Sunday 10 March 2013

Kid Stuff

Last day of exams today.

Phewww.

At least I can stop feeling guilty about not doing anything about it.

Seriously.

I know I come across like an anxious, hassled mom very worried about her kids' exams. But the  opposite is true. And the guilt kills me. The blog ofcourse ends up getting the brunt of it.

The sad fact is that I leave them to their devices most of the time. I only bug them for Hindi, they do everything else by themselves. If they say they got 75% I give them a 'look' and mildly say they could have done better. But inwardly I'm totally satisfied because they did it all on their own. Now the guilt.....there's no escaping it. Round and round my mind will go...if they got 75% without me teaching them anything then imagine if I decided to help them.....

Take for example these exams.

FINAL EXAMS.

There is nothing in the atmosphere to suggest that Final Exams are going on.

They still go out to to play everyday.

They still read books.

They are arguing & trying to score over eachother more than ever.

Nikita is still found working with clay everyday, added to which she has started quilling now.

You think this is bad???

Wait there’s more….


On the very first day of exam Nikita came back with details for a "Children’s Rights“ poster contest which had to be submitted the next day and she simply 'had to’ take part in it. So instead of studying for her computer exam the next day she spent the day working on this poster. Clueless mother that I am, un/willingly helped her.

Then a day before her Science exam she spent all her time making a clay model for Howard Jones.

Who????

[Flashback]

Howard Jones is coming to our school to record for ‘Voices around the Worldl’ was a line heard countless times around the house in the past month. And for that project Nikita and her school friends were putting in lots of extra time at school practicing their song. We were initially reluctant as it fell smack in the middle of the exams but ultimately gave in to Nikita’s desperate pleas.

My mistake here was to google the man and event to see what the big deal was. And like an idiot pointed out that Howard Jones birthday fell so close to their meeting him. That’s it, Nikita immediately wanted to make something for him and instead of studying for her Science FINAL exam the next day she spent all afternoon shaping clay.


[Ignore this part for it doesn't gel with the tone of the rest of the post]

Very pleased with her efforts Nikita was in the highest of spirits. Just before leaving for school I told her gently not to get so excited. I hated doing that to her but I didn't want her getting disappointed if things didn’t go the way she visualized it. Anyways to cut the story short, everything went off well…. Mr. Howard Jones was very touched to receive his present….he shook hands with her[seems like he didn’t shake hands with anybody else*shock*] and took a picture alone with her [it seems he didn't take a picture alone with anybody else*shock shock shock;-P*] and don’t ask what else. She was over the moon. I sent a silent thanks across to Mr. Howard Jones for transforming my child’s day.

[back to ranting]

Can you blame me for going crazy????

All around me I can see parents busy quizzing their kids and helping them with their revisions for the exams. I too have the same intentions but somehow never get it right.

The one and only time I sat down to help them I ended up giving them lines.


Naina was not the only one.

Nikita had to write ‘I must not make Naina wail’ a 100 times.

It was either this or sic them out of the house. Nowadays even that is not an option….there’s a whole army of kids lying in wait outside my door just for these two to finish exams.

Speaking of which, you know none of the kids in the neighborhood like me.

They think my kids have a sad life.

And worse, they all blame me for corrupting their mothers. Seems like, all their mothers now make them study first and clean up their rooms before they let them out to play. Now what did I doooo????

42 comments:

  1. How innocent you are... Poor children. Ruining their mothers like that! He he...

    This is a board exam house. My son in giving his 10th boards. We watched "Naa Nee" and "Thupakki" on DVD this weekend. The daughter is done her exams and is driving the rest of us mad. I hope I don't regret all this in May when the results come out. Sigh!

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    1. Aaaah Jyothi I knew u will understand the kind of torture I live with everyday;-D.

      *Gulp* After reading the 2nd bit I kinda want to award u the tortured mom award now;-P

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  2. I luv u Nance :P :P Now when are you making that trip to Hyderabad?

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  3. Phew!...now, don't ask me why that 'phew'..don't you remember I was holding my breath until your next post?? :-P
    I am sure the two girls will thank you later for being such a cool mom! Loved the card Nikita made.

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    1. Aiyoooo I completely forgot about tht post, now with the hols I dunno when tht will happen;-(.

      Never mind thanks, I just hope they wont forget to give me some pocket money;-P

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  4. The clay model of the piano is wonderful. Have you done anything like that when you were young :P Who knows, she might become an clay-modeling expert in future and say in a TV interview about how in-spite of so many restrictions she was able to master the craft :) Ah, the very thought of this possibility soothes me :D

    Destination Infinity

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    1. Nope totally not creative then and now. Which is why I'm easily impressed;-D

      All those possibilities are precisely the reason why she gets away with it;-P.

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  5. I absolutely loved the piano. Nikita is soo talented. You are a sweet mom. No need to feel guilty, be as you are. Forcing kids to sit with their books when their mind is somewhere else is of no use. You would have ended up seeing neither the cute piano nor good scores in the exams.
    Seena

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    1. Aawww thanks Seena tho 'Sweet' is the last word they'll associate with me;-P

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  6. You have two amazingly gifted daughters, Nancy, why bother about something as mundane as exams? ;)

    And btw, thanks for inspiring me - that imposition gives me ideas :D

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    1. Hahahaaaaa.....keeps them busy for sometime*wink wink*

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  7. LOL..! Its just a grin worthy post ! And finally now that the exams are over what are the plans ? For us it was VBS when we were kids. :-) Anyway what others think about you is not your problem...as far as I am concerned, that you let the kids do what they want, and that you encourage them to read and clean their rooms deserves standing ovation. Today's moms dont do that. And the part where they clean their rooms- it will go a long way, and will do them good. You know it best. Because cleanliness is Godliness. When my son becomes bigger, I will make him do the same. And wash his plate as well.

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    1. Don't ask....Nikita's got loads of stuff already planned which means I'll be busy trying to figure out ways to wriggle out of some of them atleast. And yeah we have VBS too starting next week...atleast they occupied in the evenings whole of next week;-P.
      Cleaning their room is a chore done very unwillingly but faced with bans of various kinds they have no choice;-D

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  8. Sorry I wont wash his plate - I meant that I will MAKE HIM wash his own plate. :D

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    1. My aunt does that....her sons lay the table, take turns washing dishes[everybody's], clean their rooms & know how to cook. Even mothers with daughters envy her;-D

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    2. That is the best way to raise sons. I wish I could be like her. My husband was also raised the same way. He doesnt therefore think that washing dishes and cleaning is meant to be done by females. It is such a support for me that he doesnt belong to such a school of thought.

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  9. how can you write about such things this long !! U r gifted !

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    Replies
    1. I dont know abt gifted but long-winded is my middle name;-P.

      Welcome to my blog Tara:-)).

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  10. Must give it to you, for keep your calm even during the storm. I can easily get ticked off. If I happen to ask my 5th grade daughter questions to check if she's prepared enough for her exams and if she's unable to answer, I can literally feel the steam coming out of my ears. What's worse is when I discover that she's trying to learn word-to-word rather than really understand the subject.

    Your daughters are really creatively inclined, and you seem to be the inspiration behind.

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    1. I just make sure they study the material they learnt the same day which in the long run makes it all easier. And my problem is just the opposite...they are always using their own words and in the process missing a point or two which gets me very frazzled;-/.

      I'd love to accept that compliment but have to be honest and admit that the creativity gene is fr their father's side;-D.

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  11. Wow! You are such a cool momma who doesn't harass her kids to study.

    I like the last line on the board- BY NIKITA AND NOT NAINA! Hehe ;)

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    1. Aha the long lost returns....great to see you S:-)).

      When I threatened to show the board to her father Naina quickly added that line in the end to protect herself;-D

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  12. ROFLOL how do you come up with such gems, you've got an awesome gift of writing, yes you dooooo! it doesn't hurt to have 2 super entertaining kids who make your life so wonderful. and in turn, you make our days brighter :) special hugs to your two little gems for inspiring you!

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    1. Yeah where would I get fodder for all my post haan;-D. Good to see you Snow:-)).

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    2. And thank Uooooooooo:-)))).

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  13. Been so long since I visited your blog. It's as delightful as ever. I love your style. The mundane seems exciting, and your kids' clay models are phenomenal. Also, congrats on winning the photography contest.

    You give your kids lines? What is this, 1965?

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    1. Great to see you here too M & all the compliments accepted without protest except for the photo contest win....just got lucky there really;-D.

      @1965...desperate needs call for desperate measures and it worked like a charm, I got 20 minutes of blessed silence;-D.

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  14. kids exams are more stressful for parents now.a days:)

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    1. I duuno know because when I think back I feel my exams were more stressful than my kids;-D

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  15. Nancy! the poster Nikita made is awesome, i love the representation of the figures and the colours she has applied.

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    1. Yeah even I was impressed which is why I let her get away with it;-P. She is so hoping to win a prize for it:-).

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    2. I hope she wins too.....

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  16. Nanceeeeeeeeeee.. you are my inspiration. you are such a cool mom. My son is writing his 12th std board exams and he is so casual. except for the Irani chai i make for him few nights ( I kind of thrust it on him, you know, the kinds that we moms do when guilt consumes us ?) when he is studying, I do absolutely nothing for him. But I am like a pressure cooker waiting to burst anytime - so much turmoil. am but trying to be as cool as possible. Wish his exams get over soon.

    Tell your daughters I would like to see them too, when they are here in India next. after all bangalore is a few hours away, right? Nikita and Naina, give my best wishes to them.

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    1. Gosh I can soo imagine ur tension...even here I have a few friends whose kids are doing their 12th and they all have taken off from work....and are just so tensed, tolerating all the tantrums, just waiting for the exams to get over.

      I dont know but I guess by the time a child reaches 12th they dont really need us nagging or behind them all the time. But just being there for them within reach itself must be a great comfort right. I hope to be like you by the time I get there Vincy:-)).

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  17. I think your daughters have a fantastic Mum. Do they ever read your blog posts??? They will grow up to be fantastic citizens of the world when they see, via your posts, just how much you love and value them.

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    1. Nope, not yet but Nikita has a good idea that I'm writing about them and has asked me a couple of times;-P. I'm thinking maybe in 1 or 2 years...but then again I keep wondering how they'll take it and should I stop. Doubts...doubts;-(

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  18. I missed you so much.. I missed this page so much..
    so busy I have been.. thnak god I could visit earlier and not after Niki & Nain were married or something ..oops!! did I just say that?/
    Now I have to hide from a very angry mum who might give someone supari in melbourne to kick my you-know-what!!
    :)

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    1. Hahahaaaa....look who's here;-D. No supari only dadagiri, u just tell me when are u going to get back to blogging...or else*rolling shirt sleeves upto elbow and curling fingers into fists*;-/.

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  19. Oh you are a lovely mom. My mom was just like you and we turned out just fine or we think so :) So don't you worry.
    The gift is awesome.

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    1. No worries only veg curries...err lent happening u see. Must be the same at ur end also eh so excuse the lame jokes;-P.

      Good to see you Tharani:-)).

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  20. Hey
    That's nice to see a different parenting perspective which quite differ...But, I think its awesome and good to see parents think out of the box:)

    Vishal
    www.vishalbheeroo.wordpress.com
    vishal-newkidontheblock.blogspot.com

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