The story goes like this – Sudama brought Lord Krishna some aval/pooha (beaten rice) who accepted both Sudama and the aval offering with all his heart.
I asked my resident Lil Krishna (who happens to share Rohini Nakashatra with Lord Krishna himself) what he wants for this 15th birthday lunch.
He said – “Can you make some aval upma Amma?”.
So, that is what I did.
And, just like Lord Krishna, Lil Krishna accepted it with all his heart.
After raising one for 14 years, you would think I got some tricks of the trade under my belt.
Sadly, no.
I begin all over with the second one.
Take for example, yesterday’s bedtime happenings.
Adi stuck with homework.
Kumar sitting beside Adi and playing chess on his computer.
I am tasked with getting Ari to call it a day and go to sleep. I am bring him to bed and say – “Dey Ari, Amma is sick and tired. She really needs some sleep.”
Then, I lie down beside Ari and proceed to pull up my reading list on the phone and start reading.
He gets up and leaves. Then, comes back with a reading light and book.
He says – “You are going to put down your reading and go to sleep. If not, I am going to read too.”
Checkmate.
I have no freaking clue of how to raise this one.
There is nothing sexy about being a parent. It is often boring and tiresome.
Day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year…you wake up and do what humanity has done for its off spring to thrive.
Yet, when Kumar wakes up before all of us…then starts nagging us to wake up and proceeds to pick up Ari and carry him to the rest room to get him started on his morning chores….despite his yelling louder than my alarm clock to get me to wake up or else (some empty threat)…parenting doesn’t seem to be boring or tiresome.
In fact, I find the whole thing quite amusing and rather delightful.
I understand nothing belongs to ME.
I do.
We came with nothing.
We leave with nothing.
I get it.
That said, everything gets raided by the boys.
My books.
My laptop.
My phone.
There is no privacy even in the bathrooms.
Speaking of bathrooms, when you live with 3 boys, the toilet seat is always up. URGH.
Today afternoon, I did my usual to get through the rest of the day.
Put some coffee in a cup.
Pour some milk.
Before sticking the cup in the microwave, I paused to make a snack for Ari.
By the time I turn back, the ravenous 7 year old was raiding my yet-to-heat-coffee.
EVEN. MY. COFFEE. IS. NOT. MY. OWN.
I am going to start crying now.
I get it.
There is bigger problems in the world – like hunger, cancer and wars.
But, please.
Don’t start with me.
I don’t want to hear about it.
Let me mourn the loss of my coffee.
Save your lecture for another day.
Will you?
God is super smart.
Wherever he is.
I also bet he is putting big data analytics to use.
How else would he know that I went through my first time second-grade-parent experience in a rush?
He has figured it all out.
He wants me to make amends.
So, guess what?
He is giving me a second chance to go to second grade musicals and thoroughly enjoy them.
Today morning, he somehow ensured that I showed up at this young fellow’s classroom musical titled earth Vs space mice.
Thank you God. You sure are keeping up with technology.
P.S. This post is intended with all due respect to God. I don’t mean to hurt anybody’s feelings with jest about God. I truly believe God gives us second chances. It is up to us to recognize those second chances, make the most of them and be eternally grateful.
