Tulika, Author at Obsessivemom

16/11/201215/04/2017

We’re Different

If you were to watch the kids of our society playing in the garden now, something might catch your eye – a 6 year old boy in a Spiderman suit (meant for a four year old) with a bat and a girl in a chaniya choli behind the wickets, brandishing a diwali gun for some reason playing pretty comfortablly with the four or five other kids around them.

Each day I think my kids are just too grown up to play dress-up and each day they prove me wrong. I see other children refusing to wear shorts because they’re “too big”, girls loving their fluffy dresses and smart halters, kids feeling awkward if they’re dressed differently… not so for mine. They revel in looking different. How come they’re not embarrassed? I often wonder. How come they don’t get teased to death? To wear a costume outside a fancy dress party is kind of weird by my standards.

So why did I let them?

Well because my standards are never their standards. Weird/scary/silly for me is often fun for them.

Besides, one of my rules for survival states – ‘Allow the kids to do what they want unless it’s life threatening or involves a mess that I’ll need to clear up’.

Plus, there’s a bit of a history.

This year we finally managed to organise a fancy dress and talent show in our society. That was no mean achievement given that the average population here is above 60 and likes to lead a quiet life bereft of so much as the whiff of excitement… specially stuff that involves anything to do with noisy children.

As usual, there was this huge debate at home on who will be what and as usual what I wanted wasn’t what the kids wanted. Hrit was dying to show off his Spiderman costume, a hand me down from his cousin, while Naisha wanted to be Krishna complete with a blue face and body. I, on the other hand wanted for them to do something together, for once. I thought of an earth-moon sequence where Naisha would be the moon revolving around a rotating/revolving earth, Hrit. I thought it was a great idea. Not so, the kids.

After much negotiation they agreed provided I let them wear “what they want” for “however long they want” after the show. Hence.

The show, by the way, was great fun even though we had no budget. Someone got a laptop, another one got the speakers and someone else got a pen drive full of music. A creative mum rustled up some badges while everyopne chipped in with leftover birthday decorations. The mums turned up with their kids and we were set for a great time while the senior citizens snoozed (Yes well.. I don’t quite like their attitude. I’m sure you’ve guessed that by now!).

A few pictures of the event…

A bunch of grapes, a bhajiwali, a nurse aur do mere wale. They’re not in costume because
much of it was paper and I wanted to preserve it till the fancy dress actually started.

Shivaji, a zebra crossing (that had a real flashing red light) and a Japanese doll.
And there’s the girl who could do a hundred cartwheels, as part of the talent show.

The youngest of them all.. a fairy.

Shivaji gets busy with his mum’s camera

Krishna and Radha

Our very cool DJ aunty

For the talent show Hrit Naisha did an edited version of Ek Chidiya, an old favourite of mine. Even though I say it myself, they were pretty purrrfect :-).

During a ‘dress rehearsal’ at home

12/11/201202/11/2018

A letter to Lakshmi ji

Dear Lakshmi ji,

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to be a stay-at-home-mom? A SAHM with a pair of super energetic kids, a super busy husband and a house with a perpetually open door through which umpteen kids stream in an out continuously dripping food and toys?

I don’t think so.

The only kid you’re ever even seen with is your nephew Ganapati, who, with due apologies, is not the really sporty kind. He doesn’t bug you to death to look for his bat or to fish for his ball under the car. He doesn’t hang from curtain rods bringing down pelmets giving you a minor heart attack besides saddling you with the task of carpenter hunting.

You’ve never had to sit with him over his milk and vegetables appearing to be patient while your mind buzzes with the thousand tasks awaiting your attention. Give him his plate of modaks and laddoos and you can get on which your chores (which aren’t really too many).

And no, you’ve never needed to mess your hands making those laddoos either, what with the millions struggling to get into your good books. They load you with enough food to sate even the six heads of your other nephew Kartikeya.

Then there’s The Husband. Yours is supposed to take care of the world so he’d hardly need looking after. He’s not diabetic. He doesn’t need to be pushed to go for his daily walk or watched with a hawk eye lest he empty the mithai box. All you need to do is provide him with your sweet company.. which wouldn’t be so tough given your stress-free life.

As for the cleaning … how much cleaning would one need when one lives on a snake in the middle of the ocean?

So then…

What right do you have to go looking for the cleanest, prettiest houses with beautifully done up tables piled with homemade goodies each Diwali?

For a change… just this once, don’t let that barbie littered doorway scare you away. What? You see no one praying? Hey they’re too excited to sit quietly with folded hands. They’d rather sing and dance.. they’re expecting you, don’t worry.. do walk in. Step around the dolls, Oh and mind those cars – they might trip you, Oops sorry! did you mess your sari? Those diyas are being painted to welcome you. Don’t mind that sink full of vessels.. that food was made in your honour.

Don’t look at the dust on the shelves, look at the smiling faces in the frames on them. Don’t look for the most scintillating fireworks, look for the happiest face behind the smallest sparkler. Don’t look for the fanciest lights, look for the attention and care with which those diyas were painted. Don’t look at that crooked rangoli look at the thrill on the girl’s face, it’s her first.

Rather than the cleanest, prettiest and most peaceful houses, how about looking for the noisiest, cosiest and happiest homes? Try it this Diwali. You might find them more fun than the squeaky clean ones.

Warm regards

Obsessivemom

01/11/201215/04/2017

Nine nights of celebration

Thursday Challenge : “DRESS UP” (Costumes, Uniforms, Rain or Snow Clothing, Ceremonial clothing, Wedding Dress, Formal Clothing,…)

The kids dressed up for dandiya.

Naisha revels in the dressing up and dancing.

The reluctant one: Hrit’s not so much for dressing up but he obliges.
However, he draws the line at dancing, preferring to focus on the food.
Navaratri has something for everyone.

24/10/201215/04/2017

Happy Vijayadashami

Celebrating the victory of good over evil

Hrit’s the artist here…

… and this is Naisha’s.
I was wondering why Ram would wink at Ravana just before killing him.
But apparently he’s taking aim.

23/10/201215/04/2017

Technology Troubles

What do you call a person who kills gadgets? You know how some people have a ‘black-thumb’ for plants? I wasn’t sure that was a valid word either, but it is. I checked. If you haven’t been to urbandictionary.com before, do check it out. It’s a delightful site.

But I digress.. like I was saying, I am that person for gadgets. The Shiva of gadgets, as it were.

One laptop, three cameras, an MP3 player, a desktop and countless countless phones have met a silent end over the last few years. I’m not even counting things like headphones and remotes. Oh and some time back I blew up the microwave by trying to boil an egg in it.

I am ably assisted by my bachchas, of course. Anything that I miss, they demolish with elan. The latest victim of my anti-technology rampage was my phone, yet again. I was in despair thinking I’d be saddled with The Husband’s age old stand by, which is a bit of a tragedy. Like my sister puts it… It’s just a phone.. no mail, no music, no browser. What’s more, every few hours it feels overworked hangs itself.

The Husband, as always, came to my rescue, turning generous when I least expect him to, and got me a new phone. A pink phone, to Naisha’s complete delight. And just as I was gushing out my thank yous he said, “Now don’t expect anything for your birthday.” A Husband can’t change his spots.

What was even better Naisha made me a phone holder..

It had to be pink to match my phone
and she demonstrates how it’s to be carried.

Happiness!