TV WOW (Words of Wisdom)

WOW 1 - The importance of NOW!

We were driving to school this morning, when I realized my windscreen was dusty.

'My car needs to be dusted and cleaned,' I thought aloud.

'Why?' said my why machine, sitting behind in her car seat.

'Well, do you see the dusty glass. doesnt look too clean, does it?'

'No' said she, 'so we need to clean it.' I was surprised with her 'WE', but I just nodded.

Then almost as an after thought, realizing that we'd go to music class after school and lunch and be back late afternoon and that Tv is still recovering from her cough and cold, I said;

'May be we could do it tomorrow.' And that's when I could get a morning dose of TV WOW

'Not tomorrow, we'll do it today. Because tomorrow never comes. We'll have to do it NOW. After school and music class, after we get back, we'll go home and get the duster and do it NOW okay.'

Perfect plan, guru:) love you.

Flashback

TV has a peculiar favorite activity - she goes about collecting things from everywhere in the house my kitchen, office, toilet kits, brings them all to her play mat, plays with it with some commentary and packs it back into her shelf.

Her 'kacharkumbha' (junk treasure chest) includes cupcake paper cups, straws, her hair clips and elastics, tissues, rags, ear buds, bubble paper, empty glue stick, dads old bank swipe, pen drives, a casino token (how this one came in could be another post) amidst her small toys and other collectibles. her of getting things.

On Monday when she had done playing and hadnt put back things in the shelf, I suggested her to do that. But she was busy with something else and said a casual,'later'.

After an hour still when things were still lying, I urged her to do it then. But then dad had just come back from office and they were having their lil chat, so it had to be later. Then it was bath, dinner... Post dinner, before going for playing UNO session before bedtime, I reminded her yet again and she said, 'I will do it but tomorrow'.

And I went, 'not tomorrow. tomorrow never comes, it has to be done today, it has to be done now. If today is lost, all your things are lost.' And I began to collect her kacharkumbha.

TV rushed to pick up before I'd picked up even 2 and in a few minutes all was set in place.:)

TV humor 3

Tvisha was looking for her hair clip. 'where is my clip aai?'
'I dont know, I didnt see'

'but I want it' Tv

'look around.'
'Me?' TV
'Of course, whose clip is it?'

'Mine'

'so who'll search?'
'lets ask google guys'

Background

TV has a whole lot of questions, some are why why habitual but many are seriously challenging. Honestly I m learning with her. So the questions I cannot answer, I'd say lets check in encyclopedia or when the encyclopedia we have seemed dated (it's hubby's childhood collection) I'd take her to 'google' So much so the term was used that everytime she asked a question and I could not answer, she'd say lets check google.

Google guys were introduced to her some time last year when I was reading the Google Story. So in her quest for complete knowledge, TV had done pretty good a research on google guys, to be able to make them a part of her daily vocab.

Whats Mom reading?- Maria Montessori

The Secret of Childhood

As my lil one started Montessori, and I got some time and access to montessori book, borrowed this one from parent library at school. Have always been curious about early years education (at least since TV) and have been reading a bit here and there about various methods and new developments in the field. But honestly never really dared to read a Montessori (looks so much like an academic read - not too easy. had tried before but could only read thru a few pages without much retention). But as my kid started school, loves to go there everyday (despite runny nose, rainy days and hasty mornings), comes back happy and keeps talking about school, got curious to know what guides what goes on behind closed doors in between the handshake greetings!

The book IS written in an academic style - not too easy on casual readers, at least not until you start to make sense and find relevance to your own self and child. What I liked about it is the recurring message that

child is the father of man, he makes the man. and everything that a child does or goes through today is what would determine the kind of man he'd become

The points i'd like to note in my quest to give a wholesome, balanced and happy childhood to my kid are

1. a child through her early childhood will have certain SENSITIVE PERIODS - a transient phase when she'll have a special sensibility to acquire new traits/skills and adjust while evolving.

These inner sensibilities enable her to choose what's right for her growth from even a complex environment. they make the child sensitive to somethings and indifferent to others.

A child is sensitive to ORDER (recognizing and remembering the place for each object in relation to its environment) from a very early stage.

tantrums during early years, she says, and just expressions of some unmet need, or something not in order

I realise the significance of this Order wrt to TV. the only times she's thrown tantrums was when her routine was drastically changed over a period of time and when things were not in order. There were also some times i remember when, I in midst of something so urgent, and she'd ask, 'why is the box of tissue on this side table and not the other?' and I would go 'how does it matter?' or she would notice minor things like the first time she saw my sunglasses on my head instead of eyes, my watch on left hand vs right.

2. Sleep as an obstacle to growth

'A child must sleep, but if a child is so alert and so quick to observe, she is not a 'sleeper' by her very nature.'

Bang on for TV. She is alert through the day that she stopped napping almost at around 2 and could easily stretch until 8pm for bedtime, her eyes drooping, but mind still active. She is so alert until she goes to bed that she would recap what she did thru' the day or cite a funny/interesting experience she had or talk about next days plan and get my commitments on those. She s so alert in her sleep that if nature calls in the middle of night she would just get up and call for help to be taken to her potty (since she was 2years). she is so alert when she wakes up around 6:30 am that in a moment she's up, down the bed and talking while picking her hair elastic from bedside to be tied.

This was a girl, whom until very recently I tried (in vain) to get to sleep more. So this thought of Ms. Montessori is something that I found of immediate relevance.:) TV is surely happy.

3. Speech and use of hands are the 2 most important bodily movements intimately connected with man's intelligence.

And hence school activities involve usage of hands in different ways - pouring, scrubbing, cutting, sewing, scooping, crushing, color mixing, gardening, droppers..

4. A child is an eager observer and is attracted by actions of adults and wants to imitate them. And hence an adult can be an inspiration for child's actions.

Well this is something I observe TV doing very often - I, my sis, her teachers, my friends are her fav adults whose peculiar traits she finds inspiring.

I for one, try to always be conscious of this fact (even before I read Ms. Montessori) that my every action is being carefully watched, processed, at times copied or at others adapted and adopted.

5. Calm and measured movements followed by thoughtful consideration are the marks of a normal child. Adults as a rule are accustomed to look upon vivacious, cheerful kids who pass from one thing to another as intelligent. But actually normal intelligent children move about in a calm and tranquil manner.

TV is calm and tranquil, very very thoughtful. And frankly that used to bother me as a mother. As a typical adult, while looking at kids running around happily from one ride to another in a playground or one toy to another and seemingly enjoying every moment seemed like an ultimate model of carefree, happy childhood to me. While my lil one standing by the side, observing others with a look of 'whats going on guys?' on her face, then perhaps mentally gauging the length of the slide and the possible speed with which she could slide down and

measuring it up against her own ability to take it before actually getting on it seemed like a too calm and thinking a child for her age. I tried to get her excited by playing along and accentuating my enjoyment (although later I realized that TV was far too smart to see thru my intentions). I had to give up my futile efforts, thinking that that's her personality (after a bit of coaching from my husband). But on reading Ms. montessori's thoughts on this does calm down the mother in me:) And I'm also happy that TV is in a school that believes in this and respects her strength.

6. Child's environment (including the adults in that environment) should adapt itself to her needs. Adults should not be an obstacle to a child's independent activities, nor should they carry out for her the activities thru which a child reaches maturity.

7. What a child likes (and key characteristics of a Montessori program);

(i) Repetition of the exercise

(ii) Free Choice

(iii)Control of error

(iv)analysis of movements

(v)exercise of silence

(vi) good manners in social contact

(vii)order in the environment

(viii) care for personal cleanliness

(ix)training of the senses

(x) writing separated from reading

(xi)writing before reading

(xii) reading without books

(xiii) discipline in free activity

8. What a child rejects

(i) Rewards and punishments

(ii) Spellers

(iii)Lessons in common

(iv)programs and examinations

(v)toys and sweets

(vi) a teachers desk

9. Mission of parents - Parents are the only ones who can save their children by uniting and working together for the improvement of society, (one which respects children and their rights)

Tv humor 2

Well Tv and I talk about a lot of things as any mother and child would at this age (3). We talk about going to parks and playgrounds, we plan our days, what we d wear, things we d buy in our next shopping trip and some more serious global stuff like recycling, environment conservation, time zones and geographies (all TV led) and a few personal concerns or goals like getting tall, acquiring new skill - skating, scooting, overcoming fears - wind chill, waves. One such relevant topic we chanced upon (we always chance upon topics, they re never planned) was growth spurt.

TV is youngest and tiniest in her Montessori. This week a new boy, 1 month younger than her joined the class. I was taking to his mother as we gathered for pickup. And tv picked up some bits from our discussion.

Back home, tv asked me 'mom, is jojo my age' and I said yes. Then using her 2 hands she signalled a height difference between the two of them (so cute) saying, 'but he is (taller)'

And I said yes, I noticed that.

'why,' went my why machine.

And I said, 'maybe, he got his growth spurts on time' I shouldn't have said that, as I was in no mood to start a loooooong discussion. But say I did and now I had to prepare for what was to come.

'growth what, what is that?' tv asked a couple of times as I was still getting ready for it.

'growth spurt is when lil kids grow up very quickly, in a short time,' I fumbled through my answer.

'did I not get a growth spurt,' my lil 91 cm 3 year old, desperately wanting to grow taller (that's her new year resolution) asked and I said a no. Gladly she did not ask a why this time but rather went on asking, 'when will I get that?'

And I answered (smart), 'you ll know that not me. You ll know it when you start to feel hungry and want to eat more and more' my lil one has a small appetite and I took this as an opportunity to drive my agenda:)
'So whenever you feel hungry, just eat whatever is available or let me know and I ll stir up something fresh for you.'

So went on the discussion for some more time. But this is just the background.

The next day, Westlife CD was playing, I was in the kitchen cooking dinner and Tv was on her fav mat playing with her kacharkumbha (junk).

The song 'Ooh da bop bop baby please just let me know' started playing.

And TV said, 'the baby must have got a growth spurt'

Startled, I turned to her with a WHY?

'That's why he is singing, let me know (when you are hungry)'

Talk about situational comedy, I've a master at home:)

To make you feel better...

the days are getting really hot here in Sydney - hotter than what we can take, TV started her pre school Montessori program, after 6 months, since we moved here from Singapore. And she had a runny nose, definitely not feeling good about it in the afternoon. We were just back from school and I was helping her change into comfy clothes. A lil grumpy after 3 hours of school, a lil troubled with the heat, a lil annoyed with the fact that even today we might have to give the playground a miss. I held her close,and began to sing (spontaneous)

If I were a cow and you were my calf,
What would I do to make you feel better?
Action - lick the cheek ( amused)

If I were a dog and you were my pup,
What would I do to make you feel better?
Action - sniff between the temple and ear (loves it)

If I were a monkey and you were my infant,
What would I do to make you feel better?
Action - hold close, her arms around my neck and legs around waist and scratch( ha ha ha)

If I were a hen and you were my chick,
What would I do to make you feel better?
Action - cuddle, wrapping with the wings (feels cosy, absolutely loves this)

If I were a bear and you were my cub,
What would I do to make you feel better?
Action - tickle tickle (can't stop laughing)

If I were a fish and you were my fingering
What would I do to make you feel better?
Action - kiss

But I m your aai and you are my bachchu,
What would I do to make you feel better?
Action - everything
Words - anything, everything I'd do until you feel better!

Tv humor

Hubby and i were watching Obama speech in Indian parliament on YouTube - an absolute luxury in the current context (not Obama, or his speech or YouTube or the parliament) just the fact that we could sit together to follow some current affairs, outside of our household.

The apple of our eye was right there, trying to make sense and blend in to the 'group,'.

'who's he?' she asked
'obama' hubby's answer
Why is he talking alone and no one else is'
'he's giving a speech, and other people are listening to his speech' I chipped in
'who are they?' she asked pointing at the men in crisp white (about 6) standing behind Obama
'they are the body guards' hubby
'why are they standing?' TV
B coz 'they are the body guards' hubby
'yes, but why are they standing?' TV
The lil luxuries of life, why re they so short-lived? I m thinking
Tv must have repeated her question a couple of times, but both hubby and I must ve given up on our abilities to answer her why why's
'why why kay? Tyana basayala jaga nasel mhanun,' she reasoned herself and had both of us wow her over mr.Obama
Literally translated from Marathi it means, 'why go why why, they might not have found a place to sit':)

Onto the 'band'wagon, literally

A blogpost in a really longtime. Still settling in new place, new routines. Tv not yet in school and thus in my care, totally and me, in hers. She starts her Montessori next week. Should find more time to post a lot of interesting developments over her last few months.

For now, a very overwhelming,, repetitive and completely dominating her mind currently is her new year resolution (yes she has one, not me yet) - getting to the ,green band, at luna park. That's getting to 110 cm height and ride on more rides:-)

So much is she on the band trail that she would often categorize people into these bands
'only yellow band people can drink that (coke)'
'red band kids are allowed to cry in school, but not green band'
'I'll be able to carry my my own bag into the flight when I'm green band'

These are just a few specimens of the kind of dialogue we have in house these days - thru the days for over last 3 months.

The obsession with the band aside, but my lil girl has surely learnt the concept of making resolutions, quantifying them and working toward achieving them. I sincerely hope she gets close to meeting her 2011 resolution