Letter to my Kulli

Dear Kulli
                  You turned 5  on July 30th. And this letter  was due for almost 3 months now. You seem quite grown up to me now. You have finally mastered  washing your bum, brushing your teeth and taking a bath. You have toilet trained your brother. Just bcoz  you do susu in commode, even he copies and he is almost toilet trained and wears diaper only at night.

                 I love you kulli for your adjusting nature. You dance like a professional already and you are finally attending classes. You have started Karate also,this year. And your teacher told  me that I am blessed to have a daughter like you. And I agree with her totally.

              Kulli I am so hard on you sometimes, bcoz I know what you are capable of. When I push you  to do something , you cry and create a fuss but probably some years down the line you will realize that it was for your own good.

             Kulli you have started reading small books and I am immensely proud of you. I  am waiting to share my world of books with you.

             You eating has not yet improved and you look  under age for a 5 year old. You have taken my love for cooking and help me in almost everything. And at school also they call you a little helper.

           You are my sunshine, my love and my dream. You made me  the mother what I am today. While I am typing , I can hear you talk in flawless English talking about Giraffe and I cant help but thank God for giving you to me.


With lots of  love ,
From your mother who generally kisses you more when you are asleep than when you are awake.

Who will teach Manners

Kulli and her dad go to the bus stop every morning , stand in a line waiting for the bus and board the bus. This morning I went  with Kulli. We were third in the  line. In front of us there was a high school kid and first in the line was Kulli's classmate. After 2 minutes. There was another high school kid and he joined the one in front of us. Then 2 more kids joined the line. I told these boys, that we are in line , so and stand in the line. The boys though unhappy went and stood in the line.

But what bothers is, we as parents always tell kulli not to break the line, and wait for her turn. Did  the parents of those boys miss out in instilling this basic manners in them or did they just  decide to ignore?

I have often seen big kids push my kulla when he is trying to slide down . But there are few kids who are compassionate and they  actually help him.

The question is did the parents of unruly , ill mannered kids are themselves like that? Or  they forgot to instil values in them? Or the kids  rebelled against the values that their parents taught? It bothers me to even imagine my kids acting rude and bullying  other small kids when they grow up. I keep wondering how will my gentle kind kulli turn out  as   a teenager?

Kulla Kulli

I am trying hard to instil some of my own beliefs on Kulli. I told her that God help those only who help themselves. So if  you  do things on your own like washing your bum, taking bath, then God will help you. And also I told kulli that in times of distress just call God, he will help you.

Scene: 1
Location: Play Area in apartment.
Kulla  has climbed a huge slide through stirs. Instead of coming down the slide he  is standing on the landing and trying to bend down and see whether  the audience that's me are clapping.
Me: Kulli , please come here , quickly go climb the stairs and ask Kulla  to slide down.
Kulli: Chanting loudly Vakra tunda Maha kaya and climbing the stairs of the  slide.
I am amazed, and everybody is looking at us.
Kulli: Climbs the stairs gets Kulla to slide down.
Me:I asked her why are you telling the shloka?
Kulli: I am asking God for help.If I pray in my mind, how will God listen?

Kulla Kulli

Me: Kulla , come here eat banana

Kulla: After eating a bite,  finish  it up yourself. You are my good girl.

Kulli :Amma my hair is soft silky and beautiful isn't it?

Me : Yes why

Kulli: Then I am also miss beautiful  hair isnt it?

Kulli & Kulla speaks

Kulla has to see his Akka as soon as he gets up. Kulli will be getting ready to go to school on most of the days, by the time he wakes up.But still she runs to him and holds his hand and bring him out of the room.

Kulla: Still rolling sleepily on the  bed  shouts Akka , Akka
I am combing Kulli's hair in the  hall
Kulli: Wait Kulla, I am getting my hair combed
kulla: Akka, Please
Kulli: Amma I have to go, he said please.
Then I let her go, and sent a prayer to lord to keep them close always.

Kulli is singing
Kulli: krishna nee begana
Kulla: Baro
Kulli Very good kulla

Had taken both kids to republic day function in the appartment.
Me: Kulla come, lets go home
Kulla: No beda (dont want)
Me: Why? Yake?
Kulla: Bore

An apology to Kulli

Dear Kulli,
                    I am extremely sorry for what happened in the morning. I know you have holidays and you have a right to sleep in, but sweety I have to go to office. And I really need to leave home by 8am or else I will be stuck in endless traffic and my knees might just give away doing the endless dance of break, clutch and accelerator.

                    And also since u kulla, anna all of u got up late I was in soup this morning.Hence when u  refused to help me by wearing your clothes, and also accused me of never helping me with your clothes, I snapped at you , coz I felt  miserable, bcoz every morning I am the one who dresses you up.

So kulli, do forgive me ,for yelling at you and making you cry, that was not my intention in the first place.

Kulli Speaks

Kulli: Amma when I  become big, very big just like you
Me: hmmm
Kulli: Then you will become small
Amma: why
Kulli: Actually you will become smaller than Kulla, then you will do what I want you to do. You will finish food,get up when I ask you to, and sleep when I want you to sleep.
Kulli: Then I will scold you, you cannot scold me.

Life comes a full circle, and looks like she already knows it.

It was deepavali, but I was working from home:(

Kulli: Amma you work well, you work very much .Bcoz I will tell all my friends, that Amma is a good girl, she will work very well ok.

Basically she was using my dialogue to make her eat food.

I had made Poori and Paneer butter Masala for lunch yesterday. Kulli is a very poor eater, and needs hundred stories to make her eat food, So I told her tell paneer that the  poori will wrap you and carry carefully to mouth, you don't have to walk at all.(Basically to maker her eat the side dish also). She bought this theory and was eating well, which I had just assumed.After some time I look at her plate and paneer is made into small pieces and still remaining on the plate  and Poori is finished .When I ask her what happened she says " Amma paneer is fat, when Poori went to carry it,it fell down, we should not eat anything fallen  isnt it so I dint eat". Notes to self: Be more innovative.

 

A Letter to Kulli who turned 4

Kulli you are my first baby, and very very close to my heart. Because with you , I grew up and became a mother. You taught me everything about motherhood. Love you so much because of your poise, grace and your gentle soul.Kulli you  have made mine and Anna's (S) realtionship stronger. I value him and appreciate  him more , since you were born.

Some pointers from your ageing mother of 30.

• Remember  Kulli, I will always be there for you.
• Work hard, women need to have financial independence.
• Take care of your skin and  maintain a steady weight. looking good will give you confidence.
• Kulli, I badly want you to learn music and sing in Chennai Kacheris.
• I want you to marry the man I choose.
• You really need to eat well, and become strong.Women need all strength in the world.
• Remember you will always be equal to your brother.

Kullis first day of school

Finally kulli's school  began today. Kulli's first step to the  big bad academic world. She had been getting up at 6.30 am morning, drinking a glass of milk, and also eating one idly and getting ready by 7.30 am from one week. But today in spite of all practice runs , we just made it to the  bus. We dropped kulli and the  bus started.
After I put her in the bus, I started crying bcoz whole week I had been telling her get ready on time, and today the delay was from our side, not her. I felt scared of leaving her alone in the bus. Of course the bus was full of kids, teachers and helpers, but still I felt I should have gone. I wanted to take a picture of her, but was so caught up with work, that I dint do it at all.
Now sitting at my desk in office, I am thinking that probably I should have taken leave, dropped her myself , picked her up. Its kind of so hard being a mother.I am just not able to concentrate , as my thoughts keep going  back to kulli . She was kind of prepared from a month to go to school, in fact she wanted to go in the big yellow bus from last year itself,but I guess I wasn't prepared about her going to school myself.:)

Kulli kulla

Kulli is able to put her head under the water for a long time.But she is not able to let go of herself and float. I do not know what to do to make her float.If any swimmers reading, please pass on some tips please please please.
Meanwhile the coach disappeared , and I am taking her to the pool myself... Bought myself a swimming suit hoping that I can teach myself, but no luck till now.

Kulli has been acting up to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. She comes with a new excuse every time to avoid food.

Meanwhile Kulla  has learn t to clap, he sings aaa or makes the sound aaaaaa for a long time. He tries to snatch anything anybody is having. In general he is slowly but steadily learning tricks to get everybody's attention.

 During World cup , I vegetated in front of T.V from 2:30 pm to 11pm. Now with IPL , I have decided to watch only from semifinals and all RCB Matches.

Kulli and her swimming lessons

Kulli is going to her swimming classes in our complex from last week. She can float holding a railing, she flaps her hand in general she does everything except the most important thing i.e putting her head in the water. So yesterday her coach  (C)was trying hard to teach her this.
C: Kulli  put your head down the water.
Kulli: No sir I am scared.
C: I  have dropped a stone in the pool go search it.
Other boys search it for him, basically to make the kids put their head down.
Kulli: Sir please give me the stone, or else amma says if u don 't search the stone, i will not bring you to class.

I understand that my kulli is scared, but I also want her to learn, as its a basic skill and I haven't learn t swimming and I still regret for not doing it.

Kulli Speaks

Kulli had not been well on Saturday. And now shes doing fine.She had some stomach infection, due to which she was throwing up even water.

Me: what do you want for breakfast?
Kulli: Saffola oats, its good for health.
Me:OK
We went to the grocery store,
Kulli: Amma buy Saffola oil
Me:No kulli we don't get that brand.
Kulli: But Amma its healthy, don't you see T.V, and they give popcorn also free.
If Saffola, guys hear my kulli speak, they can make her their Brand ambassador.

Me: Kulli you need to eat well.Finish your Lunch.
Kulli: Its ok Amma, You give Complan, I will grow taller and stronger.

Just a Note: She watches hardly half an hour of T.V, and she has mugged the brands with their punchline. If I had allowed more T.V time, then what would have been the state!


Me: Kulli you need to puke in bathroom, run when it comes.
Kulli: OK, but it doesn't tell me before it comes, only after it comes out I will know.

Kulli speaks

Me: Eat soon, how long are you chewing?
Kulli: Amma, I have many teeth, each tooth wants to eat food, what shall I do.

Me:Lets buy clothes for you this summer
Kulli: will you buy for Kulla also?

Me: I am hungry, I will eat you.
Kulli: No Amma, please dont eat me.
Me: Ok , then I will eat Kulla
Kulli: No please dont eat him eat Anna (S)
Me: Why, then who will take you to school, who will drive the car
Kulli: You, you can do everything, you can drive, you can cook,you can take me to spencers, you can do everything.

I was thrilled to get the Super Woman Award from my daughter.

I love the way my kulli selflessly , thinks about her brother.

Kulli speaks

Me: Call up S to come home little early since I was having a headache.

Kulli: Amma, dont worry Anna (i.e S) wont come early.

         He will always tell 5mins mins , but he will all ways be late .

Kulli: Amma , I am a big girl now

Me: Nodding absentmindedly, yes yes

Kulli: Then I can touch your Laptop, wear diamonds isn't it?

Kulli Speaks

 My kulli did not talk full sentences until she was  2 years old. At around 2 years she started talking so much now, there is no stopping her.

Scene  1:

Kulli: Mama i need to give bath to my bear.

Me:OK lets do it fast.

Me: After  a hurried bath , to kulli and bear , I am wring the bear dry

Kulli : Mama don't hurt my bear, don't cause Abbu, just wipe it with the towel. and put it in the balcony.

Scene 2:

We are driving back home @ around 11pm, a cop @ the brigade road stops our car, and asks my husband to breathe into a breath analyzer.

Sleepy Kulli: Anna why did u roar like a tiger and scare the policeman.

Scene 3;

Kulli is trying to stuff a paper into my wardrobe, between my clothes.

Me: Hey what is that?

Kulli: Its a secret letter to Santa Claus.

Me:What is in the secret?

Kulli ;I told u know ,its a secret, I cannot tell you.

After she goes out, I open that letter and see that she has written A,B,C etc.

Life with my kulli and kulla is filled with such gems.