Snippets

Me: (looking at my marriage reception photo) "Yeppadhi irundha naan ippadhi ayiten" ( A tamil comedian Vivek's famous dialogue that goes "How good I was before and now look what has happened to me")
Achu: (pointing to my tummy) "Ippadhi irundha naan ippadhi (pointing to himself) ayiten" ( Look how I was before and now look what has happened to me)

A lesson on Living and Non-living things

Me: watch
Achu: Non-living
Me: boy
Achu: Living

Me: brick
Achu: Non-living
Me: Tree
Achu: Living
Me: Bag
Achu: Non-living
Me:Amma
Achu: Living
Me: Apple
Achu: Living before you pluck it then non-living
Me: That's deep!

Later on when I took him his dinner of rice and fish fry.
You guessed it. He pointed out at the fish and said "Living in water and now non-living thing"

My SIL is having her second kid in June.We met her recently with her big tummy.
Achu: Amma why is Apatchi at Atchamma's house?
Me: She is going to have a baby that's why...
Achu: But Appu is so small then how come she has a baby already ( Appu is 4 and a half )
Me: That doesn't matter da....Didn't you see her tummy...it's big
Achu: Amma your tummy is also big
Me: errr....( gym round the corner here I come...)

The Case and Verdict

Points against little Achu and big me
- He day dreams in class
- He smiles to himself
- He doesn't mingle with the other kids
- His Ws have their mouths wide open
- His 3s don't look good
- U work
- U are not spending time with him
- U don't know what's happening at school

And then she explained what she taught the kids all through the month with me nearly feeling dizzy and totally guilty......

Facts of the Case

- Achu watches too much of Mr.Bean and so he often morphs into Mr.Bean himself....that explains the talking and smiling part
- Achu day dreams when he is bored and knows what is being told....don't all boys do that?
- Achu has always done self play....no neighbors his size, no relatives close by his size...so where is the question of mingling....he is kinda choosy with who he plays...a true cancerian
- He will be jus 5 tomorrow and I don't want to pressurise a 5 yr old to get his Ws and 3s right...they will be good when they have to...( though I know of a dozen kids who can write the alphabets in reverse and count to 100 )
- I work but I do spend time with him....maybe not like the other moms ...maybe lacking a bitta quality...but M and I make it a point to sit with him when he does his homework
- My boy comes back home and sings a song or narrates a story he heard at school...BUT does not tell me what lessons were taught....maybe that's where his interest lies
- I came back home and asked Achu all that the teacher told me....questioned him...asked him to draw it on the board....and to my delight he could recollect every single thing the teacher had done at school

The verdict

So the next day i went to school with all the good news and she was glad he was attentive though he seemed disinterested.

She said it was good I got back to her.

So we mutually agreed to

1. Meet weekly to pass on what happened during the week
2. Get him to join drawing or dance ( she was surprised to know he took part in dance and singing in Pre school and lkg)
3. Make him write something on the lines everyday ( I guess a little bitta writing will get him used to the idea of having to sit in one place for a ten minute stretch :)...)

Personal steps

1. No more Mr.Bean. The theme of his 5th birthday was to be Mr.Bean. But it isn't anymore. Must get this guy out of my son's system
2. A desk tops Achu's birthday gift list
3. Don't miss a chance to hug my lil boy...he's a bright little boy you know :D

Innocently Wise

Achu was playing his rough boy games with me and I was losing the very little patience I have.....Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...

Me: Achu Stop it now ( in a stern voice)
Achu was jumping all over me and my poor Acha and Amma were 'requesting' my son to let me go
Usually when am in one of those rare good moods I tickle out of the situation but this time I was dirty, tired...and most importantly HUNGRY

Me: Achuuuuuu....go njan ponnu e roomilirunu....( Am going outta this room)....and I slowly got up and went away to another room....

Amma: Achu amma deivam annu da...shouldn't stamp or hit God (Achu amma is God)
Achu: adhu yennganey! ( howzzat!)
Amma: haven't u heard Matha, Pitha, Guru  Deivam.....So Amma is God....even Your Girija Miss is God...She is your Guru...understand?
Achu thought for a while then he started climbing on Amma and Acha who was a silent spectatur to the whole show....
Amma: Ayyoooo idhu yedhoannu kutta ( What is this)
Achu : (Triumphantly) ...Adhilu ammumma yium appupanum illeloooooo ( the list doesn't include ammumma and appupa)
Amma : !!!!!!!!

Then I entered to save my parents and said
Me: Achu stop it da...dha nokku God Vannirikunnu ( see God has come )...and I struck a devi pose :):):)
Achu: Ohhh idhu Amma allleyyy ( Oh you are jus Amma)
Achu: I know God is inside ALL of us......
Now that's really deep
----end of story----

Boys at the car park

M and Achu waiting in the car for amma to get back from Spencers daily where she shops everyweek...They know it takes ages so they have their boy games ( sheeesh....) jus then.....

( They relax the front car seats and lie down ...)

Achu: Acha nokku acha scorpio ponnu ( look there goes a scorpio)
M: hmmmmm ( closing his eyes)
Achu: acha ayooooo nokku Xylo full speedilu ponnu ( look a xylo speeding)
M: hmm ( still very much uninterested)
Achu: Achaaaa avadhe nokku honda city ponnu ( look theres a honda city)
M: hm
(Silence)
Achu : Acha avadhey nokku two chechi ponnu
M: (Immediately raises his head and looks out of the window ) evidey kutta??? ( where??)
Achu : Ohooo.. ippo matharam nokum alle acha..( oh so now u know to look huh?)
M: (Stunned and shocked at achu baby's approach)