Keshav has recently developed a liking to the game of Snakes and Ladders. However, unlike us adults (or older kids), the objective seems less about getting to 100, and more about who follows who on the board, and who gets bitten by the snake. Oddly enough, he is most excited when he gets bitten and tumbles down the board!
At some point in time, he will grow up, and like the rest of us, feel disappointed when he loses. He will play to win, and take no prisoners. He will lose this innocence, his purity, and we all will be part of the reason why. If only we could feel the joy of the snake bite again!
Here is what I had written around a year or two back – and I am happy that this still happens:) Fingers crossed!
Wakes up 7:30 shouting “Mr Sun!” (He has a nightlight that switches from moon to sun in the morning.) Mommy comes in and says good morning. Emerges sleepily to join Mommy and little brother in living room. Dresses self now, though imperfectly. Eventually whole family bundles into minivan and goes to Joanie’s for a hurried breakfast, then on to nursery school. Are friends there? If so find them, if not go to swings to await them. Several hours of projects and adventures with school friends. Picked up by nanny with little brother, onward by scooter to park. Home at 1 pm for brother’s nap. Plays with toy planes, makes things out of Lego, draws. Maybe a nearby friend visits. In the afternoon some sort of adventure with Daddy, e.g. to Palo Alto Airport to watch planes. As evening approaches, play with post-nap brother, watch favorite TV show (Curious George, eat dinner. Then bath with brother and both into pyjamas. Further playing till bedtime. Read to by Mommy while Daddy reads to little brother. Fills bed with books and toys, falls asleep in uncomfortable position among them.
The above was written by Paul Graham – a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Y Combinator, known for his essays on startups and programming.
Keshav wakes up at 6.15 am (10 minutes later during Ramadan)…”Keshav, give papa a big hug” is the prompt for him to sleepily stand up, pull down the bit of his pants that ride up his calves while extending his hands to jump into my arms, close his eyes while I carry him down towards the puja room where he opens his eyes for two seconds, says “Jai Shri Krishna” and then hastily directs me towards the sofa so that he can sleep on me for 5 more minutes. Breakfast follows, usually with “Papa sit on chair, Keshav sit on papa” and a few minutes later, get ready and wait for the school bus at 7.
He comes back from school around noon, has a bath and eats foodie, play time with a host of his animals and building blocks, and then an afternoon nap.
Evenings are usually spent in pet farms and the neighborhood park, following which he has dinner at 7.30 and then TV time for 20-30 minutes (‘speed of animals’ is the current favorite)…in bed by 8.30 with two (or sometimes three) of his choice of animals making their way in with him. And yes, he too falls asleep in the most comfortable (for him) and most uncomfy (for the rest) position, until the next day and repeat:)
Kids are the same mostly:)