The Question of questions!

Questions questions and more questions, Abhay is full of them just like any average five year old. But Abhay’s repository of questions has increased multifold after we’ve moved back to India. Questions on everyday things we take for granted – “why are the roads so bumpy? Why do drivers honk all the time? Or Why is the Indian police dressed in brown?”; Questions that are hard to answer even for adults – Why are there so many mosquitoes when there were none in Portland? Questions leading to further questions – Why do I have to ride the school bus? Why can’t you drop me to school like you used to? Questions that make you squirm – Why don’t I have a sister? Finally questions that would delight my mother in law – Why don’t you wear a bindi like ajji? 

Anyway, in response to a friend’s request to dig up some local stuff, today I read “The Why Why girl” by  Mahasweta Devi. Narrated by the famous writer herself, this is a true story of a ten year old Tribal girl named Moyna. While working with the tribal group named Shabars, the author saw a girl chasing a snake and when stopped, she asks “But why shouldn’t I?” Fascinated by the curious little girl, the author encourages her to question even more! Moyna then boldly raises questions about everything from nature to science to society to lack of basic amenities in the tribal world to exploitation by the landlords and there is no stopping her! One day, she decides to go to school but finds the school timings unsuitable for cowherds and goatherds like her. With the power of her questions, she becomes the first girl admitted to her village primary school! Moyna grows up to be a teacher in the same school and now it’s not only Moyna but her students too  aren’t afraid to ask “why”! Though an educative story, it failed sustain Abhay’s interest till the end as he couldn’t quite relate to the harsh realities of a tribal’s life.  I feel its a  book more for parents than kids so that the next time your child asks “Why” …you can pause and answer him “Why not”!

Grandpa's boy!

Odgen Nash says when grandparents walk in through the door, discipline flies out of the window. I'm not sure if my parents would concur, but I couldn’t agree more!! While we look up to our parents for support when it comes to child care, it is also true that we wish they exhibit the same no-nonsense attitude with their grand-kids as they did with us! Of course, there is something magical about seeing your parents transform into doting grandparents! But there are times you wonder if they’ve actually forgotten how it feels to be a peeved parent of a fussy five year old! This is especially true with my dad for whom Abhay, the apple of his eye, is always infallible and the follies are all ....well ...mine! For instance, if Abhay doesn’t eat, the problem is in the food served! If he yells, he is imitating me! If he falls, it is I who has been careless! :-) In fact, when it comes to vying for my dad’s attention, it almost feels like sibling rivalry with my son!! 

Almost all grandparents believe that their grand-kids are nothing short of perfection personified and Abhay’s grandpa no exception! So a couple of days ago I had him read “My grandson is a genius” by Giles Andreae illustrated by Sue Hellard. A story narrated by a proud grandpa who cannot stop bragging about his extraordinarily ordinary grandson. The grandfather claims that his two year old grandson is a little genius though he is seen pointing at a dog when shown picture of a cat! He extols the mechanical abilities of his grandson predicting his future as a scientist as the little one shoves a sandwich into the CD player! Watching  his grandson sprint towards the pigeons in the park, the grandfather is certain of his grandson's Olympic medal even as the two year old loses balance and lands a fall! Of course, he is not the only one who believes that his grandson’s face is meant for being displayed in advertisements! Lastly, the grandpa is seen gushing as he admits to being told that his grandson is after all, just like him!! So appa….the next time Abhay points a finger at me……I’ll say he is imitating you!:-)

Abhay's new bike!

Though we had lived in Portland for only three years, it was in Portland that my five year old spent most of his time till now. So as expected, it was in Portland he learnt to ride the bicycle…well …almost as he still requires training wheels!  Though we managed to ship most of his toys when we moved back to Bangalore, he only remembers the ones we left behind and his red bicycle is one of them! No ordinary bicycle, Abhay’s pride and joy was a Disney Cars bicycle. Of course, we found a worthy successor to the Disney bike – his friend Keshav, another Cars Aficionado!  

So for his birthday this year, when Abhay’s grandpa decided to gift him a bicycle, Abhay didn’t mince any words. He made it amply clear that he wanted no other than a Disney Cars bike and my father had to pay a pretty penny for it! Beware …brand loyalty starts very early!!:-) 

So with his new bike around, I read a book on the most famous monkey on wheels, Curious George.  “Curious George rides a bike” by H.A Rey. To celebrate their third year anniversary, George’s friend, the man with a yellow hat, buys him a bicycle. Riding the bike near his house leads him to most amusing  adventures from delivering newspapers to floating paper boats down a river because of which he trips over a rock that damages his cycle. While trying to make do with one wheel, he meets the director of an animal show who straightens his wheel and allows to participate in the show. As usual, he squanders this opportunity due to his unrelenting mischief only to later redeem himself by helping the rescue of a lost bear with the help of his bike!! So…if you have a curious little monkey monkeying around with his bike …this book is for you and your monkey!

Abhay goes to the library!

When we left the US last month, if not anything else, one thing I felt most certain I would miss was the American public library system. I almost got emotional on my last visit to the Hillsboro public library as I looked at the two storied structure one last time wondering if I will ever find such an extensive collection of books, CDs and other resources both for me and for my five year old. Well, I'm glad to announce that I’ve almost found not one but plenty of such options in Bangalore ! In the past one month, I discovered many places exclusively catering to my favorite category – children’s books! One such library we enrolled Abhay into is the Hippo Campus located in Koramangala, a wonderful place for kids to read, reflect, listen to stories and participate in events. Another chain of libraries with branches across Bangalore and many other cities in India is Just Books, a facility that houses just books for the whole family. Of course, they are not free like the public libraries in the US …but like they say - there’s no such a thing like a free lunch...especially true in India.:-) 

Since we have resumed our weekly visits to the library, I read “Maisy goes to the Library” by Lucy Cousins. Maisy loves going to the library to read a nice little book in a quiet little place! So one day when she visits the library, she is in the mood for a book about a fish. She looks all around but cannot find what she wants. She decides to do others things one can do in the library – use the computer, listen to music, make copies of her favorite picture and gaze at the fish in the aquarium  and that’s exactly where she finds a book about fish! Just as she settles in a quiet corner to read the book, she meets her friends who Tallulah and Cyril who have come for story time! Maisy too decides to attend the story time conducted by the Ostrich. All of them  listen to the amusing story of an old lady who swallowed a fly …. and cant stop laughing even as they check out books and leave the library and so ends Maisy's fun filled day at the library! Thanks to the new age libraries of Bangalore - one reason less to miss Portland! Cheers to Namma Bengaluru!  

I love school but not its homework!

When I graduated in 2002, I was really glad to be done with school, exams, tests and assignments! Little did I realize that all of this would come back to haunt me again when my son starts school and that too in India! The funny thing is that I didn’t feel any pressure when he was schooling in the US. For most parents returning to India after a stint in the US or any other western country, this is a major concern!  The transition from a relatively carefree system to a more rigorous pattern of schooling can be hard not on the kids but on the parents!!! I mean seriously, when my five year old returns home from school with homework to do, it is my ‘to-do’ list that gets updated! When the day’s homework is cursory writing in English, it is I who get nightmares about connecting a and m! If there are no homework instructions in his diary, it is me who is  most thrilled!!!  To the teachers of TSA, C’mon guys…..go easy on me …. I’ve just begun school……I mean… my son has just begun school! :-)

 

More than Abhay it was I who needed the book “I love School” by Philomen Sturges and illustrated by Shari Halpern. A little boy exclaims that he loves school; he loves the bus that comes his way to take him where he’ll spend his day; He loves to play with building blocks and draw pictures of speeding trains; When its recess, He loves to play on the slides and the swings and run and kick the ball in the playground; With recess done, it’s time to get some serious work done – count numbers 123 and write letters ABC which gets them ready for lunch. Lunch is followed by story time made all the more interesting by their teacher whom he likes the best!! A good book to be read to your little one who is starting preschool but you may attach a caveat that hidden conditions (homework) may apply!:-)