#AreYouaBeliever?

M: Mom are there any real dragons?
Me: No Manya
M: Are there any real magical fairies?
Me: Nope
M (very offended): Its unbelievable how picky you adult human beings are when it comes to believing things. If you don’t see it, it simply does not exist. Africa exists, dinosaurs existed but fairies and dragons don’t. That’s preposterous! I simply will not take it. What i believe in does exist. You can sit there and go on believing nothing exists. I am done with you and your non believing.

Her highness then actually very dramatically just storms off. I am still sitting here and wondering what did i do to bring on such fury.

[Such a long read that it needs a caption. Let’s call it, “The Smoking Lady”.]

So M has still not reached that age or phase where a girl is exposed to a list of what she must or mustn’t, and can or cannot do because of her gender.

Sure, preschool has brought about conversations around pink vs blue, cars vs dolls, and tutus vs trousers but we have been able to navigate thru these by explaining choice and how what is long being followed becomes normal (which means nothing) but its okay to make individual choices. I feel we have been more or less successful even though Manya pushes back - “Mom, i know its my choice and girls needn’t wear only pink but its my life and my body and I choose pink glitter. Thank you very much.”
Cant argue with that either!

Anyways, going back to my initial point of her not having yet faced blatant gender based discrimination, I was shocked to hear from her today, “Mom, just look at that - a lady smoking!”
Thank you Seattle downtown for giving me endless opportunities to educate my kid. 🙄. During our stay here, we have encountered lines of people leaning against building and burning their lives in smoke, drunken brawls that involve choicest of abuses a five year old needn’t have heard, homeless people begging, property destructions in broad daylight, drug addicts approaching high headed in the middle of noon, cars racing and breaking speed limits, and all the PDAs around touristy spots. I am so ready to move to the suburbs.

But for today the smoking lady is of paramount importance. Here’s our conversation...
Me: Manya what is so special about a lady smoking?
M: How can she smoke. Didn’t you say its bad for health and bad for the planet?
Me: Yes it is. But that holds good for both men and women.
M: I know its bad for all but atleast women should not smoke.
Me (absolutely aghast and fumbling to understand the origin of this thought process): I dont understand manya, if its wrong for everyone, nobody should smoke.
M: yes nobody should smoke but atleast women have more sense and they should know better.
Me: why should women know better than men.
M: because girls are the best?
Me: not true, girls and boys can be equally good or equally bad - you have to talk about individuals - you have boy best friends and girl best friends, don’t you?
M: that’s true, you are right.
Me: I am always right.
M: These people need to stop smoking, I feel like puking.
Me: you are right
M: I am always right.

Phew.

#Cheeky Brat and Big Words - COMPROMISE

Manya’s time tested tactic to sneak in screen time - whenever she sees me engrossed in a phone call, she’ll start pestering. And mostly if its a call I cant hang up or put on hold to reason out (read as shout and argue), she knows she can get away with. Who cares if mommy gives a lecture afterwards - those stolen moments are well worth it.

Today was one of those days - I was on a rather long call with customer care (you get the drift), and she started the cajoling - already frustrated with the long wait, I snapped at her. She writes this and hands it over to me. I signal what, and she whispers back with utmost gravity, “Mom, I think you should learn to compromise - you should listen to the lady on the phone and to me too. Can I please watch screen. I’ll switch off when you are done with your call. We all will be happier that way.”

Sigh.
With every passing day, I realize parenting is mostly a compromise between what is best for your child and what is best for your sanity.

(P.s. even though my first instinct was to tell her the correct spelling, I just let her watch “my little Pony” instead)

Maybe "greatness" runs in the family :p

Manya: Mom you make awesome hot chocolate.

Me: Ooh thank you!

Manya (with seemingly great sincerity): You make everything so well but do you know what you make best?

Me (a little unsure where all this sweetness was heading towards): What?

Manya (so matter of factly): Daughters. You make great daughters. You have made the best daughter ever!

I burst out laughing, literally rolling on the floor...

Manya (not at all amused): Okay now no need to get so excited about having such a great daughter.

Oh Lord, deliver us from such “greatness”.

The big move!

So we left Portland for Seattle end of last month. While we are still in transition, I have to note how cooperative Manya has been. With a bout of pneumonia just a day before the move, I had expected her to be less welcoming to all the changes and the frenzy - but not my sweet charming child (when she chooses to be one). No complaints - absolutely patient - and in fact looking forward to all the big new stuff that's going to happen - house hunting. new school. new neighborhood! I hope her spirits remain high! A challenging but a great start to the year!

Chutes and Ladders

It’s actually very funny how things esacalate between M and me when we play chutes & ladders...

From such warm hugs and kisses as we unfold the board game,to distancing positions as the game proceeds, to war cries as we miss the ladders and don’t miss the chutes, to frustrated sighs and threatening tears as mommy refuses fo bend the rules, and finally to cold accusing stares as we pack the damn thing off muttering promises of never to play it again with “this lady”.

P.s. Mommy won 3 games in a row. 😂

A Magical Vacay!

So guess who finally talked us into a Disneyland vacation! Enough travel and blog sites out there to give you the complete picture. Here's what I learnt.

- 5 is the perfect age for Disneyland (the one in CA) - old enough to be up the whole day - no naps. Young enough to be strapped in a stroller and rolled around. Understands delayed gratification - patience - wait to enjoy - She also knew most of the characters and references and had a total blast.

- 4 days is the perfect time to explore both the parks without overdoing it on a single day! The monday after thanksgiving is a great time to plan your Disney vacation!

- M continues to be the best - most pleasant, most patient travel companion. Knock on wood. She is a delight to be with and an excellent observation power! SHe makes vacations extra fun!

- And finally this child's lust for travel is going to burn a big hole in our pockets!!! Cheers to the bets of times!

(Fun fact: Vish and I first visited Disneyland exactly 10 years ago - down to the month!)

First Chapter Book!

This is one accomplishment I am so very proud of! Manya loves to read and has taken to books like a fish to water. From reading words to sentences to small stories to her first complete chapter book - the last year has been phenomenal!

Here's the book she read. And I highly recommend this series for early readers who want to be challenged with the complexity of a chapter book but ar enot ready for broing dry print yet!

High Five!

Good lord, she is five.

• She talks non stop - a vocabulary that is far above her age range - she can still manage to surprise us with her words.
• She reads well above her peer level too. She loves books and has a varied range of interest.
• Still not very fond of writing - she prefers writing words and sentences rather than focussing on forming the individual letters. She insists that "not writing is alright mom, I will handle it"
• Doesn't care much for numbers but can write 1-100 and use manipulatives to add and subtract. 
• Loves drawing, cutting, gluing, coloring, painting, play dough and all kinds of messy projects!
• She has started saying she is getting bored of martial arts and so we might be ending that soon. I am not too happy but there's no point forcing it so...
• Swimming is something that continues to delight her - she absolutely loves the water and her swim coach!
• She is showing a lot of interest in music, instruments and dancing - wants to start learning ballad - we might just give that a try!
• She absolutely loves school. Has made a lot of friends and looks forward to it every single day.
• Lot of junk has found its way in her diet - we try to keep a check and I really hope we do better.
• In the princess and all things pink and glittery stage - Mommy gets annoyed with it but nobody dare argue with the "my life, my choice" stance!
• very strong willed - with distinct defiant streak -but absolutely adorable still :p

Oh the places you'll go!

Dearest Manya,

Happy 5th Birthday. High five. Really. You are five. I'll never grow tired but I'll definitely grow old exclaiming how time flies! And you are definitely growing sassier by the day.

You got a birthday card from one of your best friends that said why be a queen when you can be a goddess. Oh my god! That totally describes your attitude these days! Strong willed, you almost always know what you really want. While the defiant streak does put mommy and daddy on the simmering pot every now and then, you also possess the uncanny knack to diffuse a situation. And ofcourse that you are adorably cute does help your case!

Your biggest strength is your very plesant personality - you respect others' feelings, are mindful of your words and sensitive to your environment. I pray to god that that never ever changes. This is going to be your biggest asset always.

We are so blessed to have you in our lives - you fill it with infinite craziness but also with eternal joy. Mommy and daddy love you the best!