Kinda Padpoindi

From Amma & Amu in November last year to Cheema Tutu in early part of this year, we have now evolved to a wide range of words, sentences, songs and expressions. In Yog’s growing vocabulary there are concoctions of Hindi, Telugu and English religiously spun together so that all stakeholders in the family are happy. While most of his good words have been picked around from home or school, there are hidden surprises like “Oh! Shit” and “Stupid” that leave us deeply embarrassed in front of friends and family.

I must admit that life is much easier now since Yog can express his needs and wants using simple words. I don’t have to play guessing games on whether he is hungry, thirsty, sleepy or in pain. Like everything else in life, there is a flip side to this expanding vocabulary. Yog has also figured out that words can be used for deception and getting around thins that he does not like to do. For example, when I am putting him to sleep, he will first ask to go to the bathroom. He knows I will immediately give into this one as I don’t want a bio-disaster on top of the bed. After 5 minutes of coming back into the bed, he will say, “Mama, Water!”. He knows he will not get water so late in the night, but he will still try his luck by faking a cough or crackling his breath. When there is nothing else left, he will call for Bamma (Grandmother) in his sweetest voice. Even a tough nut like me has to give in to this kind of emotional blackmail. So he is sent with his big blanket all the way to his Grandmothers room. After 10 minutes of cuddling and listening to stories in her bed, he will suddenly start missing his mother desperately again. He and his blanket is then rolled, packed and sent back to my room. After five minutes of hugging, kissing and pretending to be extremely sleepy, he will say, “”Mama, Chi Chi coming!!” (Mama, I want to go to bathroom)

Arghhhh!! By this time, I am out of energy and patience to help him go to sleep. I just close the door, shut the lights and go to sleep squeezing myself in the corner of the crowded bed. I have no idea what he does after that and when he manages to sleep on his own. Yeah! It was easier when he couldn’t speak, or rather when I could pretend that I didn’t understand his baby language. Now there is no getting around his clear, no negotiations allowed expression.

The other day as I was listening to his non stop blabber, I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic about how time flies. Less than a year ago he was still struggling to form his first words, and now… About six months back his most frequently used words were “Tutu happened” (something broke). Now the words highest on his speaking chart are “Kinda Padpoindi” (fell down in Telugu). I assume this is the most commonly used word because all through the day  we have food, water, books, toys, bag, clothes and Yog falling down, all over the house, the car, the road and the school. From breaking things to merely making them fall, we have definitely progressed a little bit on Yogs development chart. I am just wondering if there will be anything that will be left solid and standing by the time Yog manages to move to more constructive vocabulary.