Throw It Out

For months, neigh, years, I have been telling little miss Haana not to leave dirty clothes on the bedroom floor; put them in the laundry basket. Is that too much to ask? I have tried making it a chore she has to do, threatening to take the clothes away from her, lecturing her, nagging her. Lately I had been threatening her if she leaves her clothes on the floor I will throw them out of the balcony. The bedroom has a small balcony that overlooks over the front yard.

Nothing has worked.

This last weekend, I was standing in the bedroom looking over little miss Haana's small stack of dirty clothes on the floor. I picked them up. Then i looked over at her with a mischievous twinkle in my eye. Little miss Haana's eyes widened wondering what to expect now. I opened the balcony door, and quickly threw out her t-shirt from the balcony. It swerved for a second or two like a parachute and landed on the bushes in the front yard. Little miss Haana screamed to dad, "Papa, Mumma threw it out!! She did it!". I was laughing with delight by now. Papa shook his head. I had two more items in my hand. Little miss Haana jumped up at me to grab those items from my hand. She got one and ran to put it in the laundry basket. But i had the towel! And before she could jump up and grab it back, i quickly opened the balcony door and threw it out as well! I laughed with delight and clapped by hands. Little miss Haana's screamed to her dad again, "Papa, mumma threw the towel out too! Oh no!!".

The two of them headed downstairs to retrieve the prized artifacts from between the bushes in the front yard while I chuckled at myself for a job well done and certainly well enjoyed!

Since then, little miss Haana has never once left her clothes on the floor. I look out for such opportunities, but am left disappointed. "Oww!", I complain to her when i don't find anything to throw out. But it has been the most effective parenting success ever!

Return Policy

Yesterday I was remembering something about my India trip - few months back. I stayed for a couple days at my sisters'. Miss Haana and my nephew Aby became best buddies ever! If Aby was around no one else was needed.

My sister (Miss Haana's Mausi - mom's sister) and brother-in-law had this wondrous  excitement in their eyes when they were looking at the little girl! As if she's the most fun and awesome thing that ever came about. And they're trying hard to figure out how to please her!

Sid uncle talked to the little girl and asked her if she wants to see some birds outside on the balcony. She seemed interested and immediately went to his arms to check it out. I saw her Mausi's eyes widen in surprise and jealousy :) 

They both has this wondrous look in their eyes around the little girl - this little impossibly cute little thing-  that talks and walks and cries and laughs. And then goes wherever Aby bhaiya goes! 

 My sister- still maintains that the little girl is just like her and should be returned to her with immediate effect! As per her, I break the return policy every single day :)

Doll House

I went to pick up Suhaana from the home day care where she spends her days these days and like everyday found myself in the middle of a new story. The lady's younger 4 year old daughter has recently acquired a 3 story doll house. It features bathroom and sitting area on the first floor, an elevator to get to the second floor, staircase in case of emergency, bedroom with a bed, mattress, pillows, carpet, a sitting area and balcony on the third floor. Basically, the works!

The 4 year old was aching to show 'Aunty' (me) her doll house. When we got to it, and I was marveling at the sophistication of her doll house, Suhaana was busy appreciating it on her own as well.  For starters, the concept of a doll has not exactly crossed her mind, and she hasn't seen anyone even smaller than her, so the 2 inch wide chair has to fit her somehow. Poor girl kept trying to sit on the chair, then the table (also 2 inch wide), but couldn't fathom why she doesn't fit. Then there were the stairs. She knew the stairs, and these ones are not even barricaded behind gates like the ones at home! She tried to keep her foot on the miniature stairs, but unlike the ones at home (and everywhere else), her single foot now spanned as many as 4 stairs! How could that be?

Finally when it was clear Suhaana cannot climb the doll house stairs, she settled and let the little doll climb the stairs. But then, it looked just too good to be true - stairs or not, she was going in. So she did what she does everyday at home on the couch. She climbed up-  on the second floor of the doll house - she, barely able to sit up in it; we, barely able to keep a straight face as we watched her get into the doll house!! It was hilarious! Finally only when Mumma was leaving the room and the possibility that Mommy might leave her and go home surfaced in her mind, did she grudgingly left the doll house alone and left the room.

I have a feeling - I see doll houses in my future!

Suhaana

Right now outside the balcony door, is such beautiful, beautiful weather(mausam in Hindi).

Unusually and unexpectedly warm. Just moments after an equally unexpected fragrant light rain. Diffused moonlight filtering from dispersed clouds. Brief reflections in puddles. Twinkling like stars. Fluttering momentarily. Wind that's faint, like a mild fragrance. Like a pleasant thought in recalling. A prelude to summer. Like a brief window of time - an escape, a calling. Enjoyable, like a secret!

In two words - Suhaana mausum(weather)!

Not your usual baby games

Raj and I went out for a little bit, while Suhaana was being watched by grandmas ( my mom and her two sisters). When we came back, Suhaana and her grandmas were sitting outside in the front lawn. (We live in a townhome where our upstairs room balcony opens facing the front lawn. Also our next door neighbor has a similar -though not the same- floorplan. Their upstairs balcony opens into their front lawn that's right next to ours'.

When we came back from outdoors, I came and gave my doll a big sloppy kiss and hug. Then ran upstairs to freshen up. Then, I opened my balcony window to wave and blow air kisses at her from the second floor. She kept looking.. Smiling just a little bit, but mainly just looking. I was just running back downstairs, when I remembered I had to put clothes in the dryer. I wrapped that up, then came downstairs.

My mom was reporting later, that my doll was watching me from downstairs. Once I closed the balcony door, she started looking at the nearby balcony door on the other side (our neighbors') for a long time. Expecting I'll be playing peekaboo coming from the other side, next time. She kept looking and looking for me to come out from the other door for a long while.

My mom told me this at night, at it was just so heart melting! Can't believe I was busy putting laundry at that time.. But its just so sweet..

Also makes me feel how very fragile kids are. Not just physically, but in their tiny, little hopes and expectations. And daunting to think how easy it is to affect them without ever even realizing it.