Monday 5 November 2012

Newer memories




My children in contrast have always had more dolls and soft toys they could handle. I soon got tired of cleaning up after them and around 3 yrs back I packed around 80% of the soft toys and dolls and gave it off to an orphanage. And we flatly refused to buy more.

They understood and never asked. Alright maybe they looked at us hopefully once in a while but one firm shake of the head was enough to make them keep back the toy in its place and walk out of the toyshop without a murmur. Instead we got them books, clay, beads, paints and games like scrabble, monopoly and chess.

Around 2 months before her eleventh birthday which was in September Nikita secretly asked me if we could get her a doll. She even showed me the kind of doll she wanted when we walked past a toystore one day. The dolls[the whole series of them] were attractive with huge buttons for eyes and hair in eye-catching colours. I looked at the price and did a double-take. Nikita looked vaguely guilty, she was like “Mama, they are expensive because they are Lalaloopsies. And Lalaloopsies are very different from other dolls. Please I’ll never ask for anything ever again.” She said she didn't want anything else….no party, no dress, no chocolates to school, didn’t want cake, nothing. Just the doll.

My 1st instinct was to refuse. And I did. And then explained “Nikita there is no way we are going to spend so much money on a doll. I don’t know if you realise but there are people in the world who can pay 3 months school fees for their children with the same amount.”

She turned away very disappointed.

Later I related the whole conversation to the better-half. And the funny bit was even though I refused to consider it then I was half-swayed now “Maybe we should get her this last doll”. But we both knew the price was too much to spend on a doll.

The next one month Nikita was on a roll. She did everything right. She topped in her Sunday School exam, she did very well in her class tests and she did her Arabic on her own & even helped Naina get top marks in Arabic test and saved us the tuition money. As she went about her way we knew she was desperately hoping we’ll change our minds.

Naina inbetween would do her own canvassing “Please Ma, get Chechi the doll, she really wants it. And don’t worry I won’t be sad if you don’t get me one.”

As the birthday closed in both the better-half & I gave up our tough stance and decided to get Nikita what she wanted. After all, she was going to be eleven and that was special we convinced ourselves.

So we let Naina into our secret because we were not sure of the specific doll Nikita was interested in. Naina was thrilled for her sister and readily gave us all the information. Just as we were concluding the conversation after laboriously noting down all the choices, Naina says “And if you feel like you want to get me also a doll, you can” and skips out of the room.

The better-half and I look at each other shell-shocked. This was totally unexpected.

Anyways a day before the big day the better-half goes shopping & calls me from the store. Seems like he checked 3-4 stores and all the stores didn’t have Nikita’s choices. And the store he was standing in right then had an offer where 2 of these dolls packed together had a 20% discount. Ofcourse there was nothing else to do but get them.

The girls were delirious with joy. It didn't matter at all they didn't get the dolls they wanted. And for the next one month they did nothing which didn't include the dolls. Both the dolls are farm girls and are cousins in relation. That's about all I know. There are pages & pages of information on the net about them & ofcourse N&N know it all byheart;-/. The dolls now have their own beds[shoe-boxes transformed], birth certificates, driving-license, cv’s, don’t ask what else, all made painstakingly by the girls at various moments.

Sometimes when I'm cleaning up and they catch me swinging their dolls by the legs they are horrified. They snatch them out of my hands like as if I'm some evil ogre and lovingly cradle them in their arms and carry them back to their rooms. I 'll be grinning to myself;-D

Inbetween Naina’s doll lost her pet[a yellow chick which had come along with the doll]. She went around putting up ‘lost’ posters all around the house & we all searched for it but it was never found. Naina is still heart-broken about its disappearance. After that they have both became extra-careful with their toys.

Once school started after the holidays the attention has gradually lessened but the attachment is still there. Sometimes when I go to check on them after they are asleep I’ll find the dolls hidden under the blankets because they know I don’t like it when they take toys to bed[only bcoz the hard parts will poke & bruise them].

Their heads are very heavy so they can't stand or sit up:-)
Nikita’s doll is called ‘Berry’[pink] and Naina’s is ‘Sunny’ but I very pointedly call them ‘Last Dolls’. Let there be no doubts;-).

31 comments:

  1. They are pretty. Ask me, I never owned a doll. Sometimes as I am cleaning up Neha's toys, You can see me taking the trouble to find the naked doll her dress, put it on for her and comb and braid her hair. Sigh!

    I guess as parents we do have to take a call on stuff.

    I loved Naina's idea of putting up lost posters. Next time ask her to put up a reward too. That way, you can get some of her pocket money. Chuckle, chuckle!

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    1. Even now when we look at those dolls we cant believe we actually went ahead and picked it up;-o. But Nikita's reaction was very gratifying...she just cdn't believe her eyes & later very tearfully thanked us. I was in tears myself;-P.
      Good idea*rubbing hands*....;-D

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  2. You did not find the lost chick yet????!!!I mean, look at the poster- shouldn't you have turned the house upside down for such a cute poster??? But, but, just because you obliged to buy these lovely toys for the girls, we excuse you......:P

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    1. We hunted high & low...we didn't find it anywhere...I get the feeling it fell into the bin in the bedroom & I just emptied it out without looking....well usually there is no reason to look thru trash;-S.
      No excuses anymore....no more dolls rule has been carved out on metal;-D

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  3. Ohhh they are rag dolls!!! I love them...sigh is it even legal to buy myself a doll now?

    Your daughters are one lucky little girls.

    Ps: Please excuse such a short comment; the twins are howling looking at those dolls :(

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    1. I don't think they are rag dolls. The face, hair, hands & legs are made of some hard material. But yeah the body is soft.
      LOL maybe u shd get ur twins also 2 ben10 figures & they'll let u free for sometime;-D.
      Don't worry abt short comments...I enjoy reading whtever u post:-)).

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  4. Awwwww....LOVED this post!!
    So glad to see you back in action!

    Psst: confessing a guilty secret--I too love these dolls! :)

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    1. And I'm so happy to see U here:-))!!!!!

      I sooo get u, these dolls are really cute...I secretly love them tooo;-D

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  5. Your girls are the cutest I've ever known. No doll can ever be as cute as they are. By the way the dolls are good too. Love the names ! And 'last dolls' ?? How evil are you!

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    1. Hehe...the idea is borrowed fr a book 'A Little Princess' where the protagonist a 10 yr old buys a doll for the last time & calls it 'The Last Doll'. The kids like this book very much & so understand the concept very well...so you get the idea, right*wink, wink*;-D.

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  6. little girls are so fun..and you daughters are always so cute..

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    1. They can be in irritable, clingy and 'lets eat mama's head' mode too but yeah mostly fun & cute;-D.

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  7. Last dolls huh? so u wont buy a doll for Naina as well in the future?Oh I forogt! She prefers books than dolls huh??? Sweet post!

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    1. Atleast books won't hurt our pockets that much;-P. Thanks Deepa:-))!!!!

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  8. What's a girl without her own doll :), loved it, and yearning for a baby girl.

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  9. This has got to be the best line in the post :

    Naina says “And if you feel like you want to get me also a doll, you can” and skips out of the room.

    :D :D :D

    Loved the post!

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    1. Tell me about it....she left us speechless for almost 5 minutes;-P

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  10. Btw the poster is damn cute too ... ur girls must be v talented ...

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    1. Not really but yeah compared to me they definitely are;-D.

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  11. lovely post, as usual, Nancy. I remember my first doll- a parting gift from a friend who was going away to a different place. I cherished the doll :-)
    Your girls are so sweet..:-)

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    1. Awww that must have been a bitter-sweet parting...sad that ur friend left but happy she left a reminder:-)).

      Thanks Uma:-))!!!!

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  12. :) lovely reading about ur girls.. naina, seems to be super-smart! ;) I think the second ones r always that way!!

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    1. Thanks Hunter:-))!!!
      The younger ones know us inside-out....and are super-confident of their ability to twist us around their little finger;-(

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  13. I LOVE that lost poster!!! 'Chirp'... is that the chick's name? If so, it's pure genius :D

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    1. I love the poster too...when I saw it first I was so desperately sorry for her...yeah she had named it Chirp:)

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  14. So right about the younger ones...they know they can get their way ....err....I love dolls too :)

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    1. Younger ones take too much for granted;-/.
      Heee....and I love them tooo;-D

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  15. looks like i am on a comment marathon:-) i'll be back to read the rest. enjoying it..

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    1. Come over whenever...I'm just happy u like my posts:-)).

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