Skip to main content

Look who's learning


The whole world of new mothers seem to be logged on to at least 4 of the zillion parenting websites and have bought at least 2 of the many parenting/baby milestone books. Not to say I ridicule any of them- I have done so myself. All of them proclaim "let your baby explore" - and they have me mighty confused for mine insists on exploring the dirtiest or the most dangerous of things/places... bathroom floors, the underside of a tap, the dustbin, the stove, plug points... and the same books proclaim "these things are normal". While I cannot confine her exploring and discovering to anything hygienic and safe, I can at least get her immune to chaat germs and loud music.

Destination 1: the beach
It was too dark to get her into the water but the bright red blinking horns and flying discus were good enough. Next time aound- molaga bajji and butta.

Destination 2: Art Gallery
(Art appreciation is closely linked to EQ)
 uhmmm...she fell asleep!

Destination 3: A2B on NH7
The chaat looked yum. The mango rice looked better. The fried rice smelled just right. Time to soil the diaper "Amma. eat later. Change my diaper now."

Destination 4: Madurai Meenakshi temple
(Our second attempt at art appreciation and of course divine grace)
Meenakshi wore a parrot green sari, decked in gold from her crown to her parrot, a glittering nose ring catching the light of the lamp as the Vadiyar offered her the holy camphor. Lamps lit her Garba griha and every devotee experienced such a divine peace emanating from the sanctum sanctorum.... Saharsra's fascination for the South Indian Belly (every vadiyar is blessed with one in any south indian temple) and the bright sari the aunty next to her wore remained the highlights for her!

Destination 5: Shopping arcade
A pedestal fan that is so powerful that the wind lifts her off her feet..what excitement!

Destination 6: Wedding
The Nadaswaram and the Tavil were deafening. Not to mention that "Kurai onrum Illai" and "Maalai mathinal" sounded pretty much the same. But who cares, the noise is so amusing. She even loved the not-so-clean Tavil cover. "Tavil mama, can I take this with me?!"

The book suggests that children learn a lot from different experiences. But is what she makes of it that teaches us a zillion new, cheerful things everyday.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Waves of Beauty

WAVES OF BEAUTY In the light of the candle I saw her. A glow so radiant that it was blinding; As it was scintillating. A bejeweled crown that shone As if it was her pride. Blackness all around Her dark body seemed to throw. A crimson tongue reeked of anger with weapons to aid. With a garland of skulls, Morbid seemed the goddess. Demons lay at her feet, Frightened by her strength. Her matted hair disheveled Like that of an ascetic. A goddess embodies grace, Is it not I wondered. Then why worship such ferocity, For peace is what prevails?! And then I looked at her eye, I take pride in my children, They seemed to say, Not arrogant by my strength. My blackness is my power, They seemed to say, An energy so potent That it encompasses all. My weapons will rise They seemed to say, When you sin. Devote yourself for good and you won’t stumble. Evil will be vanquished They seemed to say, In every age and ti...

Secularism, Chauvinism, but Objective Hindu-ism?

In recent times I have realised that several people feel obliged to apologise; apologise for being Hindu, apologise for a ‘Hindu’ party winning the elections, updating status messages on facebook or tweeting that while they may be called Hindu, they should not be mistaken to be fundamentalists. ‘I am not a religious Hindu. I am secular!’ I was raised in a Tamil Brahmin household. I remember spending my afternoons hearing tales from the Siva Puranam, the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha from my grandmother. I remember learning to draw a 18-pulli Kolam , making strings of mango leaves for festivals, learning Carnatic music and bharathanatyam, making a compulsory visit to the puja room after a bath every morning. As a young child, the stories of Parvati or Rama were fascinating, festivals were a lot of fun, rituals were intriguing and practices were just that- a way of living. In my growing up years I asked a lot of questions- why do we do this? How will it matter if I don’t do thi...

Get-set-Go

When I was a toddler, her word was the ultimate truth. Dad didn’t know Math, Bro didn’t know sport, Uncle didn’t know medicine, Aunt didn’t know music, Granny didn’t know Tamil... She was all-knowing and her affirmation alone stood my test of truth. Until she started using the word “NO” and a few other similar phrases and words. She said I couldn’t stay back late after school, I thought she didn’t trust me enough. She wanted to know more about my friends, I called her nosy. She asked me to be up at 6 am for Badminton practice, I thought she was evil and torturous. She asked why I  didn’t finish first in class, I told her she was pressurising me. She asked me to practice my steps a little longer, I vetoed. She forbade select company and I vented at her controlling nature. She asked to pity the rude, I called her naive. She advised to ignore cynics, I told her off. She was always home when I got back from school, I was sad that she didn’t have a cool career. She checked on us in b...