What Competition? I have already given up!

Pavan and I were relaxing on the couch talking about nothing and everything during one of those rare heart to heart conversations. The children were making a loud cacophony in the background and we were struggling to hear each other over the din. I bent close to Pavan and gingerly said, “I think you are up against stiff competition!!” Deep in my heart, I honestly felt that he had already lost to the competition but then he is a proud man (rightly so) and I did not want to hurt his male ego by saying that. Pavan made a low grumbling sound in his throat; looked me straight in the eye and said, “What Competition? I have already given up!!” And with that we both burst into laughter!

The competition in question has been with none other than the new man in my life; the self presumed head our family. In the initial stages, he succeeded in robbing my husband of his wife. But over a period of time, taking advantage of Pavans extended travel, this new man has also managed to rob Pavan of his house including his clothes, shoes and even food. With that, he has very conveniently assumed the role of Head of the Family in our house. Nobody enters or leaves the house without his permission. No one can eat, sleep, study, work or play without his acceptance.

This new man is, but of course, our two year old son, Yog.  I have been through toddler years before and I was prepared to see Yog being possessive in context to other children. However, till date, Yog has not had any problem with other children being in the house. He has been waiting patiently to pick a real, worthy opponent who he considers strong enough to compete with him. Yog finally found that competition in his Dad. Pavan has to just hug me close for Yog to get into war mode. As Pavan sits down for meals, Yog rushes to his table and finishes most of his food before Pavan has got a chance to even start eating. Most days, Yog sleeps happily in his own bed. But the days Pavan is in town, Yog will only go to sleep only when positioned squarely in between both of us.

No reason, logic, reward, punishment has helped us to make little Yog understand that Dad is not really competition. How can I make him understand that his mother has more than enough love to share between his Dad, his sister and himself? But nah! Yog doesn’t want to understand this, right now. So for now, we have decided to let Yog dictate terms for all of us. After all, we don’t have the heart to fight against all the cuteness and love packed in that tiny body. For now, he is the boss and we are mere servants to our darling “Yog Maharaj”. So yes, there is indeed no competition! We have all given up and surrendered to our new ruler.