Kids and their unique POV

So, I was in the kitchen making lunch n playing Arjit Singh's songs at full volume...seeing me have a gala time, Ishaan comes over to see what's going on ..so I said,

"Hey Shonu, listen ....listen to these songs ...his name is Arjit Singh, he's an awesome singer!!"

Somehow this info tickled him a lot...and with an amusing smile on his face, he goes, "And his last name is Singh?"

And I said, "Yeah, what's wrong with that?" 🤔🤨😳

Letting out a chuckle, he goes, "He's a great singer, and his last name is "Sing"?" 😁

I bet Arjit will be happy to hear that connection 😁

#ManianTales #ValBalTales #SundayStories #KidsPOV

The Good Son

It was an exhausting day. No, make that excruciating. Yes, that sounds about right. An excruciatingly exhausting day at work!! 

Evening was no better. Kids projects kept me occupied as soon as I got home. And right after, I had to log back into work to take care of stuff.

Sink piled up with dirty dishes screaming for attention ....grocery shopping bags lying around the kitchen waiting for their turn to be unpacked and put away (yup, squeezed in a shopping trip too in this tight evening)....and oh, that poor dinner wondering if it’ll ever get done .....

Now, one doesn’t need to be a genius to guess what happened to that dinner! And you’re right - it never got cooked!! 

But that doesn’t stop the arrival of the dinner time ...and so there it is, dinner-time arrived right on time! And so did the kids carrying their hungry tummies with them! 

The smart cookie that I’m ...patched up few leftovers into attractive eatables ....& more or less made them satiated. 

And I went back to my computer.

My hunger was not lagging too behind. It caught up with me soon. But alas, there were no leftovers left anymore. 

Then comes the good son to my rescue!! He sensed my mood, my discomfort, my hunger ..everything ....so he sat on my lap n gave me lots of hugs n a kiss on each side! My spirits instantly elevated!! Yet, my hunger stayed put!! So, the good son asked me if he should make a bagel for me. And I was more than thrilled to accept the offer. 

He pulled a step stool, reached up n grabbed the bagel packet from up the refrigerator. As my luck would have it, there’s only HaLf a bagel left in that bag. Anyways he proceeded to toast the bagel, just the way I liked it, hunted for my favorite cream cheese n generously spread it on that half bagel. 

He put so much thought n effort into the bagel that  ......that ....that it became irresistible to him! He brought it to me with starvation written all over his face ...n went on to say .....”Awww this bagel looks sooo good” .....after few secs, he again goes, “Awww it’s been 3 months since I had a bagel” 

Oh God .....Nooo ...Nooo ....don’t put me in this fix!

Letting out a huge sigh, I said, “Ok, here you can have half of it”. So, the good son ate half of my half-bagel, leaving me with a quarter of a bagel. I took a bite, and looked up only to find that puppy looking longingly at me......I mean, my good son eyeing the piece of bagel in my hand. So, the Mom in me makes the ultimate sacrifice - hands over that remaining bagel to him!!! In case you are not keeping up with the Math, I had just ONE bite out of the half-bagel that my good son made for me!!

😅😅😅😍😍😍😍😍😇😅😅😅😘😘

Hmmm ......ok, forget the Math, who’s keeping count?? Who cares who actually ate it?? He made a bagel for me when I was famished without asking for it.....that’s all that matters!! He is a Good Son after all!! My baby boy!! The love of my life!! 

New Age Duties of TWeen Daughter

Duties of a Mom of today:

Send streaks in daughter’s account when she is away on a school trip with no access to her phone 😓😅😂

#ValBalTales #ManianTales #12yoBabyDoll #TweenDaughter

Talk to Me ~Tween

Shreyu has a sweet cute habit that I so love n enjoy ......

Her 7th grade homework is so gruelling and at times she's up till midnight ...well partly coz she doesn't start until 7pm...after her daily swim, shower and toweling herself dry (yup, drying herself almost needs a post by itself I wonder) .....then dinner ...then the real start of the homework ....

And being the perfectionist ..she takes extra long to finish the work ...

So on nights that she's working at it for hours after everyone goes to bed at 9ish .......and I'm usually sitting with my laptop or watching Netflix while she is cranking away at her hw ....to make sure she has some woken-up company by her side ....

Every half or so, she gets tired from the work and needs a break ....and guess how she spends her time during these mini recesses....she spends it with me ..

You can't annoy me
You cant ask me questions that make me thing
You cant ask me questions with details
You can't get on my nerves
You cant ask complex questions where I have to say, "what do you mean?"

You can't ask easy questions where I say, "You know what I mean"

Amma, why can't you talk to me ....you never talk to me ....

Questions that work - how was science? what did u do in English? What did you do in Science? What did you do in Math? What did you do in P.E.?

Gosh ...talking with this tween has become such a challenge :) ...albeit a sweet challenge!

She wants to talk to me, and she wants me to talk to her ....but she doesn't want to stress out answering my questions ....she needs talking to me be a relaxing break from her stressful homework. So it becomes my duty to talk to her in the most relaxing manner, give an impression that I'm curious about her day and ask quesitons but be extremely careful in choosing an easy, open ended questions and to stay away from any questions that need her to think :) ....so her relaxation is equal to my frustration :)

It's challenging to tread on this delicate balance of questions but it feels so wonderful that she chooses to come to me everytime she wants a break, everytime she wants some attention, everytime she wants some love, everytime she wants some TLC :) :) ....

Love you my sweety darling and I'm here to provide you all the TLC that you need no matter how hard that might be :) 

Tall Crazy Hugger

New Decision: Walk around the house in heels!
Factors behind the Decision: TWeen daughter now as tall as me!
Impact of Decision: The daily dose of hugs that I get from and give her will feel soo much more cosy!

#12yrOldDaughter #CrazyHuggingOne #TooTallTooFast #LoveHer

Kiddie Tidbits - 2017 Summer

07/21/2017 10:53 Summer Night

Nightime Hugs. My Tween. My Queen. My just-turned 12yr old. My Pure Love.
Shreyu: I'm going to hug you but I have to go to the bathroom....
And there she goes ...running to the restroom ....

11:03pm. I'm waiting. I'm waiting...n waiting :) :)

11:09pm Out comes rushing at me is my babydoll ...with this huuggge pretty smile on her face.....jumping at me to hug me.....Awwwwww :) :) ..these are the moments that I live for. These are the moments that keep me alive.

She hugged me....snuggled up to me ....put her head on my chest ...I kissed her tons ...we had some precious moments ...
Today being the long RSM day when the kids are gone to the class by the time I get home, and come back only after 9 .....a loooooonnnngggg time went by before I saw them n had some love..
So, I told her that I missed her.
And of course she told me that she missed me too...
A few hugs later ...a few snuggles later ....a few cuddles later ...a few kisses later ....she went to bed :)

07/17/2017 Afternoon 
On the way back from some outing we had
All of us ....including Ammamma and Thathayya are in the car

Shreyu: I'm 5/4th Unicorn
Mommy: 5/4th? Do u know what that fraction means?
Shreyu: Ofcourse! I'm 5/4ths Unicorn!!
Fact. Like it's fully understood. No explanation needed.
I took some time to process, and think I get it. She's 1 whole human, and then she's a quarter Unicorn ON THE TOP OF IT! Purrrfffeeect!!!!
Or should I say, "Neiigggghhhhffeeect"!! #PJ :-p

Chewing on that statement for a while, after a few minutes, comes Ishaan's declaration:
Ishaan: "I'm 1/8th Awesome, 1/8th Soccer Player, 1/8th Superhero, 1/8th Epic....."
Hate to say this but I forgot what all the 8 parts he said. I'm going to quiz him tomorrow on this.

He very clearly articulated the 8 parts of what he is made of. Then, he remembered a 9th one. So, he CONTINUES with ...
"I'm 1/9th *this* ".....(Mommy, start racking your brain n remember what he said)
"Waittt.....I'm 1/10th *that* too.."
Clearly, my boy, my 3rd grader, totally gets the fractions :D :D
And clearly, I need to make sure I quiz my sonshine tomorrow for sure.
Hope he remembers what all those parts are.
Ofcourse he should, shouldn't he. After all, he's not making up those parts. He's actually telling me who he is and what he is. So, there's nothing to remember. He's just gotta say what he is. That's it.
Can't wait for tomorrow :)

15th Anniversary!!

15th Anniversary!!!

Phew!! That's a biigggg one!! And the kids are determined to make it a biggggg celebration as well :)

What a pleasure that is ....my 11yr old darling daughter and 8yr old sweety son are deep in thought in action since the last 3 days (ie from Friday until today, which is Monday)...planning and plotting and doing and acting and whispering and giggling and screaming and hiding and what not!!

I can see that preparations are going on in full swing....and I don't have a single clue what that is ...

So, here I'm on my anniversary evening, house arrested in my own bedroom!!

You are going to be there for the next 3 hrs, they announced!! Seeing the shock on my face, she goes, "It's a big day, lady. Just wait n see"

They handed me a walkie talkie to ask for anything I need but all I'm supposed to do is wait n watch n be ready to enjoy whatever is coming my way. All this while I wonder about the other half!! The other party that is supposed to be an integral part of this anniversary celebration.

Maybe he's got a separate set of instructions...who knows?? Everything is top secret, and all I know is what I'm supposed to do.

I was instructed very seriously and very severely hundreds of times that I was supposed to be pick them up sharp at 5:00pm, else I was going to be in serious trouble. I got so scared n told them if I can't pick them up at 5, I'll head straight to home ;) ...Worried with that threat, they let me in a leniency of 15min. I'm allowed to pick them up at the very latest by 5:15pm.

5:02pm

The good Mom that I always am, I arrived at 5:02pm to pick up. Ishaan went Grrrrrr at the 2 min delay but Shreyu was happy. Guess I exceeded her expectations.

On the way home, they announced the room arrest, and I panicked about my tea ritual. They did not want to say anything but seeing my continued panic about missing tea, they assured me that it'll be taken care of.

5:11pm
Room arrest began. So, I brought in my Mac and my phone to give me company. And while I could hear sounds of bowls n tumblers outside in the kitchen, in popped my usual room arrest companion, my charming chimpanzee...Shonu Monu :) ...he gave me a brief small talk, declared that he was in here to give me a hug and leave. And he did exactly that. He gave me a hug and left.

5:15pm
Not soon after came in my piping hot tea, royally served on a platter with my cookies. And it was brought in by my loyal kiddos and placed before me to enjoy my tea in peace.

5:30pm
And they headed to my neighbor's house. What??? Leaving me here alll by myself?? Yes, yes they said. And went on to assure me, "Have patience". How much I inquired? To which they replied, "1hr"
Apparently, they have to do a 1hr worth of prep work in my neighbor's house!!!! Hmm ....all I can do is sit n wonder .....Hmmmmmmm.........

5:52pm
In pops Shonu once more, takes a look at me n says, "Oh cool, u r still here" and heads out again.

5:55pm
In pops Kutti asking me, "So, how are you? How's the tea?". After hearing all my compliments, the left with a big smile on her face murmuring, "I got a lot of stuff to do ...I got to meet a lot of people......."

5:57pm
Finally she brings in the other half, Balu into the room and leaves him arrested here as well.

.....Now ...I'm up to date on the blog ..........waiting ....waiting ..............

5:59pm
Balu asks for his tea, and Kutti lets out a big sigh! To which poor Balu says, that's ok, can I make my own coffee. She permitted to let him go on parole only for like 3 min for him to make his own coffee and get back into the room.

For some reason, she closed the windows of the bedroom saying that she doesn't want me to see what's going outside ....

6:09pm
Hearing some chair dragging noises ..... :) :)

6:12pm
Knock Knock ....on the window!
Who's there?
It's me!
Balu opens the door of the window, and he asks, "Where's Amma?"
So, I stand up and look down the window to give him a smile and a click :)
And he checks in with us, "What you doing???" ...gives a suspicious look around the yard and leaves ...

6:17pm
Kutti comes in again to check on us .....like there is an escape route from this room and we can disappear ..
When