Purely Personal

Of Willy, Shamu and San Diego

2011-08-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

I wish we had watched Free Willy, a whale movie in theme park setting, before we did the Sea World in San Diego. I reckon Sidharth and Nikhil would then have had a better understanding of Shamu the whale at the Sea World.As it happened,they came out of the Shamu Show drenched, bleary eyed with sea water, and blaming it all on the poor whale.
Nikhil said he didn't want to revisit Shamu who had splashed the pool water on him. Sidharth took it sportingly; said it was fun getting soaked at the Shamu Show.
We were seated on the sixth of the first 12 rows designated the 'soak zone'. We were at the venue an hour before the show,to be able to get seats upfront. But then Nikhil did not expect Shamu to do what he did to him and his clothes.

But then after watching Free Willy and the sorry plight of the whale in the movie Sidharth/Nikhil changed their mind on Shamu. Sidharth wondered who, and where Shamu's mom was. What, if a mean man drained the water from Shamu's pool, as he did, from Willy's pool? Who would save Shamu, as Jessie did Willy at the movie ? Wouldn't the whales at the Sea World want to get out into the open sea?
When she heard of their concerns, Sidharth/Nikhil's mom reckoned that it was just as well they didn't watch Free Willy earlier. If they had , they wouldn't have wanted to visit the Sea World.

A highlight of their San Diego trip was the visit to the beach, from where Sidharth and Nikhil brought back a fistful of seashells. They spotted several seals at the beach; it was the world's only beach where the law gives a free run to the seals, and an official notice says seals can move about anywhere there, and they cannot be legally removed or disturbed by people.

Seals are a tourist attraction on the waterfront of Hyatt Residency, from where you get a water taxi to the Sea World. Jeniffer, who piloted our taxi boat knew a thing or two about seals. She told us they brought in a boatload of fish caught in mid-sea and dumped them every other day all along the hotel waterfront. Which explains why seals flock to the water front.

Sidharth/Nikhil realized there was more to San Diego than the Sea World when they got to ride a speedboat driven by dad/mom.

San Jose Tech Museum

2011-07-20T06:58:00.000-07:00

Doing San Jose Tech museum with grandsons - Sidharth,nearly 6, and Nikhil,3 plus - made me wonder if this was what Nehru had in mind when he talked of creating a scientific temper in our young minds.The museum exhibits with interactive features invite children to try their hand on colouring a digital sketch, web-designing, bridge-building, and a host of other activities.

Sidharth/Nikhil,among other things, created their own websites and designed a roller-coaster ride that they could test out in a simulator.They experienced the thrill of riding the roller-coaster they structured on a computer. The tech museum has scores of other hands-on exhibits to engage children. So excited were my grandsons that they wouldn't want to leave when a the security guard reminded us politely it was time we left. The museum closes at 5 p m.

The next day Sidharth asked if he could upload some photos from his baseball camp in the blog he created at the tech museum. Such was the impact of a visit to a place, so unlike most other museum where exhibits are kept in a glass case or cordoned off with a don't-touch signboard.

San Ramon, July 2011

2011-07-07T11:23:00.001-07:00

Sidharth and Nikhil were having their afternoon nap when we got in from the airport, after a 24-hour flight fro Chennai.But they had a left this notice taped to the front door of their San Ramon home.
It has been two years since our last visit.Sidharth is 6, has started going to regular school and got a blue belt in taekwando. Brother Nikhil, 4, in pre-school, finds himself literally in his brother's shoes .

The brothers have taken over the garage, in addition to their play-room.

Until the next time

2008-10-04T06:16:00.000-07:00

Have taken scores of pictures during the four months we spent with Nikhil and Siddarth; but the picture that stays in my mind wasn't taken with a cemera. It's an image embedded in my mind, of Siddarth held in the arms of his daddy at San Francsco airport. Waving out to us, from behind the security cordon Siddarth burst into a nursery number, 'Goodbye now...'.

It was, indeed time for 'goodbye'; and the clock said it was time for us to leave. Unlike at an earlier send-off when Siddarth wouldn't let us go, he was cool this time, and even smiling, as we proceeded for the security check, disappearing from his view. It was not until the subsequent morning, said thier parents, the kids learnt that thatha-patti were not to be found anywhere in the house; and were gone, for a while.

The last few days we spent together were fun-filled, with a touch of sadness at prospects of parting. Here, some pctures that remind us of that time.Nikhil, helping grandma with the packing.

And his parents, presumably, discussing the logistics of having to fit in four adults with two car-seated kids, plus four outsized travel-cases, in their SUV; for our drive to the airport.

A haircut is bearable, can even be fun, if he could have it done at the wheels of a Porche

Companionable Siddarth.

Maybe not quite so companionable, at times. Tiff here was, perhaps, over who would take the driver's seat.

At an outing in San Francisco, where they have a weekly farmers' market on the sea-front.

Nikhil, holding on to the living room couch.

Siddarth puts in his thumb where some others put their foot in, at times. I keep telling him, if he keeps doing it, the thumb would melt into Siddarth's mouth, like a choc-bar. Siddarth remains unconvinced; and he is willing to take chances with his thumb.
He is not so willing, though, take off his favourite GAP shirt, if only briefly, for a bath.

Nikhil at the book-shelf upstairs. Lord save the books.

Elder brother Siddarth poses no such threat to books. He likes them; and has mom/dad read out for him a book or two he picks up from play-room, before going to sleep.

Hanging out at the door, for someone to take him out into the backyard.

At Santana Row on a Saturday, determined to make the most of the afternoon. Never mind the sleep time. He can/does snooze in the car on way home
Ready for home-cooked uppu-thupu-anna, in the ambiance of a Mexican dhaba at Santana Row.

Strikes a pose, at Little Italy segment of Santana Row.

Mischief in his eyes.
and innocent laughter, as he watches the milling crowd from the sidewalk in front of an ice-cream shop .

The face I miss in Mysore.

Change of school

2008-09-25T17:43:00.000-07:00

The best that Siddarth liked about his old school was their sign-off song. Which ran somewhat on these lines...

Goodbye now, goodbye now,
The clock says our work's done;
Will see you tomorrow,
Goodbye everyone.

He has said 'goodbye' to the Fountain Head school, though he still sings their song. We don't know how children sign off their day at Siddarth's new school - Danville Montessori.

His current pre-school has flexible timings; and since Siddarth started on this school earlier this month he has been coming home early - by 12.30 p m - primarily, in response to our desire to max our time with grandchildren. My wife and I leave for India Tuesday next(Sept.30) after a four-month stay with Nikhil and Siddarth.
Siddarth seen leaving school the other day shortly after noon, while most other children go home by 3 p m. The management has the staff and facilities to keep the school open from 8 a m till 6 p m, for the convenience of working parents who can drop their children at school on their way to work, picking them up on way home.

Meanwhile, Nikhil has the run of the place at home.
The 10-month old has an eye for even a speck of dirt on the floor that escapes adult attention. Good news is Nikhil hands you over whatever he picks up from the floor.

Nikhil at 10 months

2008-09-20T08:00:00.000-07:00

Now that he has learned to be up on his feet, Nikhil is always on the look out for any place to lean on, even if it is something slippery as this glass door leading to our backyard.

Edge of his play-room table would do nicely.

Or the playboard of this musical toy he fiddles with, standing.

On the move, on all fours, looking for another niche to raise himself on his feet.

Milestone:Sept.2008

2008-09-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

Nikhil is 10 months old Tuesday (Sept.16); elder brother Siddarth,three months short of three years.It also happens to be the day Siddarth starts going to a new pre-school; and his daddy takes up a new job. Other high points since Aug.31, when this blog was last updated.
Posing with mom for Kenny, the clown, at San Francisco's Fishermen'a Wharf.

Nikhil on his high chair at a Mexican restaurant.

With a visiting uncle,Karthik, at Union Sq., San Franciaco.

At the Macy's, trying out a dress for the wedding reception of his Mom's best friend in Pheonix.

At the wheel of an ice-cream van, Stoneridge Mall, Pleasanton.

Nikhil at the mall.

On a joy ride to Fremont in Stockton-San Jose commuter train.
The engine Siddarth pretended to drive during his 20-minute ride from Pleasonton.

On the footboard of AAA tow-truck that came home to re-charge the car battery that had gone dead. Siddarth, dressed for soccer, is ready to leave after the battery got revived.
Tackling a ball at the goal-mouth, under the watchful eyes of brother Nikhil on a stroller.

Splashing it about in the fountain at 'Little Italy' green on Santana Row, San Jose...as a live band played a vintage Italian number. Little Nikhil appears un moved.

T-shirt testimonial

2008-08-31T14:01:00.000-07:00

At Oakland Zoo

2008-08-29T08:31:00.000-07:00

They let you touch, feel, scrub and brush animals - goats and cows.
This goat at the zoo is a big hit among children, who queue up to pat him.

The zoo management has thoughtfully provided visitors with brush to scrub the animal,with a message asking you to be gentle.Not many visitors to the enclosure are old enough to read the writing. Presumably, the message is meant for adults escorting the children.

Here is another message that says chimps are sensitive to noise. I suppose this chimp is licensed to make noise,rolling a trash can around, utterly unmindful of the visitors who might be sensitive to noise.

The Oakland Zoo is nothing, if it isn't child-friendly

Besides these play-spots that punctuate various animal enclosures within the zoo there is a an amusement park with merry-go-rounds adjacent to the zoo ...

...and a train ride that takes you around the zoo.

At the Boomers

2008-08-27T07:11:00.000-07:00

On a weekend when his mom was at work dad took Siddarth to the Boomers at Livermore. It is a place where adults become kids - playing video games, feasting on ice candy, racing those noisy baby cars - and children play golf.
Siddarth prefers racing cars on a video screen to driving one of those baby cars on the Boomers track - 'they make too much noise'.

Death of my laptop

2008-08-22T07:26:00.000-07:00

Haven’t posted anything these last few days because my laptop conked out. On a fine morning, even as I was working on it,the monitor went blank. My ageing machine, creaking at the hinges for some weeks, couldn’t take any longer the pulls & bangs, and the battering by nine-month old Nikhil.
Panasonic people, marketing ToughBook laptop, have the likes of Nikhil in mind. Siddarth, in sobering contrast, is seen here focused on the keyboard of his daddy’s computer.
He appears fully absorbed, as if he is reading an engaging case study; Siddarth picked this up, presumably, watching his mommy going through case diary of the patients in her nursing home.

Milestone: Aug.2008

2008-08-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

Nikhil completes nine months this Saturday. Big bro’ Siddarth is 32 months old. The day’s highlight was their bath. It is not as if they don’t bathe everyday. It was that the brothers took to the tub together.This was mom’s idea, making a mundane chore like giving the children a bath a family fun thing.

This was a day of entertainment. Nikhil who has learnt to stand on his feet with support takes delight in showing off his newly acquired skill. He is always on the lookout for a hand-hold – the edge of living-room sofa or coffee table, or this toy in his play-room.His parents feel more comfortable when Nikhil puts on his stand-up show in the cushioned comfort of his crib.The young fellow, unmindful of his unsteady feet, often lets go his hold, only to collapse on his backside to the floor.Our in-house stand-up comedian at the end of a show.

Meanwhile, Siddarth getting hold of a laptop mike imitates Sa-re-ga-ma singers on Zee channel.
Trying to be in his mom's shoes

Helping grandma at the puja. The puja room,attached to the front-room, is little more than a hole in the wall. The house builder had designed it as a wine-celler.

This was all in a day's work/play for Nikhil & Siddarth

See July Milestone

Train ride at Danville

2008-08-13T07:20:00.000-07:00

They had the train at the park, all to themselves – Nikhil and Siddarth. And they played the driver, guard and passenger by turns. How many of us in our childhood days had dreams of becoming a locomotive driver? Today’s children are more into race-cars, airplanes and spacecraft. But then Siddarth’s familiarity with trains is limited to BART, which isn’t half as romantic as the good old smoke-belching iron-horse. Which are to be found mainly in museums nowadays.
Nikhil at the helms and Siddarth plays passenger.

Kompan is derived from the Danish word kumpan, meaning companion. It is now known widely as a brand of playground equipment designed by a Danish multinational. The company, founded by a Danish sculptural artist over three decades back, initially supplied outdoor sculptures for children’s playgrounds. It soon adopted them into play equipment when it was discovered that children found playing on the landscaped sculptures lot more fun.
The company’s focus is on innovative play equipment, because, they say, many parents find it a real challenge to get their kids away from TV and computer and have them go out to play.

Barnes & Noble bha-baa

2008-08-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

From our place in San Ramon it is nearly half-hour drive to B & N Story time, which doesn’t last half this time. But it is a bba-baa (outing) Nikhil & Siddarth wouldn’t miss. In fact, any outing is fun for them. And the Thursday Story Time at the Dublin Barnes & Noble has come to be a fixture in their calendar.
It is not as if our young friends find the stories engaging, though the story-teller does her narrative best, in a bid to bring alive the animals in the book by making appropriate noises – vvooo, wow-wow, wachk-wachk or whatever noises the ducks and dogs in story-books make.

Our story-teller sounded more excited than her toddler-audience. Nikhil (nearly nine months)in stroller couldn’t get the hang of the story, which had to do with a couple birdies building their nest over the head of an elephant. Siddarth didn’t care. If he hung on to his bench without stirring for the full 15 minutes of the story-time, it was, presumably, because the grandma by his side had a firm hold on Siddarth’s hand.

The best thing about the proceedings was the cookies handed out to the kids that marked the end of story-time. Following which the kids make a beeline to the play area to fool around with the toy-train.
When it gets a bit crowded around the toy train we persuade our young friends to have a dekho at the pictures in a book. After all, we were at a book-store.

Siddarth, with a mind of his own, picks up from the shelf any book he fancies, and asks you to read it out for him. Some play music at the press of a tab on the book.

Next stop before exit is the Starbucks corner of the store for cookie. And we usually end up buying a book or two. With such kids-friendly trappings Barnes & Noble could make you feel guilty, if you leave the store without buying a book.

This photo is from an earlier post - Story time at Barnes & Noble

It’s fun watching them from afar

2008-08-07T18:08:00.000-07:00

Every other day Siddarth and I walk to or drive past Safeway to see if any articulated truck has pulled in at the delivery bay of the departmental store. They call these vehicles 18-wheelers here in the US. And Siddarth is fascinated by their sight.

Whenever on a drive we keep count of the number of trucks we pass by on the freeway. Siddarth’s play-room is cluttered with cars and toy trucks.Siddarth plays, talks, and even dreams of things on wheels. However, he wouldn’t want to go anywhere close to them. He prefers to watch from our front-room window the garbage truck when it comes on its weekly rounds to our street.

He was reluctant to get near a cement truck that came to our place the other day – ‘it makes noise’. He gives the same reason for staying away from fire-truck or any other heavy vehicle. To help him get over the phobia his mom carried him, much against Siddarth’s hoo-haa-ing, close to a refrigerator truck that we came by at the Dublin market area the other day. She dinned it into her son that he wouldn’t be getting his ice-cream and pastry, if it was not for this truck that delivered it to shops and restaurants. Siddarth should, therefore, be thankful and say 'Hi' to the driver uncle who brought the truck, rather than run away from it merely because it makes a noise.

A laptop is no play thing

2008-08-06T06:49:00.000-07:00

Try and tell that to an eight-month old; and you get the kind of treatment I got from Nikhil.

He is not happy when grandma pulled him back from his play-thing.
I am accustomed to having Nikhil on the bed as I work my laptop, in the mornings. Which is peak time for others in the household. This way I can take care of the child as I work. So I thought, till our friend learned to crawl.

Saturday’s soccer day

2008-08-03T07:04:00.000-07:00

Siddarth was truly soccer-ready this Saturday, in his Lil’ Kickers’ blue. What’s more, he could even kick the ball. ‘Look, thatha, I kick,’ he would shout out, whenever he catches me burying my nose behind a book or newspaper while he is at play in our backyard. At his training session this Saturday, when his kick wasn’t quite up to the mark, his coach swiftly moved the goal post so that the ball could find its way into the net.

This was a marked improvement from last Saturday, when our little friend simply took the ball in his hands and threw it into the net when he failed to connect his foot with the ball on the ground. This, and the on-field action of other young trainees was watched with much excitement by some of their moms.I heard Siddarth, wanting his mom around to cheer him, giving his daddy an ultimatum; no mommy; no soccer. For the record, Nikhil’s Gymboree class clashed with Siddarth’s soccer last Saturday. Which is why his mom couldn't make it for the kick-off session.

A view from the spectators bench

Siddarth at the training session, during lemonade break

After the class

The butterfly stamped on the back of a palm shows successful completion of yet another soccer session. Siddarth wanted it stamped on both hands.

Photo that made my day

2008-08-01T07:50:00.000-07:00

All for a swim, without getting soaked

2008-07-31T10:40:00.000-07:00

Siddarth went for his first swim class Wednesday. I couldn't go with him; so, no ’live’ pictures of the proceedings. But managed some shots of Siddarth getting ready for his first plunge into the pool.

From what I heard from his daddy Siddarth first swim class wound up with a treat – an ice-cream. That is what his dad had promised, if Siddarth stayed in water through the hour long session. He did, but not without some persuasive bribe - a ball and a toy-boat for him to play with while in water; and the promise of an ice-cream after the class. The swim school management have, thoughtfully, set up an ice-cream vending machine at the poolside.

I have no doubt Siddarth would have taken to swimmig, like duck to water, if only there is a way of learning to swim without having to get soaked. For all you know, cross Channel swimmer Mihir Sen might have thought so too, when he was two years and a half.

At soccer school

2008-07-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

Siddarth was up and ready an hour early for the 9 a m soccer training. His mom dressed him up for the occasion.
It was a massive indoor sports facility, where training sessions can be held simultaneously for four age-groups, between 18 months and 9 years. Siddarth is signed up in Group ‘D’ (below which there is no group), in which one of the parents is allowed into the green turf. In the case of higher age-groups parents can watch the training session from behind a glass-wall.
These long shots look hazy because there were taken from behind the glass screen, as I wateched the proceedings from the spectators' bench. Siddarth and ten other determined trainees, and their accompanying parents, were coached by teenager ‘Tony’, who could have stepped out of the cast of girls who play soccer in Gurinder Chadha’s Bend it Like Beckhem.
Siddarth with his coach
– Signing up for the training session.

What next, Nikhil?

2008-07-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

It appears some children don’t need to be on their knees before they try to get on their feet. Eight-month old Nikhil is here on his feet and hands.

Where does he go from here, I wonder. I don’t see him sitting unless he learns to buckle his knees; nor can he move forward, on all fours, with his head down. This is, what I would call, a nowhere posture. I am no expert in these matters, but a natural progression ought to be for him to sit and then crawl before he stands on his feet.

Before he gets down to the three-step posture.In the last two shots he is down on his stomach, and understandably frustrated; for he can’t get himself to stand up, let alone move ahead on his feet and hands. Oliver Goldsmith wrote She Stoops to Conquer; my mantra for Nikhil – ‘he needs to crawl to get ahead’. Literally; and, in a figurative sense, when he comes of age,especially,if he wants to be in politics.

Life imitates TV

2008-07-24T11:02:00.000-07:00

Wonder if you have noticed that children, at times, don’t take cognizance of a real thing until they see it on TV. I showed Siddarth the other day a snail on the walkway to our neighborhood park. He wasn’t impressed.

Yesterday when they showed a snail on TV – Baby First channel – our young friend was excited – ‘Look, it is on TV, thatha’. I reckon his new-found enthusiasm would make him pay more attention when we confront a snail at the park the next time.

That TV image is reality for him is illustrated by his passion for Lightning Macqueen. There is no such race car in reality. It is an image conjured up by Walt Disney studios. Siddarth has this propensity to morph into Lightning Macqueen whenever he is out in the park.– ‘I’m a race car; I always go fast’

If you are Lightning Macqueen, what am I, Siddarth, I ask.

‘You’re Tec’, he says. Tec is a tractor in a Baby First serial.

Father & Son at Work

2008-07-22T21:28:00.000-07:00

Siddarth now does it in the ‘big boy’ potty. While at it he prefers to have daddy for company; daddy settles down in the closet with his Blackberry. Makes a pretty picture, doesn’t it?

Related item: Doing(it) without diapers: a grandpa's perspective.

Temple visit

2008-07-21T10:02:00.001-07:00

They are dressed for the temple – Nikhil & Siddarth.

Siddarth, who has this inexplicable brand loyalty to GAP, is persuaded by his mom to make an exception whenever the family goes on an outing to a temple – which is once or twice a month. My wife and I were flattered to learn that Siddarth condescended to wear this dresswhen he was told that it was a gift to him from Mysore patti-thatha; and they would be pleased to see him wearing it.

Nikhil isn’t old enough yet, to acquire a dress sense. When I see him in this outfitI am reminded of the Chotiwalah eating house on the river bank at Rishikesh. Visitors to this place are greeted at the entrance by a pot-bellied panditji in dhoti worn in panchakachan style.(like Nikhil here). The Chotiwalah figure to this Rishikesh eating-house is its brand image, like the Maharaja to Air-India.

We rounded off the Sunday outing with lunch at Spice Hut, San Jose.

At the temple Siddarth poured milk over Shiva idol – it was fun, giving God a bath (a car-wash in Siddarth's terminology). Our young friend is programmed to spend a few minutes to recite a sloka in the presence of a deity at puja-room in his home or at a temple.

As we came out of the Lakshmi Ganapathy Temple,San Jose, Siddarth wanted to go to Livermore Temple. He said he liked it better. Why? Because, said our friend, ‘they give laddu in there (Livermore)’.

Madhuri Aunty dance like me, thatha

2008-07-19T12:14:00.000-07:00

So says Siddarth, spinning round the living room to a Madhuri Dixit dance video. I don't usually contest his utterances. I don't think she would either, if she knows how much of her fan he is.

My camera work doesn’t do justice to his dance.

Siddarth’s Bollywood dance routine is a daily after-dinner event, unless of course our young friend has prep-school the next morning. He goes to school thrice (at times, only two days) a week.

Siddarth is such a Madhuri fan that he wouldn’t dance to anyone else’s number. Aaja Nachle is his favourite.

Ms Dixit may charge royalty, if only she gets to know that we often use her name to persuade Siddarth to finish his carrot-rice (something he finds particularly unpalatable). A mere mention that Madhuri Aunty loves carrot-rice works wonders. Ditto, for oat-meal – ‘Madhuri Aunty eats it to become strong’.

At breakfast at this Danville restaurant his daddy let it be known that the aunty at the cash counter would give Siddarth a lollypop, if he finishes his pancake. For effect, he added Madhuri Aunty loves syrup with her pancake at this place. After a mouthful our young friend asks daddy if Madhuri Aunty gets lollypop for having her pancake.

Milestone: July 2008

2008-07-17T17:33:00.000-07:00

Every 16th is a birthday of sorts for Siddarth and Nikhil. The baby of the family completes eight months; his big bro, two years and seven months. Their parents hardly need an excuse; any pretext would do when it comes to celebrating the little ones.

Siddarth in contemplation, presumably, about things he would do on the morning outing.

Nikhil, fastened in his car-seat, always ready for an outing.

Siddarth spent a while at the San Ramon Borders, playing with books – you know, the ones on wheels that can be read as well as driven.Got bored in some 20 minutes; came out of the book store to play around the small fountain.Racing his newly acquired car book, round and round the fountain, our friend tumbled, with his face smack on the cobbled floor. He wound up with a minor cut in his lower lip.

Nikhil was away shpping with his mom and grandma at the nearby Whole Foods store.

Nikhil, July 16, on completion of eight months in age.

Incidentally, we – my wife and I – are mid-way through our US visit; came here on May 16.

Scaring me with his dinosaurs book

2008-07-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

Siddarth may have his fears – see Vennai vetti sepoy – but dinosaurs are not among them. For one thing, they have been dead for a million years. For another, he has been told by his mom that these menacing creatures don’t jump out of his dinosaurs book. And Siddarth believes I don’t know this.

So he ‘scares’ me by showing the chapter on Tyrannosaurus Rex. As Siddarth opens Page 18, the mighty jaws of this Rex creature open up and spring out of the page.And I act suitably scared. Our friend is thrilled to see my mouth ajar in horror; and eyes, popping out in panic.

Now and then Siddarth suggests, with mischief in his eyes, that we read the dinosaurs book. My resounding ‘No’ only strengthens his resolve to fetch the book; and open Page18, saying, as he does, ‘don’t be scared’. That’s cue enough for my horror act, much to the merriment of our friend.The dinosaurs book is now kept all the time in my bedroom, to spare Siddarth the trouble of having to go to his play-room downstairs to fetch the book, whenever he needs to scare me.

I saw . . .you saw....,Dosa

2008-07-14T10:36:00.000-07:00

We’ve heard the ice-cream scream, haven’t we?
I scream.
You scream,
We scream –
Ice-cream.

At the Siddarth household we sing for dosa.

I saw,
You saw,
We saw –Dosa.

I don’t know Spanish, patti

2008-07-12T18:55:00.000-07:00

Siddarth, at times, comes up a baffling one-liner that leaves you. . .well, baffled at what he could have meant by what he said. It happened this way. On the day he went for story-time at Barnes & Nobel we got him a copy of Stuart Little, at the discounted price of $7.99 (I’ve stopped converting such things into rupees, on doctor’s advice).

Back home I read out, in bed for his afternoon nap, this story about Stuart, the mouse, confronting this owl in residence at the county library. Later, at tea-time, my wife, in the mistaken belief that conversation would hasten Siddarth to drink up his Ovaltine, made small-talk.

Did thatha read out a story, Siddarth? He nodded, perfunctorily.

Isn’t it a good book? Another nod, in response.

Did you like the story? Siddarth spoke up, “I don’t know Spanish, patti”.

“The book is in English, though, Siddarth”. My wife observed, as if our young friend didn’t know. She doesn’t know, at times, when to switch topic or simply, switch off.

A mute witness to the proceedings, I wondered if what I read sounded Spanish to Siddarth. Or was the mouse and owl story Greek to him? For an owl-and-mouse story set in a library, there was so much happening in the story that was probably beyond Siddarth’s grasp. He heard out the entire story, with thumb stuck firmly in his mouth, in uncharacteristic silence. The only question he raised during my reading was - “in what car Stuart go (to the library)?”

The chap, probably, slept through my reading, presumably, dreaming of his pow-pow earlier in the day with our Mexican domestic help, Yessica, who speaks Spanish.

Story time at Barnes & Noble

2008-07-11T12:11:00.000-07:00

Thursday’s story time was over by the time we got there. But Siddarth didn’t seem particularly disappointed. He liked clowning around the place; tried out the story-teller’s chair… …and moved on to the desk-top train in the children’s section, Siddarth’s favorite spot in Barnes & Nobel.

This book-store at Dublin, CA, is child-friendly and young mothers find it a convenient place to take their children to. Public park can be hot nowadays; Barnes & Nobel is air-conditioned. Apart from setting aside a corner of the store for children’s section the book-store has an in-house story-teller; and her twice weekly story-reading sessions are a hit with neighborhood moms with toddlers in tow.

I wouldn’t say Siddarth is a book-lover, though he would want his mom to read him a book or two at bed-time. And she alternates readings from Elmo and Barney with children’s publications of Sri Ramakrishna Matt, Chennai. Our 30-month –old friend is familiar with major figures in the who’s who of Hindu mythology; he can tell you the names of Shiva’s sons or who Ganapathy’s mom is.

When it comes to relationships within his family Siddarth has some fixed notions. For instance he can’t see how his young brother Nikhil can be my grandson as well. That I can be his daddy’s daddy is unacceptable. In Siddarth’s relationships scheme, his mom, dad and brother Nikhil are simply un-shareable.

Affirmative affection

2008-07-09T11:55:00.000-07:00

Not exactly an age for the crib. A recent photo of Siddarth in his old play-room.Notice his favorite car – Lightning Macqueen - painted on the wall.

Many a million cars must have sped through the Bay Bridge since Siddarth grew out of a crib nearly two years ago. And our young friend has now a new play-room downstairs, suitably cluttered and chaotic for his age.

The play-room upstairs is nowadays used for changing Nikhil’s diapers and patting him to sleep in the crib – he doesn’t easily do this, particularly when his brother is around. But then Siddarth, chases Nikhil to the upstairs room, not so much to disturb the younger one, but to claim equal attention from mom Meera.Meera reading a story book to Siddarth at the upstairs play-room.

Ever since Nikhil came along, seven months back, his parents have adopted, what I call, the policy of affirmative affection.Siddarth not merely gets, but is also seen to be given as much attention and affection as the younger one. But then Nikhil, being nearly two years younger, needs more care, which is mistaken for preferential affection; and Siddarth reckons he can garner more attention by acting like Nikhil.

Nikhil’s first attempt to stand on his feet in the crib evoked much excitement. Siddarth got into the act, along with Nikhil in the crib, acting as a seven-month old. I don’t remember the moment when Siddarth first stood on his two feet. But I was as excited seeing him do it in the crib. Never mind if it was an act, done two years too late. Which is what affirmative affection is all about.

Sharing toys

2008-07-07T10:55:00.000-07:00

I haven’t seen a child who shares his/her toys willingly; have you? We have fun teasing Siddarth, asking him if he would give Nikhil any one vehicle from his fleet of cars in the play-room. Siddarth is smart enough not to say ‘No’ without a reason.

Would you give your silver-grey Mercedes to Nikhil?
Siddarth: No, it cannot move.
Why?
It needs to be repaired.Siddarth at work on his Mercedes.

What about the yellow Chevy? Maybe Nikhil can have it.
No, that is being repaired.
How about this Infiniti?
That’s being repaired also.
Okay, let us give him this fire-truck.No, that is too big for Nikhil.

Those unfamiliar with Siddarth’s sense of words and his madness for anything on wheels can’t be blamed for thinking that I probably made up the foregoing conversation. He doesn’t cease to amaze me with his usage of words.

Explaining to grandma why he can’t share this Mac. truck with brother Nikhil.

Asked if he would at least take Nikhil on a drive in his Ford Mustang Siddarth had this to say – ‘Ford Mustang doesn’t have a car-seat’. Children below five can travel only in children's car-seat, under the law. And Siddarth himself has over two more years to grow out of car-seat.

Nikhil in Ford Mustang.When I showed him this picture Siddarth’s queried, ‘why I am not there (in this picture)’. The picture was taken when Siddarth was asleep. And, while awake, there was no way he would have allowed Nikhil to drive the Ford Mustang.

Scared of the slides

2008-07-06T18:39:00.000-07:00

Siddarth, who can communicate reasonably intelligibly for his age, hasn’t been able to tell us why he gets scared of the slides at the park. And this slides-phobia appears to have been recently acquired.

His parents say Siddarth hasn’t been this way when they had brought him here during their earlier day-trip to San Francisco some weeks back. Mom Meera feels the fear of the slides might be the upshot of an incident/accident at play-school; and she hasn't been able to persuade Siddarth to talk about it.

His teacher Chelsea, who keeps Meera informed of Siddarth’s doings at school, hasn’t mentioned any thing either. Parents who pick up their children get a daily report from Chelsea, who is at the school gate to see-off her every student. Evidently, she isn't aware of any happening that could be related to Siddarth's new-found phobia of slides. Maybe it isn't related to anything that happened at play-school.

Siddarth, I find, is capable of dreaming up reasons. He has this fear of darkness. Ask him why; and he would say, 'because planes come in the night'. It appears that once, waking up in the middle of the night, Siddarth spotted from bedroom window two small planes moving across the sky. He associates darkness with the coming of the planes. Whatever this has to do with his fear of darkness remains unclear. What is clear, and real is his fear.He wouldn't step out on to our balcony to watch the July4 night fireworks.

Their day out in San Francisco

2008-07-05T10:24:00.000-07:00

To each, his own San Francisco. This one is Siddarth’s.

The picture symoblises his city, the one that is filled with fun and colour, and mac’n’cheese.

Their mom’s plan for an early start for San Francisco, so as to be back home in time for their afternoon nap was upset by Siddarth who took his time over the morning oats meal, and potty; brother Nikhil took a nap, forcing their parents to drop their plan for a 9.30 start. It was 11 a m when we got moving, eventually.

Contrary to expectations, traffic was thin for a three-day weekend, when bumper-to-bumper traffic is considered the norm, particularly, over the Bay Bridge. Perhaps, this was because it was July 4,start of a long weekend.And unlike us, most people chose to stay home and take it easy. Besides, they had two more days for planning any day-trip to San Francisco.

A pre-lunch merry-go-round at Yoruba Buena Garden,a meal at the Westfield Mall;and a run-round chasing pigeons at the Union Square,to work out his macaroni-and-cheese was Siddarth’s agenda.

And he condescended to sit in the double-stroller to give company to Nikhil; and to show him the sights of San Francisco.

At Westfield Siddarth ordered his favourtie – macaroni ’n’ cheese.Nikhil had brought his apple sauce from home. The food court at the mall is a virtual United Nations of food-stalls. Conspicuously, there isn’t desi eating joint there. Wonder why. Incidentally, The Forum Mall in Bangalore, they say, is modeled on the Westfield.

Young Nikhil was on his own trip.

At the Union Sq. he ran into a Japanese girl (15 months). Our seven-month old attracts fans to ‘wow’ him wherever he happens to be.And Nikhil is never short of a smile in response, even when he has a sippy-cup in mouth.

Between his rounds of running in the Union Sq. Siddarth dropped in for ice-cream break.To update his grandparents on how he is doing, chasing an elusive pigeon or two. Oddly enough, there weren’t many around. Maybe the Union Sq. pigeons were out for their own July 4 weekend.

Siddarths spares a few moments, in response to his mom’s request, to pose for a picture with Nikhil.

On the streets we passed by a vintage car put up for sale. Siddarth had no problem identifying it as a Ford Thunderbird, of which he has a model in his play-room in San Ramon.Asking price for this 1959 model is $35,000. Considering that it wouldn’t give more than 12 to 15 miles at today’s petrol price $5.12 a galleon, the vehicle can’t be of much use on the road. Its seller is, presumably, looking for a millionaire with Siddarth’s mindset for cars to buy this Ford.

The day-trip to SF was not complete for Siddarth without a ride in a city taxi. So we took a cab from Union Sq. to the parking lot, a couple of blocks away. And Siddarth spent the few minutes’ ride, gazing out of the window, in awe and amazement of a country bumpkin on his first trip to the city, says his daddy.

Our friend having a good look at the taxi as he said ‘thank you’ to the driver for the ride.

The Hunter effect

2008-07-04T07:23:00.000-07:00

I guess I need to withdraw what I wrote about Siddarth’s uneasiness in trying out the race-car simulator at the mall. This might have been the case three days back. But yesterday, at the Stoneridge Mall, Pleasanton, Ca, our 30 month-old friend wanted to revisit the play area to take the wheel of the blue 'race car'.

His new-found daring could be attributed to peer pressure. A day earlier at the park, he had witnessed his neighbourhood friend Hunter showing off his driving skill in his yellow jeep. What was more, he condescended to take Siddarth as a passenger for a drive in his vehicle.
This was bit of a come-down for Siddarth, who was not accustomed to being anywhere other than the driver-seat. So, at the mall the next morning Siddarth wasn’t going to pass up a chance to take the wheel in the play-area race car. I did not have the camera handy to capture this milestone moment. The picture below, taken three days earlier, shows the same car, but a different Siddarth, with a new-found drive and confidence.

Hunter, for the record, is eight months elder; and has been driving his jeep for months. Siddarth has taken his Ford Mustang out only twice.

Nikhil at the swing

2008-07-03T07:19:00.000-07:00

Would you shout at me, thatha ?

2008-07-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

I feel the guilt every time I face this query from our 30-month old. And he raises this question whenever I don’t approve of something he has done. Such as, bringing his drink of Ovaltine to our bedroom; spilling water on the carpet (deliberately, at times), on his toy cars (his way of giving them a car-wash); wasting food; not holding my hand, while on way to the park; and umpteen other acts of mischief on a daily basis.

And every time this happens we have this little chat:

Would you shout at me, thatha?

Would you want me to, Siddarth?

No, I don’t want you to shout at me.

Point is, Siddarth doesn’t think anyone else in the house would shout at him. Mom and daddy have their way of disciplining him; a stern stare or a firm ‘No’ from them usually evokes positive reaction – ‘Don’t be mad at me, mommy’ is what he tells her.

My wife doesn’t believe in stern approach; she is usually given to appeasing him. The most she brings herself to telling him is, ‘you shouldn’t do that, Siddarth’.

To which, our friend, responds – ‘Why… why (shouldn’t I)?’

‘Because, mommy would be angry,’ she says.

His impression that I am the only bloke around the house who shouts stems from a noisy disagreement I had with my wife the other day; and Siddarth was a witness to the proceedings. And he thinks that if I do this to his patti, I could do it to him as well.

I don’t see how I can wipe out his impression that I am given to shouting at people. Now that I have to live with it, I use it as a deterrent. Nowadays, when I find that Siddarth is up to something disagreeable, I ask, simply, ‘would you want me to shout, Siddarth?’. The ploy usually works.

Siddarth doesn’t like raised voices. Just as he doesn’t like mommy getting mad at him, and daddy saying, ‘No’, to him.

Piggybank

2008-07-01T21:05:00.001-07:00

Like most children, Siddarth maintains a piggybank. He keeps shaking it, now and then, to hear the rattle of coins inside a ceramic container; and sizing it up for weight – ‘Oh, it’s getting heavy’.

The p-bank encourages Siddarth to mop up loose change left on tables and shelves all over the place. Which is a help. For, Nikhil is given to putting in his mouth everything he can lay his hands on, and leaving coins lying round the house could be dangerous.

Siddarth has been told that 1) he needs to identify the denomination of each coin he drops in the piggy; and 2) his mom has persuaded Siddarth that he give half the proceeds of p-bank for getting toys for other children.

Vennai vetti sepoy

2008-06-30T10:07:00.000-07:00

My wife has a Tamil term – Vennai vetti sepoy - for the likes of Siddarth whose brave talk do not quite match action. He would talk of shooting the wind in a race car,but wouldn’t sit in a simulator car in the play area of the Pleasanton Mall.
Well, he sat in for this picture, but couldn’t wait to get off the car as it swung and swayed to simulate high-speed car movement.

Siddarth wouldn’t hear of giving the jeep a try, while Nikhil appeared to enjoy its rhythmic moment. He wouldn’t want to get off it.

In an earlier trip to the mall we shopped in vain for a cement-mix truck – Siddarth is crazy about trucks as well. We brought home a fire-truck, instead. However our friend wasn’t keen to get into the real thing, for a look-see into the inside of a fire engine. The county fire department brings a fire-truck for the thrill of children in any fair ground.

When he was an year earlier – 18 months – Siddarth used to look forward to Wednesdays, when the garbage truck came on its weekly round to collect trash from our place. But he wanted to watch truck from afar, with grandpa carrying him.

This is as close as he would get to a cement-mix truck, parked right in front of his house in San Ramon, CA.

Title of this post, translated literally, would read: Butter-slicing warrior.

Nikhil’s Annaprasna

2008-06-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

It was Nikhil’s feed-ceremony; and elder brother Siddarth played a perfect host to the invited friends – Ankit, Dhruv and Aunsha. He was the first to dress up for the evening. And he made a last-minute call to friend ‘Joshi’.She couldn’t make it, though, for Nikhil’s Annaprasna. But then Siddarth’s friend Joshi isn’t a living entity, only a creation of his fertile imagination. Incidentally, the Joshi is a ‘she’.

A few words about friends who made it.

Ankit, a cousin, is too young for words; he speaks with his eyes. Ankit likes Siddarth, but loves his grandma more. He preferred to watch the proceedings of the evening from the secure lap of grandma Vaidehi.

Dhruv: Goes about his job rather quietly, without fuss or noise. Occasionally, we hear him calling out for ‘Daddy’, presumably, to ensure someone is around. His grand-father is usually there, at Drhuv’s beck and call. Says his grandson has a well ordered routine that starts at 6.30 in the morning; Dhruv goes to bed 9-ish, even during weekends. Unlike Siddarth, his friend Dhruv is enthusiastic about play-school. He gets ready without any prodding; and goes on his own to the garage to await his mom to take him to school, says grandma Shankari.

Anusha is more than a cousin;she's a friend to Siddarth. They were seen engaged in some serious conversation for much of the evening. When she broke away briefly, to present a Hawaiian item number at the living room, Siddarth didn’t want to be left behind. He did a brief dance number for the benefit of those who cared to watch. Siddarth is more into Bollywood numbers; Madhuri Dixit’s Aaja Nachle is a favourite with him.

Annaprasna was timed to Nikhil’s evening feed-time; The difference was in the menu, which included rice and payasam; What was more, relations and guests waited in line to feed him, each a spoonful. Nikhil appeared to relish what was on offer. That some milk items on the menu didn’t agree with him was quite another, if somewhat worrying, matter.

My favourite shot of the evening:

The rowdy in sun-glasses

2008-06-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

Like all big brothers, Siddarth, at times, does some tough talking to Nikhil, when the latter picks on his toys. In such moments the big B gets close to Nikhil for an eye-ball-to-eyeball and sings out – ‘Not done, Nikhil’.
Siddarth striking a toughie pose, complete with sun-glasses.

But the real rowdy in the family is Nikhil. His response to the e-b-to-e-b confrontation is grab Siddarth's hair with both hands for a shake-down. These pictures show he can wear glasses as well as his big-B.My thought: the photos could be the ones of MGR, miniaturized. Dark glasses and the topa were his signature fixtures.

At the wheel

2008-06-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

Siddarth’s first outing in his Ford Mustang didn’t turn out to be a dream run. The car didn't behave;wouldn’t stay on course.
It wasn’t like the mimic-drive Siddarth does in the park, where he races me in his fantasy‘Lightning Macqueen’.My role is to play a slow coach that is left way behind 'Lightning Mcqueen' in our race round the park.

The Ford Mustang in his garage is demanding, in the sense that the battery-run red convertible wouldn’t ‘behave’ unless Siddarth keeps his foot firmly on the accelerator; and his hands, on the wheel. And our friend has yet to master the skill to keep his foot down on the ‘gas-plate’ for more than 30 seconds at a time

So, Siddarth’s first outing, a short drive on our neighbourhood walkway in San Ramon, CA, was erratic. It was a let-down, considering that he has been looking forward to it for some weeks now.Though Siddarth acquired his Ford Mustang several weeks back he couldn’t take it out of the garage for want of a helmet. He had been told that if he took the car out on the roadside walkway without helmet, the ‘police aunty’ would come. The Ford Mustang was stuck, all Siddarth was allowed to do was tinker with it in the garage and show off his car to brother Nikhil.
When his daddy brought home a helmet the other day Siddarth was thrilled because he could now take his car out of the garage – ‘police aunty won’t come’. He is familiar with the police aunty. She once gave Siddarth’s grandpa a ticket for not wearing seat-belt while they were driving to the airport.

Prefers GAP to kurtha

2008-06-26T06:39:00.000-07:00

My thought on this: Rahul Gandhi might have looked like this at Siddarth’s age, 30 months. His mom Meera tends to agree; my wife wouldn’t have her grandson compared to a politico, even if it is merely in terms of attire.

Meera likes to see her sons dress up for occasions, such as this one, for the ‘annaprasna’ of Siddarth’s brother Nikhil, seven months, this Saturday. This pictures were taken at a dress rehearsal, Tuesday.
When it comes to personal preference young Siddarth goes for a GAP t-shirt, full sleeves, giving rise to a mom-son disagreement, usually before a family outing.To give credit to my friend Siddarth, he invariably allows his mother to prevail. Tantrums are not his style.

Water-colour

2008-06-25T17:09:00.000-07:00

Once in a while our young friend Siddarth, 30 months old, gets into a mood to mess up his hands with watercolours. This was the upshot.
Not quite the Sotheby material,perhaps; but then we found it fit for Siddarth's play-room gallery.

The artist striking a pose; and his cheer group holding up Siddarth's latest creation for this 'bralog' - braglog.