Peer Pressure!

I usually drop Angel in my car in front of her school and she opens the door, gets down, closes the door and goes to the spot which is allotted for her class and their class teacher picks them up when the bell rings. Sometimes she wants me to drop her to that allotted spot and I oblige her request once or twice a week. One such time when we were walking to drop her to her class, she spotted a classmate of hers, lets call her S and we waited for S to catch up. 

As soon as S joined us, she whispered in Angel’s ear: Why is your mom dropping you? Are you scared?

And she started to run.

To which Angel replied: I am not scared, I want her to drop me!

All the while not letting go of my finger, she said: Mama, you know S’s mom drops her all the time.

And I dropped her where the rest of the classmates were.

I know it’s not that big a deal and even for her it was business as usual, but I love that at this age how objective she is and didn’t succumb to peer pressure. Not yet anyway.

Future Talks!

Me: What do you want to be when you grow up, baby?

Angel: I don’t want to be anything!

Me: Well, you have to be something.

Angel: Do I have to? Like, is it compulsory?

Me: Yeah

Angel: What are you Mama?

Me: I am a computer engineer.

Angel: Then I will be the same, I will copy you!

Me: Okay

Angel: Will you still come with me to the university?

When Angel had just started her full-day daycare at the age of three and was not completely settled, she had asked me if I come to her class as a teacher. I had told her, I cant come to her school as a teacher, however when she goes to the university, maybe I can come with her as a student. She had retained that, since last three years. It reminded me how casually spoken lines can have such a huge impact on children’s minds and made me more aware of my responsibility as a parent!

Me: I have already studied that. Maybe if you study something else, I can join you.

Angel: Hmm, we will see! (That’s such a grown up response!)

And the topic drifted!

To A New Beginning!

Angel has reached a huge milestone this week. She started Grade 1 on Tuesday. It was almost a surreal feeling for me when the bell rang and she went into her new classroom with her new teacher and new friends without a backward glance. When did my baby grow up so much?!

On one hand I am extremely happy that my girl is so confident, making friends comes so easily to her, on the other hand a tiny part my heart also ached a little. To say that I am feeling emotional about this new chapter in her life would be an understatement. I am flowing in the river of emotions.

Today is her 3^rd day at grade 1 and she has had great first 2 days. She really likes her new teacher who seemed very pleasant when I met him in the mornings during drop offs. She is also excited about making new friends. She loves that she has her own desk now and she get the recess J

I am excited about all the amazing opportunities that are ahead and proud of the wonderful person that Angel is becoming. I cannot wait to watch her learn and grow as she starts to spread her independent little wings. But I am sad too, and in a sense grieving the end of her early childhood.

It seems the best I can do as a parent is embrace the school adventure, watch my child fly, and hang on for the ride.

Glued-In

I was eating the (store brought) Bakhri this morning, when Angel noticed.

Angel: Mama, what are you eating?

Me: Its bakhri (she heard khakhri), its the fatter version of khakhra. Do you want to try?

She did.

Angel: I know how they make khakhri. They make khakhra and add another layer on top of that and so on, they add so many layers and that’s how it’s so fat. They use food glue to stick them all together. You know about food glue, right?

Me: No, I don’t

Angel: (rolling her eyes) Just like there is glitter glue, there is food glue for food and that is what they use for khakhri

(I googled and there is something called food glue or edible glue which is extensively used in cake decoration.)

I have no clue how she gets these ideas, at the same time its amazing to get a glimpse of how her brain wheels churn!