Oh! to be a child

It snowed heavily in England today.

Me: If it snows like this we wont be able to go to school tomorrow

3yo: I want the snow to stop, because I want to ride my scooter to school tomorrow

Me: Um..hm

3yo: And I want it to snow on my way back, because I want to walk

You surprise me

We are playing 'doctor-doctor'. Nidhi is the doctor and picks up a notepad and pen to give me a prescription. She uses a whole sheet of paper, and writes letters all over the page, to prescribe 'P-a-r-i-s-i-m-o-l-l'.

That's her single-handed attempt at spelling Paracetamol.

***

Some of her remarks on the phone to Amma today:

"I want to get married in summer"

"Last night God disturbed my sleep"

***

Talking about her birthday

3yo: Can we have a party outside in the garden for my birthday?

Me: It will be very cold in February, Tochi

3yo: No, we can wear coats

Me: It will be cold. Everyone would like to be indoors, no one would want to be outside.

3yo: (getting upset) Nooo... I want to have a birthday in summer

How things were

I wrap Nidhi in a towel and pick her out of the bath. I haven't dried her completely, and as I enter the bedroom, I realise that she must be cold. Setting her down on the floor, I ask her to go quickly and stand in front of the heater.

As she is standing there, letting me wipe the rest of the water off her, she remarks: "In the olden days, when there were no towels.." .. pause.. "...and there were heaters, people used to dry their children on the heaters."

Aurangazeb

The monarch lay upon his bier,

Censers were burning low,

As through the loft arches streamed

The setting sun's red glow.

Still grasped he in his hand the blade

Which well-fought fields had won,

And Aurungzebe beside him knelt,

Usurper proud and son!

Remorse had stricken his false heart

And quenched his wonted fire,

With gloomy brow and look intent

He gazed upon his sire:

Can tyrant death make him afraid?

Hot tears burst from his eyes

As thus his grief found vent in words

To the warrior-train's surprise

"Father, thou wert the goodliest king

That e'er the sceptre swayed,

How could I then lift up my arm

Against thee undismayed,

How could I send thee here to pine

Usurp the peacock-throne

O had I perished in the womb

That deed were left undone.

See, all is changed that was estranged,

Awake my sire, my king,

See, soldiers in their war array

Thy son in fetters bring!

Thy rebel son who will abide

Thy word whate'er it be,

And fearless meet the wrack or steel

Rise up once more and see!

Thou wilt not hear, thou wilt not speak,

It is the last long sleep.

And am I not a king myself?

What means these stirrings deep?

O foolish eyes, what means this rheum?

I will not call them tears;

My heart that nothing e'er could daunt

Is faint with boding fears.

The past appears! a checkered field

Of guilt and shame and war,

What evil influence ruled my birth,

What swart malignant star?

Why did I barter peace of mind

For royal pomp and state?

Mad for the baleful meteor’s gleam

With worldly joys elate.

Remembered voices speak my name

And call me parricide,

The murdered Dara beckons me -

He was thy joy and pride:

And thus I fling the dear-bought crown,

But whither can I fly?

The awful thought still follows me

That even kings will die.

With dad

Rohan (to Nidhi): I love you more than there are birds in the sky

3yo (to dad): I love you more than there are cows in the ground

R: I love you more than there are stars in the sky

3yo (to dad): I love you more than there are moons.... umm... more than there are ducks in the river

R: I love you more than there are pebbles on the beach

3yo (to dad): I love you more than there is sand in my school

R: I love you..

3yo: (jumping in before he can finish): I love you more than you love me

Rohan and me are sitting and Nidhi approaches us menacingly.

3yo: I am pretending to be a lion (she pronounces it line)

Me: To be a what?

3yo: A line

Me: It's not line, it's lion

3yo: To be a line

Me: Lie-yun

3yo: I am pretending to be a lie-yern

Me to Ro: You try

Ro: Tochi, it's lie-un

{By this point 3yo probably wants to tear us both apart}

Since she isn't saying anything I ask: What are you pretending to be?

3yo: (pause) A leopard