Kids growing along with Covid19 lockdown

I guess its a current trend in blogging -blog about how bloggers /people are coping up with pandemic(COVID19) so I dont want to spare anyone from my rant either  ( march 2020–to be continued God knows when!!?? )

Its amusing how people behavior changed along with COVID spreading

At first, people were really complaining ( whatsapp messages were about mocking handwash/sanitizers , social distancing,staying safe etc. )

when it started becoming serious so did the whatsapp messages (it was not mocking anymore now it was 20 bullet point instructions on how to wash your freaking hands!! ) My daughter diligently followed “2 times happy birthday song ” rule.

Then in a matter of few days ,we all were stuck inside our homes with our loved ones and whats app messages were -Stay home, stay safe and all the artists around the world now came together to entertain us as much as possible so that we wont forget them.NETFLIX/HOTSTAR/AMAZON PRIME were used more than you can think, not only that (They helped us creating multiple profiles for shared screening )so that you wont fight for who wants to watch. Its not fighting for remote anymore.

Dalgona coffees,living in balcony,making imaginary fort .trying google 3D animals to all whats app challenges ,online karate,dance classes ,and trying to cooking something which I have never tried  before..

For one of Ojas birthday’s we went to byblos restuarant (mediterranian ) . We ordered (all in one  ) platter  and he just went bonkers over the display of array of food. We told him we will comeback as a reward for him next time if he attains what he targetted for ( Kids need motivation ) Unfortunately Corona made us stay at home and he is been pestering for it for a long time

As the title of this post says ,let me talk about my kids ,at first they didn’t understand what was happening All they thought was their exam is postponed and they have to stay home n prepare for their finals. After few days exams were cancelled and they were already promoted to next grades (I didn’t tell them that they are promoted ) 

Their thoughts were like Yohooo!! More TV,iPad,games etc. Once they realized they wont be even able to step out of main door for few days it struck them that they wont be able to come along to groceries to pester me to buy something for them.Overall ,they took this lockdown as a new normal and adapted to it pretty quickly (Easy peezy like my son says )

The first thing I did was hid few of their old toys and games beyond their reach and asked them to create their own game board and they DID it!!

It was of course a giant board game inspired from one of their favorite you tuber(or influencer ) .They spread the game all around living room difficult for me to clean but yet very very entertaining.

So we all are stuck in home and getting bored . I asked ojas to write or read something . He went all ballistic first and calmed down ,went into thinking zone and had a Eureka moment

He tells his Dad ‘Appa, my name has four of our birth month initials O(October) – Ojas,J(July)- Jaanu,A( August) -Amma,S(September )-You

We were so intrigued by his finding we forgot he was having a timeout . I am now thinking ..May be more timeouts for Ojas 🤔

Ojas started getting hooked to devices more and it was irking us so much so we gave him idea of creating his youtube channel.  He nudged his dad to create a channel for him and he now irritates me to gather all material for his mini science experiments so that he can make videos and show his fans(as he calls it)

Jaanu is a avid reader which works best for me as I am not. Its easy for me to keep her busy or for her to keep herself busy. She reads anything given to her ,from insects to all the stuffs which we will think 10 year old will know/not know. I  generally prefer hard copies to read but shifted to E books too just for her. Her new interest is cooking which I like to do a lot so I am kind of enjoying her company in kitchen.

Our kids dont want to sleep in their room anymore.Explanation by our kids – Amma,we are family that’s what family do ,they stay together n sleep together (.) -“You always say that right? Family that prays together ,eats together ,Stays together.”

(Me PErplexed )Well ,where is sleep in that?? ..they didn’t bother to answer that.

Our kids do get timeouts for using any device too much so one of the timeouts for my son was not to watch any game videos but Mr.and Miss smartypants tried fooling us .Ojas wore an eye mask and asked jaanu to say whats happening on the screen .It looked like how Sanjaya narrated the whole mahabharata to the blind King Dridharashtra . They definitely talked us into it.

Ojas plays a tough quiz game and one of the question was

Who will you save ? Girlfriend hanging from the cliff or your mother hanging from the cliff.

Ojas : Ofcourse Amma!

Me: Why?

Ojas : I dont have any girl friend Amma

Me: Ok fair point ,(but couldnt resist myself so )Tell me if you had a girlfriend what you would have done ?

Ojas: Still amma, I will save You

Me: (Knowing he would have a reason) Why??

Ojas: I can get another girlfriend if one goes but Can I have another amma??

Me : I was floored!! . Sorry future girlfriend(s)

Jaanu wakes up everyday with idea of doing fashion show. She takes my dresses and tries to wear them as innovatively and as creatively as she can.

We asked our kids the languages they want to learn

Ojas chose Sanskrit  saying I have to learn Bhagavad Gita right ? (Its written in sanskrit) Ojas’s grandfather (Avid lover and preacher of Bhagavad Gita is still recovering from fall after he was floored by his grandson’s vision )

We have a lemonade stall at home so that they make weird lemonades and we must devour them.

So once they chose to have best lemonade contest.  They both made lemonades and asked me to taste and tell whose is the best.

Me: Jaanu made nice but Ojas you made better than hers.

Ojas: Yes, because I put lot of love in that amma

Jaanu : “I have put love and effort too”( I could get the J vibes from her because generally it’s her dialogue eg. If I have cooked something nice she asks me ‘amma ,how much of  love have u put in this food ??’   )

We planted different veggie seeds and only one turned up!   Brinjals ( Its kind of irony because that is their least favorite veggetable )

We even made a pigeon friend who literally stays in our balcony and named her Mridhula!! I like it when Ojas struggles everyday to pronounce the name and complains about it being too complicated.

My kids are Warriors , Yes ! they took this situation and accepted it gracefully as a new normal . They are handling it way better than all the people who are complaining in the world  (including me at times) They never complain that they are sitting at home for past 3 months and didn’t dine outside(Because they have a splendid mom aka cook who makes their favorite dishes all the time ). They manage to pester me during groceries  sitting at home (video call me and ask me to show the isles and chose what they want)

Suddenly one day I remembered the toys I have hidden and re-introduced them to the kids .Their reaction was same as getting a new toy actually they were even more joyous to find them saying its like hidden treasure.

I would not say life has changed drastically but our way of life has .We all are learning to appreciate little things. It sometime makes me feel its too simple yet complicated. I feel , situations like this makes you look at your life differently. Makes you understand your priorities and reset them. Cherish the things which were least important but most needed Yes !! My morning Cup of joe as soon as I wake up. In this pandemic one thing I learned from my kids is that we have to make memories especially good memories for yourself first and for the  loved ones involved in your life.

One thing which I am sure will not get once this pandemic is over is evening tea time with Vasanth though most of time I end up bickering or non stop nonsense but still those are my good memories as when i look back it makes me smile 🙂   Our kids have named it ‘us’ time. They peep out to the balcony while we both are having  our evening tea/coffee and ask “You guys are having your ‘ us’ time huh??!!”

So this lead to something called US time.Ojas comes and gives me lot of cuddles and says its US time .Jaanu comes in kitchen and gives me a hand in cooking saying its our US time.Ojas and Jaanu learn 5words each day and discuss it with their dad saying its their US time with their Dad

I started writing this post when COVID spread was at its peak. Now its 2022 ,Yes TWO years COVID is still ON with Its upgraded versions.

Stay safe guys

Ojas turns 3!!!

There is one little person in my house who is not mentioned much in this blog. I have said the same thing in every post about this fella. Yes!!he turned  3 on 20 oct 2015 and I’m publishing a post 5 months after that because I am a lazy person ,OK! super lazy person.

Its easy to pick up gifts or things I can do for Jaanu but for Ojas I struggle ,we both struggle a lot.As I have noticed this boy has very less favourites which he clings on very dearly to .For example cars,anything with wheels and yes his dirty blanket aka blanky/blankie

One of our cousins met Ojas after an year and the moment she saw him the first thing she says “Oh my God! You still have this blanky ????” Our blanky is Famous now!!!!

Here, I was running out of gift idea but Jaanu came up with idea of buying a scooter for him. Sometimes it’s right there and you still look for the thing like a crazy drunk person ??? Yah I was like ,really ?? Now my brain has stopped thinking so much that I need to get gift ideas from a 5 year old but that was indeed a very good idea and we went with it ,I have no shame in it. We got a helmet too if that’s anybody’s concern .The helmet reminded me of a thought we used to have when ojas started walking  ,myself and Vasanth always  considered putting a helmet (or like the one Magneto (X-men) wears )permanently on Ojas as he banged his head every day for one reason or other.

Recently Ojas started enjoying connecting things together ,pairing same patterns together so we thought may be building blocks ???

Jaanu made a special card for her brother with a superman in it.

I made a three layer cake finally !!! Half vanilla ,half chocolate and decorated with Ojas favourite Oreo and gems and a small car.
The car had a number 3 written on it which made it extra special but the most fun thing to watch was  Ojas blowing candle and cutting the cake with a big helmet on his head .He was more excited about musical candle than cutting and eating the actual cake but I noticed later while serving the guests that an Oreo was missing .I chuckled ” I knew it!!!!”

I’m always scared with this fellow standing around cakes . In spite of my several failed attempts to make him understand that birthday baby cuts the cake first he always takes that cream n licks it.Once he  kept his hand ,right in middle of cake (really lucky the girl didn’t make a big deal )

But off late he is patient enough for the birthday baby to cut but he still takes the first bite . I normally restrict him from going near the cake but all his friends want him to stand closer to them (ohh !!you don’t know him poor girl/boy )

He just keeps me on my nerves always and everyday .he also knows that if he gives that lovely little smile wen I’m upset with him I’m floored. The most fun part is he feels people who get angry are funny. One day I was really upset with him and he says “amma you look funny “and guffaws . He very well knows when I’m really really upset ,poor fellow starts crying ,apologising and requesting me for hugs- neither I can resist my urge to hug him nor crackup .

He loves his sister .Im not supposed to get upset with her ,he asks me to make a smiling face and asks me to hug her .He still says sorry like thousand times to her and they patch up in a jiffy. He copies every act of his sister and some time reverse scenario happens and he keeps asking her not to repeat what ever he says. He really gets upset with that. When Jaanu says “see copying is not fun !?” Ojas :”I’m sorry Jaanu ” and they patch up again ,cycle goes on.

I wish for many many things to write but certainly this blog will not be enough for that .lovely moments to share and cherish is all we need . As I always say I am truly blessed with a possibility to soak into these moments .

Happy birthday son !!

“You don’t really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around -and why his parents will every time wave back . ” —journalist William D Tammeus.

Love you always .

 

Ojas is 2 !!!

I know I am 3 months over due this post but frankly speaking i had this post in drafts for quiet a long time. and it just ran over my head that I have not published it yet.
I have to accept that planning Ojas birthday was difficult. I literally didn’t have options on how I could make it more memorable. His likes are selective,he kind of sticks to those.Till date his favourite is car and its wheels,probably the next thing he likes the most is strawberry.
So this time I decided to make a strawberry tart for him and a family day trip to a farm(Pick your own)

Jaanu decided to give a PUPPY made in Build A Bear Shop (named it fluffy,Put a red heart after giving it a life by kissing it) and a family cake cutting time with our grand parents and aunts watching it online from India. After that gift from Jaanu, Ojas named every toy dog Fuffy

The most adorable thing about him is his hugs If I ask him one he always comes to me with open arms saying “Huggy” out loud and takes my head in his tiny arms and gives me a kissing sound “Ummmah”.He sometimes wants me to carry him just for the heck of it.He dislikes if momma is talking to some one over the phone. He likes cuddles and all sort of mushy things but he hates this all when i have his food in my hand, All he needs at that moment is food. He reminds me saying out loud “Ammaa Mumum(food)”
If he wants hug or kisses from Jaanu he just grabs her tightly and pulls her towards him irrespective of what Jaanu is doing ,sometimes ends up bad but most of times Jaanu likes the way he gives her cuddles.She really appreciates and understands the love beyond all roughness.

He is still a proud lover of his blanket (blankie) .Every morning a trail follows him just like a king with his cape. He indeed likes calling himself a king by grabbing his blanket under his chin so that it wont slide off his shoulders. Its super cute to watch him.
He wants to be appreciated too if we appreciate his sister. He tries to do some of his own difficult stunts and shows off saying “amma Look!!!” and we have to obviously give nice pats on his shoulder.

The more I think about it the more nostalgic it makes me ,How these kids grow so fast?? I try my best to keep a note on this blog (failing miserably at times ok!! Most of times) but I have everything in my thoughts and memories and I know no one can take those away and I dont have to keep a tab on those things .I am glad and thankful every day for making me enjoy this simple pleasures of my life.

Apple jam

We had a visit to a farm as one of the gift for Ojas’s birthday.Generally our birthday celebrations are spending time together as a family than partying if you want to put it selfish perspective,I don’t want to take a hassle of managing more people right on this special day and as long as kids don’t wish for it we are not going to think about it.

So we thought may be visit to a farm will be something which my kids will enjoy and it will be nice personal and private moment as a family . In london, how much ever you plan a trip in advance ,it all depends on rain and luckily, that day was clear so we got ready in fractions of second and were there in the farm within 2 hrs.

Ojas ran into sticky dirty fields of apples,pears,spinach,broccoli carelessly splashing into puddles and wanting to put his hands in soil. Few passers by were encouraing him saying “soil is tasty ,common put it in ur mouth and trouble mommy” Jaanu, on the contrary made a fuss about getting dirty initially but somehow the red apples lured her and she started enjoying getting dirty.Ojas picked up everything he could see and threw them into basket.kids were really happy to do this . I know i cannot give them this big farm often to run around everyday and its best feeling when these moments falls into right place at the right time of our life .The gratification of silent observer despite being a part of it made my day and more importantly made my kids happy with big smiles.

We had two big bags of merchandise worth few £. The eldest in our family agreed for this farm trip with a bribe of making jam of what ever i buy over there hence it resulted in a post about me bragging about the apple jam.

Ingredients
5 big apples
1 to 2 cup sugar  (depends upon how much sweet one prefers )
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon

How i made it:
1.Peel and chop the apples in small peices and put them in icecold water to stop them from browning
2. Drain water and transfer them in a hard bottom pan
3.Turn on the heat and let them cook for 10 minutes
4.Add sugar,salt cinnamon and keep stirring
5.let it reduce till it becomes glossy (may be for 40 minutes to 1 hour in low flame)
6. After its completely cold transfer it to sterilised jars.

It was a success indeed.

Oh! Boy

This is something I love to write about . ie my kids.
My 16 month old boy is suddenly big boy now. He jumped from being a baby to all learning mode.
Adorable things he can do:
If I ask who is Ojas,  he pats his small ponch .
I say namaste, he folds his hand to do namaste
If I say clap he claps his hands
Say huggy, he will look for his sister to hug. Myself and vasanth are not fortunate enough for that yet.
He can understand what Comes next very well . ex . While vasanth starts wearing his shoes in morning he says,  “ba ba” he knows vasanth is going to leave and stands by him so that he can take him out.
He got the idea that u have to keep the receiver on our ear to  talk.
He needs everyone in the house to be with him. If any one of us leave he cries, very very bad.

He is one angry young man, if you stop (even warn him) of not so good behavior, he growls and lies flat on the ground and throws tantrums(gene coding)

This wierd Al has a comfort blanket, a real blanket as a comfort blanket. He bites it  just like a puppy holds a toy in its mouth n growls if any body tries to snatch it.

He says poochi, muchi , Amma, ppa, eyes (keeps his index finger on his eye) if we say kissi he showers flying kisses keeping his palm on his mouth instead of taking it away like in a traditional flying kiss ..

He plays with car, to my curiosity I tried giving him doll, he either pushes it away or bites it hard so that he can get few beatings from his sister for doing it.

He shows just two emotions smile and cry but most of the time smiles make a higher count.
We call him a ” happy feet dancer” he taps his legs just like that little penguin in movie’ Happy Feet’ .I just love this easy breezy boy.

Every time I see my kids I say this every time. THEY GROW SO FAST.
Each person  have their own perception , there are people who might  be worried about what’s next, school, emi , life insurance, house, a good future for them etc. I won’t say that those are not my concerns but I am not there yet to give priority to these concerns .All I care for now is I have to enjoy these moments of life and slowly learn to let them go whenever they want to and most of all whenever I have to . I can’t be this over protective nag in every time in their life . Isn’t bringing a change in yourself the most important thing than changing things around you?  It’s been 3 years since I entered motherhood but the overprotective me has just started  to learn to be at ease sometimes.

I have definitely enjoyed the phase and to cherish many more such phases of our life together .i feel very much lucky enough to have witnessed and experience these simple joy of motherhood.

Birthday week -Day 6

One of my favorite pic with his dad.
This is the first picture of Ojas with his father.

Birthday week -Day 4

He started sitting just few days before I took this picture.

My little wonder

Ojas is as usual a calm little fellow with a benign face but some little twists here n there. He loves to be held in arms. Carry him and go anywhere he will just keep watching things around.
Things he can do:
He can hold onto things and stand with its support.
He holds on to our coffee table and goes round and around it tapping,jumping like a bongo drummer.
He will take one hand high up in air and will do action like I call it “fixing the light bulb”
He can say bababa n do bye bye action by waving hands.
He used to welcome food 2 months back but now he is little fussy about eating same old cereal.
He still loves wires and electric circuits of our house.
He has a little comfort blanket now. He holds it and doze into a dreamland singing his own little lullaby
He started admiring his sisters rhime reciting. He laughs at wrong timing still making her sister laugh along.
He always waits for her sister to greet her after she comes back from school . As soon as she makes a eye contact with him, he greets her with big mouth single tooth smile.
He is fond of wheels and loves to taste everything around
Things he has tasted so far.. boots, stickers and labels, paper, cloths, toys,chocolate wrappers, bands esp the rubber bands which his sister is wearing.
Half of the time he either has non edible things in his mouth or my hands trying to pull out the same.
He spills that giggly laughter when ever his mom plays peek-a-boo.

Snatching things from his hands upsets him but a lot but the way he reacts to that is even more funny( he will crawl with his face down along with nodding his head left to right)

A reminder to you my son :
When I look back these 11 months all I can see and hear is your laughter. You are one charming kid who can win anyone’s heart by just being calm. You neither made a fuss nor you have choosy needs. A contented person is a striking attribute of yours.
You adore me I know it’s too much to say but that’s true because you always looked at me at amaze and that is the best thing you do for me I have wondered several times that what is going on in tiny brain of yours whenever you look at me like that, may be ,”why she always smiles at me”,”why is she here” or even “who is she” I really don’t care but I just love it. For everything that’s going on in your head the answer is simple I love you and care for your wellness more than anything in this world.

Be little gentle on growing up part. I can’t handle this vigorous and fast growth of yours as just few more days to go and you are going to be 1 year old. I love you my boy. God bless you.

Happy Birthday Jaanu -100th post

What can be a better day to post my 100 th post other than Jaanu’s birthday!!  ??

Hi  Jaanu !!!

Its been three years already!! I thought of jotting down the best moments with you .

I keep juggling the moments as to choose which were the best. Factually speaking there are few which I forgot and reminded of while I started writing this post.

* ) Your utter ridiculous talk is like a music to my ears something which I keep listening to all day along.

*) The way you show your temper is actually a fun time for us Sweety! You reject everything when you are upset with something saying “Venaa ” (I don’t want it) and when we used to say ” Its(Laughter)  getting down from your nose to your mouth ”  You burst out a loud laughter with still  little tears trickling down.

*)You cannot stand your brother’s tears.

*) The way you call your brother’s name ” Ojas  manamalan” Its actually ” Ojas Manavalan”

*) You can touch your nose with your tongue. When ever I try doing it, you show me how to do it  with smirking face and make me go OMG! when you do the same with your runny nose (Eeeeew!)

*) You insist on NOT holding your hands while walking these days probably you are aware that we are right there to back you up.

*) You are quirky little girl always ready for hugs ,kisses and snuggles 🙂

There are thousands of such moments which I might have missed out to mention but remember there is not a single moment where I have missed enjoying those with you .Every birthday of you brings more joy to my life and our life as a parent and as a family.Seeing you grow makes my heart to sob into the sadness but I often tell myself that ” How can I be sad, that time is passing? That’s what supposed to happen ..Sometimes as parents we are seeing mini-me(s) in you. You are a real good amalgamation of US .With every new day you engulf us in your love and loveliness . The way you have embraced these three years of my life is a bliss and  I am glad that you are mine ( Ours)  

LEts hope and pray to have a beautiful  birthday together as a family ! May you be blessed with everything you deserve, 

Happy Birthday Darling !!  

Aaal my times!

Jaanu was making big fuss about finishing her last teaspoon of porridge.I got tired of waiting and gulped it down myself.she saw her bowl and exclaimed “finisaaaa” proceeded by a pat on my shoulder saying “Gujobbb” but icing on the cake- she asks me with raised eyebrow  “gems venuma? ” (do u want a candy now?

She holds all her toys like this and calls it Oju.