Neelima.com

It was almost a year ago when Shivu was just turned 4 and Suhi was 2, the youngest fell sick. So I took both kids to Dr’s office and while we were coming back we stopped at the Borders book store to read some books. Shivani threw some coins in the water fountain in front of the store to make a wish. I asked her what she wished for and she said I wished for chelli’s recovery and I was moved by her answer thinking that was a great thought for a toddler.

Last Wednesday I took both kids for Dr’s visit as both were sick. As usual on our way back, we were following our routine, making a trip to Mc Donalds and  Borders store. By the way this the commonest stuff we 3 usually do from past 4 years, I really mean 3 as I used to do the same while I was pregnant with Suhani. If it is Dr’s visit then it would be Borders store, if I took off then we usyually go to Carousel, then lunch at McD and spend time at Barnes Nobles. Anyways, continuing my story, this time wishing was Suhani’s turn and I asked the same question what she wished for, Suhani answered back “I wished that I want to be like akka, want to join chess(t) club, want to go to Kindergarten, want to do Kumon.” Shivani replies back “chelli, kumon is bad, kumon is crying, do not wish for kumon”.

I was positively wrong about Suhani’s chess (read my previous blog). The next day, when I saw both getting ready to play chess, I saw that Suhani is the first one who had placed all her pieces ‘correctly’ on the board taking just half the time as Shivani took. Shivani was making sure all the pieces face front where as Suhani never care for such cosmetic things.

Somtimes I wonder when to teach kids what. I mean, is there is a certain age that this activity should be started at this particular age. And from my previous experiences, my answer to that is there is no such ruler. Before I put Shivani in chess I thought this may be little over her level but I was surprised to see how Suhani picked it up. With this incident my belief strengthens that kids learn from other kids pretty quick. Also, I believe the early you start the quicker they learn.

From past month after Shivani joining chess club, all she wants to show off is her chess skills. I keep correcting her all the time that it is not chest club but chess club. She finally learnt where all pieces go on the board and knows how each piece moves. She is still learning how to pronounce diagonally. Instead of di-ag-o-nal-ly, she says ‘diego’-nally. The other night she was helping Suhani set the pieces on the board and explaining her rules that white pieces go first, pawns can move 2 squares if it the first move and can kill others diagonally etc etc. I was surprised to see the way Shivani was explaining but more surprised to see Suhani listening to Akka ofcourse though very distressfully. Suhani was about to ask something so Shivani stopped. Suhani asked only one question with an innocent look “but Akka how can I win”. I and DP bursted out in laughter, my 3 yr old, all she cares and wants is to Win, she does not want to listen to any rules or know how the game is played. She does not even want to use all her pieces, she just wants to use one pawn to kill all opponent pieces.

This morning Suhani was showing off her some school sheets to one of my friend. Sheet had few figures and my friend was asking what each picture was. Suhani named a few and was struck at one picture. So my friend was explaining that is called a bell (by the way, the picture is Liberty Bell) and she continued asking Suhani whether she saw one in the temple. Suhani immediately replied ”No, I saw one in Taco BELL”.