her summer vacations

So,.....her summer vacations will start in two days.

No, you still have not got the depth of the statement. I mean she will go to school for just two more days and then her school will close for full two months. She will be at home for 24X60 hours testing and shredding away all of my mind, patience and tolerance, none of which in ample quantity now I possess.

I know your reactions will vary depending on which segment of age and experience ladder you belong. Be it noted that I did not mention gender because in my personal biased opinion (with her papa working from home since the last two months, this was bound to happen sooner or later), fathers too, at the least become a witness to the ordeal, the mothers go through in the process of raising up their toddlers into pre-teens.

Again please be it noted that in my personal biased opinion (with one kid of that age, I have no different experience to whine about, which very determinedly I will still do, even if incompetent in other older age departments), this process of turning a toddler into a pre-teen is the most difficult one.

If she were still a toddler (which she actually used to be two years back) I would have had no tensions of further extending her scholar, mental and physical abilities through my personal intensive efforts or expensive extensive external efforts. I could have easily involved her in my daily chores and avoided the monkey of guilt ride my pillion.

While working in the kitchen I could have given her the spoons, forks and knives (blunt ones obviously) to count, to analyse the shapes, to make a flower with and thus feel satisfied about the time worth spent on introducing her to mathematical, analytical and craft skills. While folding clothes I could have given her a handkerchief telling her to fold it into different shapes of gun, pillow or mouse thus softly introducing the art of origami to her.

But now the times are different. Her kitchen excursions mean that she wants to make an actual chapatti herself, playing with dough on the slab is not satisfying for her anymore. Even watching TV was easier then, there were no such uncomfortable questions like ‘why were the two aunties crying ’ or fighting as the case may be, the best still was ‘why did you change the channel’-(you know why I did that).

In desperation, sometimes I fast forward my life and imagine my days when
she will be a teen or a pre teen with her independent set of friends (questionable and unquestionable- both included), phone calls (again questionable and unquestionable), Music and internet (please lets not raise the topic of questionability again- I want to feel happy about that time) and lots of projects and homework.

Oh! What leisurely days will that be!!!!!

I know if you are my mom reading this or even my mother in law or someone who belongs to this category of ‘been there seen that and done that’ you will say ‘you can not even manage a single kid, look at us we managed three of you and have done so finely at it’. Now, it is their diplomatic indirect way of praising us. Indirect because otherwise they are very economicai when it comes to appreciate their kids, they being the firm believer that ‘the lesser the better’ and sometimes even display the tendencies of ‘the grass is greener in other’s pastures’. And diplomatic because of all people you will be the last person on the earth to raise objection to this statement of theirs.

If you happen to be a carefree birdie type- I mean not married or if married not a mom or pop yet, then I know what you are going to say. Just like my brothers, brother in law or cousins from the either side, your weekend time pass would be to call your little nephew or niece’s mom to hear their little adventures. I know listening to such cute sweet stories is pure unadulterated fun but just imagine being a part of it, being on the receiving side of such adventures. I enjoy such memory rewinding sessions. They give me an emotional booster by giving me a chance to boast of my little one and my tremendous efforts that are pouring into raising that little one. But secretly I tell myself ‘enjoy your time and the stories of how deep the water is while sitting on the shore, I will call you once you are deep diving’.

Then there is the last category- of moms whose cubs are not tigers yet. No, this category can again be divided into two sub categories. One is mom with cubs whose paws have started to gain claws,that is their moustaches are just shaping up. The other subcategory is of those whose kids are waiting in the queue for their first appointment with the tooth fairy.
So, for the first subcategory, I know you are a milder case of ‘been there done that’ and a stronger case of ‘we dare you come here and survive this’. I won’t say your task is easy but please don’t expect me to lend you a sympathetic ear. I am going to turn deaf if you will start you experience sharing session. After all I want to reach your pedestal with dreamy eyes and rosy dreams.

And now for the last of my subcategories, here is where all my sympathies and empathies belong.

So, this was to wish all of us best of luck and Happy summer Vacations.

Hope God gives us enough of energy to keep these little angels happily and TV freely engaged at home.

Hope God gives us enough of money (to enroll) and 48 hours a day (to spend in traffic) to take them to summer camps and classes for swimming, skating, gymnastics, martial arts, dance, drawing, tennis, badminton, phonics, reading and so on.................