Mama,can I have a puppy?

"Nikhil you told me you were busy busy but what about all those toys in the basket?" I asked my grandson.

"You don't know the half of it, Dada. I have tons and tons of toys and its all my papas and mamas fault. They keep on buying me toys. Now I don't know which ones to give away as gifts for those who have none."

"That is so good of you, Nik Nik. But which are the ones you really like?"

Ok. I like my books especially the ones that talk or make sounds.

I like toys I can ride like my cycle.

I like furry toys like big bear and Snoopy .

I like my music ear buds.

I like my duckies in the swimming pool

I like building toys

"Would you like a real puppy real dog?", I asked mischeavously.

His eyes light up at the thought of a real live puppy and he rushes promptly to his mama.

"Mama, mama can I have a puppy?"I can hear him pleading in the next room.

A few minutes later  however, he returns, a trifle crestfallen.

"She said no " he confides in me mournfully.

"Why ?" I asked him

" Dada, she is so unfair. She said with a puppy there will be poop all over the house and she can only handle one pooper at a time!"

A toy story

Here is a story for nikhil that you can read to him. Hopefully these memories will remain and remind little nikhil of his dada when he is no longer around!


Once upon a time there lived a young man. He worked very hard. But he was lonely since he was far away from his hometown of delhi in india.Then one day he met a beautififul girl in far away vietnam and fell in love with her. They got married and were very happy.

Soon they felt they needed another person to share their happiness. So they decided to have a baby.if it is a girl, Mama said she can help me in the house and in cooking. If it is a boy said papa I can play football with him and read books together. So they had a baby and surprise surprise it was a little baby boy. They loved  him because he was such a  sweet boy and bundles full of energy.

They bought him a lot of toys because they loved him so much and because he was such a good boy.

One day they were in a mall and nikhil, for that was the boys name, saw a few babies crying. He asked his papa why they were crying and his papa told him that perhaps they no papas and so no toys.

Nikhil wanted to give his toys to them. Nikhil,you see was a very kind hearted and generous boy.

So when they came home  nikhil started to put some of his toys in a separate basket. He went to his mama and said why don't we give these toys to children who have none.

So one day they all went to an orphanage and donated a basket full of toys to children who had none.

From that day onward nikhil and his parents made a donation of toys to needy children every year.

And they were all joyful  that so  many more children would have toys too. For you see kindness is its own reward. And our ancients remind us that we must always help those weaker and needier around us.

And they lived happily ever after.

Papa tells me a story- about my family tree

One day Papa started telling me a story about my family tree because Mama said that it was important for me to know where I came from. ( I thought I knew where I came from - but that is another story!) Oh there are so many stories to tell !).  And what is a family tree anyway?

First there was me

Then there was my papa- yes that handsome dude is my papa

 And then there is that hottie- my sweetie pie Mama

Then there is the wise old man of the family - white beard and all - my dada

That is my " all knowing grandma" - I call her Dadi sometimes when I can find the words!

One day papa told me that even dada had his own papa- yes that stern looking person is him. Imagine my papa has a dada too. But he is no longer around. But look at that little guy in front- papa says that that is my dada- can you believe it. I dont! Where is the white beard, I ask you?

This was my grandma - says Papa, he tell so many stories- my sweet dadi on that horse!

And that is my godmother who gives me everything I want- what a softie!

These are my grandparents from the other side- what other side,  I dont know but grandma is here with me and lets me do everything my mama does not want me to do. So she is all right!

Oh there are so many other people I get so confused. But I shall talk about them another day.

Training

Nikhil describes how he trains his parent and all those around him.


"The first thing to remember is that all these humans dont speak baby language and you have to teach them to follow your instructions. Sometimes it is very difficult but they catch on quickly if you repeat the lessons often enough. At least that is what I learnt.

Here I am teaching my father how to hold the milk bottle

My grandmother also needs to learn this trick, so here goes

Bua is an easy convert and lots of fun too

Sometimes I get into trouble

Then mama pulls my ears

But I can soon sweet talk her and all is all right

Here I am teaching papa to read my book properly

But now that I have trained them, life is hunky dory and I can listen to my music in peace!

A wondrous journey

Watching your grandchildren grow up is like watching the most wonderful tableau in the world. True that we have seen this before with our children, but the grandchild development is something else again. For one there are no pressures, no stress and no responsibility. You can watch their growth with joy and wonder

From the time they start developing a personality to when they really have one is a wondrous journey.
,

First comes the day they sit up

 then they crawl

 and then cruise

and finally start walking.

Even more wondrous is their development as they learn to talk and communicate with the outer world.

The first word is a thrill, then comes the few words that thrill the parents of "mama" and "papa"

and then a babel that you can hardly recognize much to his frustration.

 Oftentimes he is reduced to pointing what he wants you to do since you cannot obviously understand his commands.

 Ah now he can talk to you with his headphones so that you are clear

It is a wondrous journey indeed!