‘Nobody is ready to agree that their babies are ugly’; this is what a character said in the ‘Friends’ series. Although this statement might seem insensitive for a few, I couldn’t help but appreciate the sincerity in this statement. I have always been in these tricky situations where people start talking about the cuteness, smartness, cleverness, of their kids but never stop. And when they start talking, I don’t know how people, who otherwise are normal enter into this insulated state and become such thick skinned that all my subtle as well as evident attempts at restraining their overflowing conversation overwhelmed by their little ones just go unnoticed!
Right from the day the baby is born, folks around it start talking about it. Every grand ma/ grand pa says every person he/she meets “Our baby is soooo cute. The nurse in the hospital told that this baby was the most beautiful baby she has ever seen in her service”. Little do they realize that the nurse was only trying to please them to get some additional tips! Which parent wouldn’t be pleased to hear that his/her offspring is the most beautiful one! The nurse just enchases on this little weakness of the strongest of strongest parents. You might find me skeptical, but how else would you explain me hearing the same compliments for different babies of different families born at different times in different hospitals? Now don’t tell me it is a coincidence or my super luck that I happen to meet the parents of the most beautiful children! I wouldn’t believe that.
Due to some obligation or the other I end up visiting these most beautiful babies and invariably I find every baby the same; very small, pink to reddish, wrinkled skin, eyes very thin or generally closed, no teeth, little or no hair, no eyebrows (or is there a thin one? Never noticed in such detail, will check next time), packed in a bundle of clothes smelling of a mixture of urine, sweat, stool, baby powder, milk and some medicine i.e. the exact baby smell!
As the baby grows and starts to crawl, walk I just try to avoid his/her folks. All they can talk about is their babies. “Our baby has become so naughty. He crawls all over the house and broke 2 vases and a showcase in a week. You will just adore him.” “Our angel has become so active now. She swallowed a button yesterday and put a stone into her nostrils the day before. You will just adore her.” Will you adore someone who breaks glasses and eats all non edible stuff? I think you will only if that someone happens to be your kid/ grand kid.
As the baby grows a little older, “Our son today played with bat and ball whole day. May be he will become agreat cricketer like Sachin Tendulkar” “Little Simran always likes to play with the stethoscope, May be she will become a doctor.” “She always likes watching herself in the mirror. She is an absolute beauty, may be she will become Aishwarya Rai.” “Cute Rohit likes mobile phones. May be he will become a busy business man. ””He likes cars, two wheelers a lot. May be he will buy many cars when he is big “(Please note- nobody says he will become Michael Schumacher. Why? Absolute logic, it is difficult to pronounce). These are the common statements. Having heard these many times from many people I can very well predict what folks talk about their kids. I just did a detailed analysis on this and have come to following conclusions-
1. In spite of every kid wanting to play with guns, no parent/ grand parent would talk about it like “Oh cutie baby, he likes playing with guns so much. May be he will become Veerappan or Phoolan Devi”
2. Parents/ grand parents don’t aspire their kids to become scientists. I have never heard anybody telling “Oh he may become Einstein or she may become Madam Curie.” If the little kid shows interest in breaking/fixing things, all they can imagine him to be is an engineer.
3. Wonder why folks don’t want their kids to do noble jobs! Never heard any one telling he/she will become a teacher, priest or a nurse
4. Bureaucrats are also out of the parents-list of professions for their kids.
5. Every baby girl likes cooking for play and would like to have her mini kitchen set. Still no parent tells she is going be a TarlaDalal or a Sanjeev Kapoor
6. Adventures, fine arts, litertaure are out of scope. Every kid does jumping, bungee jumping, monkey jumping or any kind of jumping. Did you ever here anyone telling their kid will become Tensing or an Edmond Hillary?
I am sure you would have come across many scenarios where a parent tries to show case his/ her kid’s vocal talents in front of you; (only that the vocal talents of the parent or rather the lack of it overwhelms any kind of talent of the kid.) In spite of all efforts to display their kids’ singing talents no parent tells he/she will become a Bhimsen Joshi or a Michael Jackson. “
“Our kid holds the pen and scribbles all over the wall and paper. At such small age he has grip over the pen”, yet nobody tells “He will become a Shakespeare”
Kids are innocent and adorable as they are. I do not like mediation from their folks to like them. It only creates the negative impact on me. I feel like telling them back “Look, your kid is no special. Every kid I have seen behaves exactly like your kid. “But being a nice person I am, I do not do that. Instead I pretend to be listening intently to all the heroics of the kid when my mind starts thinking of innumerable ways to get away from the person as far as possible and as soon as possible. A resolution takes shape in my mind,” I will never bug anyone with the antics of my kid in future.” Excitement of motherhood might make me to forget my resolution. But you guys will remind me, won’t you?
Right from the day the baby is born, folks around it start talking about it. Every grand ma/ grand pa says every person he/she meets “Our baby is soooo cute. The nurse in the hospital told that this baby was the most beautiful baby she has ever seen in her service”. Little do they realize that the nurse was only trying to please them to get some additional tips! Which parent wouldn’t be pleased to hear that his/her offspring is the most beautiful one! The nurse just enchases on this little weakness of the strongest of strongest parents. You might find me skeptical, but how else would you explain me hearing the same compliments for different babies of different families born at different times in different hospitals? Now don’t tell me it is a coincidence or my super luck that I happen to meet the parents of the most beautiful children! I wouldn’t believe that.
Due to some obligation or the other I end up visiting these most beautiful babies and invariably I find every baby the same; very small, pink to reddish, wrinkled skin, eyes very thin or generally closed, no teeth, little or no hair, no eyebrows (or is there a thin one? Never noticed in such detail, will check next time), packed in a bundle of clothes smelling of a mixture of urine, sweat, stool, baby powder, milk and some medicine i.e. the exact baby smell!
As the baby grows and starts to crawl, walk I just try to avoid his/her folks. All they can talk about is their babies. “Our baby has become so naughty. He crawls all over the house and broke 2 vases and a showcase in a week. You will just adore him.” “Our angel has become so active now. She swallowed a button yesterday and put a stone into her nostrils the day before. You will just adore her.” Will you adore someone who breaks glasses and eats all non edible stuff? I think you will only if that someone happens to be your kid/ grand kid.
As the baby grows a little older, “Our son today played with bat and ball whole day. May be he will become agreat cricketer like Sachin Tendulkar” “Little Simran always likes to play with the stethoscope, May be she will become a doctor.” “She always likes watching herself in the mirror. She is an absolute beauty, may be she will become Aishwarya Rai.” “Cute Rohit likes mobile phones. May be he will become a busy business man. ””He likes cars, two wheelers a lot. May be he will buy many cars when he is big “(Please note- nobody says he will become Michael Schumacher. Why? Absolute logic, it is difficult to pronounce). These are the common statements. Having heard these many times from many people I can very well predict what folks talk about their kids. I just did a detailed analysis on this and have come to following conclusions-
1. In spite of every kid wanting to play with guns, no parent/ grand parent would talk about it like “Oh cutie baby, he likes playing with guns so much. May be he will become Veerappan or Phoolan Devi”
2. Parents/ grand parents don’t aspire their kids to become scientists. I have never heard anybody telling “Oh he may become Einstein or she may become Madam Curie.” If the little kid shows interest in breaking/fixing things, all they can imagine him to be is an engineer.
3. Wonder why folks don’t want their kids to do noble jobs! Never heard any one telling he/she will become a teacher, priest or a nurse
4. Bureaucrats are also out of the parents-list of professions for their kids.
5. Every baby girl likes cooking for play and would like to have her mini kitchen set. Still no parent tells she is going be a TarlaDalal or a Sanjeev Kapoor
6. Adventures, fine arts, litertaure are out of scope. Every kid does jumping, bungee jumping, monkey jumping or any kind of jumping. Did you ever here anyone telling their kid will become Tensing or an Edmond Hillary?
I am sure you would have come across many scenarios where a parent tries to show case his/ her kid’s vocal talents in front of you; (only that the vocal talents of the parent or rather the lack of it overwhelms any kind of talent of the kid.) In spite of all efforts to display their kids’ singing talents no parent tells he/she will become a Bhimsen Joshi or a Michael Jackson. “
“Our kid holds the pen and scribbles all over the wall and paper. At such small age he has grip over the pen”, yet nobody tells “He will become a Shakespeare”
Kids are innocent and adorable as they are. I do not like mediation from their folks to like them. It only creates the negative impact on me. I feel like telling them back “Look, your kid is no special. Every kid I have seen behaves exactly like your kid. “But being a nice person I am, I do not do that. Instead I pretend to be listening intently to all the heroics of the kid when my mind starts thinking of innumerable ways to get away from the person as far as possible and as soon as possible. A resolution takes shape in my mind,” I will never bug anyone with the antics of my kid in future.” Excitement of motherhood might make me to forget my resolution. But you guys will remind me, won’t you?
1 comment:
he he he he he.. WONDERFULL!! I am speechless. I have seen that friends episode and i had the exact thought. From your blog i think you are a Seinfeld Fan, If you havent seen Seinfeld, You gotta see that!! Specially an episode named 'The Ugly Baby'. I really liked your blog, specially the last sentence. You might not believe it, I too have promised myself that I will not praise bout my kid to others and also i will never compare my kids with any other kid.
Post a Comment