I still remember the day when the game ‘UNO’ was introduced among our friends’ circle in Bahrain five years ago. We all (like kids) used to get gathered in a big circle to play the game. The only kid among the gang was my friend’s son Atul. He was very enthusiastic and we too shared the same enthusiasm when we played it. To keep my daughters from disturbing us, we used to give some old UNO cards to them so that they bite, chew and throw it everywhere.
The way we played UNO is unforgettable. We used to order Mirinda, Pepsi and dinner and used to have them alongside as we play the game. If we hear somebody call ‘UNO’ (which indicates that he has just one card left; which also means that he is close to victory), we consider it our responsibility to make that guy pick up more cards making him lose just by conspiring among the others. So because of this, one single game gets prolonged to as long as 20 – 30 minutes. And just imagine! We used to play for several hours together.
It has been quite some time since we stopped playing UNO since we discovered several other games. It is almost 10 months since I left Bahrain which means we are hardly getting together and hardly playing any games together. The main reason is that we miss our dear friends back in Bahrain. It is difficult to get such a group of friends again.
As we were shopping few days back, I discovered a pack of UNO cards stacked in one of the shelves. My husband and I were reminded of those days in Bahrain when we all used to play merrily. I just asked him if we can pick it up for which he said that it is no fun if it is played among two people. I said that I can coach our daughters into playing this. So I just picked them up and taught my kids how to play it. They found the game so interesting that they call my husband and me to play this often. The girls who were licking and biting these cards some years back are playing it with great zeal now. I was reminded of Atul who used to play this game with a great spirit. Now my kids are also playing them with the same fervour. I made them understand that it is just a game and that they should not cry when they lose. They have taken that piece of advice in the right spirit and convince each other on their loss telling “It’s just a game.” How I wish to play the same game with our Bahrain friends’ circle once again! This time, with my kids!
Saturday, 2 May 2009
My kids are growing
As any other kids, my kids too were prone to infections very often when they were toddlers. So I always used to make it a point to home feed them. I had banned giving them outside food and I would give them hygienically prepared food at home. There were many of my friends too who used to prepare food with the same hygiene as I, so that I need not carry food when I visit their houses. But if I were to visit any other place, I either feed my kids before starting or carry food along with me so that I can give them at a later time.
But this practice continued for a very long time. My kids too started enjoying having the mashed food prepared exclusively for them so that they can easily swallow without giving work to their teeth. I later began getting worried about this since even if we wanted to have dinner at a restaurant, I have to prepare the same food for them, feed them, give them and then start to the restaurant. The fun of having food at a restaurant vanishes since I anyway have to work in the kitchen. My kids used to hate outside food. They never even had the appetite to taste restaurant food. That put me in greatntrouble. My friends too said that it was not an acceptable idea since my daughters had outgrown that age. They said that they better learn to eat outside else survival becomes very tough.
Fortunately for me, my daughters started eating idlis and dosas at a restaurant. So if I were to visit South Indian restaurants, I would be benefitted. After reaching Abu Dhabi, I decided that I would somehow make them eat outside. So I prepared all those dishes prepared in a restaurant at home and made them eat it little by little. They began to like them after some trials. Now, they have developed great fascination towards outside food. They are now eating Indian food in restaurants. I was greatly relieved last month, when they fully began to eat a wholesome meal at a restaurant.
Last night, we had been to a restaurant and my husband ordered a Chinese rice item and one of my daughters developed deep curiosity as to what he is eating and asked for the name of it and repeated it out to herself so that she can order it the next time we come there. She seemingly liked that rice and had a few spoons. She also checked what I was eating and asked if she can taste that too. What a development! I no longer have to carry boxes for them!!
But this practice continued for a very long time. My kids too started enjoying having the mashed food prepared exclusively for them so that they can easily swallow without giving work to their teeth. I later began getting worried about this since even if we wanted to have dinner at a restaurant, I have to prepare the same food for them, feed them, give them and then start to the restaurant. The fun of having food at a restaurant vanishes since I anyway have to work in the kitchen. My kids used to hate outside food. They never even had the appetite to taste restaurant food. That put me in greatntrouble. My friends too said that it was not an acceptable idea since my daughters had outgrown that age. They said that they better learn to eat outside else survival becomes very tough.
Fortunately for me, my daughters started eating idlis and dosas at a restaurant. So if I were to visit South Indian restaurants, I would be benefitted. After reaching Abu Dhabi, I decided that I would somehow make them eat outside. So I prepared all those dishes prepared in a restaurant at home and made them eat it little by little. They began to like them after some trials. Now, they have developed great fascination towards outside food. They are now eating Indian food in restaurants. I was greatly relieved last month, when they fully began to eat a wholesome meal at a restaurant.
Last night, we had been to a restaurant and my husband ordered a Chinese rice item and one of my daughters developed deep curiosity as to what he is eating and asked for the name of it and repeated it out to herself so that she can order it the next time we come there. She seemingly liked that rice and had a few spoons. She also checked what I was eating and asked if she can taste that too. What a development! I no longer have to carry boxes for them!!
Confusing Punishments
Last night, as I was laying the bed, I learnt that Shruthi hit Swathi because Swathi called her a ‘bad’ girl. Shruthi tried to patch up with Swathi since the latter wanted to complain about Shruthi to me. Shruthi apologized with her and also checked if it pained her and tried to stroke Swathi to ease off the pain but Swathi was so adamant that she would complain to me. Shruthi then followed Swathi as the latter approached me and whispered in her ears not to make a big issue out of it.
Swathi : Amma, Shruthi hit me.
I looked at Shruthi and I could figure out from her expressions that her whisper in to Swathi’s ears was about this.
Me: Shruthi! Why did you do that?
Shruthi: It is because she called me a ‘bad’ girl.
Me: Why would you beat her if she called you that way? Just like how she came to me, you could have also complained about her to me.
Shruthi was silent.
Me: As a punishment, you are going to sleep alone. Swathi will not sleep with you tonight. She will sleep with us.
Shruthi: But why?
Me: You got to know the value of a sister. Only if you miss her, you will understand the importance of a sister.
Shruthi: I already know about her importance. That is why I said ‘sorry’ to her and also tried to ease off her pain though I knew it wouldn’t have pained her much.
Me: No way Shruthi. I cannot allow this kind of physical interference. You are sleeping alone tonight.
Shruthi: But I want somebody next to me. I have a bad back too!
(My Mom complains of a bad back. I too have problem with my back and this girl is also complaining. I don’t understand! A 6 ½ year old child having back pain!)
Me: What back pain? You did not tell me about this!
Shruthi: Yes, it is paining.
Me: So if Swathi sleeps near you, will the back pain disappear?
Shruthi: Yes, she will massage.
Me: See! Do you now know how important it is to have a sister next to you? So miss her for a night. You will realize.
Shruthi: I am scared that monster would come and disturb me in the night.
Me: You should have thought about all these before hitting Swathi.
Shruthi: But, I did not know what kind of punishment you will give me.
It was an unexpected answer and I also realized that kids get confused as to what kind of punishment will be given at what times. Earlier, the only kind of punishment I used to subject them was ‘time out’. Of late, they started enjoying a time out session. So we began treating them to a different kind of treatment based on the incidents. No doubt, Shruthi was not left alone last night. In fact, I slept with her to ease her pain off. After few minutes, I just laughed at the entire episode. It happens every time I scold them. I also think if such punishments will really make them understand what they are doing. As a ritual, I punish them and they accept it diligently as a routine. Is there any meaning to the punishments that I subject them to? But all said and done, my punishments are never serious and even if I give them any punishment, I waive them off in no minutes. They are after all, my children!
Swathi : Amma, Shruthi hit me.
I looked at Shruthi and I could figure out from her expressions that her whisper in to Swathi’s ears was about this.
Me: Shruthi! Why did you do that?
Shruthi: It is because she called me a ‘bad’ girl.
Me: Why would you beat her if she called you that way? Just like how she came to me, you could have also complained about her to me.
Shruthi was silent.
Me: As a punishment, you are going to sleep alone. Swathi will not sleep with you tonight. She will sleep with us.
Shruthi: But why?
Me: You got to know the value of a sister. Only if you miss her, you will understand the importance of a sister.
Shruthi: I already know about her importance. That is why I said ‘sorry’ to her and also tried to ease off her pain though I knew it wouldn’t have pained her much.
Me: No way Shruthi. I cannot allow this kind of physical interference. You are sleeping alone tonight.
Shruthi: But I want somebody next to me. I have a bad back too!
(My Mom complains of a bad back. I too have problem with my back and this girl is also complaining. I don’t understand! A 6 ½ year old child having back pain!)
Me: What back pain? You did not tell me about this!
Shruthi: Yes, it is paining.
Me: So if Swathi sleeps near you, will the back pain disappear?
Shruthi: Yes, she will massage.
Me: See! Do you now know how important it is to have a sister next to you? So miss her for a night. You will realize.
Shruthi: I am scared that monster would come and disturb me in the night.
Me: You should have thought about all these before hitting Swathi.
Shruthi: But, I did not know what kind of punishment you will give me.
It was an unexpected answer and I also realized that kids get confused as to what kind of punishment will be given at what times. Earlier, the only kind of punishment I used to subject them was ‘time out’. Of late, they started enjoying a time out session. So we began treating them to a different kind of treatment based on the incidents. No doubt, Shruthi was not left alone last night. In fact, I slept with her to ease her pain off. After few minutes, I just laughed at the entire episode. It happens every time I scold them. I also think if such punishments will really make them understand what they are doing. As a ritual, I punish them and they accept it diligently as a routine. Is there any meaning to the punishments that I subject them to? But all said and done, my punishments are never serious and even if I give them any punishment, I waive them off in no minutes. They are after all, my children!
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