Just another Day in the Life of a MOM!!!!!

It’s been a while since I worked on my blog.  As strapped as I am for time, and regardless of how exhausted I am at the end of the day, for the past few days I have had this nagging feeling that I am missing something. I don’t really know if it’s Anika’s school or Ashwin’s travel or my laziness. Perhaps all of the above and then some more; but I woke up today and decided that I absolutely have to get back to blogging again.

I've been writing about being a mom and how challenging this new phase in a woman’s life can be.

Everything has a shelf life and becoming a new mother is no exception! Once the buzz of being a new mommy in town wears off, it is time to take stock and pull up your socks.  The whole trial and error phase with your newborn is over and pretty soon your lil’ one is walking and talking all at once and you realize your kid is growing up fast! Fortunately or unfortunately so are you and nothing drives home the message faster than the fact that your kids friends now call you -”AUNTY!”

To be honest, initially I did feel pretty old when Anika’s friends started calling me Aunty. This is how the “AUNTY” phase has been treating me -

I go to a mall for shopping and look at girls younger than me and feel “J”

I see a nice super sexy dress and wish I was a little younger to wear that.

I see women my age coming to school to drop their children and think “Oh yeah, I belong to that group now.”

I go into McDonalds, KFC or any Coffee shop and look at the crowd and feel, ”I hope these kids don’t mind me coming here.”

I get a trendy haircut and think “Oh my god, does this really suit me????”

In-case you were thinking this is all, wait till your kid starts school. Suddenly it’s your kid telling you if you are looking good or what to wear and yes a time does come when you realize your kid know things better than you do! Sigh...whatever happened to the “what’s, and why's, and where’s” that they couldn’t stop asking like just yesterday.

Oh and let’s not forget the other areas of our lives that get invaded....they weren't kidding when they say “parents sacrifice a lot for their kids” were they now?

Your time of watching TV is finally over. They decide what they want and you just have to follow their program. (You definitely can’t operate the remote). Chotta Bheem, Thomas and friends, Mickey Mouse suddenly become your family members. (Don’t bother asking how). You can't change channels if it’s a break. Advertisements are equally important. Its more of going to a Mall to play children’s games or go to any children’s place (Window Shopping is only allowed).

The point that I am trying to make however, is this - no matter how much I might while about it, at the end of the day there is no better happiness in this world than watching your kid grow up and spread their wings. Yes, I do feel I have grown old but I did become old to see my little one grow up to talk to me. Little things that can’t be expressed; little sacrifices which mean so much...all of these are precious and I know these are what memories are made of.

My lil’ girl completes me. She is the reason for all my happiness today. Being called an aunty....who cares! I am a mother and that’s all that matters to me now.

Mystery behind the Missing Blogger!!!!!!!!!!!!

It’s been a while since I blogged. Well, to be honest I did miss writing and looking into those comments every now and then. But, what was the reason for me to go missing this long??? It’s been close to 2 weeks now.

Life can just go about here and there when things are not in place. Ask me,”How?”

I didn't know if I should start writing about the excitement of my daughter`s 2^nd Birthday or to write about my depressed state due to my absconding maid or to write about my helpless situation in all these things.

Everyday life seems to be a little shaken when you realize your maid hasn't turned up for few days and that’s when you declare she`s is absconding. I will have veggie cutting, cleaning, dish washing, cooking, Mop and washing to do if I don’t have her around. I will have to make sure Anikas lunch is ready on time and make sure there is no change in her schedule. And such times definitely Anika has to be cranky and that will be one of the toughest times in the recent past.

After all these duties completely done, I put her back to sleep and realize,”Aaaaw let me take a breather and get back on my laptop to blog a little”. But, no such luck these days because I will have clothes waiting in line to be folded and kept back in their places. I have to quickly set up the whole house and start with my cleaning. Just to be well prepared for her upcoming birthday party which will be celebrated at home. Well, this went on for a while. I was only living with a hope that my maid will be back the next day. I suddenly realize that I have something’s still not done. That’s when I see there’s a pile of clothes lying in the laundry bag waiting for their turn to get washed and pressed.

To add to all these things, I see most of my plants are in a very critical state and If I don’t pay attention to that.. then I might just lose them all. Hence, the watering has to be done very quickly. With so many things around, blogging has taken a back seat as of now.

These days Anika makes it a point to get cranky mostly in the evenings if I don’t take her bicycle out for few rounds or if we don’t go and play ball with the girls in the apartment. Hence, Some time during the day is given to her bicycle rides or play with her girls downstairs.

So, you can imagine mommy`s job is just not to take care of her kids but so many things gets added into this. Lot of my free time is usually into these activities which just can’t escape.

We crib, nag, cry or even scream but there's one fact which we women just cant get away from it is,”We have loooots of work to do. It can be either at home or in the office or else where. We women are always here to take responsibilities beyond our reach.I guess we are programmed that way.”

Anika`s World Of Speech!!!!

Ever since I was a little girl, I have been chastised for being too talkative. This has been my reality whether I was at home or at school and even college.  I have been punished for being too talkative at school, I've been scolded for talking in meetings; I was even caught writing chits and gossiping … What not??? Through it all I never once understood why my being talkative was so irksome to people. But, today when  my little girl goes on and on and on… I wish I could shout and say,”Enough! Shut up now !”

Life is so unpredictable. What goes around comes around. I used to hate it when people asked me not to talk.  But I can see how that must have been irritating to other people because my little girl is a chip of the old block!

To be honest, it’s great fun but at the same time it can really get you mad. Anika loves to talk. She has to tell me everything she sees; only she repeats it a million times and expects me to sound just as enthusiastic as the first time! …Let me remind you again.. A MILLION TIMES!!!!!!

Just for instance, malls are her favorite place. She loves the noise and the movement of people and the colors and sights...And when we come back home she just has to describe every single thing that she saw or did in the mall over and over again.

Almost two, my little one already has a good grasp on her linguistic skills. I've categorized her talking this way:

Home Talking:

Tee Tee ON (Which means switch on the TV)

Gimme thone (Give me that phone)

Donno.. Take that (Don’t know, take something else)

Mamu (funnily says this for puffed rice)

Poon Thand (Spoon Stand)

Thun Thom (Off late the only thing she gets scared of is Thunder Storm)

Payya (Powder)

Washy Washy (Washing Machine)

Poto (Photo)

Remoth (Remote)

Robo (Robot)

Iped (Ipad)

Family/Friends Talking:

Atin (Ashwin. If she is angry she calls him Atini which means Ashwini)

Manduli (Madhuri. If I don’t listen to her. All she does is shouts Manduli Manduli)

Keosha (Koka. Her little cousin sister. Her day wouldn't be complete without listening to Keosha`s stories)

Thatha (Sachin. Her best friend in the apartment)

Neha (Sneha. Another best friend)

Lavan Aunty (Lavania. My best friend and now Anika`s best friend too)

Cinji Aunty (Niji. Another best friend who brings lots of gifts for Anika every time she meets her. Now, Anika`s best friend too)

Favourite Talking:

Gimme ( Give me)

No Mamma No Mamma No

Go ya

Off.. Mamma Tete Off ( mama switched off the TV)

Donnno (Don’t know)

Car,Cab

Voom Voom Voom (Bike)

Sometimes listening to all of this just drives me crazy. But, I can’t imagine a day in my life without hearing that sweet voice repeat these words over and over again. They give me strength, they make me happy and all these words remind me why it is such a joy to be a mother.

They are funny, they are cute, they are sweet and mostly they can never be forgotten. I’m sure each child has his or her own unique way of talking. A mother can get tired of listening to it over and over again.

You Call Her Ma, Mamma or Mom… She`s All The Same… She`s Your Mother!!!!

She`s your biggest strength and your best friend. From waking you up in the morning till you go to bed at night, she`s there for you always. She gets worried when you come home late or when you don’t take that call, she makes sure you are always safe wherever you are. She never wants to see you sad or hurt. Even though you are wrong she still says, “You are not wrong baby,, you could have been a little better”. She loved you yesterday but she loves you more today…. She`s your “MOTHER.”

God can’t be everywhere, so he made mothers. I treasure this line every minute in my life. I’m not sure if I would have said my prayers every single day but I know I talk to my mother every single day. I fight with her, drive her crazy still don’t forget the fact that,” I LOVE HER THE MOST.”

We must have heard these lines a thousand times and still don’t get bored of them. Mommies will always be mommies. Take a sneak peak:

1.    Don’t you dare come home late
2.     Look at your room, it looks as if there was a hurricane here.
3.     Don’t shout at me like that; Remember I am your mother
4.     Don’t throw food
5.     Do you know how lucky you are to get such parents in your life
6.     Remember brinjal is also a vegetable
7.     You need to wash your hands before you touch that
8.     Let me remind you, This is our home not a hotel!!!!
9.     Look at me when I am talking to you..
10.   Stop making stupid faces behind my back
11.   Don’t you dare waste that food; remember there are so many kids who don’t even get               this to eat
12.  Don’t raise your voice or I have to call your father
13.  Whom were you talking to???
14.  Where were you all this while??
15.   Did you finish studying or shall I switch off that stupid cricket match??
16.   Please change your jeans once in a while
17.   How much are you going to shop?? Do you realize the value of money
18.   What are you hiding from me.. Tell me the truth
19.   Do you realize how hard it is to earn money
20.   If you don’t listen to me.. then the door is that way
21.   Who is that guy???

We have grown up listening to all these lines and today we are ready to throw them on our kids. I always wondered if I am going to say these lines to my child. Well, I am all set to do that.

I’m sure when we were kids we have got whacks, shouting’s, punishments and what not from our parents. And we have even hated them. But, today as parents we would still ask our parents what is right and what is wrong. We still want to follow the same steps what they followed.

Parents are children`s biggest strength. You help them and guide them at every stage of their life. And when it comes to a Mother, mothers sacrifice their life completely to their children. When your child is an infant a mother goes through a new phase in bringing up, when the child is a toddler she goes through all the naughtiness and tantrums the child gives her, when the child is a teenager she goes through all the hate and the rude behavior the child gives her, when the child is set to get married she prays that the child should get a good life partner. At every stage, our mothers are always with us.

I’m not sure if god listens to our prayers or not. But, when you tell your mother you are not fine, she is ready to pray a million times. May be because she always wants you happy.

You don’t have to wait for Mother`s day to celebrate the love, care and power of a mother. If you love your mother, every day is a Mother`s day.

We Are Human Too!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think I have mentioned a million times by now that a woman too is reborn once she gives birth to a child. And as days go by, she transforms herself into a Mommy. Well, I can’t get enough of these lines. Its hooked into my brain that I can never get away from it.

Kids, diapers, sterilizing, feeding, bathing, training, etc etc..All these are words which can be heard in a regular basis. But, let me tell you mothers always can’t be perfect at their work. They too mess up things at times.

And what happens when mommy messes up things. See it yourself:

1.     You can’t always remember everything. You forget to go grocery shopping your next day is screwed up. You can’t think of a dish at that moment without the items you don’t have. Everything goes into a big messy state.

2.     You keep in mind to tell something important to your hubby. By the time, he calls you.. You are totally lost.

3.     You remember a thousand times that you have to buy those diapers and wipes….as usual you are sooo involved in handling so much work, you only remember that the next time you need them.

4.     You put the milk for boiling to feed your kids.. may be you just want it luke warm.. But, you are busy with something else.. The milk is boiled so much that you need extra 10mins to cool it.

5.     You put on the cooker and keep in mind that you want only 3 whistles. As usual you forget the count of the whistles and keep thinking a hundred times again and again…

6.     You keep some things so carefully because you don’t want to forget where you kept them. Unfortunately, the next time you look for it, whatsoever you can never find it.

7.     You keep in mind to discuss something really important with your hubby when he comes home, but by the time he reaches home you are just wondering what was it.

8.     You plan a million times throughout the week and just wait for the weekend. And when the weekend is here, you just don’t feel like stepping out of that door.

I used to wonder if all this is included in the pregnancy package or mothers lose their memory after the child is born. Let me know why mothers are transformed this way after the baby is born. That’s because:

1.     We can’t leave them alone even for few minutes.

2.     We can’t be harsh, rude or shout at them very often

3.     We need to make a list of activities and make sure the child is busy and engaged.

4.     Make sure their breakfast, lunch, supper, dinner everything is ready on time. Because when kids are hungry, they become cranky panky (and we know how tough it is to take care of that cranky child).

5.     You have to play with them

6.     Check if they want to pee or poo

Keeping all these in mind, it’s definitely not easy to remember. I’m not sure only if my memory is this way or other mothers around me face similar memory issues.

Going through so many different stages mentally and physically, I still feel so proud to say “Motherhood is the best gift."

 And to all the proud women out there... I say,”Cheers!!!!!!!!!!”

The Mystery Of Missing Items in the Kitchen

After Anika’s room, the Kitchen is my next favorite place in the house. Like most wives and mothers, a large portion of my time is spent in the kitchen cooking scrumptious meals for my husband and myself , and for making Anika’s favorite dishes. However, off late my foray into the kitchen has been for locating missing items from around the house.

Recently when Anika and I were reading of her books sitting I noticed something peeking from under the sofa. For a wild minute my worst fears surfaced and I held my breath thinking could that be something alive and wriggly. With bated breath I bent down to see what it could be. My little girl, bold and unafraid as she is, bent down with me too.

A closer inspection dispelled my fears about it being a cockroach or some other wriggle creature; instead I my spatula which had gone mysteriously missing a few days ago. When I asked Anika about the spatula, this is what happened between us:

Me: Anika !!!!!!! Who brought this here ????

Anika: Hehehehehehehe( giving me all naughty smiles)

Me: Stop laughing and tell me

Anika: Ani Ani (She meant by saying Anika brought that)

Me: Why did you bring??? Is this a toy to play????

Anika: Papa Papa!!!!!!! Uhhhhhuuuuuuu (starts crying)

Again, do I shout at her or scold her? Nopes!!! 

The minute I saw tears rolling down her little cheeks, I quickly changed my tone and told her politely not to do this again. Kitchen utensils are not for playing. She just sweetly replies ”Okay.” How much of what I had told her did she understand is anyone’s guess!

Just after few seconds, those crocodile tears just vanished and I was left wondering if I had been taken for a ride again by this little minx. 

When I’m working in the kitchen, I always try to finish up my work fast so that I can spend quality time with my little girl. However, Anika’s latest game of hiding my kitchen items makes it next to impossible! 

These are things missing in a daily basis:

Colanders

Garlic crusher

Tongs

Spatulas

Spoons

Tea Kettle

I knew my cooking would take longer than usual because of the missing items from the kitchen.  But I was adamant to find them regardless of where she might have hidden them. I checked everywhere under the sofas, the couch, behind the dressing area, underneath the bed. But all of my efforts went in vain.

Finally, when I thought I rather give up and declare, “They are lost,” I found Anika slowly bending down under the Divan and then peeping through. And that ‘s when I knew where could find my missing items. I ran quickly to the divan and when i bend down to see what’s in there…well......

I could see my colanders, garlic crusher, tongs, spatulas, spoons , forks and what not… I thought it looked like a mini home decor shop. To keep Anika distracted, I have her one of my dupatta’s while I quickly cleared up all the stuff and hid them in different places in the kitchen.

Feeling happy that my kitchen was back to normal and feeling extra extra generous,  picked up Anika and smothered her with kisses till she is begging to be let down. 

It was tea time anyway, so I went to my kitchen and get the tea brewing when I realize, my tea strainer is missing...  

And it starts all over again!!!!

Flashback Of Our Pregnancies!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone talks about the “The Proud Mommy” and the glow of happiness on a mother’s face when she holds her baby for the first time. But, before we actually become proud mothers, we go through all kinds of trials and tribulations during those 9 long months.

Let’s be honest here,  even though most of us read and know about pregnancy cravings and the different ways in which a woman’s body changes to accommodate the growing baby inside, nothing can truly ever prepare you for one of the greatest adventures of womanhood.

I have been focusing on mother’s or talk about kids and their little pranks in most of my posts. So I thought it might be nice to share my journey into motherhood during those nine months. 

I know this checklist is going to ring a bell with most mothers:

1      Feeling Jealous looking at other women wearing heels.

2      Desperately wanting to go and grab a pair of skin tight jeans to look hotter than      others.

3      Pinning for a nice Spa treatment.

4      Dying to sleep on your tummy.

5      This is the time we love to work out. May be go to the gym , jog , swim or skate.

6      Wanting to get a super cool hair color,blow dry or straighten your hair often.

7      Wear your rings back on your fingers.

8      Want your feet back because you are just too bored at looking at your big swollen   feet most of the time.

9      Crazy urge to fold your legs and sit up on the chair

10   Wanting to walk fast just like the others.

11   Wanting to look in the mirror and finding your old self minus the swollen face and tummy.

12    Hoping that pampering and extra care continues for a lifetime. This one I know most of you would love!

These are just few of the things that I felt during my pregnancy. The first thing I started to miss after Anika was born are those kicks in my tummy. I started feeling extremely empty inside after she was born. You could have gone to those prenatal classes or read a 1000 page book to get hold of how life turns once the baby is born. Once again, nothing prepares you for feeling this way. There can’t be anything which can guide you the best apart from having to experience pregnancy and motherhood yourself.

This is what I learnt in my pregnancy.

Every pregnancy is different from another. The day you know you are pregnant until the day your little one is brought into this world.  I am sure every mother counts her days till she gets to see her little bundle of joy. It could be getting pampered at home, quitting your job or attending classes. All this is done just for the baby. We women start looking up on the internet for every little thing. Want to eagerly know what other women felt when they were pregnant. Every tiny piece of data gives a whole new meaning to us.

The fact that you are going to become a mother is the most precious feeling in the world. And a new role of being a parent is just mesmerizing. You plan what to do, you organize your stuff, you decide on certain things, you basically make everything ready for the arrival of your baby. Sometimes, nothing works. Nothing at all. Your baby will teach you everything for you to be a perfect mother.

Not sure if I was blogging here or giving you my pregnancy gyaan.