As the year draws to a close, i put on my thinking cap and draw upon my rather limited writing resources to pen a post on the year that went by...
In retrospect, it has been a year where our family fortunes have progressed little economically and quite a distance emotionally. It has been the "year of Adhu", and there is no doubt on that. That, she will continue to dominate our thoughts in the next coming years, is also a dead giveaway.
It is remarkable to note how a person’s mind can change from a free flying rascallous mode pre marriage to a doused orderly mode post marriage, and even more remarkably to a 'parental' mode post child birth.
Advitha has grown rapidly in size and stature to already become a person to whom we seek opinions before venturing into anything even remotely connected to her. Good to see that she has imbibed her high IQ from her sweet mother. It is for no other reason that i call her-Kutty abi. Hope she grows on to become a bigger Abi as well.
I can never forget the vigorous "Maataen" head nods for the smallest morsel of meticulously prepared food given by her mother. Nor can i forget the even more resolute follow-up done by her wily mother to complete the feed of the last mouthful of nutrition into the small one's belly. I can’t but wait to see the triumphant smile on Adhu's mother's face every time the onerous feeding task is completed... It is little drops that make the ocean.
School has cast a spell on Adhu, and a good one at that. How fast she outgrew our fears and her own demons of a new place away from the warmth of her home, is simply beyond me. Now school is an indelible part of her day and is her daily source of knowledge. Imagine our feelings, when we were asked to come over for her first Parent-Teacher meeting a few months back only to be bowled over by the little maidens list of complex accomplishments in her daily two hour tryst. No doubt that Advitha is the special student for all her play school teachers.
Well, chronologically, the year started with some of the family tensions being dispelled by the impact of the li’l one. The year progressed into being a really one off year where the family travel was mostly restricted to the trips to Chennai rather than the longer and much more cherished trips to the holiday spots across India. I cannot forget the travails of her mother in taking all possible precautions during our only holiday to the top of the world to ensure that nature’s best efforts of harm come a cropper against the determination of a mother.
Last but not the least, I can never forget the big help rendered by Abs mother day in and day out, to try and match the level of upkeep done by Abi on Adhu. Aunty has been pretty successful in keeping the kutty in good spirits mentally and physically.
As the year draws to its logical conclusion, my wish-list will always include that the terrific combination of mom-and-daughter continues to unfold in 2011 and also that 2011 gives all the chances to keep the good spirits in the family alive and bursting. CHEERS !!
