Competitions at School

I hate school isn’t the chant currently. It was one week of school and holidays again for 5 days in view of Diwali celebrations. So from 25^th to 29^th Oct, Joel’s had a rocking time at home. I hope he doesn’t think that it’s because his Uncle Vivek landed in Mangalore on the 25^th. I was impressed with the way he rushed to Vivek and just hugged & kissed him as soon as he saw him. Never expected Joel to react that way as if greeting a long lost friend. I didn’t know that Joel’s memory is that well too when it came to people. A lot I have to learn.

 

For the 5 days Joel’s been at home, it’s been “skweets” in plenty. Skweets are Joel’s way of pronouncing the word ‘sweets’. He’s been asking for them in plenty and receiving them in plenty too. We’ve had a few visitors too – the most cherished one Pinku. Another person he’s treated as a long lost friend. He got along pretty well with Patrick too, Thethu’s friend from Bangalore.

 

Just before the holidays began, Little Angel School’s parents were given notices about the upcoming school competitions in view of the Children’s Day celebrations. Nursery has competitions in singing, nursery rhymes and fancy dress. They also have to speak a few lines on either of the topics – My Pet, My Family, My School. Though I‘d intended for Joel to participate in the nursery rhymes and fancy dress, his teacher’s very enthusiastic about him singing and speaking too. More preparation work to do.

 

Got to get his teapot costume ready. Remind him the Bingo song. Try and find a nursery rhyme that he’s comfortable saying and 2 lines on the topic – My School or My Family. The competitions are so close by in terms of days. I hope to take the day off to be with him on his first day of competitions. Got to remind Amrith to get the camera.

 

I’m just hoping I don’t deliver baby 2 before I can see Joel participate in his first set of competitions. I want the little guy to go on stage like he did the last time and have a ball. :)

 

School re-opens

After 3 weeks of being at home and getting pampered, spoilt rotten to the core, Little Angels reopened today. Joel wasn’t prepared for it. So dressing him up for school was quite a task. Once he was in uniform, he seemed alright. But then from his conversation, I understood that he wasn’t really having a great time. I guess he must have been glad that school was over when I went to pick him in the afternoon. But then, he seemed a little off mood too. On reaching home, I guess the frustration all came out. Wish I wasn’t so exhausted all the time. I’m hoping to make things better for him before he gets into the ‘I hate school’ mode.

 

 

Abu and Joel

Joel’s become pretty attached to Abu. This was apparent when Thethu got admitted to Fr. Muller’s on Sat to get her armpit lump removed and Abu had to stay with her for the entire time till today. Joel’s been crying and asking for Abu both nights. Last night was a torture. About 20 minutes of ‘Abu ghara ye’ over phone. Not sure how Abu survived it. This much is pretty obvious. Although Joel says he’s Nanna’s boy, he’s definitely his Abu’s boy. :)

 

His sibling's heartbeat

Joel accompanied me on my visit to my gynec last evening. In the process, he heard the baby’s heartbeat for the first time last evening. He must have thought it’s painful since he covered his ears. That got Dr. Malathi is splits. Sweet guy.

 

Mid-term Holidays begin

I’d been to Joel’s Parent Teacher meeting last Thursday i.e. 25^th September, 2008. Apart from the info to parents from the headmistress – Aunt Rose, we could talk to the teacher. Aunt Rose’s announcements had a lot to do with the November competitions for children’s day and sports day. Got to gear up Joel with 2 items that I hope he can do comfortably in front of an audience.

 

His class teacher had to say this: He’s improved a lot, converses with his classmates, is pretty open and jovial, no issues and yes now he does answer the teacher though it’s to the point and brief. I’m glad that he’s changing. Also learnt he has a best friend Kedar. Got to meet that little guy once school reopens.

 

Joel’s last school day for the first term was on Friday, 26^th September, 2008. No holiday homework. Have to find some place he can learn to enjoy himself while learning to sing or dance or indulge in some non-aggressive sport. He’s got into a ‘This is mine’ mode. Not sure when the phase started exactly, but it’s pretty annoying sometimes.

 

Naughty Joel

Well, tell me which child isn’t naughty. Joel’s no exception. On Monday, 8^th September, the little guy took the golden opportunity to cut up his school book when Abu and I were fast asleep. He got a yelling and a lot of whacks on his hands from me.

 

Poor guy! He didn’t cry even though he wanted to. He didn’t let up in front of me. He just went to Abu and slept next to him. In the evening, once he woke up, it took time for him to adjust back to me since his memory was still fresh from the afternoon incident.

 

I felt rotten after what I’d done. It took me an hour to come to terms with what he did. This time’s incident was a playful thing. I’m blaming myself that I’ve let him watch M.A.D too much on POGO. I just hope in future he doesn’t do something similar out of spite.

 

This morning when I was about to leave for work, Thethu told me his teacher was near our place. Told Joel. He was interested in seeing her. But once he saw her, he didn’t want to go anywhere close to her. Little guy as usual was shy and feeling out of sorts I guess. That too to see his class teacher just after waking up.

 

During his school’s parent teacher meet in August, his teacher said that he refused to open up in class. He’d play with the children, share his toys and do a lot of things in group activities. But when it came to opening his mouth and reciting, then he’d clam up. I found it very amusing since it’s just the opposite at home. He never keeps quiet - forever singing nursery rhymes and songs, imitating his teacher and some of the other students.

 

He had an opportunity to perform for his teacher on Teacher’s Day – 5^th Sept. I wasn’t very sure if he was ready to do something for her. This time I’ve given it a miss. The next opportunity will definitely coach him and encourage him to perform in front of his class.

 

 

Open Windows & a Birthday Party

Last Friday, Joel was given his activity book for the first time to bring home. Though I couldn’t spend much time with him on Friday evening and most of Saturday, we finally got around to opening it on Sun morning just after mass.

 

The first part of the book deals with colors. Joel had done the color red (an apple, a bus and a post office box) at school as was told during the Parent Teacher meeting. This week he had to do the color blue (fish, ball and cup). Fish was already done at school. We did the ball and cup together. It’s not easy to keep Joel away from crayons. He had fun and I know I’ve got a lot of hand holding coming up. :)

 

After that, we left together for Brian’s daughter – Alma’s – first birthday party around 12 noon. Joel wore his dad’s gift – a white T and blue shorts with a matching blue sleeveless jacket. At the party he loved getting his birthday cap and eating cake. He didn’t like going up on stage with the other kids to greet the birthday girl as she cut her first birthday cake. Me going along with him wasn’t much of a incentive either.

 

Once back in our seats, he was content to show me the balloons and lean on me and ask me questions than do anything else. It got a little annoying since I just wanted to sit peacefully and not do much besides get lost in a few thoughts. Samith (Santhosh and Smitha’s son) who is Joel’s classmate this year was a blessing. Samith’s pretty open to Joel. Somehow Joel didn’t want to play much with Samith. I think I’ve got to get Joel involved with kids in a park. God help me when Baby 2 is out. I think I’m going to have a tough time on hands since Joel thinks I’m his exclusively and for his entertainment. I now wish I had my mom’s wisdom.

 

By the time it was lunch Abu came too. Joel decided what he wanted to eat and I fed him as much as he wanted to eat. Drat the guest who came and sat behind us with his icecream when I was feeding Joel. Joel lost all interest in food after seeing that. Needless to say he had to have his slab of icecream even though he was coughing.

 

Meal over. We wanted to leave. But not without a return gift and Joel getting a white balloon.

 

Once back home, I didn’t have the energy to keep my eye lids open. Mom and I slept. Joel refused to get out of his party clothes and slept with us.

 

In the evening we tried doing a revise of the alphabet he had learned till date. No time for the rhymes. But we did fall sleep last night singing a few school songs.

Day with Joel - Part 2

Forgot to add these little bits to my earlier post.

 

Joel and I visited Deepthi (my colleague) in the evening to greet her on her birthday. Joel had a fantastic time thanks to Deep’s mom. It was nice to watch him overcome his shyness and have a whale of a time with a grownup besides the folks he knows.

 

Once back from Deep’s place, Nanna, Joel and I went to Big Bazaar just to feel good that the bundh had come to an end. Bought Joel a toy set similar to the one in school. After Big Bazaar came Pizza Hut. Was quite surprised that Joel wanted to go in there. He wanted to have the garlic bread. No heart to say no. He enjoyed his bread and balloon.

 

After reaching home, he sat with Abu, opened his toy set and played with it till it was time to sleep. The toy set came to bed with him. He even cried out in the night for it thinking I’d taken it away.

 

This morning Amrith reached home from Bangalore. One of the things he bought for Joel was a bigger set of the same toys, the other being a smart informal wear. Hidden it from Joel today. Hope to bring it out when he gets tired of the old set or misplaces the pieces.

 

 

 

A day with Joel

It was a bundh yesterday in Mangalore. Woke up around 8:00 AM with Joel. Spent the whole day with Joel minus 2 hours in the morning. Couldn’t keep my eyes open from 10:30 AM. I was off mood since I was thinking of the working Saturday coming up this month to compensate for this day off. But Joel was the happiest I could see. Just like a similar bundh time last Oct.

 

He had his mom with him full time. He sang everyone of his nursery rhymes that he remembered from school. It went on and on till evening. Was able to record him singing each of them. Plan to make a compilation as soon as I can. This year he’s learnt:

-       Baa baa black sheep

-       Chubby cheeks

-       Twinkle twinkle little star

-       Johnny Johnny, Yes papa

 

Besides these he also has his school prayer songs that are sung at the beginning and end of a school day. I love the way he recollected everything and made me feel a part of his day.

 

Also noticed that he no longer requires Abu, Nanna or me to take him to the restroom when he wants to piss. My boy’s growing up. :)

 

These days :)

Happening 1:

We’ve been having frequent power cuts at home. One night while lying in bed, the power went off. The invertor wasn’t sufficiently charged. Hence no backup power supply either. Mom and I were hoping the power supply came back sooner than later since Joel was awake and demanding we switch on the fan. Our wait wasn’t a long one. Abu got the invertor working again till the power did come back. Mom in her relief asked Joel to say ‘Thank you God’. Joel instead said ‘Thank you Abu’.

 

Happening 2:

Been hearing Joel loudly chanting a few words in the past 2 weeks, that didn’t make sense to me. Till one fine day, it dawned on me that he was saying ‘Saale Kutte’. Now for those of you who know Hindi, those aren’t words a kid of his age should be using. And I was wondering what he’s been watching on TV or did he by chance have a classmate who used the words. It was Abu who figured out that he was trying to pronounce ‘Sarie Kodthene’ roughly translated from Kannada to English as ‘You’ll get a whack/pasting’.

 

Happening 3:

Lying in bed one night Joel was dozing off. He suddenly asked me if the baby was sleeping. For a few moments I was a little puzzled since I always call him my baby. Then he pointed to my tummy and asked if the baby inside was sleeping. Replied in affirmative. His response ‘Sshhhh! Don’t make noise’ and promptly fell asleep on my shoulder, snuggled next to me.