Amu completes Kinder Garten

How time flies....

I so vividly remember thinking when Amuktha was a month old that  I will never send my baby to school as I don't want to spend so much time being away from her.

But then, last year it happened. She turned 5, it really felt like the blink of an eye. This is not exaggeration when I say this, it did feel like it was all happening too fast and now I am here one year later wishing she was still going to KinderGarten. But, no she will be a "First Grader". I don't think I can take this growing up so fast any more.

Some times I think I should just quit working and stay home. Well, what would I do?They will still be away at school and I find myself complaining that it is hard to manage two kids all alone and it is challenging to meet their demands and satisfy their needs. I guess it's just that I miss their babyhood and their toddler years. So, all I can do is cherish today as I am going to miss this day a year later.

I felt emotional when I went to pick her up from school, hand their teachers a thank you gift and say good-bye to B5- the classroom where it all started-the place where my baby took her small steps into this big world. What's wrong with me? I kept thinking. I got all sentimental and teary eyed hugging her teachers. Mrs.Martin & Mrs.Chang. I think they did a great job. Amuktha did blossom in school.

There were all the weekly spell tests about which I would stress out and stress her out too. The homeworks for which I had to constantly be behind her and get her to complete, after a long day at school. Then there were the spring and winter programs, the songs from which haunt me at night even now. The worst of all -being tardy-driving like a maniac in the safest possible way to get to school on time. Well, there were other things like trying to be diplomatic with teachers while convincing  them to select her for the "important" role in the plays. Can't believe I did that. Asking the teachers "what I should  do " for her to be the student of the day more than the other kid, just to see the excitement in her eyes when she displayed her "student of the day" sticker...

When I look at her, I see this confident, independent young girl who knows her way around things. I am impressed when she gets up to her teachers without hesitation if she has to make a point. I am impressed the way she handles friends who bully her. I am impressed to see how well behaved she is

and mostly I am impressed to see that she knows what she wants.

Well, I do see the flip side too. She has gone from this ever complying pre-schooler to always questioning kinder-gartener who doesn't hesitate to question me. I see the so called attitude, yes she does have some. I am slowly learning to take a step back, be ready to have a reason, an excuse of why I did what I did, be ready to apologize if I am proved to be wrong and most importantly to accept that not any more does she think I am the super-woman who knows and does everything. This is a very humbling experience. She thinks "I am a ruler". I have a long way to master the art of being a mother. Thanks baby girl for making me a better person.

I am glad, we decided to have one more child..cos my days of being the super-woman don't seem to be coming to an end with the little one yet...

More firsts from the girls

Amu
1. First day of Kindergarten - August 28th 2012
2. First soccer game - August 13th 2012
3. First solo trip to the restroom - Feb 17th 2013


Gowri

1. First time she started writing her names - January 2013
2. First time she  rode a tri-cycle - August 2012

Amu passed her first Interview!!!!!!!!

Amuktha is going to turn 5 in August. I just can not believe it. I still vividly remember the day when I got to know I conceived and the day she was born. I have often heard people say that they grow up before you know but boy is it true!!
My baby is ready to start school and after all the stories and talks about Kindergarten at her class she thinks it's some magical place and wants to be there.
She so badly wants to go there that I can easily get her to do things she often refuses by saying the magic words "Kindergarten".

Next came the big issue - where is she going to go to? Public school or private? After a lot of debate about our home school, which I do nto have a great opinion about and which does not have great ratings either, we decided to send her to the reputed private school Stratford. Challenger would be too academic and we thought we did not want her to get burnt out too soon.

Now the challenge, startford has an Interview for the child. What? An interview for a 4 year old? Really? Ok... so off we went, telling her she needed to talk to her new teacher at the school. She had an interview for 20 minutes the details of which I know not because she is not the kind who shares details. Pawan and I threatened her, bribed her, coaxed and cajoled but she would only say a part.
Well, the teacher said she was so cute after the interview - what does that mean? Cute? Does not give any insight into what happened or how she did, now does it?
Well, the school called after 2 days, she had to go back for the next round of interview for vocab .. and they said this was common practice.. this time we armed her with all the knowledge of vowels and sounds and reading and all...
This time the teacher said she did excellent and that was what we wanted to hear....
And then the Principal talked to us and congratulated and blah blah...

The result - Amuktha MADE IT. Pawan says he is happier than when he got in Berkeley..LOL!!!

New place new school

The move to California was a big one for me, but for the kids it seemed to not make too much difference. We did our research for pre-schools and then finalized on Mission College Child Development Centre which has amazing ratings. Thanks to Archana for suggesting it.

The first visit did not have a great impact on me. I had my own apprehensions and doubts. But, Amuktha adjusted amazingly well. Karina, her teacher is wonderful. The best Amuktha has had so far. She made her feel at home and always welcomed her.

Amuktha is shy but she adapts really well into a new situation and now I see her blossom.

As for Gowri, this was her first time staying out of home. She is taking her time adjusting. Even after a couple of months at school, she still has her days when she does not want to go there. She has her set of favorite teachers - Marsha & Simar ( she calls then maisha & simay). But, the first day after school when I asked her what her teachers name was, she said Koyta and I have never been able to figure out who that is. But, she is just 2, am I doing the right thing as a mom to leave her there? Am I always going to be in this dilemma? But, I have slowly started liking this school, not sure about Gowri though.....

Gowri turns 2

Writing the title sent goosebumps all over... Whoa my little baby who I thought was born yesterday is already 2?
I can't come blose to believing this. But, Pawan and I still feel she is still a baby. She still acts like one. You should hear her cry to believe me. You can't tell it's a 2 year old crying.

I have a yardstick to compare and measure her with - Amu - I can bet Amuktha was so much more mature at this age. She even had a sibling and she was handling it great. Gowri can not even come close to her sister. She cuddles with me when she sleeps and is a true baby. Maybe, she will be one forever.

Gowri had no clue it was her birthday, whereas Amuktha knew she was going to have one at this stage and was alle eagerly waiting for it. Oh little Gowri don't grow up so soon.

Surprisingly Amuktha was mature about Gowri's birthday. I was expecting big sissy to say it is my birthday like she would say whenever we went to a birthday party, but she did not. She kept saying it was Gowri's special day and even was helpign Gowri blow the candles out. She is an amazing older sister.

Why do I get all emotional when I write about my girls???

Amu's operetta & Gowri growing up

Amuktha had her second operetta ( a light music opera) yesterday!
She was a peasant girl in the chorus.
I had to make her apron and I did stitch it with Swapna's help. The apron fit perfectly and she looked really cute in her outfit.
I couldn't believe she knew so many songs as she kept singing with everyone else.
My little girl has grown up. I was all proud of her. Why does it go by so fast?

Gowri is an independent soul. Does not like anyone influencing her at all. She is self-disciplined but very adamant. Does not do anything unless she is in the mood for it. If she resolves not to eat, that's it, nothing can ever make her eat.

The other day we were at a restaurant( Sweet tomatoes). I put a plate of Salad in front of her and she cleared it up all clean.
I was amazed. Amuktha was dilly dallying while Gowri just sat there and finished her meal.

Sometimes I wonder how different they can be.

Gundu Gowri

We had the head tonsuring ceremony for Gowri on our India trip this time. She was ok inititally and then she got really hard to hold on to.
Her nanna, mama and the guy shaving her had to hold her still.

I got my share of pictures.

I think gundu suits her a lot more than hair. Sometimes I think I should just have her in this hairstyle for ever :)





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