The perfect child.

My eleven year old always has stories to share. I listen. Intently.
I learn a lot from her. Always.
And sometimes her stories make me laugh. And she laughs with me.

We treasure those moments--she and I. She is a lot like me, we have the same sense of humour, and we are so completely in sync, it is hard to stop us once we get started. She reminds me so much of myself when I was eleven, and yet in many ways is so different from me.

Today she had a story to share. It was about this perfect girl in her class. This girl is truly something, my daughter informed me.
'You know what she told me the other day Ma?' she said, almost in disbelief.
'What?'
'She said-- I think I will get and ninety nine and three fourths in math.  If I lose that quarter mark, I `think I will kill myself.'
'Oh my God. Is she that good at studies?'
'Yes and very stuck up too. She always scores 19/20 and 20/20 in all the tests. And she is such a cry baby'
'What do you mean cry-baby?'
'She actually bawls. Can you imagine? If someone tells her even a small thing like 'your plait is coming loose' she bawls and weeps like the world is going to end.'
'Oh! She must be a sensitive child then.'
'No Ma, not sensitive and all. She is just a drama queen. She just wants everything to go her way and she can't accept it if it doesnt. So she cries and bawls to get her way.'
'Oh.'

I didn't know what to say to that. The thought that crossed my mind was what was the point being so good at academics if one didn't have a balanced personality? But of course, like a good Indian mother, I said nothing.  After all, which Indian parent doesn't aspire  a child that scores perfect marks in exams? :) So  I kept my silence.

But the story wasn't over.

'But I made her all right Ma. She is okay now,' my daughter announced.
'Oh. How?' I asked, my curiosity really piqued.
'She has been sitting next to me for about four months now.'
'And?'
'Now she scores only 14/20 and 16/20. And she doesn't cry any more.'



I am still smiling as I type this.
______________________________________________________________________

If you like my blog, you might enjoy my books :) Grab them here. (You don't need a credit card. You can pay cash on delivery) or if you are an Amazon Fan, you can grab them here

 And you can interact with me on my FB page. I always reply :)