Take it that like the BC and AD bit, there is always the pre-kids and post-kids phase in a couple's life. The simplest of activities that seemed an integral part of being "a couple" are usually relegated to the back seat, for another time as the more routine aspects of parenting take centre-stage. Of course, that we are the "responsible" adults trying to make the "right" decisions for children is in itself such a scary thought, that sometimes you go into complete freeze with just the enormity of what you are entrusted with.
Wry humour jokes about couples though, continue to prevail. After listening to a talk in school, Aniruddh, then about 6 years or so, asked us all about "Valentine's Day". We smirked typically and then gave him some polite background about what the fuss was all about. The eager questions continued for a while, about gifting, about what it meant, about the L word that made him giggle etc so much that we started feeling the mush climbing up our throat after all those explanations!
The questions ceased for a while but there was some scrambling and whispering and secrecy in between. Wondering what Aniruddh was upto I came upon him fetching and carrying pencils, colours, tape and various assortments of stationery. Nothing excites a parent more than a child working quietly and without turning the place upside down for a little while. Peaceful it is, but usually to a practiced parent, peace and quiet also means the calm before a storm.
"It's a secret mommy" he said when I tried to get an idea of what he was upto. Of course, now I was on pins expecting a real storm! Fumbling with sudden guests while trying to keep an eye on him, I heaved a sigh when the guests left (I am sure they did too, distracted and jumpy as I was!)
Now come on, can you tell momma the secret?
"Please mommy, not yet" and I kept twiddling. Finally, it was out. An old shoe box, covered with coloured paper and little drawings showed a happy couple hand-in-hand and of course a sun in the background. "Happy Valentine's Day" said the shoe box - transformed with love and a lot of hard work. "Mommy, this is for both of you. You can put whatever you like and want to keep safe into this. I have named it "The Anything Holder".
Truly it was a picture-perfect-parent moment. I poured love and affection all over him while he was more interested in explaining its uses to make me actually use it.
We started using it right away and always found the Anything Holder actually handy and useful. Of course what always drew us towards it was the love of little hands that went into creating the gift. Over time Aniruddh forgot about the "Anything Holder" as he moved on to other more interesting or time-consuming things such as his friends, cricket, the pesky girls in his class, how to safeguard his independence, you get the drift..
The Anything Holder, however, stays in its little corner, remaining precious for us. In bright red, his favourite colour and always ready to receive, it has become in fact, for us, a reminder of the fact that whether it is the pre or post-kids phase, it is always good to find the time to share, care and remind each other of special days the way we were reminded on that Valentine's Day.
It was much better, than any explanation we could have ever given them. It showed us how kids can help experience this bond in such a touching manner. The Anything Holder in fact became our Everything Holder - a symbol of togetherness in the family - brought home to us, through the efforts of two little hands and one loving little heart.
Wry humour jokes about couples though, continue to prevail. After listening to a talk in school, Aniruddh, then about 6 years or so, asked us all about "Valentine's Day". We smirked typically and then gave him some polite background about what the fuss was all about. The eager questions continued for a while, about gifting, about what it meant, about the L word that made him giggle etc so much that we started feeling the mush climbing up our throat after all those explanations!
The questions ceased for a while but there was some scrambling and whispering and secrecy in between. Wondering what Aniruddh was upto I came upon him fetching and carrying pencils, colours, tape and various assortments of stationery. Nothing excites a parent more than a child working quietly and without turning the place upside down for a little while. Peaceful it is, but usually to a practiced parent, peace and quiet also means the calm before a storm.
"It's a secret mommy" he said when I tried to get an idea of what he was upto. Of course, now I was on pins expecting a real storm! Fumbling with sudden guests while trying to keep an eye on him, I heaved a sigh when the guests left (I am sure they did too, distracted and jumpy as I was!)
Now come on, can you tell momma the secret?
"Please mommy, not yet" and I kept twiddling. Finally, it was out. An old shoe box, covered with coloured paper and little drawings showed a happy couple hand-in-hand and of course a sun in the background. "Happy Valentine's Day" said the shoe box - transformed with love and a lot of hard work. "Mommy, this is for both of you. You can put whatever you like and want to keep safe into this. I have named it "The Anything Holder".
Truly it was a picture-perfect-parent moment. I poured love and affection all over him while he was more interested in explaining its uses to make me actually use it.
We started using it right away and always found the Anything Holder actually handy and useful. Of course what always drew us towards it was the love of little hands that went into creating the gift. Over time Aniruddh forgot about the "Anything Holder" as he moved on to other more interesting or time-consuming things such as his friends, cricket, the pesky girls in his class, how to safeguard his independence, you get the drift..
The Anything Holder, however, stays in its little corner, remaining precious for us. In bright red, his favourite colour and always ready to receive, it has become in fact, for us, a reminder of the fact that whether it is the pre or post-kids phase, it is always good to find the time to share, care and remind each other of special days the way we were reminded on that Valentine's Day.
It was much better, than any explanation we could have ever given them. It showed us how kids can help experience this bond in such a touching manner. The Anything Holder in fact became our Everything Holder - a symbol of togetherness in the family - brought home to us, through the efforts of two little hands and one loving little heart.
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