Saturday, December 26, 2020

'sgusting

R: Ugh, 'sgusting! 
Me: What's disgusting? 
R: that bird is eating worms! 
Me: Birds will eat worms, its only natural. Approm kolambu sorum chips um ah saapdum?! 
R: *rolling with laughter* Nee idpi edachum solluva nu theriyum, funny ah irukkum nu thaan disgusting sonnen. 
Me: 😩

Book: All things bright and beautiful

Saturday, December 5, 2020

Tiny's riddles

Me watching "Maraindhirundhey paarkum marmam enna" on YT. 

Child: 
innoru paatu irukkumey, valikkudha valikkudha nu kepangaley. Adhu podu. 

Me: oh adhuva 

#nalamdhaana #Thillana_Mohanambal

Sunday, November 15, 2020

the inanimate love

My tiny's library got a way too many books, and needs space, dusting, maintenance, what nots. I'm just waiting quietly to enroll her in my local library when she starts a bit of reading without assistance, when i can finally buy "only" the most curated keepers. 

I cannot handle mine too, I've lost count of the number of books i have given away to my local library or friends who wanted. Because there is an X amount of space and Y amount of energy that I can expend, and the TBR and buying spiralled out of control ever since we had salaries and flipkart accounts. Had to get the reins back in control, remember preloveds and spendfasts! 

Side note : I'm THANKFUL for Kindle and libraries. 

Back in my schooltime i had a lovely relationship with my librarian, during college-time when i visited my local librarian, that uncle would tell me here's a "Lee Child" take it you will like it. I have such fond memories of workplace having a tie up with British Council and me taking every opportunity to be in that vast beautiful modern space. 

Buying was happiness. Hoarding never was. Libraries were sheer joy, always. I'd hold the days i spent with books dearly. Browsing through the library, meeting friends at "Ispahani Towers - Cafe Coffee day" but going an hour early so that i can go to Landmark and eye some coffee table or Cake Baking books! 

Today - as I finish eating a nice hot plate of rasam rice and pepper chicken and eye "Anna Karenina" from the corner of my eye - in an empty house - because the child has gone out with the family to a relatives place, i already know my agenda. I'm not home alone anymore, I'm with Vronsky, Stepen, Levin, Kitty, Anna and travelled to Russia, all within three hours! BLISS! 

But inspite of the love for books. Not too many, i remind myself, every single day!! 

Monday, October 5, 2020

Artsy speed-breaker

My father used to buy catchy pieces of street-art. Scupltures, pottery, wall paintings etc. Also our garden had quite a few flowering plants. When I recollect my quiet days while growing up, I clearly remember days when I would analyze a flowers petal arrangement or try to understand how beautiful the shades in a painting are, or arrange/rearrange flowers in a vase.

They were basically days when I slowed down and stopped to admire beauty.

To mimic a similar experience, I bought some pots, paintings today. I must say I'm feeling a bit peaceful. Every time i look at my desk, even on a Monday mornimg after a long weekend.

Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Talking three tables

Morning conversation:
R: dosa vaasam enna koooodpidhu, saapdu saapdu nu
Me: thats okay, read aloud 3 tables once. then we can have breakfast.
R: hmmmmmm, okay.
Takes the multiplication book.
Tells aloud:
"Once upon a time there was a three tables. One day he went to his grandma's. He took her some food in a basket. On the way, he met a woodcutter, 'who are you' he asked-
I'm three tables, he said:
3 ones are three
3 twos are six... "
me: 😆

#whenkidsrollthegamewithcreativity
#homeschoolinglife  #Ri_creation #redridinghoodtabletales

Monday, August 3, 2020

Ada yen pilla

Ri: Ma, i slept (acting like shes sleeping)
Me: umm
Ri: **tears welling in her eyes**
Me: why ma?
Ri: nee ada yen pilla thoongidichu nu sollavey illa 😪
Me: (aww my baby pooh bear)

Sunday, August 2, 2020

What does the Little birdie say

Day 1 of Learning bird calls

Me: what does a crow say?
R: caw caw
Me: what does an owl say?
R: oot oo-oot
Me: what does a parrot say?
R: you say Hello, he says Hello.
Me: 😑

Thursday, July 16, 2020

To breathe or not to breathe

In a quick overflow of words little Ri was describing something intensely but a way too fast for me to catch up with
Me: iru, porumaya, moochi vidama pesadha

quickly she comes beside sniffs out on to my arm and quips - paaru - moochu vittutu thaan iruken.

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Travel in the time of Corona

Needless to say little is thoroughly bugged staying at home. She has plans of going to her grandma's town but gathered from the news that trains were not functional.

Mommy, mommy, will you buy me a pack of Balloons?
Me: but why, dont u have a few?
She: I need more. There are no trains running, so ive decided to blow a lot of balloons and travel by the strings.
Me to my mama: seems shes gonna travel by balloons
Mama: what if I shoot them with arrows when ur flying (like whaaat. Ugh)
She: ill be wearing bouncy shoes. So ill not fall down!

Mommy with the borrowed brain

Amma amma.
Me: yes
Amma, if they remove your brain and replace it with a copy of my brain then you'll do whatever tasks I do.
Me:laughs loudly
Now when you laugh, I will laugh too.
******
Um, now that sounds looks like chronic sync

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Discussing POC with a child

Today we had a humbling experience - I was watching Roots on my mobile, child came asking what's that, and whys. I stopped the video, wondered how to articulate for a bit, then spoke about slavery, apartheid in a way my child would understand, about Harijans, freedom fighters; a conversation that went for 20 minutes. A long conversation for the twiddly inquisitive little mouse.

We also saw "I have a dream" video. She's young to grasp the intensity of that speech or the enormity of wrongs. But she did ask me - why they were treated like that ma. Empathy. That's all we need y'all. Why treat a fellow human in a way that we will look back at cringe at.

Let them know Inclusion, intersection and equality is everything.

I'm sure she will read the Help, the Color purple, Scarlett Letter, Diary of Anne Frank and a zillion other historical wrongs in due time and make her assumptions about how the world was. And what right is.

Wish the field she grows up gets level playing. I'm immensely grateful for the food on our plate, bed to sleep, doors that open, for the help and access during this pandemic. #gratitude #egalitarian #intersectional #learn_raw_History