Time and tide....
Post winter solstice and Sankranti, daylight seems to stay a tad bit longer every day. Some days fly by, some stretch and 2016 and the years before seem like only the other day. When one takes a panorama perspective the phrase 'short years, long days' rings true. Time and tidings are constantly in flux... there are some moments when the kids are home and busy with home work or any activity independent of my involvement, when we all are in a companionable silence...when I take stock and brood....
Kids are being kids - full of life, questions, curiosities, plans, needs and wants, needing attention, seeking explanations, wanting hugs, issues to be resolved, etc.... On some days they are difficult and some days I feel so blessed for having them. Both Big G and lil G are delightful kids with their typical personality quirks, easily endearing. Husband and me just love to eavesdrop on the conversations they have with each other - sometimes argumentative, humorous, playful, downright silly but delicious stuff. The sisters adore each other and fight with each other and stand up for each other and look out for each other. Looking at them, my wish for a sister of my own gets even more amplified.
Big G and me have had an even more of a love-hate relationship than previously considering she is a very independent minded person. It did not help that most days I would lie await for her after school with a carefully prepared lesson plan. Yes, we had to cover the entire 4th grade maths in a few months and our progress has been alternatively slow and speedy, but pursued with a dogged discipline of daily practice even through weekends. I seriously hope she is not put off by Maths. One day in the week was then announced free by dear daddy and I was happy too with the relief that it gave me and of course big G. We fight and argue on clothes, hair styles, how to do stuff, opinions, facial expressions, food choices, you name it. The eye rolling has started. And she did not want me to make her school cake, though she was tickled by her birthday cake that I baked.
School wise she has settled in quickly starting with her old classmates and then moved on to making newer friends, considering its been 3 years and a lot has changed including everyone's personalities. My one concern was she was not reading books her age in Dutch, but that was taken care of during the Christmas vacation when there was a lot of free time and frequent library visits. Now I have to screen the books at times, as a couple have been dodgy and I have to yet have the talk.
Little g was very lost in the first month, even crying that she has nobody to play with in the break-time. Big sister watches out for her during play-time apparently and has even ticked off any of the young-uns from lil G's class who have given her any trouble. But Big G has confided to me, lil g should stand up more for herself, I cannot keep going to help her all the time. Over the months, she has settled - with understanding and speaking the language, making some friends and regaining her confidence. Her cheerful personality brims over and lightens up every situation. Her poise even when she fell of the cycle, flat on her face, and in the hospital emergency was amazing. She has not been back to cycle and we have not pushed her yet.
Lil g is still my baby and does not mind being one. She is the one who will cuddle up, and demand hugs, kisses. We have kept reading time as a regular discipline and this is helping both of us in picking up Dutch again. Of course, frequent recourse to 'google translate' is being taken. I did manage to persuade her to watch NG over cartoons but then was plagued by questions - what is mating, stealing a female etc on a show on insects and had to reconsider my decision.
Both kids look forward to Sundays when the whole family heads off to the Indian school - an initiative to acquaint kids with Indian culture, learning Hindi, khel sessions. There are other kids too, in a range of ages. Did I mention the Ramleela th kids put up and the whole practice and performance session was great fun. Also this school is one place where possibly we as parents also interact with other people. Strangely enough am content with that. There is a lot more stuff to work on in daily life and baby steps are being taken...I always remind myself that I can't change things overnight. But hopefully it should not take too long either as time flies....The quote below resonates my feelings on this.
Kids are being kids - full of life, questions, curiosities, plans, needs and wants, needing attention, seeking explanations, wanting hugs, issues to be resolved, etc.... On some days they are difficult and some days I feel so blessed for having them. Both Big G and lil G are delightful kids with their typical personality quirks, easily endearing. Husband and me just love to eavesdrop on the conversations they have with each other - sometimes argumentative, humorous, playful, downright silly but delicious stuff. The sisters adore each other and fight with each other and stand up for each other and look out for each other. Looking at them, my wish for a sister of my own gets even more amplified.
Big G and me have had an even more of a love-hate relationship than previously considering she is a very independent minded person. It did not help that most days I would lie await for her after school with a carefully prepared lesson plan. Yes, we had to cover the entire 4th grade maths in a few months and our progress has been alternatively slow and speedy, but pursued with a dogged discipline of daily practice even through weekends. I seriously hope she is not put off by Maths. One day in the week was then announced free by dear daddy and I was happy too with the relief that it gave me and of course big G. We fight and argue on clothes, hair styles, how to do stuff, opinions, facial expressions, food choices, you name it. The eye rolling has started. And she did not want me to make her school cake, though she was tickled by her birthday cake that I baked.
School wise she has settled in quickly starting with her old classmates and then moved on to making newer friends, considering its been 3 years and a lot has changed including everyone's personalities. My one concern was she was not reading books her age in Dutch, but that was taken care of during the Christmas vacation when there was a lot of free time and frequent library visits. Now I have to screen the books at times, as a couple have been dodgy and I have to yet have the talk.
Little g was very lost in the first month, even crying that she has nobody to play with in the break-time. Big sister watches out for her during play-time apparently and has even ticked off any of the young-uns from lil G's class who have given her any trouble. But Big G has confided to me, lil g should stand up more for herself, I cannot keep going to help her all the time. Over the months, she has settled - with understanding and speaking the language, making some friends and regaining her confidence. Her cheerful personality brims over and lightens up every situation. Her poise even when she fell of the cycle, flat on her face, and in the hospital emergency was amazing. She has not been back to cycle and we have not pushed her yet.
Lil g is still my baby and does not mind being one. She is the one who will cuddle up, and demand hugs, kisses. We have kept reading time as a regular discipline and this is helping both of us in picking up Dutch again. Of course, frequent recourse to 'google translate' is being taken. I did manage to persuade her to watch NG over cartoons but then was plagued by questions - what is mating, stealing a female etc on a show on insects and had to reconsider my decision.
Both kids look forward to Sundays when the whole family heads off to the Indian school - an initiative to acquaint kids with Indian culture, learning Hindi, khel sessions. There are other kids too, in a range of ages. Did I mention the Ramleela th kids put up and the whole practice and performance session was great fun. Also this school is one place where possibly we as parents also interact with other people. Strangely enough am content with that. There is a lot more stuff to work on in daily life and baby steps are being taken...I always remind myself that I can't change things overnight. But hopefully it should not take too long either as time flies....The quote below resonates my feelings on this.
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