Kiddie Talks - 20

As usual, we were listening to FM. This time it was Radio City's - Sugamana Ragangal. Aathukarar was held up somewhere , so we were waiting and chatting in the meanwhile.
First they played a song from Roja - kadhal rojave...And i was singing along,
P - Unakku eppadi intha paattu ellam theriyarthu?
Me - Appadiye theriyum, naan chinnatha irukkarche vanthathu athanaale theriyum
P - Yaar hero and padam peru enna?
Me - Arvindswamy (drooling thinking of roja) and padam peru ROJA

Next song - Thalapathi - Sundari song...
P - Yaar hero maa, padam peru sollu
Me - Rajini da , padam peru thalapathi

Next song - Puthiya mugam - Netru illatha maatram
P repeats same question and i answer

Next song - Shahjahan - Mellisaiye
P - Same question repeats
Me - Hero Vijay padam peru nyabagam illa (seriously forgot the name of the movie, and didnt try twice to recollect)
P - (started scolding me , like elders do when kids forget their academic lessons)
Mathathellam mattum theriyumaaa, aana unakku ithu mattum theriyaatha (athuvum vijay padam ngarthaala extra tension aayittan)
Me - awwwwww (muzhichifying open-mouthed )

Pick up Your Room - Mary Ann Hoberman

We normally - myself and P - would read stories with Fm in the background every night. The agreement like this - He should read atleast 3 pages of any book and in return i would tell him 6 stories. Sometimes the count would vary but not the procedure. This had been our practice right from his first year. Immediately dont ask , whether he would read at that age - I would tell him stories and we had those cardboard books of shapes, colors, alphabets, small day-to-day words,vehicles and he would show us when asked!!

So, the reading habit continues from day one, and it is never early. Infact the more earlier we start the more they tend to grasp. When P was a child , there was sudden craziness for Superkidz course. One lady would come and with honey-laced voice would speak for half-an-hour about the course and would give demo with the child....

Enna poruthavaraikkum we should not use the child as mere exhibition items and our real motive should be to educate the child and make the learning process a wholesome entertainment. When we inculcate this , never the child would feel burdened to study or read. The fascinationt to learn new things should be sowed early so that it grows with the child.

I came upon this concept rather in an interesting way. Paruppu madichu vantha paper la i read about Glen Domann and his methodology - It was an interesting article about the book and the author. And i got curious and purchased his book. Those time the book was not available and the flash card methodology didnt find enough takers in India i suppose, so i placed an order with landmark and procured that book- How to teach your baby to read .

Really its an interesting book , but the book cannot be followed to the T. We should take the contents and methodology and should try to suit it according to our child's mentality and grasping power. I know this may sound bit preachy for most of them but it would be useful in the long run, so even if not of immediate use, this post might be useful to you in the future :)

Now on to the book , we were reading yesterday - "Clean your room, Harvey moon" by Pat Cummings. I picked this book from a local shop where they had this second hand books discarded from US of A and UK libraries. The book is pretty neat and doesnt look like used ones. They had lots of these kinds early but now when i went again they said they stopped procuring :(

The book is all about the cleaning expedition. Mother says (orders would be appropriate) Harvey moon to clean his while he intends to watch TV . Since the mother is strict he goes on with the task. What he finds and what passes as junk and how he finds the long lost items form the crux and finally by extending the target periodically he finishes the task and goes enthusiastically to report to his mother. Amma as always ,being amma goes through the room and says - " Go finish your lunch and come and when you are done lets get started on lump number one on the bed". (harvey dumps everything on the bed and neatly covers it with bed spread )

What made P to go into convulsions of laughter was this poem at the end

Pick up your Room by Mary Ann Hoberman

Pick up your room, my mother says

(She says it every day);

My room's too heavy to pick up

(That's what I always say).

It's time to take a bath, she says

(She looks me in the eye);

Where shall I take it to? I ask

(That's always my reply).

Drink up your milk, she says to me,

Don't bubble like a clown;

Of course she knows I'll answer that

I'd rather drink it down.

And when she says at eight o'clock,

You must go right to be,

We both repeat my answer:

Why not go left instead?

From the book - Clean your room, Harvey Moon! by Pat Cummings

We had such a good time reading the whole book and especially the poem
(Due credits given to the author and the book)

Amma Samaiyal

You ask any married man about the cooking of his wife - he would say excellent (vera vazhi illai athu vera vishayam) but would not forget to add this - " enna irunthaalum enga amma vekkara vethakozhambu maathiri varaathu". Read for that matter any of the celebrity's interview - he/she would always turn nostalgic about how their mother way back in village would give fish curry / some thogaiyal / pazhaya saatham with some kozhambu. If it is modern day actress - " oh enga mummy panra paneer butter masala thaan enku romba pidkum. Athu romba yummy ya irukkum"

I think this has got more to do with habit - eating the same thing for 20+ years sure must have some effect on your taste buds. So it doesnt matter whether you are having tasty yummy food daily or once in a while the moment you turn to your used food the taste bud recognises instantly - " hey athethaan nee ithana varushama enakku vidama pottundu irunthiye athe thaaan nnu"

I agree previous generations mother pathi kandippa ella pasangalum solluvaanga, bt P , he also likes my sambar and rasam. After prolonged touring at my fathers place during last holidays he actually craved for my sambar and rasam, so i deduced the unmai from his cravings.

And regarding my aathukarar - hmm athu en kekkareenga avar paavam oru appraaani- hehehe chumma oru joke - he never complains and would happily eat whatever i give him. I actually learnt samaiyal from him only - i mean tambram version.

Imagine my state - a complete turnover from what i had been eating all along 21 years. Appadiye oru 360 degree turnover thaaan. His mother was a good cook and me just a novice, still he never once compared. He always appreciates, sometimes ennalaye saapda mudiyaathu, still he would have it.

And since aaathukarar away to some conference today has been officially declared no samayal day. And P is also so accomodating u know, he will happily settle for HSB . Just pakkathu theruvila irukkarthu evvalavu sowgaryam illaya. Morning bfast Pongal and lunch just piping hot rasam (chill weather super menu esp with mangoes) and night HSB. Strategic location eppavume bayangara advantage illaya - Antha pakkam dominos, HSB, Hot chips, intha pakkam Mcrennet , adyar bakery, pizza hut. And anytime w.mambalam nyanambika mess, and other small eateries.

But ennathaan veliya saaptaalum, after sometime ur tastebuds automatically crave for the home-made samayal eventhough it is of no standard to ur own amma's samaiyal.

Bowled

This is to announce that P has successfully completed his level I art course. And he is already exploring various things by drawing and coloring unexplored shapes and forms. When questioned, he gives long lectures and stories which makes you believe that "oh iam so much for dumb ist?" (an art which genetically came from his father i suppose, appavum paiyanum nalla muttalakka therinjavangathaaan). He already wants to make boat from cardboard and is pestering me with the ideas and the process. I wanted to give him everything and would like to see him experiment with various things but later i should listen to the sahasranama archanai from my paatti, so postponing the things so that i can atleast monitor.
His art instructor is full of praises for him. "During the initial days he was shy and was mum, but now refuses to shut his mouth. While coloring he would do few strokes and start asking few questions. He is more interested into maths i think, would ask me what is 1000+100 , 2000+5000, 1lakh+1 crore? He is too brainy. "
At the end of level they conduct an exam sort of thing, based on which they give the certificate of merit. And during the exam, he was asking her whether the paper would go to Australia for evaluation in an aeroplane and come back to India? Ennallam doubt vararthu. And was singing the sura songs for the instructor. Bayangarama impress panni vechirukkan pola irukku.
And regarding the addition he is familiar till now with Crore denomination. When he is bored he would come and bombard with questions - addition like the above ones and that too non-stop. Now that he is into reading, he reads all the advertisement tag lines and comes with appropriate repartee. I constantly need to upgrade to answer his never ending questions. Its not enough if i just say the meaning , i should also explain with respect to the context and should say few examples. The other day he asked me what was strike. I came up with labour strike, immediately he asked , appadinna counter-strike na ennannu? . So, i needed to get back on the meaning and explain him that strike means to attack and counter strike means to hit back when faced with an attack. Athoda nikkama i am required to put into sentence. shhh abba ezhuthi mudikkave romba kashtama irukku.
Now, while coming from class he was murmuring some song. I asked what it was?

P : Amma athu oru slow song.
Me : Enna song da P. (was expecting some urupadaatha song from vijay movie)
P : (starts singing in a slow voice) Poove semboove un paasam varum, paasam nananana nanaaanaaa. Vai pesidum pullangulal , neethanoru nananaa nana(varthai seriya puriyala pola irukku)
I was shell-shocked. All he has been doing is watching Nick, disney and singing the latest sura songs with the help of sun trailers while surfing the channels. Then remembered that they had played this song in Radio Fm. We have this habit of listening to Fm during our bedtime.
Me : Unakku eppadida intha paattu theriyum
P : Athuvaaa appadiye theriyum.
P.S- This post is after coming from art class, effect porathukulla post pottachu.

Rehabilitation

While giving food to P, aathukarar always insists on one point. You should not waste food. If you leave the food/drink, then it would cry while you are draining it in the sink. It would feel "P doesnt like me, he is wasting me". Also, we make it a point to show him the people on the road to emphasize the point. He would bombard us with questions. Why these people are homeless? Why are they not going to work? Why they didnt study? Why they dont have a job?
While i answer some questions in simplified terms , somethings cannot be explained. And finally he declared - "Amma, can i give them the money from my piggy bank?" "Naan periyavanana vodane velaikku poi panam sambathichu avangalukku kudukka poren"
I was speechless for a moment. Emotions ranging from pride to astonishment played in its glory. At the same time some concepts also need to be explained to him. Now-a-days begging is a thriving industry in its own sphere next to education, medical and food domain.
Recently , i came upon this announcement in Hindu - Begging is to be eradicated in the city and these people are to be sent to rehabilitation centres. The reason being not to improve the standard of life of these people but them being hindrance to the flow of traffic at major points. This is from the mayor of Chennai. I wonder how far it can be achieved in reality. It really needs a long term vision and proper planning.
Though some people are genuinely helpless and are being driven to this extremity , some are lazy and view this as easy route of making money. This reminds me of the case i read about in bangalore. I dont think this concerns only India but an universal problem. Though i crib from the comfort of my home, wish to do something.

The week that was...

Summer holidays - Bt literally iam on wheels. Guests arrival, outing, and shopping [not for me:( ]
1. P's art classes are going well, and he is experimenting with various forms...monkey, butterfly, mushroom and adding your own creative things to the given picture.
2. Went to thirupathi. ITDC - one day trip. All the arrangements are good and infact we had darshan within 2.5hrs, though it was one minute it was worth the trip. We got nethra darshan without any decoration bt only thulasi malai. This time i was all the more worried during both onward and return journey to/from the hills. It was very rash driving and intha morai thaan i was chanting all the way instead of having cozy chats. P was very co-operative from the beginning - rite from getting up at 4.30 in the morning to having bfast, standing in the queue and no fussy lunch. (Touchwood). Only complaints reg the trip was - both APTDC and ITDC choose the same hotel for lunch/bfast. Due to this the buffet - lunch time becomes pathetic. The hotel is also not that equiped to handle the crowd. Lemon rice theentha vodane, they served jeera rice and curd rice ketta illa. The next one is they ask u to leave ur footwear in a shop opposite to the temple premises and all the way we r made to walk to the entrance. Imagine the plight of the people who are made to walk in the hot sun. Youngsters ok - bt children and old people. Aathukarar got blisters while all the way carrying P.
3. Next outing is Mayajaal - P had great time doing all his favourite things - game station, exhibition sort of thing with battery operated cars [both P and aathukarar went poor me :( ]
And icing on the cake - watched sura. Kankottama he saw whole movie. He is also a fan of vadivel and so all the more reasons to watch the movie. Lunch we had in arusuvai arasu - and they are giving diet coke with the meals - first time iam seeing.
4. Shopping with sister - Ammmaaaadiiiiiiiii. Nejammave it was first of its kind experience for me. Never i had taken more than 15 minutes for choosing a dress. We would always pick out the dresses which we like and select few among them - we follow elimination method. But, annaikku she took more than 4 hours just for choosing 3 dresses. Ithukku trial oru 10-15 dresses. Ninnu ninnu kaal valiye vanthuduthu. P yo amma vammaaa pogalaaam nnu ore paatuuu. Kadaisiyaaa ammma neethaaan best ammmaaa nnu antha shopping spree paarthu ore paarattu vera. (ippayaanum vazhikku vaaa nnu nenachinden)
5. Had a meeting sort of thing with friends - one of them had a baby now. So all the more of baby talks. It was as though everything was new to me. Ennamo enakku romba vayasayitta maathiriyum enakkum athukkum sambanthame illatha maathiriyum irunthathu. Seekiram life la settle ayitaa ithu oru pblm illa. Moreover, i was scared to hold the baby. It was so fragile and all the more chubby :) like ceralac baby. It was sleeping while we went there and sleeping babies are such cuties that we can keep on watching them. Bt was not able to spend more time there cos i went on parole..(athaanga class la P vittutttu antha gapla poitu vanthen)
So, on to next week. First shopping pannanum - books, wardrobe, kitchen accessories ;)
Will update....

Kiddie Talks-19

The story goes as follows:
There is a boy playing with his toy outside his house. And he throws the toy as higher as the tree and catches it. Because the boy is a super-hero. Suddenly there comes the UFO with aliens in it. The boy sees the UFO and goes inside his house and hides. The aliens thinking that no one is around take rest for some time and return to their home later.

P has been going to classes – Global art and skating.
The young entrepreneur – a girl in her early twenties (shouldn’t make a mistake especially w.r.t any females age) has started the franchise for this area. Actually it is a sub-branch. And all the while waiting, I used to admire her courage and the vision. The class is in a room specially constructed in the open space of an apartment. The furnishings – table, chair, fan, AC , the color combination of the wall paintings and the outside small bench in the form of thinnai – everything needs special mention. I was really taken by the enthusiasm and the positive approach. So, even though the branch was a new one, I enrolled P there. It is something of my way of showing a support to the younger clan. These days more and more youngsters (ahem, ahem including yours truly) are taking bold initiatives and are into entrepreneurship.

Today somewhere during his skating class, I misguided P. And after coming home , I apologized to him.

Me : Sorry da , naan unakku thappa solli kuduthutten (I taught u wrongly)

P : Its okay maa, paravailla.

Me : Sorry da

P : Paravailla maaa..

Me : Illada P iam extremely sorry.

P : No problem maaa.

Me : nejammave sorry da.

P : Seri diiii

Me : @#$%$%^^