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!

Lessons from Indian Mythology - Diwali!

Me: It’s diwali today and tomorrow, manya. Happy diwali!
M: Happy diwali Mom!
Me: Do you know why we celebrate Diwali.
M: Uh huh. It’s the Festival of Lights.
Me: But there’s also a story behind it.
M: Oh I know. Hanuman saved somebody’s wife from someone who had stolen her. And right won over wrong.
Me: Yes, Lord Ram’s wife, Sita, was abducted by Ravan. There was a war and Hanuman did play a major role. So we celebrate Diwali to mark their return after the victory.
M: I have a question how did Ravan kidnap Sita?
Me: He went to her in disguise and tricked her.
M: Was Sita very old that time.
Me: No
M: Then why didn’t she defend herself. One roundhouse kick and Ravan would have backed off.
Me: Well But Ravan was pretty powerful too.
M: But did she kick him nice and strong?;
Me: I don’t think so Manya.
M: She should have. The whole war could be avoided.
Me: Hmm that’s a great learning. That’s why everyone should learn martial arts like you.
M: Yes. But I like celebrating Diwali. Will you make chhola puri today?
Me: Sure!

Happy Diwali to you and yours. Here’s to self defense and chhola puri, ofcourse!

Halloween Obsession Going Strong...Third Consecutive Year

A very unassuming friendly gentleman at the store, to Manya: "Aren't you a lovely little girl there!"

Manya: "Yes, I do look like a lovely little girl, but actually I am a vampire. I suck human blood."

That speechless-horrified expression on the man's face for the one moment was priceless. I ofcourse chimed in, "It clearly is Halloween time!"
He gave a quick smile and retreated into oblivion.

\

First day of Pre-K

It has been a good summer. Manya has got to spend time with her grandparents. Vish's parents were here. Easy warm days with matial arts and swimming as the only set activities. We did a lot of berry picking, and the regular touristy stuff taking the grandparents around Portland. 

School year is finally here and Manya has one more year to go at her preschool. They call it Pre-K but it's just fun mostly! Have a great year sweetheart!

Spinning the fairy tales...

While reading The Princess and the Frog...
Me: Manya, would you kiss a frog?
Manya: ofcourse!
Me (highly amused): why, because he'd be a prince?
Manya (in a very no nonsense voice): It doesn't matter whether he is a prince or a normal person, rich or poor, will marry me or not, it is about uncursing him. I would kiss anybody or anything if it helped them.
Me: (still searching for that halo around her head 😊)

#CouldQualifyAsaParentingWin

Normalizing Normal

Read this Huffpost article here. Apparently, a million mom feel Disney should not introduce a two-mom family in Doc-McStuffins.

Hmm. So if heterosexual couples are showcased, it is okay. But homosexuality is apparently a problem for young kids - what a perverted world view we grown ups have!

The younger the child, the easier he/she understands love. And with that simple understanding they can grow up to be inclusive and all embracing members of the society. This kind of resistance is unnatural and not normal - this is not shielding your kids - it is coloring them with the same biases that the parents hold.

Reminds me of this instance when a then 3 year old Manya met a girl with two mommies and asked me, "mommy wow does that girl really have two mommies!" And I told her "yep - you can have one mommy, or one daddy, or both, two mommies, or two daddies or both!" She just smiled. It was so simple. She has since seen two daddies too, and while some adults stood in a corner and stared, the kids, including my daughter didn't even notice. That. Is. Normal.

#Dramavs.Independence

Me: Manya you know next week on the 4th of July, the American Independence Day is celebrated.

M (very disinterested): hmm

Me: you know what that means. The United States of America won the war of freedom against all rulers. And finally they had a government by the people. No king or queen.

M: (very disappointedly): Oh no. That is so sad. 

Me: why is that sad. 

M: because I love Kings and queens and palaces and princesses and all things royal.

Me: But imagine manya if we ever had a bad or mean king or queen the people would have no say. We now elect our presidents - people can choose.

M: I would have fought the mean king and queen, there would have been a Great War. I would have thrown them out of the kingdom and become the nice queen. 

Me: you just want unlimited drama in your life, don't you! Pls finish your milk now. We'll discuss this again tomorrow.

#moredramaawaitstomorrow