1st birthday jungle theme
2nd birthday under the sea
3rd birthday outer space
4th birthday bird themed
5th birthday strawberry shortcake theme
6th birthday princess Sophia
7th birthday bowling and art themed
8th birthday Harry Potter theme
9th birthday just a gathering
10th birthday Greek themed party
Ashwin
Aatha for ashwin
*What is something ashwin says a lot?
Duh, doy
*What makes ashwin happy?
Spending time with me / spending time with whole family at macs
*What makes ashwin sad?
When you feel you can't be understood
How tall is ashwin?
132cm
*What's ashwin's favourite thing to do!
Kick a ball around the house
*What is ashwin's favourite food?
Chicken masala/ not sure
*What is ashwin's favourite drink?
White milk and yakult
If ashwin could go anywhere, where would he go?
Captain underpants world/ Albany in autumn
*Do you think you could live without ashwin?
No WAY!
*How does ashwin annoy you?
Touching things he shouldn't be touching
*What is ashwin's favourite tv show?
Nat geo wild
*What is ashwin's favourite music to listen to?
Mannil intha kadhal andri/ mama un ponna kodu
*How old is ashwin?
7.5
*What's is ashwin's favourite colour?
Red
*How much do you love ashwin?
More than I can ever say or show
What do you like most about ashwin?
Your creativity and kindness
Copy, paste and change my answers and see what your child says!
You will be surprised how much your kids pay attention to you!😂
Ashwin - 7yrs old
WITHOUT prompting, ask your child these questions and write EXACTLY what they say about Mum (so funny!)
*What is something mum says a lot?
I love you and darling
*What makes mum happy?
Me
*What makes mum sad?
Cutting down trees
*How tall is mum?
1.62
*What's mum's favourite thing to do!
Play with me, I mean, read I think
*What is mum's favourite food?
Yellow peppers
*What is mum's favourite drink?
Tea
*If mum could go anywhere, where would she go?
To Albany in Winter
*Do you think you could live without mum?
Of course not
*How does mum annoy you?
By scolding you
*What is mum's favourite tv show?
Vasantham
*What is mum's favourite music to listen to?
For Elise
*How old is mum?
40
*What's is mum's favourite colour?
That's the hardest one... blue
*How much do you love mum?
A lot
Copy, paste and change my answers and see what your child says!
You will be surprised how much your kids pay attention to you!😂
On turning ten
Wish i was turning thirteen
Might have got my own phone already
10 is so small still
You know
Even 12 is small
13
A teenager
Maybe at 13
I could wear a proper bra
Not these training ones that are waiting
for mine to grow into
10 is just bleah
13 is the age to be
Maybe then I could have my own room
Just to call my own
My sweet 4 year old carried paal kudam yesterday! At 4! With such piety. Am so proud of her. She wanted to carry last year. I didn't think she was ready but she woke up early and walked the round with a pot on her head, and we bought milk for her to give. This year she was super ready.
And she asks so many questions. Why girls don't carry kavadi but boys can carry both paal kudam kudam and kavadi . I can't answer her well enough
Ashwin did some quick math last night and figured out saro would be70 when he's 35.
He said he wished wed had him when we were 25! So we woukd n9t be so old when he s older
Such mature thoughts from a 7 year old.
I'm 40 and my dad is not 70 yet. It feels good. They are so healthy and independent still supporting us
I don't want to be a burden to my kids.
You know as babies each kid brought to mind one thing each
For akshaya predominantly I felt she was a real live doll. A sweet doll that saro and i could play with and look after. Bathe. Feed. Play with.
Not the most sophisticated impression but thats what I remember feeling and wondering.
It felt surreal. A real live baby doll to play with!
Then with ashwin.. Haha him I felt him to be a puppy. Crawling here there eager to do his own thing. So very loveable.
And with aishu.. it's a chittukuruvi. A baby sparrow. So small and quick and light. Like I could never really catch her. My sunbeam remember? Can only revel in her warmth. Like a bird. Small cute excitable and also uncatchable
I can't explain these analogies very well or explain. They may not be the best too, I mean doll is a bit cliched? But it is what I felt !
Now they are 10 7.5 and 5.. .
And I'm scared. Scared I'm losing my doll, she's growing up. She is fearful of spending a day with me feels all I do is scold her or nag her. I'm worried it may be true. But every small thing i say she takes it big so it becomes like a scolding.
She says now and then I wish I were the only baby in the house. That's a cry right? More attention please?
I want to plan solo day out with each. They plan the day. What they do with me.
Aatha. If there was another mother we would never go to her. This from having read and watched coraline
Aishu says she doesn't like it when she can see her teachers stomach! That the kids giggle about it. When teacher asks them about it they are too shy to say!
Ashwin called me yesterday. Very serious. To discuss a secret idea with me
He feels wiwit should go back to see her children format least a week.
I agree. Am very touched by his concern. Hisnseriousness. Taking his idea to someone who can make it happen.
Just that we are waiting for things to get more confirmed. For saro's father. If confirmed we aren't going anywhere will fix a week for her to go visiting while i take leave.
The other day ashwin wanted a private moment with God. Later he shared he had gone to say sorry for eating chicken while he's supposed to be on viratham! I'm touched on a few counts. One he feels close enogh to God to have a private moment with him. That's what I want for my kids. To feel a personal closeness and relationship with God that is un mediated thru others. That's precious.
2nd that he feels a sense of responsibility towards keeping the fast himself and feels bad for breaking it. These are life skills or life values. Am very proud of him
My akshaya has been selected as a senior prefect. She stands a chance to be vice head prefect. I am so proud of her. Also I am embarrassed ? To say I didn't think she'd get into this select group of senior prefects. Why? She seems so quiet and diffident. Prefects conjure for me forceful personalities! Maybe that's just student council at jc huh? . Anyway am so proud of her. She is responsible.
And he's full of mixed feelings! Says it's the first time a school year is properly ending for him. It's last day of school tomorrow. He's excited. Bit scared too about p2 next year! So sweet and tender!
The little one is like a little bird
Small chirpy cheery
She loves it that I call her baby joy
She's got her daddy round her little finger haha! She just has to smile and he melts
And she loves me and wants me around her so much .
If I sit with them and feed them threat fast
I spend a bit of time one on one with them and they each calm down so much
Aatha. He says at 5am outside the bathroom door
The blankets are not enough
I need your legs to keep me warm!
Heart melting. He asked that I come for sports meet and here I am.
Ashwin said thru written teeth this was his worst saraswathy Poona ever coz he has two annoying parents!
We were laughing.
All this coz we said he had to respectfully for the pooja and not slouch!
So gracefully
I admit I was bursting with pride
I feel here was the best dance haha! And she the best dancer
I'm always so unbiased hehe!
Thank God for giving me these sweet souls and for giving them music dance song and opportunities to perform for you
You won't eat me up coz you'd miss me too much if I was gone
Says the four year old after I threatened to gobble her up
And I'm silenced
For days after actually
So unbearable is the thought
My light my love
Pachak. Slapped in the face by my 7 year old.
He said he didn't like the performance the day before.
I was telling him he enjoyed the performance just that he was tired and he said no he didn't.
Then he asked tearfully
Why do you assume you know everyone's feelings!
Wow. I stopped. I said ok I shouldn't. Why didn't you like it? And he explained! For his explanation o surmised he didn't enjoy oddissi! I was duly checked.
Had a talk with baby girl. She doesn't like math.
I told her it's okay to hate math less of a burden right. To know it's okay to hate it. Instead of feeling I should be loving it but I don't.
Also that she can drop math at jc. Just for her to know she has options.
Then she's set herself a target. Which is good. But she's hard on herself for not hitting it
So had a talk about targets. . Good for setting dierection. But process of getting there more Important than the target. This is how good kids get super stressed!
Had a talk with baby girl. She doesn't like math.
I told her it's okay to hate math less of a burden right. To know it's okay to hate it. Instead of feeling I should be loving it but I don't.
Also that she can drop mah
Ashwin sang for his first navarathiri performance.
Three lovely songs
Vibrant Thalam podurathu. His thigh must have hurt with the slapping
He went straight to the centre mike and Sat down.
Sang loud and lustily. Gustily. Whispered to his friend (which we could all hear on the mike) that he was very good in this next song.
A real delight!
Such confidence and enthusiasm!
Well dome ashwin!
I'm frozed aatha she says
I left my sunglasses in theys car. Then I took it back from theys car!
I chos pink for the sail then I chos blue and green.
These are the delightful mispronunciations aishu says now at age 4.5. I lo e them a d cherish them knowing they will only last so long
Now I don't hear her thatikodumi anymore. And other cute stuff I don't even recall.
I want to catch each of these and freeze them. Store them in clear jars and look at them whenever I can.
Let's go cookly aatha. Cookly cookly. Melt heart melt!
My ashwin says
In his own way
That it kind of sucks
That its the days he has no extra
Activities that I'm home late
I.e.
There's nothing to distract him
From my absence
Those days
He knows just how to say it
She asks innocuous
What?
Can you buy me breasts?
Where will I buy you breasts from?
Ntuc?
Ah! Bras! No I can't buy you bras. You are only 4.
He is into dinos big time now
And time travel
When do you go back to asks my dad
If I wanted to die I'd go back to 65 million years ago
Why would you go back then if you wanted to die?
Coz a meteorite hit earth 65 million years ago. If I go back then id die
ashwin has made up a new game called poison water fire
fire wins water
water wins poison
poison wins fire
it's based on scissors paper stone and is really quite fun!
he did well in his show and tell. he came up with a shark joke yo insert into his show and tell to engage his audience
very clever. we hadn't taught him that
for Tamil he s going talk about his grandfather i.e. my dad. it's so sweet and touching haha
something all parents say
my dad said it at thirteen when I wanted to go play badminton I'm a friends house
my sweetheart asked me to buy her a bra yesterday! she's just about 9 and a half! so am pretty sure she doesn't need it. skinny stick that she is! but it was cute and sweet.
baby akshaya
she's not been well.
blood in stools for more than a month
and she's going for a scope next week
when I talked about it with my own doctor whom I had gone to see for antibiotics
coz akshaya can't fall sick in this next week
and the burden is on me for I'm down with a flu
I was quite troubled and distracted and worried
more than I had let on
I could see worry etched on saro's brows. and akshaya burst into tears. I had to keep smiling for them and be practical
but after speaking with my doctor and being left alone
I was near tears
for I realised how sad and worried I was
and I needed someone to talk to
but saro was shielding his plate as I sneezed into a tissue.
so I left them all and have retreated here to write. surprising dry eyed though I was in tears earlier on
and I have to endure sounding all cold about things to my mum. i cant be giving in to my worries plus I am I'll. I feel awful. so just explained the facts and heard her own worry.
but I know God is looking out for us.
she's amazing my daughter.
although she cried by the time we got to the sai baba temple she said she was almost looking forward to the hospital stay coz I said wed download movies and take games and books.
she's afraid now of the ghastly mixture she has to take and of the injection to put drips in.
she's a sweetheart. she asked me not to tell her grandmaas she's scared. doesn't want to worry them and doestm want to hear them comforting her as it would o my worry her more. instead she dug into a chicken burger and fell asleep delighted.
to be a child!
I hope the scope reveals what the problem is and that it's not some rare chronic disease that has to be constantly managed. I hope it's something that can be cleared up quickly. I can only pray.
I know God is looking out for us coz that's what he does. and if by his grace she gets better in a week there's no need for scope.
if there is a need for a scope I shall have to take it that it's best. and that it's to avert some thing far worse.
is this faithful thinking. Faith?
or positive thinking?
or self delusion?
I don't know. it's what I've got though.
adios
her word of season
dishgushting - with such relish
ask this dumb appa to move
why do you keep waking up in the middle of the night to bathe (this at 6am)
I write so often about ashwin. aishu. not as much about my akshaya
she is my gem.
and she's been unwell. and I was sonafraid. I was crying at the temple. at the office. sometimes takes a jolt of fear to appreciate people for who they are and what they mean to us.
she is everything to me. each of my kids is. my husband is. sounds selfish but it's true. nothing else matters to me next to them. my parents.
also god. I need to pray. really pray. know god. be with him as one. to go to the temple when one is scared or sad is not wrong of course. you go to those you love and feel sheltered with when scared or sad. just don't want to you go then you know?
I feel awfil. why didn't i check her stools earlier
aatha
Singapore seems very big even though it's just a dot
although it's just a dot for it seems as big as the universe
for ants my hand is like the universe
later that night..aatha do you think robbers lock their doors at night?
What a question I just love the way he think his mind works. it's a gift to be able to speak with him and learn more. really wonderful.
earlier on the day when he heard me paying for two special sangeetham classes with a maestro singer he turned sullen. I asked him what happened he said i just want to be alone for awhile. okay.
when we got to the car he said you can talk to me now if you want. okay!haha.
why were you upset just now.
because I don't want to go for classes on Saturdays and Sundays
this is something he's very particular ablut. he likes having at least one weekend day just stretch out with nothing on and he gets very grumpy about classes on both days. very consistent. so I explained it was just this one weekend but I realised I hadn't checked in with him before signing him up!
today saro asked who wants to come get their vitamins.
she answered appa no one wants to have their vitamins
for me fear is colourless
because my mind goes blank and I can't think of anything to say - ashwin
sadness is black and grey for me because these are dark colours
and when you mix black and white you get spooky grey which makes grey the colour of fear
red is the colour of pain because blood is red and when I think of my friend leaving me alone to go to Australia my heart fills with blood.
and when she thinks if her friend going away how do you think she feels knowing she has no more friends?
and how do you think i would feel if she knew her mother would take her to meet her friend in Australia? everything will be happy and yellow!
ashwin says purple is sometimes sad sometimes happy because it's both light and dark.
aishu went in and on so poetically and dramatically about red. I reminded her red is also for gearts. she says my heart fills with red in loveness!
I like that word!
ashwin is representing his school in a cluster competition singing a duet with his friend Lavithran. and I'm so proud of him haha!
he's so driven so passionate and loves singing . he's a gem.
he sang at the kalai nigalchi too. and did well despite the crowd making so much of noise.
earlier this year he represented the school in another competition. thank you for for your grace and blessings
She calls herself baby.
I'm worried she's babying herself.
So I tell her by the time akka was yiurbage she was big sister to two kids and anna was big brother already
So you are not a baby ok
She thinks awhile.
Then comes back to me with a frown
Says
Aatha. You said even when I'm an old lady I'll be your baby. How come now I'm not a baby?
Win lah.
World cup fever now
She can't stand it calls it the score and says she hope it ends permanently. Coz the rest of us are all so absorbed by it.
Anyway last night I woke up at 2.15 to watch it and she woke up with me. And she loved it. We are idly and cheese and cheered Messi on. He's the only player she likes. Coz of his name. Halfway thru cheering him on she says actually I don't know who Messi is! Super cute kid. Anyway I say they won coz of her little four year prayer too hehe! In the 87th minute ok.
Monday.
Ashwin says "aatha my friend taight me the f word. It's a bad word. Is it fuck?
Man. He's 6. Do i forbid him from saying it or ignore it ?
Tuesday
Akshaya asks "aatha did you have sex with appa only once?"
I am shocked and stunned. Then I just say yes once for each kid
Oh boy!
And three days ago. I showed Ashwin two pics of chairs painted by van Gogh. One wooden and one cushioned. Asked Ashwin which he would keep for himself and which for his friend and hebsaid smooth as ever the cushioned one for his friend and wooden for him. Why? Coz hed want his friend to sit on the more confortable chair! I love it it thatched said it unthinkingly.
I love you. My dear little sweet kids
Each with your own personality
The eldest so caring for everyone.
The youngest so vivacious
The middle so thoughtful
God's blessings truly. Great souls in my care thanks to God.
They love one another so much. And protect one another all the time.
It's 10.15pm. Kids hould have been in bed 2 hours ago. Akshaya had gone to bed by 9. Saro had knocked off by 8.30 he was exhuasted. The younger two had just come in. I popped into the bathroom. In the two min i was there they had started a huge row over bolsters. Full works screaming yelling. Saro wakes up I come out mad. Just two min and you two start fighting! Can't you see your dad is sleeping. I wanna put you to bed happy but you make me scold you. (Quite a nag)
They quieten down..ashwin in tears.
I'm grumpy too. Saro has calmed down and rubs Ashwin's back. I hug aishu. I somehow do it wrong. Because late nights you hug little people wrong according to them. I get a bit snappy she gets a bit whiney.
The brother tells me.. aatha She needs milk that's why she-'s cranky.
He doesn't want me getting mad with her! They had just been fighting but now he doesn't want me mad at her. He takes pin to speak calmly.
Then she starts.She tells me. Why weren't you kind to Akshaya like how you're with Ashwin? You didnt read a book to her and all. He pipes in. Ya. She was more sick than me. You don't love her like you love me.
Man I'm getting mad haha. Coz I was tired k. In retrospect they are being totally cute.
I was like I'm doing what I can ok! And I scooted off to the far end so I'm not between these two .
And she starts crying. Saro tries to comfort her. (He's been in the bathroom now see. All kinds of stuff happen when you pop into the bathroom)
She says no she wants aatha. And cries. I am not budging. Fed up with them. Spent whole day with them did art and craft and all and now they were whiney. Saro says he was rudely woken up and now had to deal with three kids. That's me. Not Akshaya. He tells Ashwin to go over and thatti kodu me. ashwin starts wailing saying no! I hate aatha. Because she's making Aishu cry!
Then he says aatha you are all alone now right that's how aishu feels too!
Im totally stunned I step out of it. Hey I'm supposed to be the adult anyway. But here this 6 year old is in genuine tears because his mom made his sis cry!!!!! I love them. And telling me how she must be feeling. It's true. When I was crying all I wanted was someone to hug me! And here I was leaving them to cry it out!!!!!! I shout out thank you Ashwin!
Now I'm ok. I go over to them for a group hug. Ashwin is still mad at me and refuses. Aishu and I hug. And while lying down she tells me... I heard you cry Aatha. I heard your tears fall . When I heard that i wanted to cry too. When I see sharanya cry I feel like crying too. I asked her why. She says because I love sharanya and I love you. So when you cry I feel crying too.
Break heart break. She goes on
I heard you say thank you to Anna and then I heard your tears fall. When I heard that i wanted to come and hug you but i also didnt.
She's amazingly articulate about feelings that are hard for adults to express. And so childlike and beautiful in how she says it. She says she felt for me wanted to comfort me even as she was hurting but couldn't come over to comfort me as she was a little bit mad and hurt by me. That's complex!!!
I love them so much.
When she said the I dont love you I wasn't mad anymore. I just said I love you.
Sweet babies ! They fight but protect each other fiercely!
The other day i had hit Ashwin coz I was mad at him and she came out later and pummelled me hard saying I wish we had a different mother!
My three blessings are such caring babies.
So Akshaya wrote a long letter to my helper telling her how much she appreciates her
And Ashwin used hiw own pocket money to buy an eraser for his friend- identical to the one he lost so he wont get into trouble at home!
And they didnt tell is this themselves. Theu just did it. Wiwit told me about Akshaya's letter amd Ashwin happened to mention it apparently he had done it last week.
Am so proud of them
And this littlest one. She likes me to drop her in sch so was very happy i could do so today. Telling me exciting stories the whole time.
They are discussing rebirth now. And she was saying she and her siblings will come to me again as babies. And i was thinking... how very very lucky and blessed i am that god entrusted me with these three precious souls. Theu are divine beings. I am lucky to be their mother.
Ashwin is in primary 1! So very proud of him. And Akshaya is a model older sister. Taking such good care of him. He looks to her for guidance and support too.
They all three are super protective of each other! Im the common enemy haha! I scold one and all three glare at me. Aishu is the only one bold enough to openly tell me off. The other two mumble under their breath.
This morning aishu said im very naughty for scolding ashwin. The guy took 25 min to eat one date!!! Empathise with me man!! But i agree i could be a lot nicer to the kids. Important to start the day right and cheerfully.
The other day i scolded aishu as i was sure she had vomited purposely because she knew we had put meds in her porridge. The other two were furious. They cried too. Ashwin said he didnt care if i slapped him he had to speak up for his sister!! Just so sweet these three!! Really three musketeers.
