Internet savvy

These days when I either remember my dad giving me the "in those days, I used to walk 50 miles home everyday carrying 50 kgs of rice on top of my head!" speech or when I give Jr. the "in those days, we used to bike 5 miles to class every day carrying 5 kgs of books on my back!" speech,

there is a realization that she will probably give her kids a little monologue along the "in those days, we had to surf 50 websites in 5 minutes" and there is a good chance that her kids will be going "in those days, we had to surf 500 links in 5 seconds!"

It is not about how long and how heavy anymore! It is how much, how fast!

A different world awaits us..

In case I haven't made the point yet with the video, Jr. can turn on the computer, open IE, go do google searches for websites or images, find my blog and read it, go to Youtube through my blog, watch videos and watch linked videos on Youtube, play online games!! etc. etc. It is very scary that she is 5 years a few months old.

Seriously thinking of putting some parental controls on the computer (need to find out if Youtube has some kind of parent guard so that she doesnt end up watching or reading something nasty)!

The world is changing constantly and these days one rarely disagrees with that statement. Somehow, generation after generation, parents feel that their children are pushing the envelope and they are not prepared enough to handle the challenges their kids dish out to them! My parents must have challenged theirs with their love for city life, compared to their parents who lived in villages.

We(myself, my brother and sister) tested our parents enough and more, and for the most part (now thinking back to those days), they were growing up with us and they still are when they see us live our life the way we do and raise kids the way we do!

Now it is our turn to grow up, and be tested by the little ones. We might not comprehend their world a few years from now, no matter how many advanced degrees we have, tech. savvy we are, etc.

Their world is different, and they will bring us challenges!

Just hope that I remember to read this post and keep my sanity and learn to let go, when Jr. and the little one push the envelope of their times...

ps. In case you didn't catch the sound in the video, the little one wants to see daddy flying, every day! She never gets her request because Jr. does what she wants anyways.. that, is another post in itself!

Martin Luther King Jr. Day - as told in Desi families!

We were driving around on sunday.

San asked Jr. "Tomorrow you dont have school. Do you know why?"

Jr.: It is Dr. King's birthday!

San : Who is Dr. King ? (For a second I was wondering why San was quizzing Jr. as I knew Jr. usually gives San a run for the money when it comes to facts)

Jr. : Dr. King is the guy who said "that's not fair!"

Me and San : Chuckling.."why did he say that?"

Jr.: In those days, white people had nice water fountains and all others had dirty fountains to drink from.. he said "thats not fair!" .. also the white people could sit in the front of the bus and the rest had to sit in the back and he said "that's not fair either!" and then he had a dream...

At this point, I was reallllly impressed with her school for teaching her all this. They have even shown the 5 and 6 year olds a video of the March in DC and the "I have a dream" speech from Dr. King!

San : what dream did he have?

Jr. : he had a dream that everyone can do anything they want!

San : Yes. But only after they are 18 years old!!

Jr. : Okay mommy! But when you are 10 years old , you can chew gum already! Right?

Me : Desperately trying to control laughter (telling San) "why do you have to corrupt the message!"

San : You can't just tell her she can do whatever she wants to do in the name of Martin Luther! She is a kid..

Now Jr. is having a dream!

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Toying with daddy

The little ones were troubling me, over drinking milk and going to bed.

Gave me a chance to take some photographs. They were posing funny as well.

Got some nice shots though..

I got some funny ones, but they are all out of focus. The hunt for the nice digital rebel lens continues. For some strange reason, the prices are going up!! Have to wait for the Christmas sale I guess.

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Sweet November

November is definitely a festive month in the house.

All four of us, my sister, my father in law are November borns. Add to that my parents wedding day, which happens to be today! and we are perpetually making calls wishing people back and forth between India and the US.

We had "The Amazing Magic Vijay" perform Magic in our living room for the birthday. This was the best idea that San has had for a birthday party yet! The house was saved from sugar high kids, thanks to the Magic Show. They sat in the same place for more than an hour! They even formed a straight line to collect their animal shaped ballons, a feat that topped the magic show, in my opinion.

Here is a picture of the little one, with what would be the kid's equivalent to a hangover, the next morning..

My little ones are growing up! Sigh!!

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Feelings

Jr.: Don't say that daddy.. you are hurting my feelings.

Mom : do you know how many times you hurt your daddy or mommy's feelings?

Jr.: You are adults. You don't have feelings. Only children have feelings!

Me, Mom : !!!!

We really do not know who teaches her these things, but it sure makes us smile.

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