Are you mad?

Driving down the streets of Kochi, I come across many posters in Malayalam which of course I was unable to read. Today, after seeing one such poster, out of the blue, I asked Adit, 'why don't you learn how to read Malayalam?'

'Why?', he questioned back. If there is anything my boys have learnt it is to question everything that is told to them.

I was not really serious when I asked him the question but then I thought why not encourage him to pick up another language. So I tried to explain the same and concluded saying that then he can read out all the posters and tell me about them.

'Why me. You can also learn?' he asked again.

'Because you have friends in school who can teach you', I said (I had already given up in my head)

'And mom already knows how to speak' chipped in Rishith...(I felt quite proud of the ten words I know for my survival in this city)

This is when he caught me unawares...'Mom, Akash is already teaching me Bengali'...

'That's great Adit and I am sure you mean Bangla but never mind.' I could not believe that my little boy had so much sense as to learn something new on his own that too from a friend. 'so how long have you been learning? and what have you learnt so far?'

'Are you mad' he says. 

I was stumped....This is how his lessons in the sweet language that Bangla is, had begun...I could not think about what Tagore and my numerous Bong friends would say about such a beginning

So much for my enthusiasm...what was I expecting out of a 9 yr old teaching another 9 year old?

I didn't lecture on about the beauty of the language and the need to learn the right things...but did ask him to use his new found knowledge with caution...

He wouldn't be 9 for long and soon all the liberties that he can haev all his actions will be categorized as right or wrong, good or bad so I let him be...

Sharing is... 

I gave Adit 30 bucks to buy a book for Rishith from his school bookshop. The book was for 25 and he took my permission to spend the change on things he liked...

He came back from school, called out for Rishith and gave him a toffee. then he gave me 2 toffees. 'One for u and one for papa', he explained.

'what about the book Adit?' I asked

'Oh that was not available' he says 

'So what did you do with the money', I asked (though I had the clues with me).

'I got the toffees', he answered pointing out to the stuff in my hand. 

Unbelievable. 

I asked him again 'all the money on toffees??' 

'Of course not, ten bucks on chocolates and the rest on toffees'!!

I was not sure how to react. My temper was rising a little but I controlled myself. 

'You couldn't possibly have eaten so many yourself Adit', I continued.

'Of course not mama'. As he said this, his face had the look that said 'are you out of your mind?'

So what did he do with all the candies he bought. Well, he shared with 5 of his friends and gave for their siblings at home. He made sure that there were 3 left for us!!!

I thanked God that I didn't raise my voice or scold him. I had asked him to share at every step and that is exactly what he had done... 

Another speechless moment...

The other day, I was having a small conversation with Adit who has just turned 9. We were talking of general stuff when I asked him -

Me - Adit, when you are older, you will not spend so much time with me na? You will be too busy with your friends with even talk to me...

Adit - Why do u say so mama? Don't you speak to nani n dadi? 

Me - Speechless

Life, they say comes a full circle. Whatever I teach them today through my actions is what will come round to me :)