Skype Time

                       


Online video chats a.k.a. skype or facetime, is a blessing for all those who are scattered around the world and a source of wonder for toddlers. I belong to the generation where online video calling was familiar only in our early-twenties. But my daughter, however, falls into the tech-savy generation and has been online since she was a few weeks old! Little A's excited aunt and gleaming little cousins would fill the screen to watch her coo, cry and vocalize and go 'awww sooo cute', 'I wanna cuddle her' and so on. The little one would in turn cheekily smile at the ceiling fan and get excited on hearing the happiness around. Skype was a boon for the new dad's lonely heart to find solace from watching her play, when he had to work from UK for a few weeks.

Skype meant more when we moved to UK after my daughter turned one. That was the only source of respite for the grandparents who were terribly missing her! She would be amazed to see familiar faces talking to her from the screen and gleam at them or just ignore them and go about her business of bringing the roof down. Either ways, the ones on the other side find joy in just watching her! The grandparents, uncles and aunts would be totally amused at everything she does, be it her attempt to converse with them or toddling away from them to play pretend games. After all, she is the only reason, they come on skype! A small grin with a 'hi' 'hallo' would light up their faces and they'd be bursting with pride when she goes about performing for 'wheels on the bus', 'If you're happy and you know it' and so on and so forth. Little A would in turn brim with happiness when she sees them clapping and cheering, and thereby strengthen her rights on this 'Skype' business as well!

There is this peculiar stage in today's toddlers, when they get the sense of 'ownership' and think they own the laptop and everything it plays since start to shutdown, is for THEM. I warn you about the cold long stares or screams you'll be showered upon if you touch 'their' laptop for anything apart from rhymes or children shows!

As they grow older and understand things, they look forward to the skype times. Infact, my daughter was so familiar with her grandparent's and aunt's faces that she dint take time at all to gel with them during their visits. Now at 2.4, my little one excitedly says 'Sype' and shows me where to click and how to go about for a call with her Paati or Thatha or her cousins whom she calls as Akka! She wants to show them all her new toys and clothes as and when she gets them and tell stories from school,  that sounds more like gibberish. When we are about to end our chat, she flies from where she was engrossed with her toys and automatically waves bye, sreams seeeyuuuu, blows a kiss and waits impatiently for her rhymes to restart! Thats a sample of the techie generation for you!

Whatever is skype for adults, for kids, it is a fantasy world where they are always in popular demand by the people they adore!
A big bow to the latest technology that connects the longing hearts, old and young!

Image courtesy: freedigitalphotos.net

15 Moments that remind me of my tag called 'MOM'

                           

Being a mom is an adventure! Each day is unique, challenging, fun and interesting. As a mom of a 2.5 year old daughter, I experience all the emotions in the world in a span of just 24 hours!! And there are those moments each and every day which make me realize that I have a tag called MOM, dated forever!

These are few of them:

1. It was more of a shock than a surprise when I found myself (someone who just needs the time and a little space to sleep deep, amidst any loud noise/people) waking up every now and then to check my few-hours old's breathing pattern. The story continues until now to check if everything is okay during her sleep. Believe me, people do change overnight!
2. When I hallucinate her cries even when she's happily giggling away or sleeping. That being said, you'll not be surprised if I say I assume any child's cry in the malls to be that of little A's.
3. When I'd pray that she falls asleep so I can have some ME time, but end up gazing at the cute bundle sleeping peacefully and wait impatiently for her to spring back to her toes.
4. When all my novels were replaced by newsletters from Babycenter.
5. When little A's day-to-day activities became the talk of the household.
6. When going out was not as easy as just getting myself ready! Any outing would involve packing an extra pair of clothes, an extra pair of shoes, innumerable finger foods to offer if she's in the mood to reject everything I show, an extra supply in case she drops it down or I drop them or somebody else does. Phew!
7. When I found apps like Nursery rhymes, Talking Tom/Pocoyo, Doodle, Read-along bedtime stories, ABCs and 123s slowly outnumbering my favourite phone apps.
8. Everytime I fill a form for my daughter and my name goes right under 'Mother's name'. Bliss!
9. When the saddest days of my life are those when my little one fusses to eat (almost everyday).
10. When a warm cuddle from a gleaming daughter is all it takes to keep my spirits high!
11. When I find myself repeatedly singing 'Old Mac Donald', 'The wheels on the bus' and 'If you're happy and you know it' over and over again. You have to believe me if I say I know what comes next in the nursery rhymes playlist. 
12. When shopping for her tops the list anytime.
13. When cleaning the mess is just another routine but repeated from dawn to dusk and again from dusk to dawn.
14. When I find myself going to any extent to keep her safe and sound. This also includes shooing spiders and walking in a dark corridor which I'd dare not do when alone.
15. Each time I do something to keep her happy and in turn derive happiness, it occurs to me that am a MOM, dated FOREVER! 

      

                                          

   

                           

Am sure all of you've had instances that you'd love to recall. Do share as comments below.

The Potty Training Mantra.

                  

       Motherhood is a bliss but challenging in its own way, the major area being 'potty training'. A lot of mothers I have seen tend to postpone this to as long as possible and try to be happy with nappies. But be sure that the little ones aren't too happy with the pee and poo sticking to their bum! Having said that, let me consolidate all that has to be taken care when you decide to potty train your little dragon.

When is a child fully potty trained?

 Your 10-month-old peeing or pooping whenever you take him/her to the restroom doesn't necessarily mean that he/she is potty trained. However, it means that he/she has got a hold of what you mean to communicate and yes, you're in the first step to potty training success! A child is completely potty trained when he/she can control his/her bladder/bowel and communicate to someone that he/she needs to pee/poop.

When is your child ready?

You may come across mums bragging about their 'wonder babies' who were potty trained by 7 or 8 months. Its good to appreciate that and lead your life your way. Please do not compare your baby with the rest. I'd say, on an average, a child needs to be at least 15-18-months to clearly grasp what you say and communicate to you their urge. Girls are supposed to be smarter and faster in learning this art :); however, this is NOT a rule.

Well, are you ready?

Yes, you need to be ready first. Are you okay with a no-nappy child running about in your rooms? Wet floor? Frquently wet carpets? More clothes to wash? and eventually more to dry? Its time to build some patience before you kick start this training for your child. And remember, once you start, you're not going back. Call up your friends/relatives to postpone the house parties/get-togethers or kitty parties. Don't be scared, its not going to be long at all. My daughter was potty trained in just 1.5 days! Hey, I can see you smile already :)

How to equip yourself?

• There are numerous potties and potty seats with different colours/themes. I always feel a cushioned potty seat with the handles on the sides (the child feels secure by holding onto them) is the best as you just have to place it on the regular potty seat and don't have to again dread shifting the practice to a regular potty.
  
  
  
  
  I use this for my little one and she absolutely loves this product. You can get it delivered at your door step.
• Get loads of panties as they're likely to get wet every 15 minutes.
  
  

  

  
  
• Get rewards that interests your child. It can be a sticker, balloon, whistle or even colourful ribbons.
  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  
• Get some small picture books that are light weight. This can be interesting when they have to sit there for a while. (My daughter loves carrying them even when in a hurry!)

How to start?

• Choose a period of about 2 weeks when you'll mostly be home and  have most of the day to spend with your child. The day when you're emotionally, mentally and physically fit is the best day to start the venture.
• Let your child play with the potty seat and get familiarized by sitting on it so that its not too much of a hassle for both of you.
• After a good night's sleep, make him/her sit on the potty seat (of course attached to the potty). Also give a new small toy in hand to explore.
• The first try needn't be a success but use only cotton panties for the rest of the day.
• Have an alarm and spend the rest of the day with the little one. Order food from a favourite resto- you deserve this little treat!
• Have code words for pee and poop that's easily pronounced by the kiddo and keep mentioning the code frequently thereby asking if he/she wants to do it.
• It may take time. Depends on the child but never connect this with their intellect. There's no relation.
• Don't consider this toilet aspect, a dirty thing! Let them understand that mom, dad and everybody does this and that's how nature works.
• But let them know that soiling the house/floor/bed IS a dirty thing to do.
• Praise them more often. Some of them are happy with just claps. They feel so proud when appreciated and try to get more pats on their back.

Night time potty training:

Once they master this art during the day, slowly wean them off nappies during nights. Avoid liquid diet 1.5 hours before bed. Set an alarm during night to take your child to the loo. Talk about the night time loo during the day so that he/she is prepared to be woken up from a good sleep. Do the talking about potty habits and any others frequently. You'll not realize but they do understand and register everything they see and hear. Amazing creations!!

           Potty training isn't a nightmare any more. It does test your patience and makes you go NUTS, but, the effort is well worth it. Go ahead! All the very best!