Do
I need to introduce Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes fame?? Calvin’s question may
seem innocuous at first, rising strong resentment after few seconds.
“Parenting” is a new word, the dictionary refers to it as the methods,
techniques, etc., used or required in the rearing of children; which is
nonetheless a subject of hot debate. “Comedy of errors” seems apt to describe
parenting a toddler. One moment you experience pure spiritual love on the verge
of nirvana, moments later you wonder if you would even be able to make it
through the day. People say every dark cloud has a silver lining. We can
hopefully count on experiences of learning on the “parenting” job, while
gathering important lessons in life.
One
should believe in Karma, “Everything that goes around comes around”. I recalled
the time when a Calvin rolled over the floor in the supermarket for chocolates;
I looked disgustedly to “the incapable parents” who couldn’t manage their child
and for not having taught him any manners. The point is the cycle of karma
catches everyone up, eventually.
Infatuated
with Spider-man, using imaginary web, Calvin darts around the house, scattering
and banging toys symbolizing his fight against bad people. He drives his parent
crazy singing rhymes and non-stop talking, but when you ask him to recite a
poem in front of guests, he gives nonchalant shrug and draws a complete blank
face. The parents appeared the biggest liar in the world for all his naughty
tales and fancy babbling they had shared with them all these days. The point
is when you don’t have control over things, it’s better to take deep breath
and keep mum, Mummy. Food is
another mammoth task. I always wondered how our parents raised us, when we not
able to manage one Calvin. Gone are the days, when you could engage him in
mundane conversations, making weird noises, imitating animals and birds, while
the food on the “airplane” spoon entered his mouth. The stories of Super heroes
weaved at the drop of a hat, possibly carrying a good message, for filling his
tummy, day after day. The struggles are long forgotten looking at his rotund
belly and silly satiated smile. The point is when intelligence fails,
creativity works.
After all the cajoling, bribing with toys and
chocolates, you couldn’t make Calvin learn alphabets in the same order. It’s
really difficult for him to sit at one place, even for a minute; getting his
attention becomes an enormous mission in itself. The philosophical words echoes
in the mind that a child is always brimming with spiritual energy, cannot
contain himself at a place, so the restlessness. Not only has he snubbed
authority of his parents but also refused to acknowledge their teaching
attempts. When you casually point out to the workers at construction site, as
dire consequences of people who don’t learn or go to school, he then grins
widely and replies animatedly by driving the concrete mixer confidently, that’s
what he want to do when he grows up. The point is to never give up, just
look up in the vast blue sky, pat yourself for good try and mentally prepare to
repeat the same thing in different style tomorrow all over again.
Our life shuttles between choosing the battles to
lose and wars to win with Calvin. The image of a tired, sleep deprived, curvier
person stares back when you peep into mirror, forcing us to remember - “Beauty
lies in the eyes of our baby”, to whom we mean the world. Nothing bothers
me now, for I am a mother, forever. That’s my point.
