Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Four Girls - Goin out

Meena
“Did you warm the banana leaves before packing the food?” – mother in law.
Looking for the comb, there comes another question, “Where is my watch?” – Husband.
“Give me a towel, paappaa has vomited on me” – granddad with granddaughter.
All dolled up. Jimikki, new neck chain, new anklet, new skirt… too big though.. comes on the way when trying to run.. Jalak Jalak anklet, jiljiljiljil when I run.


Preethi
“Where is the comb?”
“Where is the watch?”
“What, don’t you know where your watch is?”
“And don’t you know where your comb is?”
“Have you packed the food properly? In our days we used to pack in banana leaves. My mother in law used to warn me to warm the leaves all the time..”
“Give me a towel, paappaa has vomited on me…”
All dolled up. Jimikki, new neck chain, new anklet, new skirt… too big though.. comes on the way when trying to run.. Jalak Jalak anklet, jiljiljiljil when I run.

Ritu
“Where is the comb?”
“Where is the watch”
“What, don’t you know where your watch is?”
“And don’t you know where your comb is?”
“Don’t run, don’t run… look, she has vomited now.. gosh, where is the towel..”
“Ask me for everything. Here.”
All dolled up. Jimikki, new neck chain, new anklet, new skirt… too big though.. Comes on the way when trying to run.. Jalak Jalak anklet, jiljiljiljil when I run.

Nush
“Have you packed her stuff”?
Looking for the comb, there comes another question. “Where is the watch”
“Don’t ask me for everything. Don’t you know where your watch is?”
“Have you taken water for her? Have you taken food for her… Ok, don’t look at me like that. I am going.. Give me a towel, she has vomited on me. OK, I know where the towel is. Now, you stop looking at me like that and get ready please”.
All dolled up. Jimikki, new neck chain, new anklet, new skirt… too big though.. Comes on the way when trying to run.. Jalak Jalak anklet, jiljiljiljil when I run.

Tamil Version

Tuesday, April 11, 2006

Four Girls - Play

Meena:
Play time. Neighbour’s boy is the senior. “Teach her how to use your key-car. No, no, don’t give it to her. Just show her how it goes. Yaay. Clap, clap. Very nice". Sitting on mother’s lap, having neighbour-brother to guide, Smile.


Preethi
Play time. “She is a brat. She does not listen to anyone. It is very difficult with her these days”. Proud words, coated or not, very clearly proud. Playing in the common landing, having neighbour-brothers and sisters to guide and fight, Smile.

Ritu
Play time. “Chotu (small boy), will you keep an eye on her, I will be back in a minute, just have to grind something”. Playing with colourful toys, having neighbour-brother to guide, Smile.

Nush
Play time. “She gets bored with any new toy very soon. Look at her. There are so many toys in front of her. What do you want me to do? She is always following me wherever I go; to the kitchen, to the toilet. I can’t go to toilet. I keep the door open for her. Otherwise she cries. People in other flats might complain you know”. Mom always in the sight, and/or holding, Smile.



Tamil Version

Related links:
Learn by playing
Crying language
Start a tradition
Sign language

Monday, April 10, 2006

Ther thiruvizha (Chariot festival) in Kombai

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This photo was taken when the Ther (chariot) was just in front of our lane. If you take a right turn just after (behind) the Ther, (just behind that little yellow chimney) that is my lane. My house is there at the end of that lane..

The photo shows a part of the North street. In the front end of the North street is our temple. Ther has almost finished its rounds, and is going to take rest at the temple.. The hills in the background is the Western Ghats, Kerala. Kerala is just 10km from our village, if you go by trekking :D.

Last year photo. End of May is the Ther (chariot) festival season.

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Four girls- First solid food

Meena:
“Did you keep that food in front of God to get his blessings”? “Yes, athhai (mom-in-law)” First solid food. It is just rice, well cooked. “Ewww. Plain rice?” Neighbour’s kid questions. “No. no. There is little salt in rice. Paappa (babygirl) doesn’t eat spicy. It will be too hot for her. She is so small isn’t she? You also ate like this when you were like her”. Mix well with little lentil, well cooked again. And a touch of little ghee... Good.

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Preethi:
“Did you keep that food in puja room to get blessing from God”? “Yes amma (mom-in-law)”. First solid food. Open the tin. Pour hot water in that special silver bowl. Pour couple of scoops of cerelac powder. Mix well. Good.

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Ritu:
“Did you keep that food in puja room to get blessing from God”? “What room? You mean that cubboard?. When did you give any consideration for my puja room”? “Ok. Don’t start. What I mean is, did you keep the food in front of God”. “Yeah baby, yeah”. First solid food. The strawberry and apple flavoured baby rice in a bottle opens with a pop. Take a spoon. Good.

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Nush:
“Did you keep that food in front of God to get his blessings”? “where is the “place” to keep anything there? If you mean, I did take the food in front of that picture in that calendar hanging in our bedroom”. “Don’t be sarcastic. Did you mix it well”? “Hand blender works fantastic”. First solid food. Baby rice and broccoli, well cooked and mixed well using the newly bought hand-blender. Good.

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Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Four Girls - Nights

Meena
“Wake up, wake up. She is crying. Feed her”. Grandmother shakes the sleepy mother. “She is not drinking. May be she is not hungry”. “She IS hungry. Just feed her right”. Crying continues. “Switch the lights on, if you feed her in the dark, why won’t she cry?” Grandfather wakes up. Milk in the mouth and those glaring bright lights confused.

Preethi

“Wake up, wake up. She is crying. Feed her”. Husband shakes the sleepy mother. “Just now I fed her. She is full”. “She is crying”. “You might have disturbed her”. I didn’t touch her. I was sleeping too. I have to say keeping these lights on all the time does disturb my sleep”. “What is going on”? The mother-in-law wakes up. “Nothing amma. She is full but still she is crying”. “Feed her. Feed her. She might not have been full. It have been just a distraction and you might have thought she was full. That is why she is awake and crying. Feed her”. “These days, girls are lazy to feed their children. In our days we used to… “Ya, right”. Milk in the mouth and those confusing same lights.

Ritu

“Wake up, wake up. She is crying. Feed her”. Husband shakes the sleepy mother. “I just fed her. Take that bottle and feed her please”. Husband heats the milk/water. Checks for its temperature. Milk in the mouth, street light through the balcony, and that intense breeze confused.

Nush

“Wake up, wake up. She is crying. Feed her”. Husband shakes the sleepy mother. “I just have fed her. No, no, don’t switch the light on.” “She is crying”. “I know. Keeping the lights off helps her to understand that this is night, meaning sleeping time. It is there in the book. Also, you should not feed her all the time. We should give warm water…. Don’t look at me like that. It is there in the book”. “Listen, that is only for the white kids. Our kids are different. Feed her”. Milk in the mouth and those glaring bright lights confused.

Tamil Version

Must read:
bedtime blues
newborn care/index
one month old
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raising a happy baby
pampers
huggiesclub
Motherhood