He’s 18 (months) and now has a license to drive (us crazy)

Hiya folks,

   Life has been absolutely hectic and will continue to be so for the next 2-3 weeks or so hence the temporary silence on the blog. But lots has been happening in our little world and I will try and post it as and when I get some free time.

  The Munchkin’s Dad very graciously agreed to do a guest post on the recent Munchkinisms. So ladies,give it up for the fond Daddy!

A fond father looks on…

…as the metamorphosis from a peanut-sized blob on the screen – the recipent of terms such as “fetal pole” – to a half-fledged hellraiser progresses at a lively pace. Yes, the Munchkin completes 18 months and straddles the border of Two, an age most perilous for all parents. In the meantime, my “chhota mard” has developed quite a few quirks and interesting behaviors. Ok, who am I kidding? I GUSH OVER EVERY LITTLE THING HE DOES! He’s a Rockstar! Bachna Ae Haseeeeeeeenooo…..

Ok, Calm down.

So

My son says Hello. I remember grasping a cellphone at the tender age of….18, and this kid is so familiar with the iPhone even before he can construct coherent sentences. He is aware the phone needs to be “unlocked”, so he slides his finger across the screen to make it so. I wonder if generation gaps manifest a few years earlier with each generation?

He can now say many words and can correctly identify a range of animals. One of the most endearing things he does is the Lion imitation. So Mommy will ask him to show “how a Lion roars”, and the tyke will try to make a “Raaaarrr” sound and wave his hands menacingly like Lion paws. Other Munchkin phonetics that never fail to bring a smile to my face

Fish = Shishh

Shoes = Shush with emphasis on the “u”

Dog = Bhu-Bhu (for Bow-Wow)

Milk bottle – Dhu Dhu (Marathi term for milk)

No – Naw, replete with a southern twang y’all. The irony is that he pronounces this word flawlessly because of our incantations and uses it wonderfully in simulated two-way conversations where he’ll begin a piece of mischief and keep saying “No” during its course, just to save us the trouble. Maybe those psychology journals are right. Little kids just think of “No” as a part of the general landscape.

There is no hope for us as parents.

I mentioned the term “chhota mard” (little man) before and here’s why.

He does not like to be treated like an immature member of the family. When we eat, he will only deign to do so if an adult plate and glass, with his own seat at the table accompanies the occasion. None of the oogly-woogly lovey-dovey cows and birds on his fine china, thank you. Then there is his reaction to the affection between the parents. Such behavior is met with two responses – Shiv Sainik and “If-You-Can’t-Beat-’Em”. In the former he crashes the party yelling intimidatingly like a street thug, all the while demanding to know what is going on and if we have a letter from our parents allowing us to do what we are doing. If that fails then it is strategy two, where he will put his little hands squarely on wifeys face, pull her to him, plant a kiss and walk away regally. You have been kissed, and don’t you forget it. But seriously, he’s quite a thug. Takes after his mother I think.

Of late, he has discovered a passion for fitness. My trainer lives to kill so I try to alleviate some of that pain at home by completing push-ups before hitting the gym. A week back Munchkin saw me, got down on all fours and tried to imitate me as closely as possible, even making the groaning noises that accompany the last few reps. I collapsed laughing. Munchkin continued his push-ups till his little arms got tired, and then promptly transferred the movement to his lower body by squatting up and down.

All this at 18 months. If this cuteness continues I have no hope of being a strict father. No way.

 

(Here’s some pics from his doting grandparents’ recent trip to Atlanta)

 

 

 

Mom and Cub

 

Perpetual Motion Machine

 

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