Raising Calvin

 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.