Monday 21 October 2013

The games we play....



One Thursday evening….

[It's start of weekend for residents in the Middle East incase you are wondering...]

“Let’s go to the mall” suggestion was met with cries of “It’s boring, we don’t want to go”.

“But why???” 

“We are always going to malls, it’s soo boring.”

Huh since when….they had the maximum fun out there; there were toy stores to be explored, bookshops to be visited, gaming zones to run amok in, freebies to be collected while the parents were usually found hurrying behind trying to keep up.

I would have been happy to hear this any other time but that day I wanted to go out.

I sat them down and stressed how lucky they were to have parents who didn’t need to be coerced into taking them out.

They looked at me unimpressed.

I told them about my childhood where I was taken out just twice a year.

That got some response.

“You are joking……only twice a year???” Nikita flabbergasted.

“Yes, on Christmas day and Easter……

……to visit relatives.” I added for a punch.

Both looked horrified.

Nikita pretended not to be affected and was like “Your time was different Mama so don’t compare then and now”

Point.

“How different” I challenged not willing to let it go so easily. “I was also a kid like you and would have loved to go to a mall[never mind there were no malls then] but my strict, authoritarian father decided we’ll visit relatives and so we went visiting.” I said woefully, mentally apologizing to my father for the way I was portraying him.

Two shocked faces stared pityingly at me and my deprived childhood.

Kids nowadays are funny I tell u….I so clearly remember jumping up and down for joy when my parents planned trips to visit relatives.

“I always obeyed my parents and did everything they told me to” I said grandly.

Nikita didn’t want to hear anymore….I think I over-acted a bit and the lost the bit of ground I had gained till then.

“We don’t feel like going to the mall, we want to stay home. Didn’t u say we’ll rest this weekend, so we want to rest” the siblings on the same page for once.

Rats.

For a change the better-half & I wanted to go out and these two were playing party-poopers.

“I know exactly why you want to stay home” I said sternly. “You want to play on the tab right….right”

Two guilty faces confirmed my doubts. Well I didn’t blame them. If my father had downloaded 2 new games on the tablet for me that evening I too probably wouldn’t have wanted to go out anywhere. Too bad their mother was not so understanding.

“Alright we’ll stay home but both of you will not touch the tablet….
….or any other gadget in the house for the rest of the day.” I said closing all loopholes.

Two dismayed faces stared back.

Naina opened her mouth to protest but Nikita stopped her and said “Alright we won’t touch the gadgets, but we can read books right”

How could I refuse to let them read books without coming across as petty?

So they settled down comfortably to read.

I think Nikita realised that we wanted to go out more than them and was in her “two can play at this game” mode.

The better-half and I sat facing eachother, wondering what to do. I wanted to go out and by hook or by crook we were going to. What the heck…..I had already scrubbed and cleaned and closed the kitchen for the day thinking we were eating outside. No way was I going back in there to make dinner.

“In all other houses children are asking but their parents are too busy to take them out. Here we are telling we’ll take u out but you want to stay home to play some silly game.” I said in irritation.

[Silence]

You two are so lucky…..even before you say it you have parents who get you what u want. Go on, just look around you, you have everything, instead of counting your blessings and staying happy…..”

“But we do thank God for everything and we are happy…..we just want to stay home and not go anywhere out today.” Nikita says reasonably.

Deuce.

Silence reigned in the house for a few minutes.

The better-half started drumming on the dining table to hide his impatience.

I was hopping mad now.

Desperate times called for desperate measures.

“Alright, we won’t go out if that’s what you want. You are right, it’s not good to go out all the time. I’ll make something ‘nice’ to eat and we can all laze around at home”

I discussed the dinner menu with the better-half.

“What do you think I should make for dinner???? I’ve got Rice, Rasam & stir-fry in the fridge or should I make Kanji*???”

The better-half’s fingers faltered for a few seconds and then resumed drumming when he realized my game plan.

The children who were merrily swinging on the recliner till then froze in shock.

“I think Kanji is better because it’s healthy and also it will take me just ½ an hour to make it.” 

The better-half drummed a tune on the table approvingly.

The recliner creaked to a halt.

Sensing victory I pressed home my advantage.

“It's too late to make a side dish but we can have it with some yummy pickle.”

Books lay forgotten as two white faces watched us like hawks.

“Ofcourse if we were going out, we could have had Burgers or Pizza or Chinese” I smashed the point home.

The ball in their court now, we waited nervously.

….

….

“We don’t want to stay home, we want to go out….we love going to the mall” wailed Naina.

Game. Set. Match.


*rice gruel

42 comments:

  1. ROFL...you are just like me sister!!

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    Replies
    1. The things we do to survive eh;-D

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    2. Btw I would do anything to get a bowl of good old kanji...sniff!

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    3. Hmmm I knw what u mean....I'm not too fond of kanji myself but there are 2 places I dont mind it at all. One is the Good Friday kanji we get in church[after fasting the whole day it tastes like ambrosia;-P]and the other, the red broken rice kanji in kerala eaten with those huge leaves bent into the shape of a spoon.....u knw I can sort of taste it in my mouth right now;-o

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    4. Yup was talking about the second one and my mom used to serve it with roasted coconut chutney...sigh!

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  2. We mothers know where to hit the nail, dont we? Lovely post. but you wait.. they'll soon outgrow your smartness and then the actual game begins. :-) :-) ;-)

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    1. I sooo get what u r trying to say....for a moment it looked like Nikita was going to opt for Kanji just to thwart my plans;-/.

      And thanks Vincy;-D.

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  3. hahahaha...twisted mother, for twisted kids!

    :) so smart you are Nancy!

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  4. Tyrant. Bully. Cheater ......... :):)

    By the way, was amazed to see the photo. Didn't realise you were a blonde ... Hahahahahahaha

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    Replies
    1. All's fair in love and eating a meal i didnt have to cook;-D.

      If I looked that pretty I wd have posted pictures of me more often;-P

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  5. You could always dial-in a pizza. That's what you should have (probably) done in this situation. But when was the world fair, anyway? :P

    Destination Infinity

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    1. Uffo DI Bhaiyya, understand the situation....the idea was to go out and have dinner. Ordering a pizza wd have been like playing right into their hands.
      Even if Nikita suggested it we wd told her tht the fries were always soggy when they deliver it home, the salad soaks thru the container and the most important fact...they charged FIVE extra dirhams just for home delivery;-o.

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  6. The kind of things we have to do to indulge our kids. Nancy, you are a true gem, loved the whole Kaanji thing(anyone would want to get out of eatign that). Whenever we go out to eat my son will keep asking--Why are we going out, amma. You give me rice and curd at home.ufffffffffffff

    Thanks for ur lovely comments on my posts :)

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    1. I'm not too fond of kanji myself, so making it wd have been punishment for me too...it was a calculated risk and luckily for us it paid off;-D.

      The pleasure is all mine Seema:-)).

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  7. Ha ha... awesome!!! As always, had a great laugh reading this :-))))

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  8. LOl:)..Nancy how well you manipulated your sweet daughters:)

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    Replies
    1. Sweet???? If only u knew Renu....sometimes I feel I'm a puppet dancing to their tunes;-/. The one time I scored over them I needed to tell the world;-P

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  9. WHOAAA Nancy well played :D ROFL !

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  10. ha ha ha u r one cunning lady!!! :D

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    Replies
    1. Smart....smart is the word u were looking for:-D

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  11. www.http://soulsearchingdays.blogspot.com/23 October 2013 at 14:27

    LOL... Nancy, you are such a Devil I tell you... and as Vincy rightly says... watchout.. they are going to outwit you one day..... ha..ha..

    take care
    Rekha

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    Replies
    1. Then I'll remind them that if they are smart then I'm their mother;-D

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  12. www.http://soulsearchingdays.blogspot.com/23 October 2013 at 14:27

    LOL... Nancy, you are such a Devil I tell you... and as Vincy rightly says... watchout.. they are going to outwit you one day..... ha..ha..

    take care
    Rekha

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  13. nance this was so good i was grinning throughout:-) this happens at our house and we employ the same tactics it seems. but only you could have described it so well. every single nuance in this battle hit the target in your post. sorry to the little ones but i totally enjoyed it and to feel better they at least got some burgers:-)

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    1. Don't remember what we had that night...just very sure it was not kanji;-D. Glad u enjoyed the post Lan:-)).

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  14. ha ha... some day they are going to trick you, just wait and watch chech ;-D but yeah, kudos on your winning this one :P

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    Replies
    1. Well they can try....their mother's got eyes at the back of her head; atleast thats what I tell and keep them guessing;-P

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  15. Hehehe :P Innocent girls there ;)

    And I luv kanji :D, with mango pickle esp. Slurp!

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    Replies
    1. Swaram my dear...24 hrs in their company and I'm prepared to swear u'll change ur mind abt their innocence;-P.

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  16. My gawd!is this how kids reason?! :O God help me !
    You were your typical awesome self!! i was literally rotfl ing :)Loved the bit where you said you were nt going to open shop for the night :D hehehe
    and yea Kanji who would want that on a weekend ?:P

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    1. Amrita dear u just wait....ur lil one is going to wrap you around her pinky so well, u won't even know when u've been had;-P

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  17. Lesson for all the parents reading this. That's a good idea. But, just a matter of time that they outsmart you :)

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    Replies
    1. I know....just trying to pretend that I'm still on top of things;-(.

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  18. Sigh!!! These kids!!

    Another version at home today,
    Father,'It's along a weekend, where shall we go?"
    Son, not even bothering to look at father, "I have football tomorrow"
    Daughter, "New York?"

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  19. Rice, rasam, kanji .... {shudder, shudder ...... shuddddderrrrr!!!}

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    Replies
    1. A kid's worst nightmare whereas the parent wdn't mind so much coz it takes just 1/2hr to make it;-P

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  20. ennittu, ethu Mall'ilekka poyathu :D

    That was superb !!

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    Replies
    1. It was too late to go to a mall by the time they decided they didnt want to stay home;-/. We then just went out for dinner;-D.

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