Growing Up

Nandy has been here for twenty-four months, and soon it will be twenty-five. Time is flying.. I must say. Nandy wants to do everything on her own now! She’s grown… But, aren’t there so many things she would not be able to do on her own? But, we always end up in a mess, deciding who should do what. This begins as her day begins – from brushing her teeth (which I am scared will end up in decay), taking her bath (only a part of herself would get wet), dressing up, and putting her shoes on (always ends up with wrong leg in wrong sandal). And then, she would scream, if we try putting it right. She would be struggling on herself, but no - we should not touch!

These days she says a lot of "sorry” and “please”. And, the rest is on us! We MUST say "its ok" for every sorry and “ok, done!” for every “please”. Else she keeps repeating sorry/please and it will get louder and louder and then her voice breaks and she cries. Sometimes she herself will mutter "its ok" after a sorry and move on. But for all that she does - do not expect a sorry, and how many ever times you say please, she would not be appeased. For instance, she hits me with the chappathi roller and I see stars, she would not mutter a sorry and moves on with another mischief. And she makes use of every occasion to hit, me especially! She enacts all that happens at the daycare, wherein she is the ma’am and we, all her toys and all house-hold articles are the kids at the daycare. So, she goes about rolling her eyes, and I am always the “baaaaaaaaaaaad girl”, wherein all others, even a litter box is a “good girl”. And then she comes to me threatening to hit me, accusing me of having hit Noddy, who’s my classmate! LIAR!

Her language also is evolving. From “kotato” and “kish” to “potato” and “fish” respectively, she has had her words right. As if this "huge" change is not enough to dishearten me, her silly dad is hell bent on teaching her to pronounce F which she says as “Th”. Fan is Than, Phone is Thon, 4 and 5 are Thore and Thy respectively. Another syllable she has not got right is “rr”. Its “polootta” for “paratha”, “load” for “road”. Until yesterday it was “b” for “m” also. Like “bichure” for “mixture”. Yesterday, I felt a little sad, when she came and asked for “mixture”, the right way, the first time! Should I be happy that she got it right? Or, should I miss those cute talks? Sigh! My lil girl is growing up.

Affectionately Yours!

Some more of Nandy!
Nandy somehow seems to know that ammu (that's how she addresses my mother) will call up regularly and talk. So, whenever a new dress or a toy is bought, a friend says a “hi”, she learns a new game, papa or me scold her, or even a pizza is ordered, she makes it a point to call up ammu and let know of the happenings. She even blabbers of all that happens in the daycare everyday. But, no she can't the affection my mother showers on me! She kicks, shouts, wails, if her ammu runs her fingers through my hair, hugs me, or even sits near me.
But.. I should cuddle and publicly love her! It’s evident when I leave for office everyday, after putting her at the daycare. She comes back with me until the main gate, asks for umpteen kisses, and says lots of byes- the onlookers wouldn't have seen more of this in anyone. But, as soon as my face disappears she distracts herself with some toys or a few friends. While I carry back with me to work a heavy heart thinking how reluctant you were to leave me off. Yes Nandy! The reluctance is evident from the way you ask for reassurance as to whether I would come back and pick you up.

Coming to more of the ‘affection’ part! Nandy isn’t ever pleased to see her mom and dad hug. She can't stand it if we are touching each other. Actually, she thinks I am on the wrong always. She pushes only me no matter who's touching whom. She curtly comes and squeezes herself in the middle if we are cuddling in the bed. She pushes my hand away if I put my arm around his shoulder. She screams if we kiss each other. But it’s OK if we just give a short kiss though. A peck in the cheek is all she can take. And to think that I was exactly like her when I was young; maybe that’s what they mean by ‘Karma punishing’ and that also, when my folks were not even that fond of public affection. I never allowed my mom to sit next to my dad. I would always insist on sitting in the middle. As you sow...
The story does not end there. I should not lie on my mother’s lap, because she can’t stand the affection. She turns against anyone who showers a little more affection on me. No wonder she was against my friend Sheba, the first time she met her (Sheba had been talking a lot to me that day), and the last time she met her, she was all over Sheba (Sheba was talking to Nandy only the, not me)!!!