Amma's Ponnu

Gloomy & indeed

2010-09-02T06:47:00.000-07:00

I was asking my husband K in my daughter T's presence, "Are you going to Bombay for that meeting tomorrow?"

He replied, "Yes." (He was going on work.)

T immediately commented with her bit, "'Yes' Appa says gloomily."

Gloomily? I asked her. Yes, she said. So I asked her what she meant. She explained, "Oru madhiri, dark and the clouds will be like a ghost...or like a cave...he is saying 'Yes' in a very sad voice. that is called 'gloomy'.

**

I told T that she would need to keep her hairclips safe. She replied with: "Indeed, I have kept them safe."

Indeed? I ask her in amazement. What does that mean? She explains patiently, "See here, 'They were pretty indeed, but their selfish nature made them ugly'." She was quoting from Cinderella I think!

Not sure if she knows what 'indeed' means yet. ;)

T and her hair!

2010-06-29T20:19:00.000-07:00

For the umpteenth time since her haircut a few days ago, T asked me: "Ma, WHY did you cut my hair so short?"

I told her I hadn't meant it to be so short, but...and anyway, she was beginning to get lice in her hair and so I told her that if she was getting lice, then she would need to have it short.

She kept quiet and then came out with, "The lice can sometimes stick to my hair like a magnet, no? And my hair is like metal."

Metals and magnets now...whew.

Birthday gift?

2010-06-29T09:12:00.000-07:00

I asked T what she wanted as a gift for her birthday. She said, "Ma, you have already got me so many things, so I don't want anything!" I asked her if she was sure and she replied:
"CONFIRM-ah I don't want anything."

Yematraadhey!

2010-06-29T09:07:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow is T's birthday and so we (T & I) were discussing the programme. I told her I would take her out anywhere but that we would have to be back home by 6 as I would have to go out at 7 pm.

She asked me: "What about Appa?" I said yes, he and I were going. She asked me where to and I told her 'for some Rotary party'.

She thought for a moment and said, "I know, I know, you both are going for some movie. Every time you say some work, and keep going for cinemas. Yennai yemaathi yemaathi poreenga, I know, I know."

I want to be...

2010-06-26T23:06:00.000-07:00

T has decided she wants to be a doctor, an engineer AND a teacher.
Oh, well, why not?:D

Steam elimination

2010-06-10T09:04:00.000-07:00

At home, K said he had a bad throat and needed hot water. He meant hot water with salt for gargling, but T thought it was for inhaling the steam.

She summed it up and said knowingly, "it is for ELIMINATION'.
;)

Don't drink and drive / T's campaign

2010-06-10T09:01:00.000-07:00

When we were driving back from the cinema theatre, T looked at a sign above the traffic signal that said: DON'T DRINK AND DRIVE ...and then told me, “Ma, don’t drink and drive!”

I was momentarily shocked to think this child knew about alcohol and asked her…”What?!”
She said, “Ya, don’t drink (mimed taking out a bottle of water always kept in the car, and taking a swig out of it)….and drive (simultaneously at an imaginary steering wheel).

Ahh. I saw.

OKAY!

Silly Film, Sura: Movie review

2010-06-10T08:59:00.000-07:00

T, my friend and I went for Vijay’s latest mock-horror flick Sura. She enjoyed Vadivelu’s antics and was suitably impressed with Vijay’s dolphin-like corny swimming, but in the end, she declared: “What a silly film!” My friend and I were amused to think this kiddo too realized it since until then, she seemed to be having a ball.

But then, she said, “This film has a bomb and all. What a silly film!” Apparently, the bomb-scene did not go down well with her.

T's review on hotel resort

2010-06-08T06:12:00.000-07:00

T, K and I just got back from 2 days at the Radisson Temple Bay resort in Mahabs. She wrote the following words on it with no spaces between words and artfully placed hearts;): -

SO NICE I WANT AND I LIKE THE FOOD

AN I SWAAM IN THE POOL

AND I WILL COME AGEN.

Comment

2010-06-08T06:06:00.000-07:00

T saw me using Microsoft Picture Manager and told me: "Picture Manager...YOU are."

Look after!

2010-05-13T10:11:00.000-07:00

T asked me for a puppy. I told her I cannot get her one as I cannot look after the pup. She said she would look after it. I said NO.

She appealed to her Dad. He said, "If Amma says OK, then yes." I said, "I say no because neither your father nor you, will look after it."

"No, I will, I will look after it." said T. Sensing trouble, T's Dad said, "T, first learn to look after yourself. Then, we will see.

T came back immediately with: "I am already look-aftering me".

:-)

Girls name!

2010-04-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

T loves the water and so, we finally put her in swimming camp a week ago. The coach is a young man named Dhina.

As I want her to know people by their names & not be vague, I gave her the info.

Then, she asked me: "Isn't that a girl's name?":)

Not without my husband.

2010-04-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

I told T as I was urging her to get into her cot at bed time that she could use the cot only for another year or so. After that, I told her she would have to sleep on a separate bed.

As T began to protest with "Oh, NO...", K piped in with, "And that bed will be in the next room!"

T began her vehement 'Never!'s and then quickly added, "Never. Only with my husband I will sleep there."

Don't sweat, mom!

2010-04-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

This was when I went up to T at her cot at bedtime for the usual good night kiss and 'I love you T / I love you Amma' routine.

Today, she was at her dramatic best and playing with Barbie and another Barbie-like doll, conducting an 'accented' conversation between them, American ishtyle. When I went up to her, we kissed, hugged and then she continued her dramatic tone and addressed me: "I love you, Amma, and I don't want you to go for your meetings...and I don't want you to verthukottify (sweat it out) at the computer."

It was all oh so earnest and sincere with a liberal dash of over-acting, that it was guffaw time for me. She then gave me a long, Bollywood style hug, and I was wondering at the extra display of affection...until I caught her staring dramatically at the mirror at her own reflection whilst lying on my shoulder. Self-gazing in progress!

Evolution: Men were mice!

2010-04-04T23:28:00.001-07:00

I was reading a book and instructed T to do the same. She was reading Angelina Ballerina, one of her favourite stories, and as she is still learning to read, soon became engrossed in it.

Angelina Ballerina is a story of a young mouse named Angelina who loves ballet to a point of practising it all over the place, ignoring daily routines, until her parents enrol her in ballet lessons to her absolute joy.

T tried out Angelina's dancing postures and so on, keeping herself occupied with the book.

Then she announced as a conclusion to the room at large: "So, before we were people, we were all mice!"

Amma no genius sniff

2010-03-15T08:45:00.000-07:00

T was getting ready for bed and was heartily tired of my 'go to sleep!' barking. She announced to me: "I had a dream last night that my father was a genius man!"

Said I: "What?"

T replied smugly, "A genius MAN. Not you, mother. Just my father!"

I turned around to see another smug face in the room.
Yes, it was the genius man's indeed.

How Long?

2010-02-25T09:18:00.000-08:00

T was playing an online game on the computer - think it was Angelina Ballerina.
She had also told me the night before, that she was going to learn ballet (With the 't'!) when she grew up.

I had to give her a bath and so, I asked her to stop playing in 10 mins...then 5 mins...then I said to her, "How much more time? I have already given you enough."

She said, "Just little more..."

I persisted, "How long?"

T replied, "Some long".

Clever!

2010-02-08T08:23:00.000-08:00

K and I were talking about something and one of my retorts was "That was stupid of you."

T apparently overheard and said in a warning voice, "Ma, I hope you know you both are talking with a child."

Both K and I paused (read:froze), but didn't turn towards her. T continued, "Don't you know that I am very clever in listening?"

Conversation over.

Observation!

2010-01-31T07:55:00.000-08:00

T, K and I were lounging around when I suddenly decided to indulge in a spot of nagging ...with my husband. "You really need to cut your nails," I told K reprovingly as I eyed his hands.

T, never to be left out of any conversation promptly agreed: "Ya. Appa, your nails are looking like my mother's friends' nails!"

This was too hilarious because some of my friends do, indeed, have long (painted!) nails.

A 1000 years

2010-01-27T08:15:00.000-08:00

I was feeding T her dinner and she was taking her own sweet time to chew her mouthfuls. A tedious affair it is, sometimes, to feed her meals. Then I thought for the umpteenth time, that at five and a half, she ought to be eating her meals by herself. (She knows how to -- it's just that this is the way she likes it).

I put on my best serious voice and asked her "T, when are you going to start eating on your own? Tell me."

T skipped a beat and then said, "After a thousand years!" I looked at her, but she had a straight face except for that tongue in her cheek...or was it just food??
We grinned at each other. Then I said, "Do you know how long a thousand years is?".
She smiled happily as if she were expecting such a question and said "I know. I won't be there, I will be gone. By then, I will be up in the sky. And you also. Then we will porandhify (be born) in some other families..."

And then, I persevered, "When are you going to eat on your own, T?"

She promptly replied this time: "Tomorrow!" and gave her what I call beatific smile.

"

Profound!

2010-01-23T20:23:00.000-08:00

Over the past year, I have been declared so by T: 'You're a bad mother!' and after receiving my unblinking glare, it has changed to: 'No, no, you are a GOOD mother...SWEEET mother!'. Other times, there have been a disgusted 'ARE you a mother?'

None of these I really care for, I have to say, coming from this little five year old. Now five and a half.

Today, she tells me, "Ma, don't think I am wrong..."
I said "Mmmm...?"
T continued in unwavering earnestness, "But I think you are the perfect mother for me!"

Way to go.

N or M?

2010-01-18T21:31:00.001-08:00

T says 'Nusic' and 'Nusic Academies'
She also says 'Nobile'...

Never!

2010-01-18T21:25:00.000-08:00

Never say never?
Well, T thinks 'never' is a stylish/effective 'NO!'.

T, will you come for a bath now?
T: Never!

T, will you clear up your things right now?
T: NEVER!

T, you have to stay at home and be good while Amma goes out for a meeting...
T: NEVER!

T, you have to wear this dress only today.
T: Never.

Am I ever going to explain the difference to her?
Never!

While I was sleeping

2010-01-17T09:04:00.000-08:00

T was lounging next to me on the bed watching TV as I napped. After a while, I woke up to find that the TV had been switched off. I had no idea she knew how to do that! I asked her why she didn't ask me to switch off the TV for her, and she said:
"It's Ok ma, you were so sleepfull no, that's why.."
!!

Lipstick rules

2010-01-15T07:06:00.000-08:00

Come December and it is music season. One evening, K, T and I were headed out for a concert -- we were to drop T off for a play date on the way.

I was seated in the backseat with T, and I soon took out my lipstick and gloss and began applying. T asked me, "What, why are you wearing lipstick and all now?' I stared at her unsure of an answer or suitable retort. She went on..."Why should you wear lipstick and all to these carnatic musics places?"

I have no idea what she thought of the 'Carnatic musics places' but clearly, they did not demand make-up in her 5 year old books!

New words

2009-11-11T21:17:00.000-08:00

As I was getting T ready for bed the other night, she said, "Ma, I don't like your weird and wicked bangles."

Apparently, they had hurt her as I was changing her outfit. The big words she has apparently picked up from her favourite 'Barbie and the Diamond Castle' video.

Proclamations!

2009-11-11T21:10:00.000-08:00

I do sometimes read silly romance novels -- this works in phases. Just got out of one. However, T has already become used to seeing the M&Bs around and even though she still can't read, she seems to identify them well.

The other day, T and I walked into a big bookstore and I went about choosing gift wrapping papers while she stood by. Suddenly, she moved a little away and exclaimed loudly, "Ma LOOK! Your favourite books are here!" I turned and saw that she was indicating the M& B rack. (!!)

You know kids. The more I tried to shush her and distract her, the more excited she became that she had located her mom's 'favourite' books and perhaps helped her mom in her shopping!!

Telling tales

2009-11-09T08:45:00.001-08:00

I have from time to time told T over the last 2 years that nobody is to look into my stuff - handbag, draws, cupboards, etc. without my being there or at the very least, my permission. Guess she has got the point...

I was in the loo this evening when my mother asked me for her medical report which I had collected. I told her from the loo that I had it in my handbag on the bed and that she could take from there.

She went away to do that.

Then came T, knocking on the loo door. She came with a complaint and sounded most outraged...

"Amma, this paati (grandmom) is kodanjifying (rummaging) in your handbag!!"

Grinning to myself that I had created quite a good 'personal' spy, I told her "It's OK, I told her to."

T said "Ok" relievedly and went away...

Huh?

2009-11-02T07:25:00.000-08:00

Today, T checked with me suddenly, "Ma, timing is everything isn't it?"

Stunned, I agreed.

On further questioning, she said she came across this phrase in 'Barbie and the Diamond Castle'.

Hope and Think

2009-11-02T07:18:00.000-08:00

T has a way of equating the word 'hope' with 'think'. If she thinks she has many colour pencils, she will say, "I hope I have enough colour pencils..."

One day when T and I were in the loo and I was brushing her teeth, her father K came in and announced: "Someone has been messing around with my mail as the envelopes all have somethings scribbled on them. Someone had better stop scribbling on them or someone is going to get a whack from me." So saying, he left the loo.

Tara missed a beat and then turned to me and said, "Ma, I hope that 'someone' is you. If so, I think you are going to get a whack from Appa."

!!!

This Corporation...

2009-11-02T07:15:00.000-08:00

One day when T and I were driving back from school as usual, T did what she likes to when her water bottle has only a little water left -- she pours the water into the cup-shaped lid of the bottle and drinks from that. That day, she removed the lid but seemed to be having some difficulty which I did not really observe, as I usually try not to take my eyes of the road for anything...

"Ohhhhh!" she exclaimed in annoyance. I asked her what happened. She replied, "This Corporation! Because of this corporation, I am not able to drink my water." I was amused that a) she even knew there was a word like 'Corporation' and also that b) the Corporation (Chennai Corporation) had something to do with water... and so I asked her what was wrong.

Said she, "This Corporation has made the roads bad and so, I cannot drink my water now."She got that right, eh?

Spelling a challenge...

2009-09-03T06:22:00.001-07:00

Another drive to music class.

To keep ourselves entertained, T and I played a spelling game. But she was getting frustrated as she only knows the spellings of a few words. And so, she began asking me just to see whether I could answer without hesitation. After all, she would not be able to say if the spelling was right or wrong.

She would say, "bridge" and I would spell it, then came "building", "police station" and so on until she decided I needed a real challenge. So she puffed herself up and said, "Now, spell Mahendra Singh Dhoni!"

My other half guffawed on hearing this story, apparently proud of his smart daughter, as he was convinced I would not know how to spell his name, what with him being a cricketer and all. Hmph.

A Labradog.

2009-09-03T06:09:00.000-07:00

Tara and I were driving to paatu (Carnatic vocal) class yesterday and she was a bit bored during the drive. Desperate for a distraction, I spotted a man walking a Labrador Retriever outside his home and to distract her, I said, "oh look there, T, a DOG!". Unfortunately, she could not look in time and I had no intention of slowing down on a busy one-way and so I said, "It's Ok..." But like all curious kids, she asked "What kind of dog?How will it look?"

So I told her, "The dog was just like Sandy..." (MY late dog, whose pictures she has seen).

And so T came back with "Oh, you mean a Labravary?" I burst out laughing and so she corrected herself..."No, no, a labraDOG! No? No?"

Needless to say the rest of the drive was spent in laughing (by me) and some uncomprehending, sheepish laughter (by T).

She is five and I REFUSE to correct her little words because I want to cherish them forever...and for as long as I can...until she gets wise, that is.

Manasaatshi (Conscience)

2009-08-15T23:42:00.000-07:00

One evening, Seetha paati (grandmother) was taking Tara by the hand and walking behind Tara's dad to the car. Grandmom told granddaughter: "Tara, walk faster, as your Appa is going ahead alone..."

So, Tara told her grandmother Seetha paati something new as she held her hand: "Look, paati, Appa is not going alone. His manasaatshi is going with him!"

Well, what do you say to that?

'That's a good thing'?!

When they grow up...

2009-08-15T23:38:00.000-07:00

During one of those casual chats for Tara with appa (Dad) and amma (Mom), she said, "When boys grow up, they will go to the office...and when girls grow up, they will go ...to...the...GYM!"

Oops.

So, this is her basic assumption. Max time spent out of the house for dad is in the office whilst max time spent for mom out of the house is in the gym!

Not sure how to react...:)

What?

2009-07-17T10:07:00.000-07:00

Today, I was telling my daughter T that she should keep her things safe. I said "I mean it!" to her, and for better emphasis, I repeated it, " I MEAN IT!"

She said, "Ok, Ok, I got it. You mean it. Yes, you mean it...You boil it."
This was said in all seriousness but it DID make me giggle.

WHAT was that?

Ummon's Tag

2009-07-14T03:15:00.000-07:00

June 24th 2009
Below is a list of questions you pose to your child. Mine is almost 5 (one week to go) and has many a quirk already, as well as a great sense of sarcasm / 'nakkal'.

I decided to do it. Might be interesting, I thought.

Tsu: T, will you answer some questions?
T: Yes

Tsu: Now?
T: Mmm. (meaning ‘yes’) Mmmm! What?

Here goes the dialogue…
Tsu: What is something I always say to you?
T: I don’t know…what…?? Oh, yeah…”Did you go moocha in school?”

Tsu: What makes me happy?
T: To konjify you.

Tsu: What makes me sad?
T: When I am behaving badly…no, when I am thittifying you (scolding you)…
Then? Ask another question!
Mutters…’Adhey adhey sabapadhey…’

Tsu: How do I make you laugh?
T: By not thittufying…and by konjifying, kichikichi-muttufying..no? no? ya? Aama? (Yes?)

Tsu: What do you think I was like as a child?
T: You will sleep with your mouth open.
(I could not stop laughing, so I asked her the question again)
T: You would have been like Jasmine.

Tsu: Who is Jasmine?
T: Princess

Tsu: How old am I?
T: 29, no 34, no 24..? No, 24 AND 34.

Tsu: How tall am I?
T: Tall like this – ivalo tall (So tall) – She gestures to my head.

Tsu: What is my favourite thing to do?
T: Computer, playing computer games.
(Hmph I do not, but the computer is my fav thing alright)

Tsu: What do I do when you’re not around?
T: Cry…you will be sad (acts it out)
Asked her again…
T: At the computer, no? no? no?
Now, are you going to switch on the TV or not?

Tsu: If I become famous, what will it be for?
T (sarcily): ‘Tupu’. Then, “Famous means what?”

Tsu: Everybody will know me
T: I will be happy.
Clarify:
T: Yey, will you put on the TV or not? And giggles… (I do too)
T: You will be famous for talking...you talk on the phone, no?

Tsu: What am I really good at?
T: Giving food for children, putting the TV on when I ask... Now, I will ask YOU some questions…you reply!
Totally rolling with laughter, I again ask:

T answers: Dancing Bharatnatyam
She is messing with the mouse

Tsu: What am I not really good at?
T: If anyone says ‘you sing me one song’, then you will not sing. If someone asks you to dance, you will not dance…that only.

Tsu: What is my job?
T: To do this computer. No? ah? Eh? Aamadhaane? No? Now, I will ask some questions…

Tsu: What is my favourite food?
T: Idli. No? no? aama dhaanney? (Isn't it so?)
Because I always suggest it to her at restaurants…for her.
Asked again:
T: Idli.

Tsu: What makes you proud of me?
T: When you put the TV on for me. (Very bored and impatient-- Does not get the word ‘proud’).

Tsu: What makes me proud of you?
T: If I wear whichever dress you want me to

Tsu: What do you and I do together?
T: I don’t know. Dance, talk…no?

Tsu: How are we the same?
T: We are not the same (flippant and dismissive)

Tsu: How are you and I different?
T: That is…I am thinking about the reply. You have no pottu, I have. You always wear churidhar, I don’t. See, now I am wearing a frock.

Tsu: How do you know that I love you?
T: I know, because you are my mother. I am thinking…Because of the sunny day.
I know. I (just) know. That is the answer.

Tsu: What is one thing you wish you could change about me?
T: You should become a good girl.
Tsu: Am I not a good girl?
Tara: You are , but you should become MORE good and also clever.
Only one more question. Tomorrow you can ask another question. One-one day one-one question only.

Tsu: What do you wish you could go and do with me?
T: I can play with you. Go to the shop and dance. (Totally flippant.) This is the last question.

Laughed too much and annoyed her throughout.

Twas great fun. Thanks umm-o.

Now, switched on Tv for her.
Am I not a good girl now...and also clever?
:-)