How do I say it

Daddy picks up Nidhi who is playing on the stair landing.

3yo: Get down, get down. I want to go down.

Daddy carries her downstairs.

3yo (obviously dissatisfied): I WANT to get down.

Daddy: We are down now.

3yo (struggling with having to explain to daddy who apparently doesn't want to understand): I want to get down from the 'carry'.

Conversations with God

We've been in the habit of saying prayers (usually the Lord's prayer followed by a blessing for everyone in the family) for a long while now. Lately I thought I must encourage Nidhi to make her own prayers. So I ask her to think of things 1) to thank God for 2) to say sorry for 3) to ask God for 4) anything else she'd like to say

Some of her prayers:

Dear God, Thank you for Saturday and Sunday so that we can have lots of sweets and chocolates (she is allowed sweets only on weekends).

Dear God, thank you for the places like hotels where we can go and stay and have lovely food. And thank you for vehicles like trains and cars so that we can go to far away places. (After the church weekend away)

(Is there anything about school you would like to thank God for)

Thank you for the outside so that we can play.

(Is there anything you dont like about school?)

Yes, I dont like the school building. No, I dont mind it. Actually, I like everything about school.

Thank you for making Amma so that I can talk to her.

Tidbits from India visit

Nidhi to Mummy who is emerging after a bath, having just arrived home from the airport

3yo: When you were taking a bath, I was talking to Bombay papa (her grandpa).

M: (a little incredulous) Is it?

3yo: Yes, I was asking Bombay papa a lot of questions.

M: (trying to imagine how that conversation must have gone) Is it? And what did Bombay papa say?

3yo: Bombay papa said "mmm"

Nidhi on seeing her grandpa in a lungi

3yo: Mummy, why is Bombay papa not wearing any clothes?

Nidhi watches me with my mother for a while before stating:

3yo: I saw that Bombay mummy is as old as you

M: And how did you see that?

3yo: She is as tall as you

When staying with my sister at Cochin I often borrowed her clothes to wear. One night I was in the dimmed out bedroom where Nidhi had been put to sleep. I was folding some clothes when I saw her watching me through half-closed eyes for a long time, saying nothing (v unusual).

M: What is it Tochi?

3yo: (eyes wide open) Mummy, who are you?