Creativity and expressions...

November has been an intense month. Lil G has a new pet, the first one was a caterpillar called Oggy, who was let go in the garden one fine day. This time it's a plastic goldfish (thankyou MacDonald's) in a water-filled box, given a very predictable name of GoldyFishy!

GoldyFishy

The other day Big G had an  achy sore throat and we decided that she would stay home the next day. Sure enough, both the girls stayed back. Lil G demanded some rest from school too, oh, it is everyday, everyday...And I am still so sleepy in the morning. She elaborated, "Look, I am like an owl, mama.I can't sleep in the night or nap in the afternoons, I feel sleepy only in the mornings." Since I also gave in too easily thanks to being lazy and indulgent,  we took a Thanksgiving day off  this one time and I did feel secretly thankful for an early start to the weekend. That said, now busy whatsapping respective school groups to check on what was done in class that day....

I discovered Big G keeping some salt in a bowl near the bed. Apparently she was advised by lil G to take a pinch for a coughing bout. The girls have taken to mothering each other and how, well, at certain times. Other times they keep squabbling like that married couple who find it difficult  to live with and without each other :)

Lil G always does countdowns to the end of the month, typically there is something to look forward to in the coming one. Nov 16 was Big G's birthday. My baby turned 9. This time we did not have an elaborate birthday party. I feel bad kind of as I could have stretched myself and done something. Planning to have a deferred one or even a play-date when husband is here. We had a cake in hiding, a cake cutting with Daddy on Skype, books from Amazon and a family dinner. Come to think of it, not overtly exciting. But then, seriously, besides making it amount to a good day overall, is it my responsibility as a parent to provide excitement etc for birthdays... sometimes such occasions are over-done I feel.

Big G does these garden arts while foraging in the garden. This is also inspired by the twitter handle @Neelavanam who does this so creatively and brilliantly. Here is one of Big G's creations.

GardenArt by Big G

Tuesdays and Fridays have become a bit busier. Earlier there was lil G's dance class where she goes with varied levels of enthusiasm and more like a place to have some fun. I wish I had that when I was growing up - to be able to learn dance/music in a disciplined manner. When either of them show indifference to practicing, I am upset, because I would have loved to have that privilege if I could. Growing up in remote colonies, where it was difficult to find a teacher, I feel they ought to appreciate it more than they do. 

I remember I had enrolled for Bharatnatyam in my graduation days. The fact that I was the  only teen amongst the 7-8 year olds did not deter me. I had just about started learning the mudras and was into learning a few steps when we started having practicals on the same days of the class... that's it. When Big G started her Kuchipudi, I thought I would learn too, but the time and circumstances made it a bit difficult, and also I was not sure how comfortable she would be with the arrangement and let a big chance go. Now, can't imagine taking off to a third set of dance classes for me. And having weekends blocked means just can't make plans without cancelling a class.

Even then, so many years ago, I was asked why do you want to learn dance/music at this age, I really couldn't answer anything except well, I  want to. What can be reason enough? Isn't the joy that you can master the steps and movements to a particular talam enough? That you chose to do this over anything else you could do with your time? Or the fact that one day you may be good enough to dance on stage - both terrifying and exciting at the same time? The joy of dancing in tandem with others...indescribable. I can never answer why. And when I see the mix of student's in Big G's dance class I am happy to see at least some people have chosen not to give up on their dreams. There is even a sole boy student in their class, in his early twenties. I must find out his motivations to learn dance.

G Mami and her music classes is another world we get transported to. This is what makes Tuesdays busier. Big G and me hurry to her house, armed with the music book and me with some battery life left in my not-so-smart phone to record stuff for practise. There is the sound of swaras wafting as we enter the lane, and head to her house, remove shoes outside, pay a hurried obeisance to the Saraswati idol with her veena, and sit on the chapas (plastic mats) laid out. We wait patiently for the senior student to finish and listen to the bhajan she is singing. Oh, when would we reach that stage, or page in our book. Tamil flows naturally, as that is what music Mami speaks and "shruthi podranga", "nee padi"  is what is heard often amongst other things.  I am not sure how Big G processes this, but I can relate to the language which I once knew and have now forgotten and love to pick up words from here and there. 

Talking of creativity and colours, here is something which lil G drew for a birthday party the kids attended. Not Flemish masterpieces exactly and light is pretty bad, but adorable to a biased mother certainly.

Lil G's drawings