My Sous Chefs

I'm not one of those moms who take great pride in a spotlessly clean kitchen. I'm easy with a splotch here or a spill elsewhere. And of course, that kind of attitude can come to a person only in S'pore where we're lucky to have stay-at-home help :-).

So, V&S's entry into the kitchen started quite early. When younger, they would be perched on my hip watching keenly as I threw in a dash of turmeric into the boiling sambhar. They smelled, they tasted and they played in the kitchen. A small ball of dough or a bowl of water kept them engaged for a good half hour by which time I managed the evening's meal.

We've always tried to keep our kitchen a fun place. We have bright yellow flowers in an even brighter yellow jug, music, Shriya's pink play kitchen, an entire wall dedicated to all the art and craft that the kids churn out every week.We even used to have a kid-sized table and chairs where they used to draw/colour and chat with me as I cooked.

And of course, we share our kitchen with Lord Ganesha, who gets to taste everything that is cooked.Shriya will promptly grab a bit of everything- be it an omelette or noodles- and place it right under Ganeshji's nose.

V&S are good helpers to have around the kitchen- they will very willingly peel a dozen eggs for the egg curry or mash a mound of potatos for the bhaji. They can cook a decent cheese omelete, make blueberry muffins with the help of Betty Crocker and fix their own sandwich and milk. Not Junior Master Chef surely,but not a bad a star either.

These days, of course, they cant be entertained with just a bowl of water or a piece of dough. So they dangle their legs and sit on the workspace near my cooking area and watch intently. I love to watch their eyes grow big as the various spices change colour, their noses wrinkling up as I give them a sniff of asafoetida, and mouths drooling when something they particularly like is cooking away.

You guys better keep the interest going...I am still hoping for that cooked breakfast treat on Mother's Day sometime soon!

Geronimo Stilton...ur one cool mouse!

Vaibhav has always loved to listen to someone read. And started reading by himself when he was around 5 as compared to his sister who could read beautifully even at 4!If there is that rare silence (that every mother dreads especially when the kids are still at home)and I'm wondering what the kids are upto, I can be sure to find Shriya curled up with a book and Vaibhav very rarely with one.

But ever since Geronimo Stilton got into Vaibhav's life, he's reading and reading and reading some more. He saves his money to buy the 10$+ a copy of the Geronimo series.I was curious and read one. And I could totally understand why he was hooked. The quirky editor-mouse always got entangled in some sort of mystery which he solved by accident. The pages have little illustrations and the lines are not necessarily in order. They could go up a mountain, get suddenly squiggly and go all around a block of cheese depending on what was being discussed.


I'm more than glad.....atleast all the money that he saves now goes into forming a collection of books instead of those ultra silly Animal Kaizer cards and GoGos.I pinch myself and stifle a grin everytime his friends and he start discussing plots and start exchanging the books they have not read!!

This complete change sounds a little too dramatic right? Especially for a bunch of sweaty boys who could not get enough of soccer and tennis!

Keeping fingers crossed.....I'm not sure if this is just a craze like the others or if its here to stay!

Best friend, Teacher, Playmate,Grandpa...all rolled into one!

My parents are visiting and the kids are having a blast. They can now play their favourite games anytime of the day, they can rush down for a round of TT whenever they please and can ask for any dish on a whim! They dont have to wait for amma to finish her office call and get off the computer. They have two willing, obliging and adoring stand ins who indulge them and revel in all their childish prattle.

Vaibhav, especially has bonded so strongly with my Dad that sometimes I wonder if he realizes that he's actually dealing with a 60 year old who has just undergone an operation! Dad and V are like two kids playing, arguing, teasing and petting. My dad can play endless rounds of Rat A Tat A Cat (the kids' all time favourite card game), return every tease and tickle, tirelessly match his every move at table tennis and discuss the pros and cons of the different GoGos (another current fave)almost on par with any of his 6 year old buddies.

My Dad's a born teacher. As a child, I've spent sevaral precious hours with him building my vocabulary and struggling over Algebra!And Vaibhav is his newest student.Mental sums, quizzes and spelling tests can be heard at all times of the day in our home...over a snack, while playing a game and even while taking a walk down to anywhere!

I guess having my Dad around adds a bit of thrill for Vaibhav when it comes to dealing with me!The best bit for V these days is that he does not have to take a simple No for an answer from his Mom. He will immediately go up to my Dad and say " You are her father, right, talk to her! Be strict with her Chanudu(their nickname for my Dad)!!

Vaibhav recently came up to me and requested that he and his Chanudu go on a vacation all by themselves." Friends need to spend time together, ma"! And after thinking about the non-possibility of his idea he asked, " Can Chanudu please stay for one year with me. I think if we go ona holiday he will decide to stay longer with us".

In Vaibhav's lingo, he's enjoying the longest sleepover and playdate with his best friend- my Dad!The buddies are having a great time. The fun starts the minute my little boy wakes up. And the fun, I'm sure, is only going to double when V's vacation begins next week.

Vaibhav, enjoy every minute with your Thatha. Learn from his experience, imbibe his wonderful qualities and most of all treasure every moment with him.