Today as I was putting Pratheek to bed, he told me something. Read on...with a slight intro about the connection.
When ishi was young, she was the only kid at home and we had all the patience to read her bedtime stories and even tell her stories. When I wanted to convey a message to her say like she has to eat a particular food which is healthy but which she dislikes, like ridge gourd for example, I used to put it across through a self cooked up stories with a central character quite similar to that of Ishi's. This made her relate herself to the character. She used to understand the importance of eating that particular food through the story and at least try to eat it once.
Now fast forward to 6 years or more....its Pratheek in Ishi's place and its not just one but two kids at home. My time is torn between Ishi and Pratheek. Help Ishi with her school work, bear her tantrums, listen to her what-happened-in-my-day stuff, take her to her extra curricular classes et al...& Pratheek, poor little fellow all that he asks is very few things like, play building blocks with him, help him solve puzzles, help him dabble with colors (rarely this one as I dont give him this opportunity many times) or take him out for cycling. And all this I need to spend only with one person at the time. They wont spare me if I pay attention to both simultaneously. Boy its a circus in the evenings once kids are back from school. And I am yet to master the nuances.
Got carried away. The topic I stared with is bed time stories right. Today I was in some good mood and myself offered to tell P a story. Only stories that I remember at any hour of the day 365 days is the king and his 7 sons, hare and the tortoise & lastly Monkey and the croc. He was not ready to listen to this I-have-heard-enough stories and wanted me to tell a new one. What did I do then.Yes I made my own story like how I used to do for Ishi. Here it goes.
Once there was a Zebra(his fav animal)...a mommy Z, daddly Z and a baby Z. Once mommyZ took babyZ to a docZ for a vaccination and babyZ says, " No doc I dont want a vaccine. I am scared as it hurts." Then docZ says,"Imagine you get so many abbu's in future and each time you get one, you come to me for an injection. how is that? Is that more painful or is staying healthy good with just one injection." Then babyZ says, "Doc I want a vaccine" and he gets one smiling.
While leaving the clinic babyZ asks docZ, "Doc, now that I have been a sweet child all throughout my time here, can I get a chocolate?" DocZ says, "Yes please." BabyZ takes 2 and doc says he could take just one for himself. Then babyZ says, yes ofcourse I will take only 1 choc for me but the other one is for my friendZ (sahas, his new friend in Sobha). Doc gets impressed and allows him to take 2.
Just as when babyZ was leaving docZ calls him back and tells him this, "BabyZ now that you have got your shot(vaccine). There are few precautions you need to follow failing which the medicine will be rendered useless. BabyZ gets concerned and asks him to tell what it was. Doc tells him, "everyday when you get up, you must first brush your teeth and ...."As I was telling this part of the story...Pratheek understood my story and with a chuckle he tells me " yeah mommy babyZ should brush his teeth, take bath and go to school". Surprised by his maturity, I wanted to tell yes thats right. But the author me dint let accept the fact that he could predict my story. I told him no thats not correct and theres more to it. And I continued....
DocZ says " After you brush your teeth,You should drink milk, eat breakfast carry some nuts (almonds and walnuts) in your pocket to munch on your way to school. And while at school you must eat all the food served to you. Come back home and eat pappamaam, koorammam, Chaarammam and Perammam." He was chuckling while I said this part of the story with a look on his face that said I-very-well-know-your-story. That dint budge me. I continued. "You must eat a fruit and drink milk in the evening. you must also eat dinner properly and follow everything mommyZ tells you to do. you must follow her rules diligently."
At this point Pratheek stopped me and said "ok ok...now I will tell you a story. Its a crocodile story ok?" This is the highlight of our bedtime- storytime. His story goes like this....
"Once there was a mommy crocodile, daddy croc, sister croc, babycroc and brother croc (in the same order that he said) They all live happily ever after. once they go to play area and brotherC tells that he wants to play slide. He plays and feels very funny while doing so. So he does all acrobats(new word he learnt) he does ulta pulta and comes sliding down. He loves it. Then brotherC wants to do Swimming But security comes and sees him. So brotherC goes to daddyC and tell him about it. Then daddyC comes and beats the security guy like a hero. And security goes flying in the air. Then babyC happily(you must listen to the way he says happily everytime) does swimming in the pool. he loves water. then babyC wants to do cycle. AkkaC (now he came down to akka from sister) has a cycle, brotherC has a cycle but baby does not have. He does not have but he has (he meant baby does not have a cycle but a stroller) and then mommyC takes baby out. End of the story (he even says this sentence End-of-the-story)"
By this time I was keenly listening to him very well aware that the brotherC is none other than Mr.PratheekC. And he thinks that mommy dint understand his secret. He kissed me good night and gave a tight hug. Though it was beyond his sleep time, I realised he is not sleeping it. I stare at him and he opens his eyes. He asks "mom can i tell you a secret" Intrigued to know whats bothering him, I said yes nanna tell me what it is. Then he says that the crocodile in the story was himself and laughs.....
I put a Oh-I-Am-Surprised look on my face and gave him an apprecaiting glance and told him that his story was good. Kissed him good night again and withing minutes he was deep in his slumber happy that he let out his secret and content that he got to listen to a story as well as tell one himself.
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