Doubting God's Bountiful Resources

In order to inculcate some fear while doing something wrong, I just warned my kids that God is watching each one of us and has a record of what we all are doing. Immediately Swathi asked me with great wonderment, “All of us?”
Me: Yes
Shruthi: This world is too big and there are lots of people living. How can God watch each one of us?
Me: Didn’t you learn in Moral Science that He is all powerful, omnipresent and the like?
Shruthi: Yes
Me: So He is capable of watching each one of us
Swathi: Including you?
Me: Yes, including me

This moment I noticed some sense of relief in them. They probably got some assurance that they are not alone. To make it more understandable I tried explaining the same with illustrations that seem convenient for them. So I spoke, “God is having a chart for each one of us where He grades all our activities. If He notices you doing something good, He will stick a golden or a silver star on the ‘Good deeds’ column. If you do something bad, like not sharing things with each other or telling lies, then He will mark a big black dot on the ‘Bad deeds’ column. He will review it then and there to decide what you deserve. So we have to be careful with every step that we take since we are always being watched.”

Swathi (still not convinced that God could watch everybody): Will God watch adults also for sure?
Me: Yes, I said that He watches each one of us
Shruthi (from her part): Even strangers on the road?
Me: Yes. Nobody is excluded. ALL are being watched.

Finally, the biggest doubt emerged from Swathi’s mind. She asked me, “Does God have enough chart paper to record everybody’s good and bad deeds?”

No longer a Fancy

The date for ‘Fancy Dress’ competition was announced at school. But this time Shruthi showed the least interest in participating. Last year, I dressed Shruthi as a Fairy Godmother and Swathi as Japanese. Shruthi had a big dialogue to tell too but unfortunately, Shruthi did not get a prize but Swathi won. Shruthi was indeed disappointed because despite doing her job perfectly well, she did not get due recognition. I had a tough time convincing her then. This time, when she showed some disinterest, I thought that she must have recollected last year's episode. I thought of convincing her to participate. So I asked her, “Shruthi, why don’t you choose what you want to be dressed as this time?”

Shruthi: I said that I do not want to participate
Me: But why?
Shruthi: It is no fun
Me: Look how excited Swathi is. She thinks that it is fun
Shruthi: That’s her view. I am not seriously considering

I was shocked at her reply

Me: Baby, I can dress you up as Tinker Bell (Tinker Bell is her favourite Disney character)
Shruthi: But I don’t want to participate
Me: Can you give me a genuine reason for not participating?

She was silent. I continued, “I don’t know if you remember but it happened once when we were in Bahrain when you were in your KG. You had given your name for ‘Fancy Dress’ competition and Swathi did not. As she saw me dressing you up that morning, she was also tempted and began crying telling that she wanted to participate too. I quickly gave her a role to play to stop her from crying. I don’t think I can do that again. I am sure you too will be tempted when I dress her up”.

Shruthi: I won’t be tempted.
Me: Are you sure?
Shruthi: Yes
Me: How do you say so?
Shruthi: I have been participating in this competition for a long time. I get dressed up, deliver some dialogue and judges do not award me any good marks. Firstly, I am not motivated to participate because of my past experience and secondly, there is no more fun in standing in a different costume in the school when most of the others would be dressed in their uniforms.

I was stunned to hear my seven year old girl speak like this. She no longer wants to be in the participating gang I guess. She is comfortable sitting behind with her friends to watch, comment and enjoy maybe. God! My girls are putting me in a shock every now and then by their gestures.

Finally, Shruthi was not tempted a bit. She kept up her words and watched patiently as I dressed Swathi as Anarkali. Shruthi held her sister’s hand with pride and hopped into the school bus that morning.

Spoon without a Lemon

Yet another sports event fascinated my little girl Swathi. And it was none other than ‘Lemon and Spoon’. I am sure all of you must be aware of how this game goes on. Kids are expected to tie their hands behind and walk forward with a spoon holding a lemon on their mouth. The person who reaches the finish point quickly without dropping the lemon on the way is considered to be the winner. If it falls anytime before you reach the finish point, they are considered to be disqualified.

My little girl does that well. She is extremely good at such things. She can move around quickly but I wasn’t sure how big the size of the lemon would be. Shruthi having a loose tooth was not quite sure how she could hold a spoon with a lemon on her mouth. Apparently, she was eliminated in the trial rounds and Swathi was selected for the event. There were four qualifying rounds and the fifth round was the final one. In the initial four rounds, she outperformed everybody (she was proud to have beaten some of the boys in her class) and came first every time.

When it came to the final round, the poor girl lost the game. She came home with pride and disappointment; pride for having come first in all the qualifying rounds and disappointment because she did not win. I encouraged her telling how glad I am to learn that she came first in many rounds.

She answered, “Amma, I will not get a certificate though”
Me: That is ok. I am glad you reached up to this level. The spirit lies in participating and not in winning.
Swathi: But I touched the finish line first
Me: Is it? In that case, you have won. Why do you say that you lost?
Swathi: I touched the finish line first but the lemon fell down in transit

I had to laugh silently this time. The moment the lemon falls down, in this game, you are supposed to stop moving further. I just imagined my little girl walking diligently with just a spoon in her mouth until the finish line. I knew that my laugh would spoil her day because as such, she had had a bad day. I just kissed her telling that it is all part of the game. She forgot about all these in an instant and started hopping all her way to her room.

Misconception

Soon after the exam fervour settled, sporty mood emerged into the minds of my girls. It was time for sports day at school. The gymnast and acrobat of our house (Swathi) was all excited about the event. She proudly announced the date when the sports event would be held at school.

I asked her, “So, what are the games you are interested in?”
Swathi: Running race
Me: Wow! That’s great. I am sure you would do well in that.

After a pause

Me: What are the other games that are conducted for the event?
Swathi: I remember. There was one more event but that is difficult
Me: What can be termed ‘difficult’ before attempting?
Swathi: I know that it is difficult
Me: What is it?
Swathi: I have seen Daddy doing it too Ma
Me (puzzled): Daddy doing it? What is it Swathi?
Swathi: I forgot the name
Me: Have your friends given their name for participation in that event?
Swathi: Yeah, a few
Me: Did they say that it is difficult?
Swathi: They don’t know it is difficult but I know it is
Me (with increased curiosity): Swathi, tell me the nature of the game. Do they carry a heavy ball and try to throw it? Or?
Swathi: No Ma. Haven’t you seen Daddy working with it during weekends?
Me: I don’t know what you are talking about
Swathi: Daddy carries a machine in his hand and makes noise out of it

I wondered for some time if it could be a vacuum cleaner but then it has been ages since my husband touched it. When did she notice something that I have not witnessed?

Me: Swathi, can I check with your teacher?
Swathi: No. I do not want to participate in it

I understood that she has some fear towards that event. But at the same time, I was curious to know what it was. I thought I will check with her teacher a bit later when she disappears from the scene.

Swathi: Ah! I remember the name now. It is drilling
Me: Drilling?
Swathi: Yes. Daddy does it on walls, doesn’t he?
Me: Yes, do they ask you to do drilling at school?
Swathi: Yes. They asked us “who all are interested in drill please raise your hands up”.

I burst into a heavy laughter and there sat my little girl sobbing because she felt insulted on this gesture of mine. I made her understand that drill in sports terminology means exercising our body in a rhythmic fashion in accordance to some music behind. She then smiled at me and told that if that be the case, she would be interested but then time had elapsed and she could not participate in that event.

What causes hair loss?

My girls were roaming around without getting their hair groomed for a long time. When I noticed it almost by the end of the day, I immediately called them to come to me with a brush so that I can groom it properly. Getting overly engrossed with what they were doing, they simply refused to come to me.

Me: Girls! If you don’t come now, then it is going to be a big loss for you and not for me.
Girls: How?
Me: Just stop asking questions and come to me now.
Shruthi: Are we going out now?
Me: No. We are not.
Swathi: Then we can as well do it tomorrow.
Me: Why don’t you want to look presentable while at home?
Shruthi ran to fetch a comb and came to me. Being excited over her action, I began brushing her hair. The knots that got accumulated in her hair gave her enough pain but she still did not stop talking.

Shruthi: What will actually happen if I do not brush my hair?
Me: As you now see, lots of knots will get accumulated. Not only that, your hair will get badly damaged and you will lose hair little by little.
Shruthi: Knots, I agree but do not talk about hair loss.
Me (curiously): Why?
Shruthi: Whenever I have left my hair loose, I have never seen hair falling on its own to the floor but the moment you take a comb and start brushing, I see that hair gets curled up onto all sides of the brush. So hair loss is only due to combing.
Me : !!!!????

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?