Sleeping child

Is there anything more beautiful
Than the face of a sleeping child?
The mouth slightly open
The baby soft cheeks resting on tiny hands...

Special time with babu aishu

Yesterday I had aishu to myself the way I had akshaya to myself!  Just she and me. It was joyous and I think she loved it too. We played at the playground ring ring  roses like 10 times ! With her besties advika and saranya.  Then in showered her. She had dinner. Then we rolled around the bed konjing.  And read stories. Precious! Ashwin went for art class and akshaya was at shruthis

3 kids and 3 greens

So looks like my three babies like three different kinds of greens...

Aishu likes broccoli
Ashwin like spinach
Aishwarya likes Brussels sprouts!

At different times akshaya has like broccoli and asparagus too

Ashwin likes tofu
Aishu likes tofu too I think

Akshaya likes kidney beans and butter beans

Need to slow down take stock

I realise I need to slow down . Relax enjoy the nothingness of time with kids
Celebrate the time he takes to drink milk not keep going forward about what to do next and next and next

I'd like them to not be scared of me to know I love them unconditionally. 

my son misses me every day

My son misses me every day, and I miss him too
he wants to wake up with me next to him
he wants me to drop him at school and pick him up
he wants me to draw with him, colour with him, build with him
he wants me in the pool with him, teaching him to swim - "aatha it's fun!"

and what I am doing
not doing all this?

I put my daughter to bed
I walk my daughter to school

but him,
what am I doing
not doing all this

Akshaya the writer

Akshaya Saravanan
Budding writer!

She wrote her first story at age 4. Then another at age 5 or 6.

Yesterday she wrote another one her best yet. 9 pages of neat writing. The  brave butterfly. A story about butterflies and bees and flies.  And their teacher. An adventure to ensure learning. 

I'm so humbled and impressed with her. .what turns of phrases ! But but but from haroun and the sea of stories. Face lit with joy. Beautiful sentence structures . Story punctuated by vivid dialogue.

Really proud of her! Want to help her polish up a little bit make copies give to her teacher. Not sure where else I can send her. No stock phrases nothing.  Lovely spelling errors to show authenticity.

My darlings

I am so proud of my babies. I'm sure all mums are.
Yesterday akshaya managed to articulate what it is about piano and devaram she dislikes. She dislikes going for classes unprepared.
And in the case of piano she can't bring herself to practice she'd rather do a ton of other things like play with her siblings or play by herself or read.

So we had a conversation about how practice will be essential for anything worth learning. How learning is tough and needs practice.  Like the butterfly. It needs to struggle to get out of the coconut so it can fly.

Was very meaningful conversations truly.
Now I must make sure both kids listen to the devaram iyya 's recording and practice. And I have to ask her to practise her dance and piano.

I feel fear

So now with inside out kids are learning to articulate their feelings very clearly!  So my ashwin after wetting the bed says in a tremulous voice - aatha, I feel fear. Then he asks aatha when you feel anger does fire come out of your head! Charms the anger right away from me! Having read eunerissis has made me very sympathetic towards bedwetting too.

English killing vs tamil killing

It was so funny yesterday.  Ashwin wanted to sing but every time on his third line aishu would cut in. She didn't mean to annoy him just she couldn't help but join in but he wanted hos airtime and was getting super frustrated. 
I tried telling baby to take turns bit she wasn't getting it. He was getting g madder trying to sing at top speed but she'd still cut in on line 3. He started trying to lunge at her saying I want to kill her aatha. Not the tamil killing but the English killing!  I was just laughing.  Then we moved to the room where aishu was lying on the bed and he was still mad and trying to attack her when she screamed like a karate fighter contorted her little face and pulled him down by pulling on his shorts. He fell on one knee and started crying! I had to run to the other room to laugh. I thought the little one needed protection but she was completely able to defend herself!

The kids

Yesterday ashwin said it's all tangled. That's a precise word to use for a 4 year old. Very proud of him .he's I to ramayana.  Akshaya was reading the mahabharatha. 

Aishu wants to feed herself. It's very cute. When I fed her a mouth she spat it out and fed herself ! Cheeky cute monkey.

Me

I was supposed to take a day off in lieu yesterday so I still get to spend a day off with my kids.  I  squandered that. I'm mad at myself. Thinking inky of myself and work. Seriously what's more important.? Being there for my kids or educating my clueless bosses about lit?
Today I leave at 12 to take a cab back and drop ashwin in school as he asked me today.
Then I go somewhere and write my short story
.

Precocious baby

I must update some of the wonderful things aishu says.
She is our little dream our joy everything.  All three are such unique darlings.
And I can start to see my little ones personality really shine through!
So just last night she wanted water I  a cup.  She had already poured a cup of water down. But I got her another anyway and just took care to out it out of her reach when she wasn't actively drinking from it.  She for upset when she couldn't see it . I showed it to her reassuringly.  She smiled. And then asked petulantly why up down up down !

My the other day she all but scolded saro for not coming in to put her to bed when he said he would.

She's the doll of the family.
Full of smiles. 
Yesterday akshaya taught both of them devaram.  She so cutely repeats everything! Sitting cross legged too.

She's my small baby. Haha. The other two weren't big but they were okay roundish cute. She is super cute because if her small stature and impish smile. 
So blessed!

Anna misses Aatha

My sweet sweet baby boy.

He wanted to speak to me today – I was in a meeting and unable to speak to him

He later told his younger sister “Anna misses Aatha”.

Sigh. I love him and really need to spend a lot more time with him. 

But here I am, at 6.36 at work to finish two pieces of pending work

this is bad

my new resolution - set myself a target a whole week earlier than when it is needed. 

so - my resolve for now, just get this done and then go home earlier and spend more time with the kids

really think r k narayan hit the nail on the head when he cried out "but they gave me a raise of 5rupees!'

Aishu talks a mile a minute

She's 18 months and rattles off non stop. I feel it's sooner than the others! She says naughty aatha. Scolding. Tells aye nan no touching. Says naughty Anna.  Kicking bum!  Crystal clear in all she tells me. Done. Want mum mum. Enough. Put there. Tells me no biting.
Too adorable.
You should see her fight with her brother! She slips in grabs her toy and clamours to safety next to me. Understands please and thank you.
Adorable .

Akshaya

Akshaya is truly my godsend. She bathed the kids last week when I was knocked out tired. She helped sari distribute goodie bags yesterday for sg50 when she could have been relaxing.  She loves serving.

I'm so blessed in her.

Ashwin

Changing schools seems good for him. He's talking a lot more about school hos friends what he does and so on. Thanking God everyday the awful other school didn't inform me of his parents day performance. Useless school. Didn't even call when he was absent for a week!

He's so imaginative. Watched a nature  programme yesterday and he was playacting all that the komodo dragon did!

My little sweetheart.  Have to guard against spoiling him. So hard. 
Looking forward to our year end holiday with him!

Aishu Aishu Aishu

Kutty sweetheart is life of the party at home. She waddles around behind big brother and sister trying to do all the do. She grabs my face and yells aaatha! Till I look at her and say yes.
She can use the continous form of the word. Drinking eating sleeping . She scolds us.   Naughty aatha!  She repeats every word we say.  So today she called out akshaya Kutty! 
She loves long gan. 

Food! She sees so eine munching.  Her eyes travel to source of food and soon she asks for it. Loves Greek yogurt.
Just a dream lah. Melting her daddy's heart all the time. 

Time

Today I woke up at 4.30 to do some work. Cone 6.30 still hadn't done anything.  Felt like it was a bit of a waste. Like I accomplished nothing

But then thought... no way! I comforted my baby who called out to me aatha come her come here! Gave her milk. I comforted my son who had bad dreams. Told him stories of muruga.  Enjoyed a quiet 5 min with my eldest she lay on  my lap as she woke up... what better way to spend the morning! 

Little Aishu

Kutty baby is growing so quickly! 
She is almost a year and a half .
She is talking!
Here's her vocab list:
Abi sit down there!
Neigh
Moo
Various animal sounds
Every thing we say
Plee
Tank
Soyee
Latest yesterday: after hearing the bhajan ' gana pathy! !!
Naka Naka (very loudly!  Current fav song)
Lallee lalee chubee

So adorable. Someone hurts her she'll come by to complain...
Sibling cry she'll say anna don't cy akka don't cy

Loving sweetheart!
If ashwin hits me she'll rub my back and tell him "Anna don't ".

If I pretend to cry she'll come to hug and comfort.

She wants to eat on her own.
yesterday breakfast she was tearing off small bits of  pancake dipping in syrup and eating!
For lunch, to prevent me from feeding her she holds my finger tight away from the plate so she can dip and eat on her own using her other hand! 

Such an adorable sweetheart!

Aadhi and kaarthi and nalla adore her! 

Ashwin realizes

So ashwin  starting showing some inclination of understanding what it means to eat non veg yesterday. 

I was quite troubled at the way he ... seemingly callously... sees a chicken and announces chicken curry!

Or sees rows of fish at the market without exclaiming or being squeamish.

But yesterday he helped marinate a fish and noticed it was silver and asked where it's tail was.

When I explained the tail had been cut off a few minutes later he told aye nan "poor fish aunty it's tail got cut off"

Still later while eating ... next time let's not eat fish aatha.  Poor fish.  Let's have chicken!  "

I asked... " how bout the chicken?  Not poor chicken? " he replied not the farm chicken aatha. The other chickens! 

Not bad. At least some sense of feeling for the creatures we eat. A sense of differentiating between  the animals we know of and see vs the nameless ones.

He loves fish and chicken by the way. 

Interesting. 

If we make clear the connection that what we eat used to live I think more would be vegetarian. 

We just conveniently blind ourselves and go for the taste.  Hmm

Non stop entertainment

It's like sit com at home continously
Yesterday ashwin warned aishu not to touch his blocks while he was gone saying " aishu.  If you touch Anna 's blocks Anna will go over your head!". She immediately holds her head looks up and days "oooo". Seeing she understood he says "good girl". She agrees good gi".

Too funny these little ones!

Ashen wants to go to aayas house
As usual.  She's got plans.she says "I'm going for dinner ashwin". He replies " I like dinner aaya!"

Fun June hols

So what did we do?

First week of hols whirlwind if fun with my cousins from the states.

Second week... kids went to the zoo and sea games diving
Fri sat at hotel jen in jb. Swimming bed movies .

Third week... with in laws.
Sea games badminton 
Farms
Swimming
Hopefully punggol waterfront

Kalai nigalchi

I'd like to go to the beach for cycling or to a water park or sentosa cove. ..

Jb weekkend

Just got back from a weekend in jb. Such a good time we had.
After just two days away together. .. ashwin and aishu seem closer to me. Kind of brought home the fact how much time we should spend with them.  Hoe much more time. Usual daily life it feels like I see them for barely an hour! It's all routine routine routine.  Feeding scolding sending to  bed. Always tons of other things to do while the just grow up. 😣.

I'm not sure what to do about it though.  This is the one week I've taken off to spend with them. Though I may end up at work one or two days.

We had such a cool time in the pool. I feel like I want to take them swimming again and again this week. I think I shall. Older two. Then all three. For all three I really need another person with me . 

He said he loves me! My baby boy. Wanted me to put him to bed today . Helped me make the beds . Asked me what it means to make the bed. This morning he was talking earnestly to his sis... we are not brats right akshaya!

Later after lunch a small scuffle and aishu  on the floor. I rushed to her saying it's OK. . It was an accident right ashwin? And he said.. it was a little bit purposely and in sorry!!!!! Super charmer lah he. 

He is so protective of baby despite the occasional purposeful pushing. Like yesterday she was climbing just one foot onto a railing. He got so worried. Yelled to get my attention. Tried to pull her away from the rail. Stepped in front her to block her access to the rail!  Very cute.

Akshaya was an angel yesterday. Helped me to look after ashwin during lunch feeding him blowing at hot food for him encouraging him to try new things non judgementally. Informed me I have to give him 6 stickers. He asked her 6 stickers is good right? Haha so charming!

Then at home also helped unpack and then bathed ashwin too. Asked me for a story.

Real darling  ..

She is so super touched that her baby sister comes to console her every to e she cries.

My super blessings all three.

Then my kutty.  Wants to be so independent.  Likes to feed her elf grabs the spoon from me. Wants to eat off the  colourful shop plates. Not her clean bowl!
Loves swimming won't get out of her float. Wants to just stay in the water. Such a delight!

Best part of holiday... the pools the bed the TV!  Haha! And all five of us being together!

My darling akshaya

She's such a sweetheart. Empathetic discerning beyond her years... and yet still a child! She is really going to grow up so quickly. I have to spend as much time as I can with her!
Yesterday we went to the sea games. She enjoyed it most. Diving. Very new fir her. So concerned for the young man who dived wrongly and may have hurt himself.
Then she and I stayed on for the over publicised carnival that was a bit of a let down . Then ate. Them shopped . Pretty fun. Cranky like anything at home. Then built a tent. Then OK. 

Not spoiling kids

Hmm bit hard I think seeing my lineage
My grandmother believes in pampering to the core
My mother pampers to the core
What am I likely to do?

My only hope is saro. 

Timeout times

Yesterday I had time out a for all three kids for various reasons - throwing things (aishu)  not telling the truth (ashwin) and hitting the sister (akshaya) !

Sounds like a mad house but wasn't so bad. Quite an enjoyable day yesterday with swimming a nap even and building with blocks. Did some rudimentary maths with ashwin too.

Aishu 's timeout was most dramatic. I put her there and counted to 10 straight away. In those seconds such drama.  Akshaya had tears in her eyes. Ashwin stopped playing and went to console her saying aatha was naughty. Aye nan tells me she is crying so much! After 10 seconds o invited her out of ten corner. Everything was OK.  15 min later she goes back to the corner and looks at me cheekily with anticipation!  I had to tell her it didn't count if she went there on her own accord!

New

And it's done I've found a school for him.
That teacher told me he's slow lah.
And I had to tell this new teacher that teacher said and I agree that he's slower than other kids his age.
Very sad for me to say things like that.  Saro told me to tell the teacher so she doesn't wait a whole term to find out. And to say we agreed with the schools assessment. 

So I did  . But... now I think of it... I don't agree with their assessment to and labelling at all. 😕

I can't believe I let a school label my kid
I can't believe it .

5 months there now and he's had one pathetic show and tell where they say he did well. Rest of the time nothing . I agree he takes ages to eat and drink and he likes to observe a lot and he's gentle when he plays not rough though he wants to join the big kids. He looks babyish so they don't include him.

Sigh. I love him.
He's loving kind caring sweet
He's intelligent makes connections and patterns
He's dramatic and imaginative 
And they call him slow!

So I've found him a new school. 
Can  only pray it's a better school for him.
They have small class sizes and they say provide opportunities for kids to talk

A new school for ashwin

I missed a parents day concert at ashwins school last Friday.  Very sore about it . He didn't tell me the school might have thru letters which I never saw.  That day they saw me didn't tell Me.

He 3 didn't dance too well I hadn't practised with him
  He's a darling he loves performing.

When I get him a new school this is what I want

1. Small class size. 1 is to 10. Speech and drama and regular show and tell. Proper channels of communication  between parents and kids . Regular ptm. Ya. So I start the hunt OK.  In June.  Morning session preferred.

More on ashwin

My baby has very bad mouth ulcers.  Was so hard to see him controlling and managing the pain. He does it by contorting his face his eyes get so big his mouth trembling to stop crying. Hart breaking.

Parenting thoughts

Yes so akshaya was quite mad with me yesterday we had to rush like crazy to school she said quite firmly I am to start waking her at 6.20 so she gets up by 6.30.

I was quite proud of her! She was concerned about on time! Today we made it left home by 7.14 coz we planned to leave our house by 7.10. Was sure peaceful.  Thank god.

The day before yesterday saro yelled at me. His face was stern his eyes huge his lips drawn. Quite a scary sight. I was glad I was shaken. Coz I know now how scary I must be when I yell at the kids how awful it feels to be on the other side of it . And how I will now try to avoid yelling at them as much as I can. It's only fair.  I will try.

my unique little boy

the other day I realised something \
my son is truly totally unique
the way he thinks, the way he processes information, the way he insists on wearing certain kinds of clothes - they are all pointing to a picture that I can't quite place but I can see that it all adds up.

today I read about sensory processing issues - and about other kids and adults who are particular, super super particular about their clothes, amongst other things

initially I was worried, but then I realised it just confirmed what I have been thinking of a few days - whether you call it a disorder or not is just a naming exercise
I do not call it that
but I see that he is different and special and I have to accept that and do my best to help him make sense of this world through accepting his idioscyracies and not forcing him out of it

currently this extends to only wearing pants of a certain length and of certain colours - no greens and oranges and navy blues
Jeans are okay. black pants are the best. white pants are okay
length must be perfect, touching his feet, preferably a little longer so even when he sleeps the pants don't ride up

no singlets.

shorts sleeves, long sleeves are okay.

he makes exceptions for school though thank goodness. just that you can sense he can't wait to get home and get out of those clothes.

and he thinks differently.
makes up patterns in his way of thinking, sees parallels
really quite beautiful

if I can let him be, not cramp him with our 'usual' requirements of normal expected behaviour - he could become a real one in a kind genius kind of fellow!
my kutty brilliant fashionista!

lovehim so much! 

Sweet

That littlest smile on the cutest face of my littlest one
Yearning to hold to read to to hug and squeeze and be the one you hug and look for

Ta siang

We played ta siang  yesterfsy😮! A game we made up. It means elephant by the way. So we took turns giving aishu kutty elephant rides. Ashwin was our wild elephant buckling away. Akshaya was the gentle one . I was the big one. Hmph.  And we slide baby off at the of our turn . Then we all stomp around together . Including the baby! :hehe! She actually tried saying ta siang .

Evening I read to her and she learned to say mmmie for moo for what a cow says! ! She loves reading!

Ashwin updates

Today my baby boy said oh so sweetly aatha there's place on my pillow you can lie next to me!
Heart breaker that little one truly.

He came to saying I;m working in my room aatha. 

I asked are you working very hard? 

He got quite annoyed

I'm working very softly aatha. 

If I work hard I will get a headache. 

so I need to work soft. 

I said, well that makes sense

and you said, yes, 10 cents! 

hahahha! 

he's the sweetest lah! 

Holiday plans

1st day of hols - pasir ris park in the morning. Playing with vrinda and prahlad at my place in the evening. Very fun. Played uno stacko too.

Plans for the rest of the week
Day 2- homework 1 math concept,  drawing straight lines and other math drawing, handwriting practice. I'm exhausted! 
Evening wet wet wild with grandparents

For me - bake fish for kids then  lunch with jeff - lunch cancelled! then prep to meet publisher prep for ltlt university course listing dinner with saro

Day 3- with grand parents.
I may take aishu and aye nan cycling or to music class if kids spend the night at parents house. But got to go to work by 11 for poetry lunch followed by ltlt meeting. So maybe not. If kids at home will make masks with them

Evening piano practice more handwriting practice

Day 4 - if kids at home on Thurs and not wed all of wed morning plans
For me - print photographs.

Day 5. To my office with kids. Then zoo moov.  Lunch . Back home. Pick up aadhi kaarthi head to beach at pasir ris.  Playground fun.

Akshaya learns to cycle

So yesterday morning we went cycling and then I tried teaching akshaya to cycle.  I was so pleased. She looks like she's getting it! Bought her a bike after that and going to practice tomorrow! 

Ashwin again

Think I must have said the heart break comment in his hearing.  Yesterday night he was telling us - I don't like dogs they are so scary they break my heart 

Other cute things from yesterday :

Say hello to the insect I said
Hello insect he said
Then smiling he says the insect cannot say hello back

I'm a good boy right aatha?

Ashwin

8Ashwin
Yesterday was a good day. Two meals with kids outdoor play sand play food they obviously enjoyed that was healthy .
Banking that's been due for 5 years now. . Change of address. Akshaya in bed by 9.30.

Then at 10.30 I became monster 😠.
Aishu climbs all over me - OK.  Ashwin jumping all over me - not OK.  Told him him he burst into tears. When I'm tired tears like that bawling whining all hit me in all the wrong places.  I flare up . Got mad at him hit him yelled at him called saro no answer of course typed furious sms to him then finally calmed down .

Ashwin and I hugged each other cried some more and I listened to him.  He distinguished between me saying stop crying which is angry and don't cry which is kind.
Then he told me how he doesn't like the bad pillayar the one who hits him and shouts at him. He's going to throw this bad pillayar out of his heart.  I listened . I told him yes let's shoo away the bad pillayar and hold close the good pillayar.  He told me sorry. I asked sorry for what darling? For being so sad. My heart broke.

I'm reflecting and learning so much. So when he cries like that for what seems like for no good reason to me - he's really truly sad. That's why he cries.  When he says sorry it's not the act of crying but for the feeling that makes him want to cry.

Then his spiel about good and bad pillayar.  He's not assigning my bad behaviour to someone else and good behaviour to god. He acknowledges both are gods but the effects on him - some bad some good.  He's saying lets take control and banish the bad and nurture the good.
I love him so and he loves me too.  I have so much to Learn I am so humbled.

He wants to jump on me coz he sees baby sister doing it and mum laughing and loving it and he wants to enjoy that too. Can't blame him. He doesn't get he's heavier bigger than baby. He's a little jealous of baby doesn't get the double standards.

Joys of parenthood

Weekend in Malaysia !
Just enjoyed being with my darling children parents and brother and rajee. 
Some highlights:

Akshaya was visited by the tooth fairy who left her ten ringgit but forgot to take the tooth

Ashwin felt bad he didn't bring his samy cupboard for his aaya to pray

Ashwin came down the flume ride and his first roller coaster ride!

Akshaya learnt to use goggles and see the bottom of the pool

Aishu.. sweet kutty! Knew she was on holiday! Tried walking the whole carpeted length of the hotel passageway.  Tried leaping off the table onto my face
Went swimming for the first time

Lego land. Hot but beautiful!

Beat of times worst of times

Whole of last week I've just been so jittery
Best of times worst of times line by Charles dickens ringing in my head .
In the throes of change
A tipping point
Will things change for better or for worse of just stay the same? 

Thaipusam 2015.. I don't want to forget it. 
Already things are quieter about it.

Last week I felt so much for those three men on trial for the fights
First time ever found myself doubting our justice system.
I felt the difference between knowing something all along and then really recognising something.  Have always known that newspapers twist the news to present only one sanctioned view. Now I really saw it . Online media though messy presented so many different perspectives ideas c  hallenging the sanctioned views.
So often i was  blatantly disgusted at the reporting in St that ignored calls about people's unhappiness over the unfairness of no music allowed for thaipusam and allowed for so many others like chinghay Chinese funerals st Patrick's day etc. 

Police and st boldly claimed the men smelled of alcohol. One of the men denies drinking totally.  So convenient to label Indians as drunkards and then excuse brutish thuggish police behaviour as necessary to contain them. So convenient so despicable.  so frightening too.. if they stoop to this for a fight when else have they done this? What about the riots last year? Inept scared police just blame who they can to explain their pathetic performance. It appears instead of quelling the riots or preventing the fight they likely fuelled it by their stupid boorishness.  So now what?

One of the men claims he shoved a man who pushed his sister in law down.  Now that lady has filed a report against the police themselves.  What bravery! She has done this despite threats from the police that if these allegations are found to be untrue severe action will be taken against her. What utter bravery! Esp when we see the police are totally cool with twisting facts to protect themselves and the government will support the police to preserve the image of a clean government.
Frightening.
Very very frightening.
Utopia turned dystopia just like that
Coz social media reveals different types sides to stories.

Then the crazy politicians commenting on this. Advising public not to overreact. Firstly it was the police who overreacted. Then the politicians telling us to remember law and order and policemen must be respected!!! Missing the point. People angry about unfairness of the law. 
People not just Indians but people.
They finally hear us and then go on a wild indefensible defence about privilege.
Public not the police or politicians saw that the rule was unfair and debated that rather than the men who got into a fight. Stupid right? Think it was hard for then to understand what we were mad about. They expected public to say oh good job police you contained the drunkards and the fights. Not wait a minute ute police why so many plainclothes police why no music in the first place why so rough with devotees etc. Took them by surprise.  Stupid people. 

So now.   We have been asking for music for years. 40 years in fact.  And shanmugam now says we must listen to the people reconsider the allowing of music.  Why you can only hear now , coz the noise is loud.

Then the policing got terrible. 
First ' gag order about the three men and the fracas. That fracas has thrown up gross discrimination and brought about the possibility of music for thaipusam at last after 40 years but we can't talk about them. Apparently we might prejudice the case! Seriously the talking is what might bring about justice rather than prejudice it!  I'm very sure now that without that noise it would have been clear cut throw them in jail the drunk hooligans!  Idiots. So afraid if being shown up as unfair. Idiots 

Then a refusal to grant permit to protest and ask for musical instruments and a public  holiday for thaipusam  . So can't talk online can't talk in  public just shut up and let the powers that be decode everything . Some democracy.  My country!! Filthy.
What are they afraid of? For the first time
Singaporeans getting together to fight for minority rights and they clamp down saying this may divide!  They are just afraid! Afraid the racist policies of the country will be talked about that people will become aware. Like in said filthy! !!

Different ways of being smart

So akshaya got 1 out of 8 for spelling.
First I thought it was due to poor handwriting  coz every word was right. Then I thought - hearing problem maybe?
Turns out -teacher said she'd mix up the order of spelling. Sweetie thought test was to get spelling right and order of words right so she tried putting the words back in order! 1/8. But deserves bonus  marks right!
Sweet saro realised it.

So proud of akshaya

My darling phoned me just now to let me hear her piano playing and it was beautiful. It's ringing in my head now.

I'm so proud because she struggles with her songs the first few times she plays.  For her to practise and overcome that initial fear and discomfort and then play for me to hear when I'm at work. .. I'm impressed and proud of her.

She's my darling my angel my bringer of all good things! 

Last Sunday she took such care of ashwin and aishu while I cooked . I'm so blessed! 

Today she told me don't worry asthma you get ready for work I'll find the book ashwin wants. .

My darling my darling my darling! !

Baby walking

So https://hbr.org/2010/07/how-will-you-measure-your-life?cm_sp=Topics-_-Links-_-Read+These+First aishu baby has taken her first steps!  We got an amazing first steps video of her - last week she took her first two to 3 independent steps
Yesterday on her birthday she took 6 steps!

At night she calls out aatha! So sweet and she greets me with such pleasure when I return from work!
I love my kutty baby!

Ashwinisms contd

So every night he has this ritual with his dad at bed to mine.  He'll insist I don't want to sleep appa!  Very vehemently. Saro will reply no need to sleep. We'll just lie down.
This has been going on for many months now - nearly 7 - 8 mths I think.
The other day, after this exchange, he said " then suddenly, accidentally,  we'll fall asleep! "

Haha that was hilarious

Then the other day,  at senthil  nalla ''s bhajan 7t got late and he wanted to go home with my parents
He cried when I asked him if he really wanted to go and calmed down when I said he could
Someone passing by who overheard this exchange was smiling so I responded to her saying " aayas house is paradise" he countered angrily- " no! Aaya's house is serangoon north!" We all burst into laughter!   Venkat nearby said   என்னை தப்பு தப்பாக சொல்றேங்க   not paradise but serangoon north! Was very very funny .

Baby aish turned one yesterday!

Simplicity - hehe that was my aishu baby's party yesterday! Wore all her presents looked cute and pretty and cut a home made cake

Akshaya's managerial skills

Watching the girls play
So educational
Akshaya is distributing blocks among three girls who are building various things

Akshaya ain't building she's managing the blocks
One girl wants single blocks
Manager has none
She looks to another child asks if she can pass first child the single blocks needed
Then in exchange gives her another set of blocks
O

More cute things from ashwin

Sees a baby in the lift say ms she's like Aishwarya
Aaya says no aishu is older
He retorts... aishu is not old she is new!!!!

I say the moon is so beautiful tonight.. he says it's so handsome!

excited about piano at last

so at last - akshaya is excited about her piano class and piano playing - she practised on her own today - without any prodding from me, and she played her song herself so many times she tells me the song is easy! and she played for me to hear on the phone!!!!!!!

unbelievable - just yesterday we had a difficult practice!

god bless and protect - help her see things through even when things are tough

Ashwin's mayil vaganam

Saro has a stt shirt with a peacock logo
Ashwin loves that tee
He sees saro wearing it hr comments " appa you are wearing your peacock shirt! You are my mayil vaganam!

Aish in the fight

Was so entertaining watching aishu play and fight with her brother and sis the other day

She had taken a toy car - one of ashwin's i guess. He was asking back for it and she was flat refusing to give it to him! Emphatic shakes of head, waving car away from ashwin's reach! Akshaya tried to ask for it back - same reaction! Ashwin tried giving her a soft toy to exchange... she took the soft toy  and flung it away! Super interesting! Finally gave up the car to her father only!!! 

Very fun to watch!

We asked ashwin what happened to sharing? He stood up and announced " i wont share! If someone comes to take my car i will fight!!

Hehe! So interesting!

Things kids see and say

Yesterday we saw a jet plane streaming across the sky, leaving in its wake a trail of white...

At least thats what i saw

My 3 year old saw reindeer flying across the sky

Carching on my 6 year old saw a penguin sliding belly down on ice

I...  while at first i only saw the jet, thanks to my kids, was lucky enough to see both reindeer and penguin!

We need to unsee to see things anew.

Other cute things they say and do...

You know about akshaya's question on branch meetings

Ashwin called out the other day " police man come catch aatha shes standing on the road!"

Falling in love

You know the feeling ... Where you watch your three year old learning to play soccer and as you watch you feel yourself falling in love ... And you think... I don't want to miss a thing! 

Stream of consciousness

I'll and trying to sleep in the aft for awhile 

Quick scan

Son- reading. Check 

Eldest daughter - reading . Check 

Baby- pulling out underwear from my drawer. Sigh. Could be worse. Check

Someone is on my back. My son. Oh baby has spotters brother. Feel her scrambling on my back

A long days night

For once really, I find it hard to raise my eyes. They hurt! 

Tools ages to sleep

Ashwin was super sick coughing coughing coughing

In his sleep he's complaining I'm not playing with him. Poor chellum 

Finally slept at 3 plus. Akshaya turned up at 4 asking me to come back to bed there. 4.45 aish woke up for milk

5.10 aye Nan's alarm

5.45 my alarm 

Any wonder I can't open my eyes?????

The school chronicles

A thousand and one things on my mind

7.26:made it to school in good time with big job pit stop 

She looked so stylish on fri. Now she looks swaku. Thanks to ms Edward scissor hand . My only consolation... Hair grows fast. In two weeks she should start looking better. If only I could shield her from my parents and friends till then! 

Hougang primary. We are here for the second day of Sch. Yes! 

Checked that her bag was packed I. The toilet. Bit late that. 

Routine at home: (let me dream)

Uniform and socks in clothes hamper, 

Lunch bag in kitchen

Shower

Lunch 

TV 

Homework 

Playground 

Dinner 

Story or games 

Bed time 

I just saw a face light up to see me! Ah the pleasures of being a mother.