Burning: Inside/Out

A couple of weeks ago, Tharini of Winkie's way's posted a text challenge - basically offering 6 words that we needed to work into a sentence, it reminded me how years ago when, as part of language exams we were given a word that we had to use in a sentence. This was one of my favorite parts of the exams - for once you could not memorize anything, had to come up with the sentences in the one hour that was given for the exam, apart from doing all the other things that was asked from us to - fill in the blanks, true or false questions etc. I would feel proud when I came up with a clever answer - it was probably not the best, and with around 80 students in the class, I am sure the teacher found lots of clever, wise, touching and amusing ones. But to me, it was a matter of accomplishment.

Two days ago, there was another challenge on Winkie's way, these were the words - 'Remind Prodded Grasped Message Companions' and the rules were to use the words as is and in 18 words or less. This is the sentence that I came up with "Prodded to action by challenge my message companions is of peace, if you have grasped please remind all."

Nothing extraordinary, far better ones have been written, but today morning as I opened up my news box & I read stories of Mumbai under attack. I shuddered, and rang up friends to make sure that they were home safe and sound. Its been 24 hours and still no resolution, and I come back to sentence that I typed up less than 24 hours before - no I am not reading too much into it, but a million questions surge in my heart, all beginning with one word "Why" I have no answer but as my beloved city, the city that I grew up in, the city that taught me so many things, the city that never sleeps, Burns .... all I say is ENOUGH!!

Enough with violence, enough with the bloody politicians who are only good at bashans; either get down from the high pedestal, get out of your bullet proof car or just shut up! And for once, join force with the people and do something about the attacks, spend money on intelligence rather than getting more money in your pocket.

Prayers to each and everyone. My eyes are moist, the places attacked are part of history, part of Mumbai's heart and soul, I feel so helpless, I cannot watch the news no more ...

A break

With a couple of PTOs that both of us needed to take we decided to take some time off work and of course being parents holiday have to be decided with kids enjoyment in mind, we decided to drive down to Lego land.

The first big car ride alone with the fella, to say we were apprehensive would be a minor statement. I packed along a few books, a little coloring notepad and some of his cars. Of course being two lazy people in the world, all packing was done on the day of travel and we started out after lunch. Realizing that we had left a few things like the camera, some slippers for the beach, we had to come back to house a couple of times before we officially started the trip at 2.30.

With no sleep in sight for the little fella (with all the running around that we did probably), we set off watching the cars and trucks driving by. After a couple of hours, he did some coloring and realizing that there is nothing to do at all, he fell off to sleep. By the time he woke up, it was time for dinner and then in an hour we were at our destination.

The next day was a nice sunny day and with a little backpack full of goodies we arrived at Legoland. Having been to Disney and Universal a while ago we were expecting long lines, throngs of kids and tired parents but were sorely disappointed. This time around, we were able to get on most rides that Kochunni loved multiple times. His favorite was the pirate ship that held a big squirt water gun that could spout water at other ships that passed us, his second favorite the car ride along lego jungle. He also did his first (mini) roller-coaster ride where he was laughing hysterically when the cart dipped a few meters downs. We finished most of the rides and areas by 4 and then went around his favorite rides some more, realizing that we had the time. All in all a great day indeed.

As it turns out Legoland is a great place for toddlers, especially boys (2+ to maybe around 3 1/2 ) where they could mostly ride all the rides except for a couple like the big dragon roller coaster and a joy car ride. Of course the next age group that would probably enjoy would be the 6-7 year olds who play a lot with lego and understand the intricately created pieces.The Miniland USA is really great place to walk around.

The next day we were to come back, but we decided to stop at the beach in the morning and spend some time playing in the water and sand. This time around, Kochunni was more relaxed in the waters and enjoyed standing knee deep in it. He also loved to play in the sand with his little bucket and pail. The ride back was much tougher than the one in, with after a good nap, for the last 2 hours of the ride, he kept asking us to stop the car and pick him up. Yes, he is pretty demanding that way!

Anyway, a nice short much needed vacation.

The first day ...

*** I wrote this post on the 18th, but never published it, so back-dating it! ***

Yesterday was Kochunni’s first day. Unfortunately I could not accompany the little guy as I had urgent stuff that I need to get done at work every Mondays so his dad took him in. We deposited the bag of diapers, wipes and lunch and bid adieu. The little guy cried at such a change in setting, as expected but a phone call half our later they told us he is fine and enjoying some coloring work. I called again at 12 and was told that he had his lunch and was now going for his nap. I rushed early from work to pick up the guy and found him playing outside – no tears, just the playful self. I was happy, cross that was very happy!

I talked briefly to the assistant and signed him out and came home. When I asked him how the day was, he kept saying two things over and over again – 1. No cycle (they used to have cycle at his old daycare), 2. Achan poi, Kochunni karieenu, teacher shush… (daddy left, I cried, and the teacher said shush with fingers on his lips action). When pressed, he also claimed that his old buddies – Mihir, Vedant and Rucha came to the new daycare! :)

When we reached home, he asked for a sandwich ; I was surprised – usually he would just try his luck for a cookie, but never real food. Talking I opened his lunch box to find that the sandwich I had packed was untouched, which meant that he was really hungry for the only other things I had packed was some grapes, a banana, a cup of milk and a little slice of pumpkin bread. I quickly made him a butter sandwich and offered it him. And wonders he ate the whole thing. My heart bled!

Today I made rice and dal, hoping that the familiarity of rice might make him eat his lunch. The weird thing though, when I called at 11.30 his teacher said he had already had his lunch and was now going to lie down and read a book before falling to sleep around 12.30. I wonder if it’s the timings of early lunch that’s making him eat less. He never had lunch at 11 and if he does no wonder he would be hungry by 5 PM. I will need to talk to his teacher about the new routine.

We all go through growing pains, I hope this is just that!

The catch!

So after full two weeks of looking (hunting) for a daycare cum preschool for the little fella we finally choose a Montessori which is 4 miles away from home but was the only one that had a better reputation and came close our liking.

The local Montessori that we checked out last was bad mouthed by Mrs S (Kochunni’s home day-care aunty). And the other Montessori that everyone loves around here is booked solid – the waiting list had 70 kids already! The other two preschools near our house, were priced so high that you would think its Oxford College or something. Not that, price should be a deterrent but it did not seemed to have the value for the money we would put in, One was just starting out, so with only 5 kids they had placed all of them together even if they were 3 or older, while the other was just a big hall split up into little sections where the teacher sat down on one end coloring and the kids in the other corner, some crying some playing. Not really a picture one would like to see on your tour of the place.

Just like last time it finally got down to bare details on what was your first instinct at the daycare, were you ready to flee, fairly ok or downright loved it. Of course there was nothing that came close to the last emotion, though that’s more so because as a mom nothing (yes nothing) can be perfect for your child other than oneself. But finally deciding on a place at least makes room for the next nightmare of how Kochunni will do at the new school!

The daycare hunt, begins again!

Monday evening:
First day after the time change, it was cold, dark and raining a little by 5 PM. As I park my car and walk up towards the back of the house to pick up Kochunni from his home daycare, the lady of the house and his teacher comes in from the front and stops me. Unusual, I think! There is not a smile on her face, just tiredness. My brain goes into fast drive, what did Kochunni do? Did he throw a fit? There were hints of it from her before, a cry over not getting the cookies first. Is that it? She suddenly turns around and looks at my face and probably understanding where my thoughts are leading, hastens to point out that everything is ok, but that she wanted to talk to me about something.

With an urgency I probe, what is it? Finally settling into her sofa opposite me, she tells me about an black out incident that happened to her last week, while picking up her daughter from school. She lost sight and was blurry for a full 45 minutes, and checkups with doctors reveal that she might need some more examinations. She hastens to explain that she would like to shut down the daycare for now to take care of her health.

What a bomb! I was not prepared to be back into the “daycare hunt” so soon. I ask again (not wanting to accept it), is it so bad, she has two helpers, and not so many kids anymore. But her mind is made up, and she gives me other daycare numbers that I could check out. My heart bleeds for her, and for my son. This lady who for the past 8 months looked after my son, played and taught him so many things. This was his second home. Now he needs to find another place and move on.
I called my husband on my way home and my brain was still in overdrive, trying to look at possibilities. Should we look for a proper pre-school or still keep him in a home based daycare? Where are all those little chits of paper of daycares and nannies that I had dealt with just a few months back?

Tuesday night:
After a long day of work, I reached home to find the little fella sitting at his chair, while his father cooking. My stomach grumbled, but we needed to visit the two daycares that Kochunni’s teacher had suggested. I decided to quickly feed the little fella and in between called up both places to go visit them later. In a few minutes, the three of us bundled up and head towards the first house. It was further away than the current one, but the house was clean, spacious and kid-friendly. The lady, Ms. H, seemed quite nice. We leave for the next house, the house is clean, spacious too. Then she walked us to the play area – the garage! Yes, you heard it the garage – it was converted into the play area, by throwing in some carpets, pictures and toys. I am dumbstruck, and I can see my honey walking in circles looking down on the floor - that either means he is in deep thought or he is very upset, I voted for the second - but I went with the motions of asking about food, & activities that she manages. Slowly we said our goodbyes.

As we drove back, both of us said immediately, no way with the second house. I am not letting my son sleep every afternoon in a place that could extra cold in winter and extra hot in summer, with no windows and just a measly light coming from the glass (closed) windows. Hd was upset enough to call the child services and talk to them about how kids shouldn’t be left in the garage for full days as it might be harmful with the heater and washer/dryer and other stuff still in the garage. It basically boiled down to the fact that the we only had one place to go.

Wednesday:
I decided I need to start my rounds of calling up places and after much deliberation called up the local Montessori and I went to check the place in the evening. The place was neat, tidy and the children all well behaved, as expected! The owner an European lady who asked the right questions and remained friendly and yet business like, persuasive and yet motherly.

The tiny little chairs and tables for the little kids with all the neat little sections for the kids reminded me harshly that this would mean a real school experience for the little fella. My heart churned, is he ready for such a change? I missed my family terribly at that moment, and wished for a miracle for them to be with us just so that I could push the inevitability a little further. Then I tried to reason, at the end of it all I cannot afford for Kochunni to be in a daycare where the person is having issues with her health (not fair for either), nor there is a possibility of me to stay away from my job. The only option would be to send him either to the family daycare, so that for some more days, even months, he gets individual attention or to a preschool that prepares him to harsher realities of routine and curriculum sooner than later!

Thursday morning:
Still undecided. But blogging! :D

'Tis was the night ....

Of jubilation's, of tears, of winning! And wonders of wonders, a nation, a world watched an historic event unfold. As Obama made his speech, his words rung true to millions of Americans across the country –“ Yes, we can” do what we set our heart & our minds to do.

And as I see little Kochunni say the same slogan like his favorite TV character I can dream a little dream – maybe the world will be a better place and change is in order. Who knows in another 48 years, he could be running for President himself and would have a fair chance of winning, if he so chose.

"This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time — to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can."