had enough cuddle time with V. I missed her terribly in India and the week after my return.
An opportunity of sorts came along. This Sunday, V had a friend’s birthday party to attend. I was going to ferry her back and forth and I grabbed an opportunity. The party was in London Zoo and right after the party; i decided to make a day at the zoo for me and her. Just us two. A date.
We walked the whole Zoo, Spotted animals, read random facts about animals, learned about endangered species, got spooked by the bat cave, ate ice cream, sat on the merry go round and of course 'rode on a lion'!
See picture below for sample!

Overall, the impromptu date that V and I had was amazing. We both held hands in the zoo and snuggled if the wind got too much, shared an umbrella when it started to drizzle, licked the same cone so ice cream does not melt and get wasted. :-D
The date is etched in my memory. The mommy-daughter date was wonderful. And yes, if you can schedule a day out, just you and your kid. Doing something that the kid would love and you would love to see her love!
As a MasterCard ad would say
1. Tickets to the zoo: £45
2. Ice Cream Cone: £3.50
3. Memories made: Priceless

Unexpected trip!

I had to make a sudden trip to India for a week (12 hours’ notice to V) for my dad's health scare. By god's grace and amazing medical care, he is doing much better and recovering well! Knock on wood.

But my gush is for V and her take on me leaving her for a week. I couldn't take her due to the nature of the visit and also her school! Plus I had Sumit, IL's over to take care of her. So without worry, but some apprehension, I booked my tickets.

Here is gist of my conversation with V 12 hours before my boarding my flight!

GN: 'V, I have to leave for India this evening, nana is not feeling well'

V: 'Oh, so you are going to fix him and make him all better?'

GN: 'Yes, baby pretty much. You will be here with papa, dada, dadi and be nice to them okay?'

V: 'Don't worry, let me give you my dawai for nana and my doctor set for him. He will get fixed by it'

(V takes a toy blood pressure monitor from her Elmo Doctor Kit, and gives me her 'water dawai' for her nana)

GN: 'So you will be fine without me? I will come back in a week okay?'

V: 'Yes ,Yes. Dont worry about papa, I will take care of him, Okay?'

(I am all amazed at my kid's understanding and independence. Is she really only 3 and a half years old)

V: ' Come fast and get me Laddu, Toys, Katli, Dress and my toy back, Okay?

GN: Phew!

Thinks aloud... yes she is a three and half year old after all!!!

I am happy to report, V got everything and more on her list from India. Mummy (me) did 'fix up nana' and V was quiet an amazing kid in my absence. I spoke to her often and I adored her 'I Miss you mummy, I miss you so much'

And above all, her giving me countless hugs on my return!

Of course prior to my departure and true to my 'control freak' nature. Very detailed instructions were given to hubby about her school uniform, her parties, checking on her progress' Of course with his patient attitude and my In Laws helping out so much, I was care free about her. I was definitely missing her like crazy, but all in all, I did okay, she did wonderfully well! Plus in India, my family soothed my nerves and let me sleep in till 9:30 each morning!

Thank you my support structure.... what would I do!