Little Joy

My kids were so excited when they got into the park during the first few days of our stay in Coimbatore. The significant improvement this time was that one of them was able to swing high on her own. The other one needed some assistance. They did all kinds of acrobatics on seeing the other kids there.

My kids noticed that they were growing some pets in the park viz., parrots and rabbits. A bunny soft toy is Swathi’s all time favourite. She has nurtured that toy for a long period by feeding some carrots which she swallows ultimately. Now on seeing some real rabbits, she was so keen on feeding some carrots to them. I promised her that we will feed them the next day.

The following day, both Shruthi and Swathi carried carrots to feed them. Their facial expression revealed some sense of responsibility, pride and excitement. I simply enjoyed looking at their faces. For the first time in their life, they are doing so. On our way from home to the park, Swathi’s carrot fell on the mud.

Swathi: Ma!
Me: What?
Swathi: The carrot fell down
Me: It’s ok
Swathi: Shall we go back home?
Me: Why dear?
Swathi: Let me wash it and come back
Me: It’s ok. There is no need to wash them now
Swathi: Why?
Me: The rabbits will accept it. You just keep walking
Swathi: This is unfair. How can I give the carrot that has fallen down?
Me: Swathi, the rabbits are anyway in the sand. The carrot that you are going to drop will fall on the sand. So it is ok.

Swathi was silent. Her face showed some kind of sympathy towards those creatures that cared least about hygiene and more about food. When she dropped the carrot, the rabbits jumped towards it greedily and gobbled it up so fast. A sense of satisfaction combined with smile was found in her face immediately. That little joy filled my kids’ minds.

Effect of EVS

I consider it a wise decision to have brought my kids here to India to spend their summer vacation. Sitting in the scorching heat of Abu Dhabi confined within the walls of the house would have been such a big bore for them and for me. I maybe wrong, but I feel that running around bare feet during all seasons unmindful of the pricks of hard stones; jumping and dancing in rain; walking down the streets at any time of the day are all enjoyment of the first grade. This may not be pleasurable to all kids but as of now my kids have great delight in doing all the above here in India.

It was a promise that they had taken from me before coming to India that I should take them to the neighbouring park everyday. Though I took them to the park, they seem to be unhappy over that since they are irritated by the mosquitoes that are greedy for fresh blood.

So park was a big flop and they are reluctant to go there. The next option was the pool. My kids hardly know swimming. But they wanted to soak themselves in the kids’ pool nearby. So I took them both to the pool just to make them happy. The girls were too shy to step into the pool semi clad. There was not a single soul in the vicinity. It was because I chose the afternoon time around 3 -3.30. I believed the water would be warm around that time. But because of monsoon, the water was cold. Swathi stepped into the pool first. Shruthi was a bit hesitant to step in. She was struck with a heavy doubt. The subject “Environmental Studies” has hit her brain so hard I guess that she emerged with a peculiar question that made me laugh.

Shruthi: Mommy, we forgot something!
Me: What?
Shruthi: Where is the cylinder?
Me: Which cylinder?
Shruthi: Don’t you remember what we learnt in EVS?
Me: What?
Shruthi: We learnt that divers carry oxygen cylinder on their back just to breathe. How will I breathe now?
Me (Laughing heartily within me): You don’t need it because you are not diving in.

Convinced with this answer she stepped in. I then explained to her the difference between swimming and diving and how different is just getting soaked in the water from swimming. They were somehow convinced that they were swimming I guess. Kids sometimes arise with strange questions that make us laugh. But of late, I have also noted that if I laugh, they get offended. But how can I remain without laughing when such a question is posed?