New words

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!

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

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?

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

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...

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...

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.

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)

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...

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?

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

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?
:-)