Category: Kids
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Notes to my past self
I lie sprawled on the couch. My feet touching Saathi’s as he is stretched out at the other end. Laddu crawls back and forth aligning herself to the planes and angles of his body and the curves and contours of mine. I lie not asleep but in a deep state of exhaustion after what has…
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Pockets of happiness
Happiness or sorrow – whatever befalls you, walk on, untouched, unattached. – Buddha
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Halfway mark
I am at the sink rinsing, soaping and loading dishes into the dishwasher. Saathi is leaning on the counter, Laddu in his hands. Ammu and Pattu are at their table playing with their playdoh boxes. The playdoh is long gone but the boxes provide endless entertainment. I glance at them and notice Saathi doing the…
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School ends, Summer begins.
There is more to school than just studies.
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Milestones that sneak up on you
Sometime late last year, I browsed the local schools online trying to find out what the process was like to register for Kindergarten. I got on mailing lists. I marked dates on my calendar and let it be. One fine morning I woke up to a gentle reminder that registration was coming up. The choices…
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Don’t grow up so fast
I brush your hair back and efficiently pin it so your hair will remain dry as you shower. You turn back and the face that stares at me looks almost grown up. For a moment I get a glimpse of how you will look like at the threshold of womanhood. The next half hour passes…
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Whispers in the dark
I tuck you in, kiss you goodnight and walk over to Ammani’s bed to do the same. I look at the tiny form so engulfed in the wide bed that I feel remorse. I blow you an extra kiss to keep my fears at bay and walk out into the darkness. I pause for a…
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Ready and raring to go
Time flies. It sure does. It is soon going to be fall. The summer of 2012 has sped past leaving no memories in its wake. At least not the kind of summer memories I had hoped to create with the two of you. No beach trips. No visit to the Zoo or Sesame place. Not…
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One hug on the side. To go please!
My warm pink fuzzy socks snagged on the rough coir mat as I rushed between the kitchen and the minivan hauling lunch bags and kids in my hurry to get them out the door by 8:00 AM. Just as the van doors started to close, Ammani’s voice rang out. “Can I have a hug? Please?”…
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LMT: Lullaby
I stood up from my prone position, the ground feeling rather shaky as I stood up. I am not well I thought to myself as my stomach made another sickening sound. The rest of the day passed with paying homage to the bathroom and trying to ignore the calls of my body to rest. Siesta…