May 16th marks the end of an era in Indian history, ie the end of the rule
by the Nehru- Gandhi family. The results were shocking, freezing, emphatic, decisive, conclusive and final. The ripples of the results will
extend for a long time to come.
In the post- results days , the political rhetoric and mudslinging in Kerala has intensified after a month of lull, to such an extent that the people are
already fed up. So it's time to shelve politics till the next elections, when
Narendra Modi will return to power with a reduced majority or return to Gujarat empty-handed. The general trend is to heap all your anger and frustrations on the incumbent.
* * * * *
By a strange coincidence, the end of the UPA era coincided with the end of the
50- day siege of our house by my three grandchildren, namely Alyssa (6),
the twins Marissa (3) and Chrissa (3).
While the results of the elections were being announced, I was on my way
to OR Tambo International Airport to see off Praveena, Siby and the
three children. They flew back to Mumbai by a South African Airways
flight at 11.30 a.m.
Praveena and the children had arrived on 28th March, and Sibi joined us
on 1 May. Praveena isn't a newcomer to South Africa. She was here from
1988 to 2002. She attended Ramadingwana Promary School, Gannalaagte,
Brothers of Charity college, Klerksdorp and Milner High School, Klerksdorp. She did her higher studies at Assumption College and the University of Bombay. She is proficient in Setswana language.
I think it's only when one is a grandparent that he/she observes children closely. With our own children, we may be too much occupied with other
matters. We don't need to attend a course to study child behaviour. It can be
learned in one's own house if you have some A type ( Aggressive ) children.
The first thing is that our logic doesn't apply. For example, if a child seizes your smart phone, you plead with him/her :
'' da,di ,please return that cell phone. I beg you. It contains all my information. I shall buy you whatever you ask. Dearest, give me that phone.
I shall buy you another one. Please...please..''
You would be lucky if the child didn't throw the phone into W.C.
For fifty days, Alyssa, Chrissa and Marissa set the agenda, and I had to dance to their tune. With such hyper-active kids around, the role of a grandpa is like that of a soccer referee or a boxing referee. I should be
alert all the time, because foul play can occur any time. There are two types
of foul plays. First, the potential for damage to household property or
the potential for injury. As for the former, the best strategy is to keep
things ' at a higher ground'. Don't forget to keep the step ladder in the out
house. Otherwise it would be used to access the things kept in ' higher ground'. Second, you have to act like a referee in boxing because fist fights can erupt any time, and it's your task to separate the fighters !
Right from the beginning, the kids liked the environment here. The place is like a small bird sanctuary because of a variety of birds in my compound and in the neighbourhood. Early in the morning, Marissa would demand,
'' I want to see the birds.'' Then I would take her to a vantage point from where we could watch the doves perched on electrical lines. It was a good
lesson in counting, addition and subtraction. The birds don't sit in the same
place for long. Hence the practical lessons. Against the backdrop of the blue sky, the electrical lines looked like lines drawn on a huge chalkboard.
Marissa had already learnt counting, and it was only a revision for her.
Sometimes the trio would demand to see Appu, our cat. I would show them his sleeping place , on condition that total silence should be observed. But this was not adhered to, and Appu would run away. Undaunted, the children would locate Appu in his hideout, and make some comments. All this was done to establish friendship with Appu, but he
misunderstood it. Three weeks ago, he fled, and hasn't been seen since.I am
sure he will come back.
The trio preferred outdoors to indoors due to a variety of attractions such as climbing a tree, enjoying the swings, examining used bird's nests, collecting old egg-halves, feathers etc. They also liked harvesting beans, tomatoes , chilies ,brinjal etc. They liked to assist Paul, the gardener, in weeding the garden and watering the plants. They also had the opportunity
to watch butterflies, bees, grasshoppers, ants etc. I had difficulty in preventing them from touching the butterflies.
One day, the kids accompanied us to school. We spotted a tiny tortoise crossing the road. It weighed about 250 grams. Its movements were
watched with great excitement. Scores of cows and goats grazing in the
vast grassland were a fascinating sight for the trio.
In my neighbour's yard , there are many things that attract the children.
Sometimes, when I sensed restlessness on the part of the kids, I would
say, " Let's go and see the geese and the chickens."
We would stand close to the fence and watch two geese and scores of hens and some cocks. There's an assortment of dogs, of all sizes and shapes.
One Saturday, Mrs Visser, the former principal of our school, invited us to
her farm, 35 Kms away. Mrs Visser is known for her affection for children, and she pampered the kids from 1 P.M to 6 P.M , with a brai and other
things. There also, many dogs and cows fascinated the children. Mr Visser
took me and the kids deep into the grassland, where he has his cattle. He
took much effort to drive through very harsh terrain to show us an unknown lake, which is an undisturbed haven of a variety of birds.
( To be continued)
NEXT: MADIKWE -CAPE TOWN-PORT ELIZABETH
by the Nehru- Gandhi family. The results were shocking, freezing, emphatic, decisive, conclusive and final. The ripples of the results will
extend for a long time to come.
In the post- results days , the political rhetoric and mudslinging in Kerala has intensified after a month of lull, to such an extent that the people are
already fed up. So it's time to shelve politics till the next elections, when
Narendra Modi will return to power with a reduced majority or return to Gujarat empty-handed. The general trend is to heap all your anger and frustrations on the incumbent.
* * * * *
By a strange coincidence, the end of the UPA era coincided with the end of the
50- day siege of our house by my three grandchildren, namely Alyssa (6),
the twins Marissa (3) and Chrissa (3).
While the results of the elections were being announced, I was on my way
to OR Tambo International Airport to see off Praveena, Siby and the
three children. They flew back to Mumbai by a South African Airways
flight at 11.30 a.m.
Praveena and the children had arrived on 28th March, and Sibi joined us
on 1 May. Praveena isn't a newcomer to South Africa. She was here from
1988 to 2002. She attended Ramadingwana Promary School, Gannalaagte,
Brothers of Charity college, Klerksdorp and Milner High School, Klerksdorp. She did her higher studies at Assumption College and the University of Bombay. She is proficient in Setswana language.
I think it's only when one is a grandparent that he/she observes children closely. With our own children, we may be too much occupied with other
matters. We don't need to attend a course to study child behaviour. It can be
learned in one's own house if you have some A type ( Aggressive ) children.
The first thing is that our logic doesn't apply. For example, if a child seizes your smart phone, you plead with him/her :
'' da,di ,please return that cell phone. I beg you. It contains all my information. I shall buy you whatever you ask. Dearest, give me that phone.
I shall buy you another one. Please...please..''
You would be lucky if the child didn't throw the phone into W.C.
For fifty days, Alyssa, Chrissa and Marissa set the agenda, and I had to dance to their tune. With such hyper-active kids around, the role of a grandpa is like that of a soccer referee or a boxing referee. I should be
alert all the time, because foul play can occur any time. There are two types
of foul plays. First, the potential for damage to household property or
the potential for injury. As for the former, the best strategy is to keep
things ' at a higher ground'. Don't forget to keep the step ladder in the out
house. Otherwise it would be used to access the things kept in ' higher ground'. Second, you have to act like a referee in boxing because fist fights can erupt any time, and it's your task to separate the fighters !
Right from the beginning, the kids liked the environment here. The place is like a small bird sanctuary because of a variety of birds in my compound and in the neighbourhood. Early in the morning, Marissa would demand,
'' I want to see the birds.'' Then I would take her to a vantage point from where we could watch the doves perched on electrical lines. It was a good
lesson in counting, addition and subtraction. The birds don't sit in the same
place for long. Hence the practical lessons. Against the backdrop of the blue sky, the electrical lines looked like lines drawn on a huge chalkboard.
Marissa had already learnt counting, and it was only a revision for her.
Sometimes the trio would demand to see Appu, our cat. I would show them his sleeping place , on condition that total silence should be observed. But this was not adhered to, and Appu would run away. Undaunted, the children would locate Appu in his hideout, and make some comments. All this was done to establish friendship with Appu, but he
misunderstood it. Three weeks ago, he fled, and hasn't been seen since.I am
sure he will come back.
The trio preferred outdoors to indoors due to a variety of attractions such as climbing a tree, enjoying the swings, examining used bird's nests, collecting old egg-halves, feathers etc. They also liked harvesting beans, tomatoes , chilies ,brinjal etc. They liked to assist Paul, the gardener, in weeding the garden and watering the plants. They also had the opportunity
to watch butterflies, bees, grasshoppers, ants etc. I had difficulty in preventing them from touching the butterflies.
One day, the kids accompanied us to school. We spotted a tiny tortoise crossing the road. It weighed about 250 grams. Its movements were
watched with great excitement. Scores of cows and goats grazing in the
vast grassland were a fascinating sight for the trio.
In my neighbour's yard , there are many things that attract the children.
Sometimes, when I sensed restlessness on the part of the kids, I would
say, " Let's go and see the geese and the chickens."
We would stand close to the fence and watch two geese and scores of hens and some cocks. There's an assortment of dogs, of all sizes and shapes.
One Saturday, Mrs Visser, the former principal of our school, invited us to
her farm, 35 Kms away. Mrs Visser is known for her affection for children, and she pampered the kids from 1 P.M to 6 P.M , with a brai and other
things. There also, many dogs and cows fascinated the children. Mr Visser
took me and the kids deep into the grassland, where he has his cattle. He
took much effort to drive through very harsh terrain to show us an unknown lake, which is an undisturbed haven of a variety of birds.
( To be continued)
NEXT: MADIKWE -CAPE TOWN-PORT ELIZABETH
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