Managing kids and their tantrums seem to be one of the most inevitable jobs for mommies.My house and life is presently revolved around a toddler and a pre-schooler. You can imagine the rest of their tantrums.
As I grew up an indian kid, where spanking a child is a must-have routine in the parents' To-do diary, my younger brother and I were raised by a typical Leo mom. Here we go with my sun-signs madness ......I was a fervent reader of Linda Goodman's sunsigns while in college...and have to admit that my mom fitted exactly Linda's description of a typical Leo - Fierce , protective, relentless..to name a few !
My younger brother, whom I fondly call "Tamu" (younger bro in Telugu)...had always been this typical male-child toddler....always fiddling with GIJoes and those fake guns. His favourite passtime was to lose things in school every single day. Now, even an ultra-cool cucumber mom would go mad about it. So, do i need to say anymore about our Mommy lioness?? But, the bonus feature with my brother involved was that I was also subjected to the same spanking routine as he was, though there wasn't too much fault of mine As if I would feel bad for not sharing them with him. We, as kids, had a very strict regime and sometimes used to feel that we are actually living in a millitary school. Do i need to say that my mom was a strict follower of "Spare the rod and spoil the child" idiom ?
As i look back, I can't help smiling at all those hilarious incidents...Yeah, they seem funny now, because now its my turn to actually decide whether to spare the rod or to spoil my sons!
Every single day, when i continue to raise my little sons, I think of my mom and salute her! No exaggeration. Mommy used to say to me "You wouldnt know my value until you became a mom". How very much true! There were umpteen number of days when I used to feel the pressure of her strict upbringing a bit too much. But, in retrospection, I only realize that it was only for our own good.
Getting nostalgic, I would like to relate an incident during my childhood which made an indelible mark in my heart.
I was in my 5th std or so, when mom asked me to pay the school fees on my own. Normally, she would do it, but she just wanted to me start feeling responsibile maybe. So, here I go paying my school fees for the first time ever...saving a meagre amount of Rs.5(10 Cents). As my mom was expecting, I had to go and return that money to her when i went back home. But, since it was the first time i had some money on my own, I just went and indulged myself in a candy shower along with a friend. Buying wasn't an issue for mom, but the trouble started when I lied to her saying that the entire money she gave went for the fees. Little did i know that i couldnt cheat my mom so easily. I still remember spending a couple of hours in the dark, dingy bathroom that night, when my lie was found out. No slap, no beating, just a mere gesture to stay in the dark, despite mom knowing that am petrified of the dark. Doesn't it remind some of you mommies of the present-day timeouts?? Yeah, that's how my mom handled our misbehaviour. That incident just led me stay honest for the rest of my childhood, partly because I knew it wasn't worth scaring myself in the dark for such a small lie!
This was just one small example - Moral being, hatsoff to our parents for dealing with our tantrums so tactfully and wonderfully that we still remember these little incidents .
The years rolled by and i should add that my teenage was the breeziest stage for my mother. Then followed my marriage and my motherhood.
Currently residing in the US, spanking is an alien word for both the parents and the kiddos. When we were residing in Asia, weird stories about "how kindergarteners are asked to call 911 if their parents scold " were heard a lot in the mommies world. I was very skeptical and apprehensive about settling down in the US , partly for this reason. Not that i derive some sort of happiness if I spank my kids, but since I was brought up in the utmost disciplinarian way, I had my own doubts about handling my own kids.
Time-outs are definitely an effective way of handling a child's tantrum. The meltdowns and the temper tantrums are a daily routine in the life of a toddler. You need to be a parent to believe and endure it. On a lighter side , a cousin of mine had a daughter while I was still in my teens. I used to love playing with the little angel and used to adore her a lot. Once when i commented on how cute her girl was, my cousin just retorted saying " Wait till you get yours !! " ...hehe..maybe, that was just her bad day after all.
But, since the entire day is spent with them, it tends to get frustrating at times. And more so, when the child throws a tantrum. It could be a reasonable one or just cropping out from the blue. The typical toddler could be a real handful. And speaking of my toddler ?? He is a typical Leo !! Yeah ,yeah...back to the good old sunsigns...but i just can't help it when my life is dominated by two of the fierce sunsigners. Huh !!!
My older one is one calm guy. He isn't your typical boy who loves to play with guns or action figures. His favourite toys include books, puzzles etc. Having said that, he isn't an exception to the tantrum syndrome. He just throws a fit of temper when his puzzles arent properly being set or when my younger one naughtily tears off the pages from his favourite books. Life really gets to the hilt of frustration when both the kids are screaming their lungs out for the same book or a pencil. Solution ?? Yeah, its the time-outs which save my day. In fact, my kids do know that I would put them for a while in the patio or a corner in the living room, if they tend to get over-naughty! In fact, I would be lying if i said i never hit them when they tend to get overboard. But, I just realized that the spanking would act as a catalyst to their meltdown and they would cry even more as you would hit them. It's only through peaceful means we can ensure to regain peace in the household. Millitary backup ?? Naaa, it only worked for my mom..and it was India !
Here, I definitely am sparing the rod. ....but my eyes seem to be working for them as powerful weapons...so I ensure that they are not really spoilt !!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Shopping... my attitude !
Shopping has never been my forte in childhood. My mom, who was and is still a fervent shopaholic used to take me on her wild shopping sprees and spend hours in selecting one saree...while I used to actually wait biting my nails.,getting bored to death..but couldnt muster the courage to tell her that. Mommy, are u listening ??
As i grew up , I wasnt completely akin to shopping , but slowly started doing it on my own.Well, one can say its laziness which dominated me partly from scaring myself away from the retail malls. Added to this , when I got married , I only realised that my husband is an extension to my mom ....their moonsigns, their way of life..and needless to say , the shopaholic thing too. Whew ! From the frying pan into the fire ! Hehehe.
Post-marriage ,my husband has always been enthusiastic about my makeover.Did I tell you that i was this typical south indian orthodox girl ,whose wardrobe only consisted of the traditional salwars. As soon as we got married, my husband decided an extreme makeover in my entire look. He was the one to get my first pair of jeans too. Slowly and gradually , I evolved into the modern avataar.
Post-maternity , I had a terrible time in fitting myself into all those jeans.I slowly convinced myself that I would never get back to them and was contemplating on my wardrobe charity too. Huh !! But , as relentless as i was ...and so were the kids, I slowly came back to my normal weight range . However , i had to admit that ,by the time i took interest in the retail therapy, I got too busy with my kiddos and shopping relentlessly for them.
Shopping for kids is an entirely different arena. It involves lots of choices,lots of do's and dont's and lots of your time too. The word "budget" is always misspelt !! "Over-budget" seems to be our middle name. We just seem to have no tab of our expenses when it comes to the case of kids. You just go window shopping and return home with hordes of shopping bags...only for kids !! This has occurred umpteen number of times with us.
I would generally classify kids shopping into the following categories :
-> Food :
The most important and an inevitable expense:- Shopping for baby & toddler food. When i first visited the department stores in singapore , when Tej was a baby, I had a jolt of a shocker when i mentally noted all the baby foods available :-starting with formula milk, baby purees, baby nibbling biscuits , cereals , snacks...the list is endless !! Some mommies would suggest doing everything fresh at home, so as to ensure the best for their babies. However, there were these amazing bottle foods i fed for both my babies...from Heinz and Gerber.Trust me,they are both healthy and definitely time-saving. Of course,as kids grow ,so do their food habits.Their tastes evolve, the junk food (all the sugary stuff,all the fried things... ) slowly creep into their taste buds , and frustratingly, they would find them much better than the actual "Taste-less,healthy" diet ..to name a few, veggies ,milk et al. However, its the basic challenge every mom faces in her daily life to ensure that the kids get the proper diet .Come on, once in a while...their sugary tantrums are acceptable. The rest ?? You are the better judge !
-> Diapers :
Another important item which always seems to be on our shopping list !! Diapers. Definitely, as i told you earlier , i cannot imagine a day without them. It's just not worth it until the baby is ready with his tell-tale signs of toilet training! And the brand i use ? Huggies !! And accompanying the diapers are always the diaper cream (to avoid that ooh-so bad diaper rash )& the wet-wipes. You need to be a parent to actually understand how many tons of wipes you actually use for ur kid from his infancy through his toddlerhood.While the figures are mind-staggering...its another must-have in your diaper bag !
-> Clothes :
I would always have this complaint of not getting to shop all the lacy and pretty pink stuff....having both sons. However , as mentioned earlier, my husband being a shopaholic he is ...and not to mention, the sharp dress-sense inbuilt within him...we ensure that the kids are always in their smartest outfits. Its actually surprising for us to see our kids wardrobe presently teeming with tees and shorts and pants.,in denims,cottons,sports wear...u name it !! My younger one, who has just turned 2..is already so dress-conscious...wouldnt wear shorts while my older one is wearing his pants . This generation kids , i tell you!! They are so self-decisive...that clothes are the first issue you have to give in to them. The rest of the things follow !! hehe.
-> Toys :
I know , this has to top the list . But ,you don't need to actually shop for them.Once you have kids, people forget that you can also accept gifts....only the kids get them !! hehe... Presently, our home is just dumped up with zillion of toys of all variety.Stuffed dolls adorning the kids beds, tons of toddler books pouring out of the shelves , craziest puzzles creeping out of the bins, the toy-room is just a crazy maze full of utter chaos.But of course, i make it a point to the kids to clean-up the entire chaos by the end of the day ..or else , its going to drive me nuts !
-> The latest gadgets :
You must be wondering about what latest gadgets to shop for the kids ! As the new millennium kids, these little wonder-people have all the knowledge about the latest gizmos too. There are varieties of educational toys, all being software-programmed ! With just a click or a tap , the latest toy-gizmos (as i call them) spring into life and provide a very good source of edu-fun for the "Little Einsteins" . Of course,not to mention , the various DVDs , educational CDs and the Leapfrog systems have slowly become a major part of our life. Since its only for their better, i welcomed them with open arms ...no, with an open mind !
Well, so ...after reading this ...you must have had a fair idea as to why our middle name has been changed to "over-budget" ...hehe... Hmm...well, everything has its own fair share of pros with the child development.So , nothing can be avoided.After all, what has money got to do if we dont spend it on our little ones ?? Isnt it , mommies and daddies ??? I know, its a 100 % YES .
-
As i grew up , I wasnt completely akin to shopping , but slowly started doing it on my own.Well, one can say its laziness which dominated me partly from scaring myself away from the retail malls. Added to this , when I got married , I only realised that my husband is an extension to my mom ....their moonsigns, their way of life..and needless to say , the shopaholic thing too. Whew ! From the frying pan into the fire ! Hehehe.
Post-marriage ,my husband has always been enthusiastic about my makeover.Did I tell you that i was this typical south indian orthodox girl ,whose wardrobe only consisted of the traditional salwars. As soon as we got married, my husband decided an extreme makeover in my entire look. He was the one to get my first pair of jeans too. Slowly and gradually , I evolved into the modern avataar.
Post-maternity , I had a terrible time in fitting myself into all those jeans.I slowly convinced myself that I would never get back to them and was contemplating on my wardrobe charity too. Huh !! But , as relentless as i was ...and so were the kids, I slowly came back to my normal weight range . However , i had to admit that ,by the time i took interest in the retail therapy, I got too busy with my kiddos and shopping relentlessly for them.
Shopping for kids is an entirely different arena. It involves lots of choices,lots of do's and dont's and lots of your time too. The word "budget" is always misspelt !! "Over-budget" seems to be our middle name. We just seem to have no tab of our expenses when it comes to the case of kids. You just go window shopping and return home with hordes of shopping bags...only for kids !! This has occurred umpteen number of times with us.
I would generally classify kids shopping into the following categories :
-> Food :
The most important and an inevitable expense:- Shopping for baby & toddler food. When i first visited the department stores in singapore , when Tej was a baby, I had a jolt of a shocker when i mentally noted all the baby foods available :-starting with formula milk, baby purees, baby nibbling biscuits , cereals , snacks...the list is endless !! Some mommies would suggest doing everything fresh at home, so as to ensure the best for their babies. However, there were these amazing bottle foods i fed for both my babies...from Heinz and Gerber.Trust me,they are both healthy and definitely time-saving. Of course,as kids grow ,so do their food habits.Their tastes evolve, the junk food (all the sugary stuff,all the fried things... ) slowly creep into their taste buds , and frustratingly, they would find them much better than the actual "Taste-less,healthy" diet ..to name a few, veggies ,milk et al. However, its the basic challenge every mom faces in her daily life to ensure that the kids get the proper diet .Come on, once in a while...their sugary tantrums are acceptable. The rest ?? You are the better judge !
-> Diapers :
Another important item which always seems to be on our shopping list !! Diapers. Definitely, as i told you earlier , i cannot imagine a day without them. It's just not worth it until the baby is ready with his tell-tale signs of toilet training! And the brand i use ? Huggies !! And accompanying the diapers are always the diaper cream (to avoid that ooh-so bad diaper rash )& the wet-wipes. You need to be a parent to actually understand how many tons of wipes you actually use for ur kid from his infancy through his toddlerhood.While the figures are mind-staggering...its another must-have in your diaper bag !
-> Clothes :
I would always have this complaint of not getting to shop all the lacy and pretty pink stuff....having both sons. However , as mentioned earlier, my husband being a shopaholic he is ...and not to mention, the sharp dress-sense inbuilt within him...we ensure that the kids are always in their smartest outfits. Its actually surprising for us to see our kids wardrobe presently teeming with tees and shorts and pants.,in denims,cottons,sports wear...u name it !! My younger one, who has just turned 2..is already so dress-conscious...wouldnt wear shorts while my older one is wearing his pants . This generation kids , i tell you!! They are so self-decisive...that clothes are the first issue you have to give in to them. The rest of the things follow !! hehe.
-> Toys :
I know , this has to top the list . But ,you don't need to actually shop for them.Once you have kids, people forget that you can also accept gifts....only the kids get them !! hehe... Presently, our home is just dumped up with zillion of toys of all variety.Stuffed dolls adorning the kids beds, tons of toddler books pouring out of the shelves , craziest puzzles creeping out of the bins, the toy-room is just a crazy maze full of utter chaos.But of course, i make it a point to the kids to clean-up the entire chaos by the end of the day ..or else , its going to drive me nuts !
-> The latest gadgets :
You must be wondering about what latest gadgets to shop for the kids ! As the new millennium kids, these little wonder-people have all the knowledge about the latest gizmos too. There are varieties of educational toys, all being software-programmed ! With just a click or a tap , the latest toy-gizmos (as i call them) spring into life and provide a very good source of edu-fun for the "Little Einsteins" . Of course,not to mention , the various DVDs , educational CDs and the Leapfrog systems have slowly become a major part of our life. Since its only for their better, i welcomed them with open arms ...no, with an open mind !
Well, so ...after reading this ...you must have had a fair idea as to why our middle name has been changed to "over-budget" ...hehe... Hmm...well, everything has its own fair share of pros with the child development.So , nothing can be avoided.After all, what has money got to do if we dont spend it on our little ones ?? Isnt it , mommies and daddies ??? I know, its a 100 % YES .
-
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Activities ...the typical routine
As a mother of two active toddlers, sometimes hyper(no exaggeration), sometimes angelic (maybe, am really exaggerating..hehe) ...I know how busy my life can get. Trust me, the entire day is revolved with so many activities that I sometimes really forget what day it is and how important that particular date is (my friends and relatives are a living example to this, when i keep forgetting their anniversaries or birthdays and then blame it on these kiddos). All the days are typically the same, with the same routine thriving in my home. ...atleast thats what it is on the weekdays.Weekends ?? its over to my husband !!
A typical day for me consists of the following activities (necessarily in the same order to maintain my sanity)
-> Wake up,feed milk to the younger one...he's still a baby and yes,still on bottles...dont know when he's gonna leave that...That's another challenge for me to deal with in the near future.
-> Brush their teeth,serve breakfast ....which typically consists of cereal , and sometimes sandwiches ...according to their mood...or mainly..its my mood which decides the menu...hmmm.....
-> Get them to potty , then showers , and then its TV time , their favourite time of the day...because..i think its the best resort for me to entrust them to the idiot box while i happily take my shower . Else, i would be having these 2 crazy kids fighting for the same damn(sorry for the pun) pencil...though there would be some tens of them in the house. I still dont understand why both of them want the same one ?? Come on , give me a break !!
-> Post-mommy shower...its learning-time for the kiddos. Since Tej goes to pre-school and Anuj is still 2....their ways of learning are essentially different...with the same content.I made my task easier by showing them the same object (like an Apple) and asking Tej to write its spelling..while anuj actually gets to know that its an apple by looking at the figure .Hmm..i know...its a lot of work...but yeah..its a lot of fun too....
-> Then, its time for me to prepare lunch .This is the most tricky part,bcoz Anuj wouldn't let me stay by the stove for a long time. This is where sesameworkshop comes into rescue. Luckily, my older one has mastered the art of using the computer in such a suave manner....I dont need to spend any more time with the kids and the computer at the same time....which wasn't the case when Tej was a toddler. Anyway, coming back to the present-day scenario....its computer time for the kids..while i get to prepare their lunches.
-> Earlier, when Anuj was still a baby...this was a challenging time "Lunch time"!! He just wouldnt eat anything solid..and everything had to be blended into one big paste! Well,he's past that stage and touchwood, both the kids are pretty ok with their food habits, save an ocassional tantrum or two...which of course, by now, you must be accustomed too...Hehehe.
-> Then comes the nap-time...oh wait !! its actually the dessert-time : Either a pudding or a fruit juice saves my afternoon definitely.
-> Then, the kids would take a nap....Ohhh ! how i wait for this time ....seriously, this is the actual my-time i get to myself in the entire day...now u must be wondering , how am writing this blog....Bingo...thanks to the afternoon naps of my kids, this blog is really increasing its bounds. The rest of the time , i wouldn't manage to even spell a word properly, let alone writing a whole post!! Huh ....
-> Post-nap is again the milk time for the kiddos...and then the garden-time...They love this time, using the bicycle and the scooter to their maximum extent. Thanks to the weather these days (it's summer here) the kids are definitely enjoying the nature, chasing the poor little kittens and delightfully squealing at the cute pigeons,going back to their mommies. Oh, did i mention that the same routine thrives in winter too....only that we have to be indoors bcoz of the bad weather...and so , yeah...you guessed it right !! I have to pretend to be a pigeon and a kitty cat at the same time .It actually increased my dramatic skills. Hehehe.
-> After the play-time..its snack time...Whew...by this time, you readers must be putting me in the chefs/saints league for preparing food for them relentlessly all the time without complaints. Well...let me make sure..that snacks are definitely coming up from the department store...either in the form of twinkies, or some energy bars...Wait, i need one too by this time !!
-> Then ,yeah...after some dabbling with colors and crayons and some more ABC's...its time to watch some nice videos ...Both of them love bollywood songs..and they provide some pretty decent entertainment (no,its isnt decent..but they are too young to understand that ..heeh)
-> Then, we wrap it up with dinner time.. and then some goofing up with some more toys...and then its finally , Bed-time....combined with milk and a story-book.
Most of the people who read this must be thinking that i have bluffed the routine.But, let me tell you, moms and babies thrive on routine...and that definitely helps us survive the entire day. In fact, I get very cranky if the routine is broke up by any reason. It just doesn't fit my bill !
Of course, come this August ...Tej will start attending his pre-school.So ,should i add more that my routine will just be more systematic...now that i am time-bound too.
Well, didn't i start on saying that my day is typically revolved with so many umpteen activities...its just not possible to list down exactly what the kids do in one complete day. But , yeah...we try to stick on to the routine to the maximum extent possible , which only helps in building up the discipline and the sense of responsibility in them. Not to mention, the various mood-swings and the meltdowns.Hmm....they are also a routine now. You must have understood by now.
A typical day for me consists of the following activities (necessarily in the same order to maintain my sanity)
-> Wake up,feed milk to the younger one...he's still a baby and yes,still on bottles...dont know when he's gonna leave that...That's another challenge for me to deal with in the near future.
-> Brush their teeth,serve breakfast ....which typically consists of cereal , and sometimes sandwiches ...according to their mood...or mainly..its my mood which decides the menu...hmmm.....
-> Get them to potty , then showers , and then its TV time , their favourite time of the day...because..i think its the best resort for me to entrust them to the idiot box while i happily take my shower . Else, i would be having these 2 crazy kids fighting for the same damn(sorry for the pun) pencil...though there would be some tens of them in the house. I still dont understand why both of them want the same one ?? Come on , give me a break !!
-> Post-mommy shower...its learning-time for the kiddos. Since Tej goes to pre-school and Anuj is still 2....their ways of learning are essentially different...with the same content.I made my task easier by showing them the same object (like an Apple) and asking Tej to write its spelling..while anuj actually gets to know that its an apple by looking at the figure .Hmm..i know...its a lot of work...but yeah..its a lot of fun too....
-> Then, its time for me to prepare lunch .This is the most tricky part,bcoz Anuj wouldn't let me stay by the stove for a long time. This is where sesameworkshop comes into rescue. Luckily, my older one has mastered the art of using the computer in such a suave manner....I dont need to spend any more time with the kids and the computer at the same time....which wasn't the case when Tej was a toddler. Anyway, coming back to the present-day scenario....its computer time for the kids..while i get to prepare their lunches.
-> Earlier, when Anuj was still a baby...this was a challenging time "Lunch time"!! He just wouldnt eat anything solid..and everything had to be blended into one big paste! Well,he's past that stage and touchwood, both the kids are pretty ok with their food habits, save an ocassional tantrum or two...which of course, by now, you must be accustomed too...Hehehe.
-> Then comes the nap-time...oh wait !! its actually the dessert-time : Either a pudding or a fruit juice saves my afternoon definitely.
-> Then, the kids would take a nap....Ohhh ! how i wait for this time ....seriously, this is the actual my-time i get to myself in the entire day...now u must be wondering , how am writing this blog....Bingo...thanks to the afternoon naps of my kids, this blog is really increasing its bounds. The rest of the time , i wouldn't manage to even spell a word properly, let alone writing a whole post!! Huh ....
-> Post-nap is again the milk time for the kiddos...and then the garden-time...They love this time, using the bicycle and the scooter to their maximum extent. Thanks to the weather these days (it's summer here) the kids are definitely enjoying the nature, chasing the poor little kittens and delightfully squealing at the cute pigeons,going back to their mommies. Oh, did i mention that the same routine thrives in winter too....only that we have to be indoors bcoz of the bad weather...and so , yeah...you guessed it right !! I have to pretend to be a pigeon and a kitty cat at the same time .It actually increased my dramatic skills. Hehehe.
-> After the play-time..its snack time...Whew...by this time, you readers must be putting me in the chefs/saints league for preparing food for them relentlessly all the time without complaints. Well...let me make sure..that snacks are definitely coming up from the department store...either in the form of twinkies, or some energy bars...Wait, i need one too by this time !!
-> Then ,yeah...after some dabbling with colors and crayons and some more ABC's...its time to watch some nice videos ...Both of them love bollywood songs..and they provide some pretty decent entertainment (no,its isnt decent..but they are too young to understand that ..heeh)
-> Then, we wrap it up with dinner time.. and then some goofing up with some more toys...and then its finally , Bed-time....combined with milk and a story-book.
Most of the people who read this must be thinking that i have bluffed the routine.But, let me tell you, moms and babies thrive on routine...and that definitely helps us survive the entire day. In fact, I get very cranky if the routine is broke up by any reason. It just doesn't fit my bill !
Of course, come this August ...Tej will start attending his pre-school.So ,should i add more that my routine will just be more systematic...now that i am time-bound too.
Well, didn't i start on saying that my day is typically revolved with so many umpteen activities...its just not possible to list down exactly what the kids do in one complete day. But , yeah...we try to stick on to the routine to the maximum extent possible , which only helps in building up the discipline and the sense of responsibility in them. Not to mention, the various mood-swings and the meltdowns.Hmm....they are also a routine now. You must have understood by now.
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Toilet Training
To start with, do watch this link...its not an informational link...but it does contain some good humour.....Watch it to believe me.
Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXnRuyJZkUw
No !! Moms and Dads....Babies aren't definitely this scary! Its just a humorous commercial to boost up their sales...though i should mention the credibility of that particular brand.
Jokes apart, toilet training is the toughest phase any mom can experience. Hats off to all the moms some 2 decades ago...when using a diaper is something totally alien. I just can't imagine how a mother could have done without a diaper....I would die with the thought itself ! So, until the baby is ready to signal for potty signs....diapers are undoubtedly the best resort. And then, the actual phase of patience evolves....an inevitable phase for all parents.
My first-born was on diapers 24 X 7, until he was 1.5 yrs old. Then one fine day , i resolved to start training him with his toilet routine...as this is the first test and a big step towards the real world! Tej has always been good with this, not to mention he never wet his bed even once since a baby. He's been this very active and alert boy who always used to warn me before-hand about using the toilet and i had very few problems with him. However, this definitely involved visits to the bathroom every half-hour to avoid accidents until the kid got accustomed. Needless to say, my back just ached more and my patience doubled...hehe.
But yeah...when did anyone say that life is simple ? My younger one, who just turned 2 is still contemplating on leaving his diapers. And as a punishment to all the rules i make at home, he would never warn me with the slightest hint too. He would just happily wet his pants and then say "Oops Mama, wettttttt"....(as if i wouldn't know)... I just realised that he is quite different from his brother and would undoubtedly give me a tough time until he is totally on his own. Anyway, when did i say i would give up ? Watch out for me , Anuj !!!
I just don't want to elaborate too much on toilet training ...bcoz no two kids are alike in this phase. Each and every child has their own tell-tale signs of toilet and they will evolve slowly. Only one sound advice to all the mommies who are frustrated with their baby's toilet training....no one has seen an adult with diapers....so everyone's just going to eventually learn .Keep it kewl and don't push it too hard. OK??
Some more humour? Lighten up your mood....
Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ-pohByllM
Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXnRuyJZkUw
No !! Moms and Dads....Babies aren't definitely this scary! Its just a humorous commercial to boost up their sales...though i should mention the credibility of that particular brand.
Jokes apart, toilet training is the toughest phase any mom can experience. Hats off to all the moms some 2 decades ago...when using a diaper is something totally alien. I just can't imagine how a mother could have done without a diaper....I would die with the thought itself ! So, until the baby is ready to signal for potty signs....diapers are undoubtedly the best resort. And then, the actual phase of patience evolves....an inevitable phase for all parents.
My first-born was on diapers 24 X 7, until he was 1.5 yrs old. Then one fine day , i resolved to start training him with his toilet routine...as this is the first test and a big step towards the real world! Tej has always been good with this, not to mention he never wet his bed even once since a baby. He's been this very active and alert boy who always used to warn me before-hand about using the toilet and i had very few problems with him. However, this definitely involved visits to the bathroom every half-hour to avoid accidents until the kid got accustomed. Needless to say, my back just ached more and my patience doubled...hehe.
But yeah...when did anyone say that life is simple ? My younger one, who just turned 2 is still contemplating on leaving his diapers. And as a punishment to all the rules i make at home, he would never warn me with the slightest hint too. He would just happily wet his pants and then say "Oops Mama, wettttttt"....(as if i wouldn't know)... I just realised that he is quite different from his brother and would undoubtedly give me a tough time until he is totally on his own. Anyway, when did i say i would give up ? Watch out for me , Anuj !!!
I just don't want to elaborate too much on toilet training ...bcoz no two kids are alike in this phase. Each and every child has their own tell-tale signs of toilet and they will evolve slowly. Only one sound advice to all the mommies who are frustrated with their baby's toilet training....no one has seen an adult with diapers....so everyone's just going to eventually learn .Keep it kewl and don't push it too hard. OK??
Some more humour? Lighten up your mood....
Visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJ-pohByllM
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Post-partum blues
Life's been really a rollercoaster of a ride for the past 4 and a change years . As i look back , there are so many bitter-sweet memories , as i continue to raise my 2 little sons.
Lets rewind my life to 2004. The year of my first son...the year of my introduction to motherhood...the year which completely changed my perspective of life .
My first pregnancy has been a dream of sorts...no complications at all , no medical problems too. The only hitch we encountered was that i was carrying a huge baby...way too huge for my height...which only resulted in a Caesaran section operation.
We welcomed Tej on a special leap year date , Feb 29th . The entire family was ecstatic about our little prince's arrival . Daddy dearest was just beside me when i gave birth to my first born...and trust me, I cannot forget that moment for anything in this world.
I have been reading about post-partum blues a lot on the internet and the maternity books...but nothing could have prepared me better than the live baby in my hands....the hands-on experience is something which cannot be derived from books or any other source of medium. Little teju wasnt that little as he had to be.....be it his hunger or his cries . His favourite time of play during the first few months was ...hold ur breath ....nighttime !! By the end of 1 month, i was half-convinced that i wouldnt get anymore of a good night's sleep in my entire lifetime ...thanks to the nocturnal activities of my new-born. And u might be wondering what the activities consisted of ...Well, there were many to name ....crying ,crying and more crying . The "more crying" was from me ,of course.....sometimes breaking down due to the lack of proper sleep. But our dearest little devil (i stopped calling him angel....for a month or so...due to his day-time sleep routine)was relentless with his sleep regime. Life was seeming very tiring for the first 3 months and the dark circles around my eyes only made me feel sad whenever i looked at my image . I just thought i was the only mom in the entire world who is already tired of her baby within 3 months....realizing later that it was a welcome to the world of post-partum depression....which would be overcome soon.
But then , life , as i said ...has been a roller-coaster for me .....I've seen all the lows in the first 3 months....now was the time for some high. Tej slowly started to realize that it wasnt fair on his part to sleep in the daytime and wail down his lungs when the rest of the world is fast asleep. He slowly but surely got the message of proper sleeping patterns. In fact , the first night when he slept off undisturbed for a stretch of 6 hours.... i just couldnt catch my sleep with an elated feeling that he was actually not wailing.It was definitely some kind of achievement .
But that was just a beginning . Teju was slowly becoming to what he was actually born, an angel !! He never troubled with his nocturnal activities in his forthcoming months .....but i have to add that the person who took most advantage of this was his Dad....bcoz teju and me joined my husband in singapore when he was 4 months old . Do i have to say anything else? Lucky chap ...my hubby !! Huh....
Other than the sleep regime...which anyway teju overcame surely...there was very little trouble from the little brat during the first few months . I was slowly getting used to his food habits . My entire day was revolved around sticky bibs , smelly diapers and noisy burps, sterilising the bottles and shopping only for baby food. My entire perspective on shopping changed where we barely managed to spend not more than 15 mins in any shop. Earlier, there used to be hours of window shopping ....but after the baby,...we were taught to be more practical and time-bound.
Our second-born was anyway a pleasant shock for us...to be born as a boy ...when we were expecting a girl all the while . Well, since he belongs to the family anyway ...not breaking the family tradition , Anuj too dutifully followed his elder brother's footsteps...or shall i say "sleepsteps" in an exactly similar fashion . But , since experience helps a person ,..i wasnt entirely shocked with his nighttime anti-sleep routine. The entire family was prepared for the wailing baby during the night. But Anuj wasnt giving us too much trouble as anticipated ...or maybe we just got too much used to it. However , when i went back to my husband with two kids...one being an infant and the other a toddler....life's never been busier.
The entire routine just seemed to get doubled . I read somewhere that "Painting a wall is as good as giving birth to twins...you think its over and then u need to start it all over again !!" Hehehe...and i was exactly feeling the same. Though my kids werent twins...it was as good as that . Thanks to my husband erratic office schedules , I had the entire day with 2 angels(come on, i cant constantly call them "little devils" ....setting a bad example ) and the attention they demand was much too overwhelming.
However , second time is always the easier . I already had a fair idea of the do's and dont's and seemed to relax a bit during times of panic too., very much unlike the first time when i used to run to the doctor even when Teju barely sneezed .
Babies wouldnt give you any time for yourself. No, am not exaggerating. Its just that these little bundles of joy come down to the earth so helplessly....and so full of warmth...you just dont try to find time for yourself.... Your entire focus is the baby. Your entire discussion is the baby. Your entire world is the baby. You suddenly find yourself pushed into the mommies world of playgrounds, nutrition and even the tabboo topic of mothers-in-law....No kidding , sometimes moms get so overwhelmed with the entire thing of motherhood...its only the poor mother-in-law who is the hot topic of discussion among distressed "bahus".... Am i trying to make it a "Baa, Bahoo aur Baby?" hehe... Never mind... ! After all....moms need some entertainment too...whattssay mommies ???
Motherhood has given me a truckload of patience .But yeah...as a human..i do have my highs and lows.....but then..as i started on , Life's a rollercoaster and am definitely enjoying the ride.
So lets say "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!"
Lets rewind my life to 2004. The year of my first son...the year of my introduction to motherhood...the year which completely changed my perspective of life .
My first pregnancy has been a dream of sorts...no complications at all , no medical problems too. The only hitch we encountered was that i was carrying a huge baby...way too huge for my height...which only resulted in a Caesaran section operation.
We welcomed Tej on a special leap year date , Feb 29th . The entire family was ecstatic about our little prince's arrival . Daddy dearest was just beside me when i gave birth to my first born...and trust me, I cannot forget that moment for anything in this world.
I have been reading about post-partum blues a lot on the internet and the maternity books...but nothing could have prepared me better than the live baby in my hands....the hands-on experience is something which cannot be derived from books or any other source of medium. Little teju wasnt that little as he had to be.....be it his hunger or his cries . His favourite time of play during the first few months was ...hold ur breath ....nighttime !! By the end of 1 month, i was half-convinced that i wouldnt get anymore of a good night's sleep in my entire lifetime ...thanks to the nocturnal activities of my new-born. And u might be wondering what the activities consisted of ...Well, there were many to name ....crying ,crying and more crying . The "more crying" was from me ,of course.....sometimes breaking down due to the lack of proper sleep. But our dearest little devil (i stopped calling him angel....for a month or so...due to his day-time sleep routine)was relentless with his sleep regime. Life was seeming very tiring for the first 3 months and the dark circles around my eyes only made me feel sad whenever i looked at my image . I just thought i was the only mom in the entire world who is already tired of her baby within 3 months....realizing later that it was a welcome to the world of post-partum depression....which would be overcome soon.
But then , life , as i said ...has been a roller-coaster for me .....I've seen all the lows in the first 3 months....now was the time for some high. Tej slowly started to realize that it wasnt fair on his part to sleep in the daytime and wail down his lungs when the rest of the world is fast asleep. He slowly but surely got the message of proper sleeping patterns. In fact , the first night when he slept off undisturbed for a stretch of 6 hours.... i just couldnt catch my sleep with an elated feeling that he was actually not wailing.It was definitely some kind of achievement .
But that was just a beginning . Teju was slowly becoming to what he was actually born, an angel !! He never troubled with his nocturnal activities in his forthcoming months .....but i have to add that the person who took most advantage of this was his Dad....bcoz teju and me joined my husband in singapore when he was 4 months old . Do i have to say anything else? Lucky chap ...my hubby !! Huh....
Other than the sleep regime...which anyway teju overcame surely...there was very little trouble from the little brat during the first few months . I was slowly getting used to his food habits . My entire day was revolved around sticky bibs , smelly diapers and noisy burps, sterilising the bottles and shopping only for baby food. My entire perspective on shopping changed where we barely managed to spend not more than 15 mins in any shop. Earlier, there used to be hours of window shopping ....but after the baby,...we were taught to be more practical and time-bound.
Our second-born was anyway a pleasant shock for us...to be born as a boy ...when we were expecting a girl all the while . Well, since he belongs to the family anyway ...not breaking the family tradition , Anuj too dutifully followed his elder brother's footsteps...or shall i say "sleepsteps" in an exactly similar fashion . But , since experience helps a person ,..i wasnt entirely shocked with his nighttime anti-sleep routine. The entire family was prepared for the wailing baby during the night. But Anuj wasnt giving us too much trouble as anticipated ...or maybe we just got too much used to it. However , when i went back to my husband with two kids...one being an infant and the other a toddler....life's never been busier.
The entire routine just seemed to get doubled . I read somewhere that "Painting a wall is as good as giving birth to twins...you think its over and then u need to start it all over again !!" Hehehe...and i was exactly feeling the same. Though my kids werent twins...it was as good as that . Thanks to my husband erratic office schedules , I had the entire day with 2 angels(come on, i cant constantly call them "little devils" ....setting a bad example ) and the attention they demand was much too overwhelming.
However , second time is always the easier . I already had a fair idea of the do's and dont's and seemed to relax a bit during times of panic too., very much unlike the first time when i used to run to the doctor even when Teju barely sneezed .
Babies wouldnt give you any time for yourself. No, am not exaggerating. Its just that these little bundles of joy come down to the earth so helplessly....and so full of warmth...you just dont try to find time for yourself.... Your entire focus is the baby. Your entire discussion is the baby. Your entire world is the baby. You suddenly find yourself pushed into the mommies world of playgrounds, nutrition and even the tabboo topic of mothers-in-law....No kidding , sometimes moms get so overwhelmed with the entire thing of motherhood...its only the poor mother-in-law who is the hot topic of discussion among distressed "bahus".... Am i trying to make it a "Baa, Bahoo aur Baby?" hehe... Never mind... ! After all....moms need some entertainment too...whattssay mommies ???
Motherhood has given me a truckload of patience .But yeah...as a human..i do have my highs and lows.....but then..as i started on , Life's a rollercoaster and am definitely enjoying the ride.
So lets say "Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!"
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