It's been more than a year that I haven't written anything here!! The year 2014 went in such rush! Can't believe it!
Pori is growing up and she surprises me with newly learnt words used in proper context and obviously in a mixture! For example - 'Mummum, ami tomake ekta kahani (Hindi) bolbo.' 'Monster ta ki onek dangerous chilo?' I also notice how she mimics my tone in her expressions while playing...'Dora! Eta amar pochondo na!' Life is rewarding when you see your little girl growing up like this - FAST!
In the beginning of 2014, I took her out of the country for the first time. We went to Nepal for attending a conference and yes! she attended the conference too! While I presented my paper in front of the audience, she sat there in the front row munching on daal vaja! At the end of the presentation she got candies from an unknown person from the audience and she gravely commented to me, 'I didn't understand a word you said.' I carried the nebulizer machine in my travel bag in fear of the cold weather in February and dusty environment of Nepal but the whole trip went well. She has been the most accommodating though a lot clingy too! At times I lost control and shouted over something and she cried but it was a wonderful trip just like the book 'Tintin in Tibet' which we bought there. She loved the boat ride in Phewa Lake in Pokhara and the visit to the monkey temple in Kathmandu.
Nursery classes were underway. Tomtom frequently skipped school and we were worried. 'I don't like school' was the repeatedly uttered reason. We offered different incentives so that she attended school. Surprisingly her grades were all good! I felt really proud though knowing the fact that grades at this stage aren't a reflection of what she'll do in future. She got beaten by a boy who happens to be her classmate at school and I guess this kind of experiences are also a part of growing up. I asked her why she didn't complain to the teacher, she timidly replied, 'What if he beats me up more after I complained?' The teacher finally made the boy say sorry to her and they shook hands after I had intervened.
In July she had one every rewarding experience after attending the summer school. She went there for 12 days and ended up with a stage performance to make us even prouder. She loved the happy days there and kept requesting me to send her there again at the end of her KG I session. I wish her regular school at BIT were like that!
We took her to resorts in July and August. First Nokkhtrobari and then Chuti resort. She enjoyed both the trips, the best parts for her were - fishing (eventually couldn't catch one!), swimming in pool and playing in the field at night. She had her first visit to the sea in October during the Eid vacation. Interestingly, she loved playing with the sand more than bathing in the sea water.
KG I session classes are more vigorous than Nursery classes. She has frequent revision tests and regular homework. She now can write the Bangla alphabets (shoroborno), can spell 3 letter words...which I have to admit a remarkable development. On the parent-teacher meeting day, I talked to her teachers. One said, she is very well-behaved, helpful and she can mingle with classmates. She also assured me that she enjoys school. I could understand that the nagging about not attending school has more to do with the wrong sleep pattern rather than the school itself. Gradually her pattern is turned right. She now takes an interest to go to school as she now understands a little about 'friendship'. We tried our best to nurture this idea by inviting her two classmates, 'friends' at her birthday party in November. This strengthened the relationship between the families too though I can't help but notice the familial differences.
She had the occasional spasms and in October and November suffered as the winter season visits us. I have to say things are better and I keep my fingers crossed so that she doesn't have the attacks next year. She gave us lot of trouble when she had her tantrums, occasionally we had to be out of the house just to pacify her. We were at a loss about what to do but counselling from my friend, Arpi, helped us. As she said, we just waited. Whatever bothered Tomtom so much passed away. She had a sudden phase of keeping pets and of all creatures they were ants for her! That phase passed too. We drew, painted, solved puzzles, pasted real flowers onto paper, made pictures with colored papers together. We played make believe games where she becomes cook or owner or attendant of a restaurant.
We had our special bedtime with bedtime stories made up by me. Thus two fairy stories evolved as Tomtom loves fairies. One is about a fairy princess who saves her country from a monster by submerging him into honey. Another story is about a princess who imprisons a fairy and later releases her after the king makes her understand how freedom is important. The time spent together has been very precious. It sometimes gives me a mixed feelings of happiness and a little sadness when I see her more independent and self-reliant. Growing up and less dependence must happen in the life of a kid.
Pori is growing up and she surprises me with newly learnt words used in proper context and obviously in a mixture! For example - 'Mummum, ami tomake ekta kahani (Hindi) bolbo.' 'Monster ta ki onek dangerous chilo?' I also notice how she mimics my tone in her expressions while playing...'Dora! Eta amar pochondo na!' Life is rewarding when you see your little girl growing up like this - FAST!
In the beginning of 2014, I took her out of the country for the first time. We went to Nepal for attending a conference and yes! she attended the conference too! While I presented my paper in front of the audience, she sat there in the front row munching on daal vaja! At the end of the presentation she got candies from an unknown person from the audience and she gravely commented to me, 'I didn't understand a word you said.' I carried the nebulizer machine in my travel bag in fear of the cold weather in February and dusty environment of Nepal but the whole trip went well. She has been the most accommodating though a lot clingy too! At times I lost control and shouted over something and she cried but it was a wonderful trip just like the book 'Tintin in Tibet' which we bought there. She loved the boat ride in Phewa Lake in Pokhara and the visit to the monkey temple in Kathmandu.
Nursery classes were underway. Tomtom frequently skipped school and we were worried. 'I don't like school' was the repeatedly uttered reason. We offered different incentives so that she attended school. Surprisingly her grades were all good! I felt really proud though knowing the fact that grades at this stage aren't a reflection of what she'll do in future. She got beaten by a boy who happens to be her classmate at school and I guess this kind of experiences are also a part of growing up. I asked her why she didn't complain to the teacher, she timidly replied, 'What if he beats me up more after I complained?' The teacher finally made the boy say sorry to her and they shook hands after I had intervened.
In July she had one every rewarding experience after attending the summer school. She went there for 12 days and ended up with a stage performance to make us even prouder. She loved the happy days there and kept requesting me to send her there again at the end of her KG I session. I wish her regular school at BIT were like that!
We took her to resorts in July and August. First Nokkhtrobari and then Chuti resort. She enjoyed both the trips, the best parts for her were - fishing (eventually couldn't catch one!), swimming in pool and playing in the field at night. She had her first visit to the sea in October during the Eid vacation. Interestingly, she loved playing with the sand more than bathing in the sea water.
KG I session classes are more vigorous than Nursery classes. She has frequent revision tests and regular homework. She now can write the Bangla alphabets (shoroborno), can spell 3 letter words...which I have to admit a remarkable development. On the parent-teacher meeting day, I talked to her teachers. One said, she is very well-behaved, helpful and she can mingle with classmates. She also assured me that she enjoys school. I could understand that the nagging about not attending school has more to do with the wrong sleep pattern rather than the school itself. Gradually her pattern is turned right. She now takes an interest to go to school as she now understands a little about 'friendship'. We tried our best to nurture this idea by inviting her two classmates, 'friends' at her birthday party in November. This strengthened the relationship between the families too though I can't help but notice the familial differences.
She had the occasional spasms and in October and November suffered as the winter season visits us. I have to say things are better and I keep my fingers crossed so that she doesn't have the attacks next year. She gave us lot of trouble when she had her tantrums, occasionally we had to be out of the house just to pacify her. We were at a loss about what to do but counselling from my friend, Arpi, helped us. As she said, we just waited. Whatever bothered Tomtom so much passed away. She had a sudden phase of keeping pets and of all creatures they were ants for her! That phase passed too. We drew, painted, solved puzzles, pasted real flowers onto paper, made pictures with colored papers together. We played make believe games where she becomes cook or owner or attendant of a restaurant.
We had our special bedtime with bedtime stories made up by me. Thus two fairy stories evolved as Tomtom loves fairies. One is about a fairy princess who saves her country from a monster by submerging him into honey. Another story is about a princess who imprisons a fairy and later releases her after the king makes her understand how freedom is important. The time spent together has been very precious. It sometimes gives me a mixed feelings of happiness and a little sadness when I see her more independent and self-reliant. Growing up and less dependence must happen in the life of a kid.
