Grand Parents

For the last 3 months almost, we had grandparents visiting us from India.

In June and July, my parents were visiting.  Little Miss Haana was eager to know what gifts they had for her snuck away in their suitcases. She was not disappointed. There were dresses and delicious indian sweets and even board games like Snakes-and-Ladder.

A friendship was forged between the grand parents and the little girl. And they were in for a constant non-stop entertainment package from 8am till 8 pm. She told them stories, colored cards, educated them on what is right and wrong with the world.

Little Miss Haana also embarked on a mission to educate the grand parents with the latest kids' videos she's currently into: magic school bus! Our usual pact for videos is restricted to up to 2-3 hour per week ( usually over weekend) not counting the 10-15 minutes of video Daddy sneaks in to her in the mornings.  Generally, weekdays mean no video watching.
But, now it was summer! And Magic School Bus episodes are not going to watch themselves. We had gotten television package for the parents for their convenience just before they arrived. But little did we know, the little girl will have a supreme command on the remote and the contents of what comes on the the TV. Poor Nana Nani would turn on the TV to watch their shows but the little girl would take over the controls and in a moments notice, everyone would be watching the magic school bus. Most of this notoriety was of course happening when we were away at work. When the cats are away, the mice will play.  And was the mouse playing it up! If it's making hay while the sun shines, the little girl was filling up the barns!

Soon my parents left and the same week my in laws came to visit.

The magic school bus episodes were now being repeated, since she'd watched through them all once. In fact just before the in laws left, she was watching the episodes in spanish for novelty! And the tv was usually switched off just a few minutes before I would come back from work.

Little miss Haana was the centre of attraction for every minute of every day while the grandparents are visiting. And we all loved it!

Do What Mumma Says

This actually happened this evening:

Little Miss Haana was telling me this evening how at school her toenail broke and hurt. But she was able to peel it out, and that it doesn't hurt anymore.

I told her I need to cut her other toenails.
To this she said grown-ups actually grow their nails. I said I don't. But she said Miss Simone does grow her nails. So, grown-ups grow their nails.

I thought about it for a second and then said- some grown-ups do somethings, some another. But she needs to do things that work for her, and what she likes instead of what works for other people; or what other people think she ought to do. I gave her an example how some people may say what girls can or cannot do. But she needs to do what she feels is right by her.

After a pause and added- "Do what feels right to you, and also what mumma tells you to do", ( i had to add that part).
But, I guess it was already too late when she replied: "But I have to do what is right for me. Not what anyone else says".

This Is No Small Fight

Miss Haana and I have fights fairly frequently. One every few hours wouldn't be an over estimate. Mostly they are short fights, where I am firm on my stance but not too mad (in my mind anyway). The tiff  ends quickly enough with warm hugs and sweet kisses.

And then once in a while there are those bad fights where I end up really angry and it sends me flying downhill at break neck speeds. I loose all my cool, get really mad, I scold her and say all kinds of mean things to her. She mostly grows silent. She feels bad and whimpers softly. Sometimes she cries out for Papa. It fills me, at that moment, with more irritation and sometimes, with a brief spark of satisfaction at seeing my anger have some effect on her. When she feels bad for a bit longer, and i finally look at her, all my anger leaves me instantly. And I feel so bad, so guilty, so repentant for being so mean.

Today when we just had such a fight and I felt bad after, I cuddled up with her later. She asked me for her book reading. It was bedtime story time. I started reading the book, but then stopped mid way to tell her I love her. And that I'm so sorry for saying mean things. I didn't mean then afterall. That I'm proud of her. And did I mention, I love her? Little miss Haana smiled and said I love you too mumma.  You should not get so angry (i agreed). Now read! Read mumma! You're wasting time😊