What is a Baby?

I've no idea who penned this but one of my friends forwarded it. Including it in the blog as, needless to say, it touched me.

Sis, this one's for you, with all my love.

What is a BABY?

A baby is someone to hold in your arms
and someone so cute and full of charm.
Someone to plan the future for;
it's someone to love and adore.

It's someone to call your very own
who'll turn your house into a home.
Instead of two they'll be three--
and that makes a family!

Someone to keep you up at night
and someone who will sometimes fight.
Someone who'll get sick and cry
but for that someone you would die.

What is a baby?

A baby's full of wiggles and life,
but will sometime cause lots of strife.
Your life will be changed forever
but it's by far life's greatest endeavor.

Frizzled nerves that come undone,
it's a lot of work and not just fun.
But it's a bond that's like no other,
the strongest love between child and mother!

So as I watch you become a mother,
I may offer advice but promise not to hover.
A girl or boy it doesn't matter
for soon little feet will "pitter patter."

What is a baby?
All of this and more.
A bundle of joy to
love and adore!!

For Our bundle of joy!

Solitary Partner - A poem from Shobha Ramanan

Solitude partner!!

Gracefully approaching from above the sea,
Delicate, soft, feminine touch
Strikes, stirs, and melts me thru
Entraps my sensations…
And drips drop by drop
Leisurely sinking …
Into my despondent heart
Blue moods dry off as if by mirages
Oh Wind! My compassionate one
You are my Solitude partner
Caring to share secrets
of my aching heart !!

- Shobha Ramanan

Nanna LUDO aaduva Ajji

My mother-in-law moved to the other world two years ago. My son, 6 years at that time, went through a difficult stage due to the loss. Both of them shared a very loving relationship that can only be defined as one shared by grandparents and grandkids. My last memories of my son and M-I-L together are of him sitting next to her body, wiping her brow as though easing her pain.

I always had a niggling unease about that, but what I didn't take into consideration was that children are reselient. None of us seem to have recovered from this gap in our lives but we seem to be learning to live with it.

To get rid of the uneasiness, I decided to tackle the issue head-on. I asked my son about his recollections of his grandma. (More of a rounabout approach :( I guess.)
He thought for a few seconds, with a fond smile on his lips. ehad many sweet memories, but recalled one of his cherished one - playing Ludo with her. This was the game that changed their relationship subtly from grandma-grandson to friend and confidante. This was the game that took both of them to another realm, away from the others but with each other. And this was the game that granny always won!

I was happy that my son had fond memories of 'Nanna LUDO aaduva Ajji!'

Exercising my right to vote!

In the recent past, I found myself interacting with a couple of people in my acquaintance. I was shocked to know that most of them were reluctant to put in their votes.

Hey! But isn’t it our responsibility to vote? Or is it going to help anyone by leaving the vote slot empty for some illegal elements to misuse? So what if the contestants are unworthy of your vote?

Is this what we are going to teach our kids? Hey kiddo, don't vote. Nothing is going to change with just one vote of yours?

Shame!

I too thought a lot. Questioned myself. Should I, shouldn't I? But this is my country. I can still remember the pride I felt to sport the mark of that indelible ink on my finger. I have the right to choose my government. If I don't use that right, I am indirectly helping those 'goons' by letting them misuse the votes.

So, if I don't find a worthy candidate in the list, I'll probably just make my vote invalid ;-) hehe

The Privileged Child (My blog on Sulekha)

I am of the opinion that our children belong to the breed of the privileged, ones favoured by Destiny. They have most things that probably we did not have access to. That is the class that is catered to in the Retail world too. Earlier the Mantra was - Catch the wife's attention and you have the deal in the bag. Now it definitely is the kiddo's world. The kid likes it, the parents better do the same.

Understanding the word 'No' is a rare occurance. Yet, this breed is more reselient, more intelligent, more savvy, more image conscious (should I say more worldly?). You see 'MORE'?

As always, parents work towards getting the best for themselves as well as the child. The differentiating factor being, now the child knows which is the 'in' thing and demands the same.Our parents set limits, disciplined us when necessary, lectured us frequently, taught us value of money, yelled at us often, yet loved us unconditionally.

Today as a parent, many of us do it in our own way. Some of the tough lessons we teach them are:

• Life is difficult, it won't always be easy. So learn to go through bad days, celebrate good days.
• All our decisions might not be likeable. We will definitely lisen to you, but you will not always get your way.
• Everyone contributes. No silent partnership here. ;-)
• Do odd jobs around the house, earn a little on the side and save it. We won't buy everything you ask for.
• We definitely are responsible for your well-being but YOU are responsible for your actions.
• To me, you are unique. I accept you with all your weaknesses, strengths, abilities, disappointments and dreams. Let me see your dream, use your uniqueness to achieve them and let me soar with you.
• Everything is not a crisis. Remember, laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone.
• We know you have a mind of your own, opinions of your own. Give it time, you will get a chance to voice them to your kid(s). Hehehe.

Just remember that we love you more than anything. We set limits for you, discipline you, applaud your successes, get crushed with your pain at failures, cry with you when you are hurt and be with you when you look around for a friend.

The best gift we can give our parents is by becoming parents ourselves. (Hey Dad! I heard that snigger.)

-MH

Festivity

Festive Season. Unbiddingly my thoughts take me to same time last year. I find myself asking all sorts of questions, unable, or should I say unwilling to face the answers. It is a humbling thought to recollect that phase. Is it possible for a family to go through a whole myriad of emotions in a short span of time? Had I been asked this question a couple of years back, my answer would have been a resounding 'no'. Now,I know different.

It is awesome how one person can become a cog in the family. That one person, without whom, we could not have thought of a life. Yet here we are, without the physical presence. The loss, always ticking inside, to erupt abruptly at an unknown time; creating a gap that can never be filled.

ಅಣ್ಣ ಬರೆದ ಕವನಗಳನ್ನು ಈ ಪುಟ್ದಲ್ಲಿ ......... ನಮ್ಮ ನಾಡು ಮಾತ್ರುಭಾಷೆ - ನಮ್ಮ ಕಣ್ಮಣಿ ಶಾರದೆಗೆ ಅಪ್ರಿತ

ಅಣ್ಣನ ಕವನಗಳು, ಅಮ್ಮನಿಗಾಗಿ
ನನ್ನ ಉಸಿರು ನಿನ್ನದು
ನನ್ನ ಭಾಷೆ ನಿನ್ನದು
ಕಸ್ತೂರಿ ಕನ್ನಡವೇ ನನ್ನ ಮಾತು ಮನಸ್ಸು ಮತ್ತು ಭಾಷೆ
ನಮ್ಮ ಮನೆ ನಿನ್ನದು, ನನ್ನ ಬಳಗ ಬಾಂಧವರು ನಿನ್ನವರು
ಅವರುಗಳನ್ನು ಸವಿ ಪ್ರೀತಿಸುವೆ ಪ್ರೆಮಿಸುವೆ.

ಬೆಳದದ್ದು ಹುಟ್ಟಿದ್ದು ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ರಾಜಧಾನಿಯಾದ್ ಬೆಂಗಳೂರೂ, ನನ್ನ ಬಾಳ ಸಂಗಾತಿ ಕನ್ನಡ
ಬಹು ಜನಃ ಪ್ರಿಯ: ಅನ್ನುವುದನ್ನು ಆರಧಿಸುವೆ
ನನ್ನ ಮಡದಿಯ ಹೃದಯ ಮನಸ್ಸಿನಲ್ಲಿ ಇದ್ದದ್ದು ........

16-Mar-07, 15.30hrs

Maya to Vrushik, with love

Oh! son

Rejuvenating eyes; bewitching fragrance
pink lips adorned with an impish smile
round cheeks shining in delectation
Oh! son, I am soaked in your warmth

Those playful acts; melodious chit-chat
glitter of the eye; darling of our home
like a silver lining on the dark cloud;
Oh! son, I am dancing in your love

Boundless energy; vivacious laughter
innocent looks; stainless heart
those cuddly hugs; cherished moments
Oh! son, I miss you ....