The Monsters

The Hindi monster attacks :

• as Amma had her exams she couldn't (didn't bother to- In M's lingo) get lil Achu to sit with his hindi books for long

• and acha was busy (had better things to do like play with his phone and tab - In Amma's lingo )

Lil Achu and the whole family were terrified at the extent the monster had gained in size and strength.

• Advised Achu in the morning to just write what he knew ( Nothing!!! except for a few guesses and blank stares) and not to engage in any other methods to score a 10/10

• Got reminded of my oath and had a guilt attack

To top it all M complained he wasn't 'informed' of the amount of portions he had for the test before

• Grrrrrrr...Like who am I ? The Messenger of  Homework or what?...When I tell M to take up the responsibility of dressing him up for school or to get him to study he acts mum...So what do I do? I continue to do it all myself

• Lately I have been a bit preoccupied with varied stuff and let Achu's schedule suffer abit. And so ...I don't want to listen to "You should have told me" ....Why couldn't he just do stuff for Achu...Why should I TELL him to?????????

Counter Attacks on their way......;b

Jollydays, Holidays and more

• Meenu was here for a couple of days. Achu had fun with an additional playmate. Asked him which cousin he loved the best...Shalu (12yrs), Paru (7yrs), Esha (7yrs) or Meenu (3.5yrs)....I knew he would choose Shalu :)....Then I eliminated her from the list and my boy picked Meenu next :):)
• So there were 5 naughty kids playing around the house. It was better than having one bored kid in the house.
• During the holidays Achu didn't do anything very productive.He lazed around,.got up late, watched a lot of TV,played with the gang, attended pooja at office, Visited his grandparents, slept late and didn't do any studying until the last day. A quick revision - 3 letter hindi words (while we wanted to get coached in tota this hols), Addition with carry forward, English reading: The ugly duckling and the Lesson: Weather in Social Science.
• Achu had his fancy dress competition on 10.10.11. He was a tiger amidst another 15 tigers in different shapes,colors and sizes. This is what I asked him to say. He says he forgot the last part and that his teacher said 'Good' - Good Morning- I am a Tiger- Growl- I am India's National Animal-Growl- I am a carnivores animal- See my Stripes? No 2 tigers have the same stripes- My babies are called cubs- I am being hunted - Please Save me- Growl.
• Today he has his English Recitation and Computer Olympiad. I selected the Poem 'Little Things'. Surprisingly he learnt it very fast. And you know he is dramatic don't you :). Hoping he presents it the way he does it at home. There is a little mummy crime as far as the CO goes. Actually a daddy crime. They gave us the books he needs to learn up 2 months ago. I gave to M and told him to take up the responsibility of teaching him just that.He didn't. I didn't remind him either. M seems least effected when I told him the test was scheduled for today!!!!!! And I started feeling totally guilty since the boy is so used to the computer and a little bit coaching would have made him do well.So I fished out the books 2 days back and gave him a little brush up without forcing too much into his little brain. He seemed very interested and that made me more guilty and angry with M for not doing what he had to.    

Update : Very sad he could only recite 2 stanzas of the poem. He is so good at it at home though! Amma said "Be happy he has the capacity to learn it and recite. It's ok if he doesn't get to say the whole thing". I am still sulking.
The computer test he gave me  a thumbs up signal. I'll have to wait for the marks to confirm that :)

Bits and Bites of all kinds

• Achu had a drawing competition at school. He had to draw something relating to "Fun Fare". I guess it meant he had to draw something related to being fun!....I thought they made a spelling mistake and showed a couple of Fair pictures with giant wheel and all, drew a picture with his idea of  a boy standing and saying "Let's have fun" ( he is extra imaginative I tell'ya ). He told me he did well and a few teachers came and told him his drawing was good.
• At first I didn't know whether to record this or not. But then I thought Achu has to know everything not only the good and bad moments in his life but the grey moments too....Achu was caught copying for his hindi test!!!!!! I have the habit of asking him to take a test and then after the test fill int he gaps he left out by looking into the book. So I thought That's what he did. But his teacher told me he knew he was doing something wrong. When I asked achu he told me he knew he was doing something wrong and he was sad the teacher caught him!!!!!! I was shocked .....I asked him why he copied and the reason he gave made me totally guilty and a better mother in the process...."Amma you told me you wanted me to get 10/10 .Then you added that only if I get 10/10 you will buy me Cars CD...That's why.."- Moral of the story: To begin with I knew I hadn't sat with the boy to teach him Hindi till it was too late and too much for the little mind to take in. On top of that I give him a warning just when he leaves to school about the marks he HAS to get and the consequences of not getting it. Bad Momma.:(..So Achu it is not your fault. It truly isn't. I take up 98% of the blame ( The 2% being M's...though he would adamantly deny his part by blaming the way I brought him up and that he will need tutions..baah!)...Achu promised me he would never ever do it again and I promise never ever to expect more than what efforts have been done and never to bribe him 
• Amma, Achu and I had a quick bite at Mc Donalds one evening. While I dung through a spicy chicken burger( without mayo doesn't taste very good) with iced tea, Amma had a fish-o-fillet combo which had coke and Achu had chicken nuggets, a softie ( after a lot of prayers) ....some french fries for all! Parcled some potato wedges for Acha.Update: Actually in the car Achu made up a few captions for the joint..."Mc me a burger" ('make' innu vendi 'Mc' itta madhi he said ) is all I remember :(

• Achu is all bones. He never puts on any weight. He is a stick.It's been a month since he started having his food on his own and the amount that goes into him has drastically come down. There are days he just skips dinner and days when he hates breakfast.His likes are limited. His lunch box comes back untouched or nibbled at. Achu you need food to live. Am not asking you to live to eat (like me) but to eat to live baby.   
• Searched all around town for Cars DVD but landed up getting Rio..and then the DVD players refuses to work.
• There's another tooth in the shaking....
• On our to do sheet we've got heaps fella

1. A Fancy dress competition
2. An English recitation competition
3. Computer Olyimpiad !!
4. A Painting Competition 
5. A few tests which includes the dreaded Hindi test
6. A big break for Pooja vacations ( Yipeee!)

Please Speak Up

Problem ...Problem.... Problem
Usual comments from teacher when I go to pick up Achu :

• He's ok
• He's smart
• No problem
• Good boy

So today was an unusual day.
Achu had his recitations today....Hindi and English
Hindi : He had to just read a few letters the teacher pointed at from the book.
Teacher : "He refused to open his mouth. I told the hindi miss that he is a smart boy and to give him more time so she let him go for awhile and called him back. But again he was silent. not a word. why?"
English: He had to recite a poem "Ferry me across the water"
Teacher: "He didn't do the english recitation also.Why what's wrong with him. talk to him please.I was shocked because he is so smart in his written work"
Ok so I get the picture. Reasons for the poor show...Achu's points and mine

• Achu is a showman ONLY at home
• I was lazy to revise the hindi alphabets with him. Honestly thought I'd do it this weekend. 
• I did get him to recite the poem. He does it so well at home. Expressive, but does forget here and there.
• The teacher had mentioned his english recitation would be due only next week...so why the hurry?...I thought I'd do it a couple of times during the weekend

Asked the teacher if she would re-assess.....

She said " Noway. I think he has to improve on those lines. There's noway we can do it again."

Why do I have this guilt feel in me?

Isn't he just in the first term of first grade?

Oh! Achu I hope to get you to do your work on a daily basis rather than waiting for the last day...

• Without you losing your patience
• and me mine...sighhhh!

  We'll do much better next term kiddo :)

All Day I dream about Sports

Adolf  Dassler wouldn't have had the slightest hint that his creation would reach this little place in the world.:)

Achu's school has decided to have all their kids wear ADIDAS shoes!!!!
The black shoes costs Rs.1090.
Looks Kewl.
No more polishing :):):)
Achu is learning the art of tying the lace.
What happens when his feet grow ?????
A new shoe for every term????
That would pinch some pockets.....

An act to please

Achu has been given a set of 10 words for dictation scheduled today.Yesterday while we were revising....
Achu: Amma I know all of them
Me: Ok we'll see
I read out each word and he wrote them out in his rough book
He had a problem with two words ....Things and Grow
Achu: Adhu kozhapam illa Amma 2 words alley wrong avolo ( Two words going wrong is fine Amma)
Me: No Achu shouldn't you be getting all of them right? They gave you a weeks time to get ready for this.
Achu: Why?
Me: Only then you will get good marks
Achu: For what?
Me: ( ok....I have to be careful....) Well, if you get good marks you'll go to a good college and then to a great office.
Achu: I have your office to go to ....
Me: ( Hmmm....) To come to my office you need to study and go to a good college Achu
Achu: Sheri Amma then I will do well

The above conversation happened just before he left to school. When I got dressed and asked him to get into the car he rushed up the stairs and did something and came back with a very naughty smile on his face.

Me: Achu what did you do?
Achu: Nothing Amma (continues that smile)

Got back home after dropping Achu and my Amma had an explanation for the 'that' smile

Amma told me that Achu rushed into the room with a green pen. Drew a star on his hand, threw the pen in the laundry bag and rushed down.Aha! Looks like somebody is getting an act ready to please me.

Let's see what happens when he gets back home after school.....

Update: Dictation didn't happen....Achu forgot all about the star he drew...I didn't ask him either :)...Let's deal with it when it comes....Right-o?

Grandparents day at school

It was Grandparents day at Achu's school
The children were asked to dress up as their favorite cartoon character.
And what we saw on stage......
Many as : Spiderman,Barbie,Chota Bheem,Ben10,Dora,Mickey Mouse,Tom.
Few as : Donald Duck,Cinderella, Jerry
Just One: Jackie Chan,Jasmine,Bob the builder,Tinker Bell,Thomas the engine,Oswald,Jess from Toy Story and Mr.Bean

Yes.Achu became his personal hero Mr.Bean for a day.
There was only one Mr.Bean and that was my lil boy.

• The Coat - Rented ( After a little hunt for a whole suit set we thought it was better to rent just the coat. Beacause a) The probability of Achu wearing a coat was negligible b) Chennai has just one season - sultry summer! c) the suit set costs a fortune d) Achu drinks milk and grows!) - The man at the counter told us it was a Bharathiyar coat. We had no option so had to take it though Mr.Bean is mostly in a brownish/greenish coat.
• The shirt - M got him a full sleeved white cotton shirt ages ago on his trip to US. It was big when he first wore it. It was perfect this time round.
• The Tie - Acha's ( A blue one with red lines...yeah yeah Mr.Bean has a red one with yellow on it...I did search for a tie and but couldn't get one. Had one in the flat but was lazy to go and pick it up
• The pant - A black ( Was planning to make him wear a formal looking black jean which he wore the previous time he was Mr.Bean..but boost you know never let's the child remain his size). don't really know how uncomfortable the fella was but he did it because he was to be his hero. Commitment.
• The Shoes - He did have a formal pair. Small but ok. no socks
• Teddy - We got him a teddy that looked closest to the one on the show. 
• The Act - Achu is a natural. I taught him a couple of lines and made him repeat it for a few days before the big day. He reluctantly repeated it. each time he did he added or forgot a word or two.

"Hello! I am Mr.Bean. This is my Teddy. I love teddy.Oh! Grandma is calling .I have to go...." He confidently
said and rushed down the stage. 

Watch your word

Me: What did you do in school today ?
Achu continues to do and say which doesn't have the slightest relevance to my question....
Me: ACHU WHAT DID YOU DO IN SCHOOL TODAY....?????
Achu: huh! what........
Me: ( let me give it a different approach) Achu what snack did they give you today?
Achu: hmmmmmmmmm! samosa and biscuit
Me: ( Ok we have a related answer...here goes) Ok good so what did the teacher write on the board?...First tell me about maths....
Achu: Come I'll show you on my board.....
Me: YES :):):):)
Achu picks up a chalk and says "Amma, Before and After"
I wonder if my son is reminding me about the weight loss regime I registered for months ago ...with a slim chance of me attending it ( the only thing that's slim in the deal )
Then I figure out that it is just the "What's missing in the sequence" question
We do a couple of rounds of it and then I ask " Achu what did you do in English baby?"
"go,so, to, no" he wrote on the board
 Sheri (ok).. let's make sentences

We took turns in writing them
And Achu boy was good at it :)
We finished all the four words... two each
Now Achu said he wanted to do the words he didn't get to do
And I gladly agreed
And then.....
" Achu now your turn ...'No' "
Achu wrote " No. Not go in"
"No, No, No Achu that is wrong... correct it or find another sentence"
Achu: Ok Amma I will....
He rushes to the board and writes "No.No.No."
Me: !!!!!!!
Achu: You just said that Amma (very pleased)
Me: Smarty pants ....Huggy-buggy :)

Double U

Yesterday Achu had dictation at school and he didn't do very well. His teacher sent word that Achu boy needs to get his alphabets right.

Oh don't worry am not worried at all. The boy is five...give him some time. But I just wanted to check if its concentration he lacked or he really didn't know the alphabets. So Achu had night school yesterday with Me as his Teacher.

Me: Ok Children take out your book and pencil and write the letter W
Achu: Amma...oops Miss look I wrote W
Me: Good Boy ...sanjay stop talking and write like Rohit ..Achu smiles...me too :)

Achu: Now tell me Miss why do we call W... Double U when we write Double V
Me: Hmmmmm Actually W is Double U but we write Double V...we can also write Double U..but in school your taught to write Double V ok...Phew!
Achu: Ok .....( thoughtfully)
Me: (Happy achu is happy with the explanation)....Ok next letter P
Achu: So At home we will call W Double V and in school we will call W Double U OK
Me: ( I knew something was coming)....Fine write the next letter P

We will have a detailed talk on the Double UV some sunny sunday baby !

BTW Achu got all the alphabets right. Concentration in class is what my boy needs to work on.

I have been asked to meet the teacher tomorrow....Am quite experienced at it now...let's see how it goes :)

Meet the teacher

The first parents teachers meet at school after achu started UKG. We waited for almost an hour before we were called in.

"Ohhhh Achu....he should be an actor" said the teacher
He shoots so many expressions in a micro second"....thanks to Mr.Bean ( No I didn't mention he watches the runs and the reruns religiously)

"Here's what I observed about achu .He is a silent and shy boy...who doesn't mingle with other kids...but has lately become very naughty and annoys other kids to get their attention....."

"So do both of you spend time with him" - I nod ...don't know what M did

"you are not spending enough time with him...work is not everything...do you know the letter formations to teach him?....this is the syllabus...teach him...sit with him"

I keep nodding

"Its not the father ...he might not have the time ...YOU the mother has to be with him"....(THIS is where I went GRRRRRRRRRRRRR. I could sense M giving a smirk behind my back.......but didn't open my mouth....does the father have only one responsibility and that is to sow the seed????....)

I bear up with rest of the talk with a smiley stuck to my face....but what's running behind my mind is still running.....how could she tell me I had to be MORE responsible for my child than the father.....HOW and WHY ....I do everything M does and more...but still its the mother that is pulled up....

But all said and done....I am going to spend more time with achu...not because the teacher said or not because I am guilty...its because I want to and I am sure it will make a difference....

Updated later : In the grrr mood I forgot to tell you that the teacher mentioned that achu was very intelligent and imaginative....:D

Rice up ...Healthy, Wealthy and Vice

Achu: Amma listen " early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy( shows his skinny hands) wealthy( an animated snap with his fingers) and wise ( tapping his head)...

Achu: Rise thininna rice alla ammma...adu wake up annu(Rise is not the rice we eat it is to wake up)

Achu: Amma we have a Wise(tapping his head again)- Principal

Me: Hehehehehe Kutta adhu vere Vice annudha ( that is another wise ).Vice Principal means smaller than principal sheriya ? vere spelling annu adhu ( that is a different spelling)

My vice son has learnt the benefits of ricing early :)

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

And then the teacher called

J (who looks after Achu when am at work) was leaving in the evening after the days work.She reached the front door and then turned towards me and said "Achu's teacher wants to meet you". Then she hurriedly left as the first drops of rain dampened the hot soil.She left me with a thousand questions for which I matched ten thousand probable answers and a handful of favorable ones out of those.

Flashback 1: Achu came home after school and said "Amma today we were asked to cover our faces and I dozed off.....
Me: were u asked to sleep?
Achu: no i just dozed off
Me: oh-oh

Flashback 2:
A: School is boring .They make us sit in one place for soooo long
M: Atleast they can do that :):):)
A: Poooo Amma

Flashback 3:
A: Amma I hate homework. I won't do mine
M: Oh kutta...let's surprise Acha come come
A: No I won't...Itchichi Amma..
(then he does it after a lot of 'let's surprise' talks...the only thing that works nowadays)

Flashback 4:
M: Who are your friends Achu?
A: Ohhh please don't ask me...
M: tell me na....there's sanjay...then I forgot hmmmm
A: Megha :)
M: Yeah megha and then
A: that's allllllllllll

Many more 'Achu and school' episodes had re-runs in my mind....

May be Achu is sleeping in class
May be he is a loner
May be he isn't good at school
May be he doesn't talk (courtesy: I am Mr.Bean)

Or the happy ones

May be there's an event coming up
May be they want to just meet the parents
May be they need some extra fees

Oh Whatever....I have to meet the teacher tommorow

And one year jus zoomed away

 It feels like just yesterday we were rushing in and out of schools , sticking photos of little achu, filling up forms, giving in applications, rehearsing interviews, celebrating admit cards, getting ready for life's first day at regular school uniform et al. Achu completes his first year of schooling. He is a big boy now isn't he. Wow!

The changes in Achu
- he loves to be talked to in an adult to adult tone.
- started eating out and does venture into eating on his own until he looses interest and is later fed
- he has got to the idea of going to school everyday...though every Monday we experience high decibel cries and pain in all most all the parts of the body
- he has friends he talks about and likes and dislikes every alternate day...Nithila Mani, Sanjay, Harish, Ashish Khanna, Jai choraria, Kia to name a few....
- Getting strong in phonetics....and trying to read ...but when i get excited and try to guide him he looses interest and I loose my temper
- Imaginary songs and chats increase in number and his inventions from the mosquito jammer to discovering what happens within his tiny tummy ...the list is never ending 
- he can touch his nose with his tongue !!!!

The things that remain
- his love for cars
- his tantrums
- his itchichi phase
- his refusal to use the loo until u have 1/1000 million secs to remove his complicated button and zipper
- his love for travel
- his huggy- buggy moments

What scares him: A new teacher...he still wants his G miss....
What scares me: They are gonna shuffle the kids...my achu took an age to get close to a handful of kids and now he has to do it all over again!!!!

The second year in school..hoping for more friends.. more knowledge... more fun...God Bless

School Blues

Achu doesn't like the idea of going to school everyday. He hates school. It's not like he makes a big racket before going. He does attempt to skip school


"Amma I think I have a sore throat"
"Do I really HAVE to go to school"
" innu leave annnnnnnuuuuuu" ( Today is a holiday )
"Amma nadhakan patinillaaa...kallu vedhana" ( Amma I can't walk...my legs hurt )
Sometimes he has a tummyache in the head and otherwise a headache in the tummy! :)

But once he gets ready he leaves quite happily sometimes ...and more often reluctantly but submissively

I wonder if the school we chose wasn't the right one or the teacher isn't good or achu is getting bullied by the other kids.....

Flash back : I hated school till the 5th grade. I totally hated it. The idea of waking up early morning, homework, tests, some teachers made me dislike school. But later on when I had my gang of friends I loved the idea of being around them for close to 8 hours gossiping,passing notes,snacking,sharing lunch and cutting class by enrolling in any volunteering job that comes our way made me enjoy school.

So I guess things will fall in place ..The Indian education system doesn't get interesting at any point of time...atleast for me that didn't happen ....I pray achu finds his gang of friends and activities fast...so the process of going to school doesn't remain a process afterall.