Infants cast mysterious magic spells...

Living with the central characters of my life's script, delight and awareness have become synonymous to my days and nights. None other time pass appeals more than spending time with kids - be it friends or movies or shopping - and office actually seems enemy-like. In fact, I have been taking many offs from work recently, and quite helplessly too. As if the prospect of doing the jobs of two children with my own hands and watching them grow for a longer time was not enough, the force recently TRIPLED. Yes tripled! Vasu, Darsh and now "Vaibhav". Vaibhav, born on 3rd of December'2006 at 11:46 AM - is the youngest and the most charming kiddo at home - my cute little nephew. The urge is but naturally overpowering. Yet to turn two months old, the angellic looks invariably makes amazingly steady eye contact for minutes together. He listens (discerningly as if) and almost consistently quips ideal responses through his heart-robbing facial expressions and coo-coo voices. When his delicate thin rosy lips curl to form a smile, his sugar sweet coo-coo voice adding tasteful music to the ambiance, he seems as if actually rejoicing your joys and jokes [:-D]. He recognizes his mom rather distinctly and becomes more vivacious at her sight and touch. Truly turning out to be an expert at stealing hearts, he brings wider smiles and louder chirps wherever he is present. [:-)] Loads of best wishes and long life for him! God bless him! AMEN!

General but very subjective...

Talking with a fellow parent invariably renews my own zest and commitment as a parent. The utter enthusiasm and the distinct twinkle in their eyes is infectious. I gather the feelings in parenthood are pervasive and quite general. Let me recount some cute accounts I heard recently... One of the colleagues of my younger sister at Navisite has a one year old son - same as Darsh's age. He fondly talks about him and tells that wherever his son accompanies, he renders the standards higher. Wondering what it implies??? Well..well... wherever his son goes, people have to put everything higher so as to keep them out of his reach! [:-D] I absolutely identify. Infact, any parent of a toddler will identify with his experience. [:-)] One of my colleagues, Mita, has an adorable three year old daughter - four months younger to Vasu. The locus of her mom's energy, Laasya is a consistent and frequent topic of our gossiping sessions. And aren't they absolutely enjoyable. The girl almost habitually leaves Mita at the end of her lucid wits. [:-D] Like, one evening Mita reiterated to her that she sees everything Laasya does and does not, even when she is not around her... Laasya instantaneously quipped, "Are you Durga Thakur???" [:-D] Another day, Laasya was being very naughty at the nearby temple... running about in the premises, giggling and chirping non-stop. So her mom had to ask Laasya to make use of some peace, sit down and pray. Guess what, not only did she oblige, but started praying thus with her hands folded and eyes tight shut - General, yet not quite... " Bhagwaan ji, mujhe thodi shanti de do, aur thodi toffees de do. Mummy ko bolo ki woh mujhe thodi icecream bhi dila dein aur mujhe ghumaane le jaayein. Mujhe bade school mein daal do..." ... her wish list was going on and on as her mom watched her with astonishment and eventually prompted her to say thank you as well to Bhagwan ji. [:-D] Speaking about prayers, let me also share here the first time when Vasu pleased me in a similar fashion. It was early January or late December. One night I requested Vasu to chant prayer loudly on my behest. Not only he obliged, but also chanted Namokar mantra thrice and carried on with the names of Tirthankar Chaubisi, just like I had been praying before him loudly, whenever I got chances. Man! Wasn't it delightful? I felt so gratified. He exemplified, he not only listened to me carefully but also was sensitive to my preference to the count of three. The day I also realised for the first time that he was memorising the names of the 24 Tirthankaras, I rhythmically chanted before him a counted few times. [:)] Now, with time, he has become more fluent with the names and Namokar Mantra. His pronunciation is much better and fluency more consistent. Yet none of it can overlap the joy of the first time, but obviously.