Older brothers and inner peace :)
In our family, it is at meal times that a lot of conversations take place. Sometimes they are funny. Sometimes profound and sometimes there is silence. We always express gratitude for the food that we are eating and count out blessings before we eat.
To have dinner together, every night is a ritual we have followed, as far back as I can remember. On weekends, we have every meal together. It is a rule. Eating in front of television isn't allowed in our home.We sit down at the dining table, and no phones, books or any other distractions are allowed. We have our set places too. Both Satish and I think this is so important to do as a family.
Yesterday night, at the dining table, my daughter looked glum.
'What happened?' I asked her, knowing her penchant for drama and mentally preparing myself to shrug off whatever she would narrate, being so certain, due to the years of parenting that it would be something inconsequential, in the larger scheme of things.
But she surprised me.
'I desperately need inner peace,' she said solemnly.
Now that was a first. I was taken aback, but quickly recovered.
'Eat up all your peas. Then they will be inside you and you will have inner peas,' I smiled, feeling very pleased with my smug reply, which was the best I could do.
That brought a smile to my daughter's face and she did not miss the pun or the joke.
'Mama--you always make me smile,' she said.
'Yeah. But where in the world did you get a concept like inner peace? How can you need inner peace, you are only eleven !' I couldn't help exclaiming, part in admiration, part in a damned-if-knew-kids-these-days way.
My daughter revelled in the moment, happy at having got me thinking. But it was brief moment.
'Mum--don't be so impressed with her. She has just been watching too much Kung-fu Panda and that is where she got it from,' said my 15 year old son.
I didn't know what to say.
Older brothers I tell you!
I am still smiling.
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To have dinner together, every night is a ritual we have followed, as far back as I can remember. On weekends, we have every meal together. It is a rule. Eating in front of television isn't allowed in our home.We sit down at the dining table, and no phones, books or any other distractions are allowed. We have our set places too. Both Satish and I think this is so important to do as a family.
Yesterday night, at the dining table, my daughter looked glum.
'What happened?' I asked her, knowing her penchant for drama and mentally preparing myself to shrug off whatever she would narrate, being so certain, due to the years of parenting that it would be something inconsequential, in the larger scheme of things.
But she surprised me.
'I desperately need inner peace,' she said solemnly.
Now that was a first. I was taken aback, but quickly recovered.
'Eat up all your peas. Then they will be inside you and you will have inner peas,' I smiled, feeling very pleased with my smug reply, which was the best I could do.
That brought a smile to my daughter's face and she did not miss the pun or the joke.
'Mama--you always make me smile,' she said.
'Yeah. But where in the world did you get a concept like inner peace? How can you need inner peace, you are only eleven !' I couldn't help exclaiming, part in admiration, part in a damned-if-knew-kids-these-days way.
My daughter revelled in the moment, happy at having got me thinking. But it was brief moment.
'Mum--don't be so impressed with her. She has just been watching too much Kung-fu Panda and that is where she got it from,' said my 15 year old son.
I didn't know what to say.
Older brothers I tell you!
I am still smiling.
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ReplyDeleteMa'am, This post has the care and love of mother's touch ....sweet, concise..yet left with a lot to think...Ma'am, whenever you have time..do visit my blog..and grace it with your valuable feedback..I am working on my first book...any feedback from you will be of great value :)...Thanks for inspiring us..Keep Writing...
ReplyDeletehttp://csprashant6.blogspot.in/
Thank you for leaving a comment and good luck with your writing.
DeleteSo sweet !:)....Inner peace from a eleven year old...quiet surprising....but "Eat up all your peas. Then they will be inside you and you will have inner peas"...that was aquiet smart ans from a super mom...Loved it :)
ReplyDeleteThank you! Interesting way you spell your name Shruthiy--any reason behind it?
DeleteWith this it is proved that all elder brothers are same, I get this sort of behaviour, to date, from my brother (especially in front of parents) and I am 27! I too need some inner peas ;)
ReplyDeleteHeh heh..Tanu, when i was a kid I always wanted an older brother :) Now too I think it would be nice. With or without the inner peas :D
DeleteI enjoyed reading this :) This is why I really love it when there are two kids in the family!
ReplyDeleteThank you pari!
DeleteWhat a lovely conversation:-) ya kids these days...they surprise you every moment!
ReplyDeleteGod BLESS you all!
Take care:-)
Thanks Gayu--God Bless.
DeleteYour kids are super cool just like you:) and everytime reading your blog we too become a part of your family:)
ReplyDeleteThank you Sai. My blog readers are always a part of a special family.
DeleteThat was superb. I was just finishing my pages late in the night, when I read this. That made me laugh.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
Glad it made you laugh Bimal! :)
Deletereminds me of my big brother! :) Did she find inner peace after all? ;)
ReplyDeleteI don't know if she found what she was seeking but I ensured she had inner PEAS :D
Deletepreeti cant stop laughing....not only kids even my husband is fan of kungfu panda made me to watch twice....inner peace..so nice....keep blogging..you are always inspiration for me.
ReplyDeleteThank you Charuthi! Glad you liked it :)
DeleteNice article ma'am, but I'd like to bring to your notice that the phrase 'yesterday night' is wrong usage, it should be 'last night'.
ReplyDeleteThank you for pointing out Srilatha.
DeletePlease refer this: http://english.stackexchange.com/questions/16735/is-yesterday-night-acceptable
Copy pasting relevant text:
"I'd say overall that yesterday night sounds nonstandard, but I checked for it in the corpus, and found that it is attested, and even in professional-sounding contexts; see the following quote (from a newscast):
Tomorrow is the funeral of the late Prime Minister. From a legal point of view, Mr. Peres is, as of yesterday night, acting Prime Minister. There is a take-care government. The President will call on the president, on Mr. Peres within a few days to establish a new government, with the real shock an earthquake of grief that we all feel here, there is and must be stability in the political system.
Here yesterday night seems just as good as last night, though I couldn't say exactly why (Rabin was assassinated in the evening).
Why not start using yestreen?"
I'm smiling too :)
ReplyDeleteha ha ha....very nice..will too watch kungfu panda from now on.:P
ReplyDeleteNice one Preeti,Child these days are unbelievable :) . I loved your prompt reply of Inner Peas :D
ReplyDeleteCute daughter as your posts are.
ReplyDeleteHaha, adorable kid, you have. :D
ReplyDeleteHahahaaa....you guys are too cool...both mother, daughter & son team I mean;-D
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading this...our children are just amazing aren't they:-)).
hahaha.... It's funny....
ReplyDeletetoday kids are so unbelievably smart that we cant even think what they say next moment...