First prize

Rishabh wins his first medal a first prize in the musical relay. Aren't the parents thrilled? Especially with father winning his first prize at the age of 12 :-)

Rishica's Mural

Rishica loves to write, color, she has developed a liking for writing on walls. We normally scold her. But this time we did not feel like. We have even retained it on the wall of our living room.
She has drawn our family portrait.
She describes the portrait from right to left as
Rishabh (one with body arms and a tail), herself, amma, appa, ajji, thatha, attae, Raju mama

At 3 years and almost 2 months

Both seem to have got boundless energy. Rishabh talks, talks and talks. He has forgotten his "what is this". He tries to speak in English. Some times he just makes up some words, we are left wondering what he is talking. He is like a commentator who comments on everything he sees. He even tells me how to drive. Tells me to hold the steering in both hands at it sides. Even if I move one hand to the top of Steering or when I hold the gear lever, he promptly tells me to drive properly holding the steering at the sides with both hands. What a fellow!!!

Right now he is attached to my brother in law, he prefers to play with him, when he comes back. When they (sis and BIL) moved to their new home, he seems to understand they have to anyhow move.

He has picked up lot of songs from Hudugata movie whereas rhymes from school isn’t as exciting.

He has developed a second skin in form of Jeans pant. He has to wear it always. Flashback I used to do he same in II PUC. What a change, it was Rishica was making a big fuss over dressing. Now it is him.

He harasses Rishica to no end, hitting her, snatching things from her. It seems she has mellowed down a bit. She is not as aggressive as she was.

He has started to remember his dreams, he was describing a Lion roaring he being a big boy and Rishica being a small girl. Guess he was playing a protective brother??

Rishica as I mentioned is softer now, but she plays, yells and screams as much. She still cant speak fluently, but she sings songs along with him. After the Krishna Janmastami, she has developed liking for frock and juttu. She likes nail polish; she paints her nails with pencil seeing her aunt, mom and ajji. It was for couple of weeks, she is back to her preferred pink night dress.

Us parents got to see their report cards, Rishabh's assessment was more of teacher playing safe with Bs and few A. Rishcia's was a pretty good assessment by teacher. She likes writing, painting, she has started to make few friends. She still has to learn to respond to people's questions. We still do not know a single name of her friend. We meet Rishica's teacher again this month, she told us Rishi has a gang who always are laughing in the class, Signs of giggling girls?? She told us she has suddenly lost interest in coloring. She showed us her work book. She has done a pretty good job of tracing and writing alphabets.

She is still more caring about people. Sister has moved to her house Rishica woke up started feeling bad that Attae and Raju mama were not at home.

Not materialistic??

I find most kids have lot of toys or have a favourite toy to which they are attached to. If I look at my kids, they hardly play with toys. They have a few toys, but somehow they don't seem to be very interested in them. But they still fight over the toys they have, feel it more of extending their authority over the toy for that moment than attachment. Even fighting is a form of entertainment for them.I ofter wonder why this is, could it be because they are more attached to each other.
They seem to prefer playing with each other playing, talking, fighting They definitely love each other, even though they keep fighting more often than not. They also seem to be slow in making new friends. Even though lot of kids in the neighbourhood keep talking to them, they hardly respond. They are happier to say bye than hi. Only kid they seem to like is their cousin.
Now that they are in separate classes, hopefully will start mingling with others. Rishica's teacher told she has made friends with few of her classmates last couple of weeks. That's good to know.

Time out for Kids

I found it funny when I saw my Indian Americans rather NRIs or in cartoon American parents making kids face the wall and stand. Was wondering how what effect would it have on kids, always believed in spare the rod and spoil the child.

Whenever kids got out of control, I used to scream, it worked not more than few times. Then I tried talking to them in low firm voice, it worked for almost equal number of days. Then even hit them occasionally. Both of them have found defenses against that. One small spank, son starts wailing till he vomits. I become angrier because I can’t do anything. Daughter will start crying but come and hit back, even when she is helpless.

Well my sister back from America tried it out, initially only son used to stand and he quickly realized it was a punishment and he started to mend his behavior. He stopped saying Shut up and lifting his leg to show he wanted to kick.

It was difficult make Rishica stand in the corner. But after few days she realized it was a punishment. She starts crying and will stop whatever she is doing and even apologizes.

It has been working for couple of weeks; hope it continues to. Good thing is even I don’t feel guilty that I scream or hit the kids and for them it has helped them control their behavior without elders being harsh.

Waking up the daughter

Waking up Rishica or rather separating her from her favourite soft pillow is a challenge for everybody at home. Moms (mine and hers) used to have a direct way of doing it. She become a difficult baby after that. I recently found out a way.
We have little game we play with babies kalla banda (the thief came) and tickle them, I modified it with her favourite characters Oswald, Minne, Daisy, Henry, Popeye, Olive, Mickey and tickle her. After couple of character she starts prompting me with her favourite characters. I t still take 10 mins with this get her of the bed.
Well she altleast gets up in good mood, well mostly. She provides us with the next challenge of dressing. Thank God for the uniform it has saved us from some headache for now.

First Parents teacher meet

Last weekend I went to meet the teachers of my kids. The first after them joining the Sindhi school. First I met Rishica's teacher, she gave a none too positive feedback. She said Rishica does not respond to her, she cannot known whether she has grasped whatever is being taught. I was stunned by this later it sank to me that she responds only if she chooses. She normally picks up what is taught but she does not care to respond when asked. She chooses to tell whenever she feels like, I like the fighter she is, when scolded or hit, she makes sure that she retailiats doesnt care who it is or even if she is crying.
Coming back to the meeting, There was chart on the wall with stars on the wall for Gk and English, ahoy!! my daughter has no stars with 4 other children. Average was 2 stars and one kid had 4 stars. I got a bit worried. I met Rishabh's teacher and
came back ask Anuradha (miss) should I be worried she said no some kids are like that. I told it could be because they were seperated. She said "could be". It seems Rishica used to drag her brother to her seat sometimes.
In between I met Rishabh's teacher. First thing she said was he was very naughty. I asked her on what basis does she says that. She said he pushes and hits other children. I was relived that he seems to be normal and settled. Asked her how is he doing otherwise, she said he is ok and learns with other kids. She told me that I have to make him sit and make him colour, he seems to lack concentration. I was not surprised, my mom keeps complaining about this. I asked her about the star rating she said that was being done and it was not displayed. I thought she really did not know my kid as the other teacher.She told there would be change of teacher starting next month. Thought it was good.
I thanked both teachers and came back. Overall I felt Rishica required more attention to settle in she probably has picked up what she was taught she is not opening up, though her teacher Ms. Anuradha, seems to know her well she needed to do more.
Well the other teacher seemed to be detached, probably beacuse of impending change, I need to build talk to the new teacher.
BTW I forgot to ask the new teacher's name.

First Swimming experience

I took them out to BITS club they have a nice children pool about 1 - 1.5 feet. Had taken them once they had enjoyed dipping their feet in the pool. So bought them nice swimming shorts. Those tiny short are loose fitting.
Rishabh quickly enter the pool and stood. But he was not willing to let go of me. within a few minutes he started feeling better. I made him walk around bit. after that he started splashing water on bigger kids. He enjoyed when the kid splashed on him.
Rishica took much longer, she refused to enter though she was willing to dip her feet. Her thatha somehow managed make her enter the pool. Once she stood on the ground she quickly started moving about pretty confidently playing started playing with other kids. Rishabh was very hungry after 1/2 hour. He started eating the baby corn Manchurian which was another first for him.
We took them to pool after sometime again. This time both of them freaked out. I enter the larger pool. They some instinctively realize the pool was deeper. they hugged me tightly not letting me go.
The image that is with me is of Rishabh trying to avoid shivering by bending low keeping only is head above the water and moving about. Rishica splashing water about and licking the pool edge.
Both of them once each went under water and did not realize that they just had to stand up to come out of water. They had to be pulled out. There is still an amount of danger for them. We have to be careful especially with me be against aids like tubes. I feel children wont learn swimming if they have the those aids.

First movie

Took them to their first movie on 1st may.They are as crazy about mungaru male songs as I am. I was sure they were going enjoy the movie. I dragged mom along as she was the only one willing to come the second time. BTW it was also my second time.
I took them to vybhav theatre close to home. As soon they saw the poster both of them started screaming MM much to the amusement of onlookers. After the movie started, Rishica started saying MM point to Ganesh, then I realized she was under the impression that Ganesha was MM. They remember the seen when Ganesh falls into the drain. Rishabh was feeling very bad till he was pulled out. When the song onde ondu started both were awestruck with the bigness of screen and loudness of the music, then were watching stunned. Rishica was bored pretty quickly compared to Rishabh.
Rishabh was very angry when Ganesh was beaten up by villains. he started saying oye oye in a threatening tone. The dialogues bored them without they being able o follow. Whenever the songs started they were interested. Rishica started crying for amma so I called home and rishica feel better. By mid of second half they were totally irritated and probably hungry too. We were forced to leave 1/2 hour early.
Rishica started screaming and crying by the time I could get the vehicle out of parking. Refusing to be with my mom. I decided I will not take them to another movie for alteast 2 years because they are too young to relate to what is happening.

At 2 years 9 months

It is a very exciting phase of development for both children and us parents. Looks like everyday when we go back from office they would have learnt a new thing. The best part is the grand welcome I get when I go home, Both of them come screaming "Hi baby", which they picked up from me and now use it for me.
Son has developed a non stop hands and mouth. He has stared making sentence and starting to respond to questions. His favorite question is "What is this?" in a nice tune. People can become tired by the number of times he asks. He has just started to talk over phone with people. Suddenly he has developed attachment to his mom. He used to be appa's son. Maybe
because I berate him for his naughtiness, same with ajji. Mom hardly scolds him. He seems to pick up songs quickly. He can sing a stanza of Mungaru male's songs anisuthidae and kunidu. he always exhibited his liking for audio.
As a 1 year old he used to throw things down the stairs and enjoy the sounds. He as started writing, mom says he can write till 'I'. He seems to have grown very quickly.

Daughter the sweet one is cute acts like the younger one. She calls herself baby. Loves her pillow the best, she can lie down on it for quite sometime. She talks as much but finds making sentences a bit difficult. she tries out new things and son follows her. She is less scared, she fights back the parents and grand parent, hits us when we scold. We really don't fight much with her and give in. She is still her mom's baby, but shows more affection towards others these days.She likes making jigsaw puzzles, coloring. She is more visual kind. Though she writes only D her handwriting is better. She always like to do her own things, never let us help her whether writing alphabets or zipping her pants, only if she is tired she will let us help her.

They like to hear stories and try to repeat them, either skip lot of things tell the best part or combine best parts of different stories.They still don't eat and drink by themselves except for water. Son especially makes big fuss while drinking his milk one of his favorites.
Overall they are energy dynamos. Sleep much later than their tired parents. They keep playing till they fall of asleep.