raising kids

Newceedeeophobia

You will not find that word in the dictionary. It is a rare problem found in three year olds (and is known to extend even to six year olds) who have a fixation with a particular CD that plays day in and day out when we are driving.

The symptoms are observed usually the day a new music album or movie album is purchased and inserted into the CD player.

Usual signs include a loud scream of protest, with some tears running down the face accompanied by whimpers of "I don't want this new CD. I only want _______ !"

To the untrained parent, this is a very tricky thing to deal with. Sometimes the elders might even consider this move by the kids as "abshagun" or inauspicious! A new CD is getting inserted into the disk drive for the first time and there is wailing as though someone has died in the disc player!

Scientific minded parents are equally baffled by Newceedeeophobia (or NewCDophobia as the American slang dictionary would eventually call it). "How could this kid who embraced this previous CD, not know that this one would be equally better? Did the kid not learn from the previous experiences?" The answer as explained by Dr. Narayanöhe of the BOGUS Institute is a resounding "No".

Based on intense research conducted using a three year old, who for the sake of annonymity will be referred to here as the little one, it appears as though the kid always needs a bribe to listen to anything new. Once you get the LO into the preview hearing, favorites are picked, song requests are made, and a new fixation is born. At that point, any refusal to comply to demands, on going to that song will be treated with Newceedeeophobia!

A side effect has also been observed. In the case of a CD with multiple songs which make the cut, only "one" song will be picked and it will have to be the starting song when her holiness gets into the vehicle.

Another dangerous side effect is that grown women have shown similar milder forms of this rare affliction where NPR will automatically be switched off and replaced with a music CD from the subcontinent. The new strain in the younger kids just seems to be a more radical form the old strain! One song in one CD only as opposed to any song in any CD replacing radio!

If these trends continue projects Dr. Narayanöhe, soon we will have to start with a particular word or paragraph or chime in a certain song in a certain CD when the ignition key is turned on in the automobile! Scary indeed for future generation daddys!

Currently there seems to be no cure for Newceedeeophobia and the BOGUS institute is working on one.

ps. We are now officially parked in what is called the "monkey song", if you catch my drift...

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The budding Doctor

Jr. accompanied me to the Doctor's office on Wednesday. Was feeling miserable with cold, sore throat, loose stomach and was facing near system shutdown. So took off work in the afternoon and went staight to the doctor, with Jr. in tow because she also had similar symptoms.

The doc. wrote down a page full of notes after asking me questions and then gave me mostly Over The Counter medicines and lots of advice.

Jr. came away much impressed with the doctor's note taking skills and she played doctor at home with her sister.

Today we happened to see her notes and were rolling on the floor laughing, so we decided to share the budding doctor's notes with all of you.


Jr.'s spelling is improving significantly, although she still spells some words as she hears them. Cannot blame her if she spells "Docter" because that is how most Desi's pronunce it!

For clarification (based on Jr.'s input)

Had flews = Had Flu
she / he feiles happy = he / she feels happy
We have no idea what Clifford the big red dog or Emily Elizabeth are doing in that notes!
Bathroom a lot! (you got that right!)
diriya = diarrhoea
elbo peain = elbow pain

we have no clue what the rest of the stuff is.. especially the "answer me please" part.. must be part of the doctor asking me to be a little more responsible!

The final part about the present, we understand. Irrespective of who is sick, the kids get a lollipop and sticker. They don't like the lollipop and throw it after one lick. Still they get it! This is as bad as people who don't like Panjamrudham wasting it outside the Pazhani temple..

We are all feeling better now after taking the skunk medicine!

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Who are these "guys"?

Just as I was breathing a sigh of relief on account of saving the "guys" topic with Jr. on the previous post, the little one decides to overuse the word "guys". We must have heard it a few thousand times in the last 48 hours!

Still do not know where she heard this. Obviously she picked it up from someplace. Keeps talking to these imaginary "guys" on the phone, sometimes more than 10 minutes at a time.

Here is a secret video of the little one talking to her imaginary...


Do you notice her say things like "He was so rude. I dont like that!"

The little one was roaming around the house in her "jatti" because we were potty training her and were pretty much under house arrest during the weekend. Thanks to her phone call and the secret videos, we were not bored one bit!

Who are these guys? Why am I being given a sneak peak into the future? Why this early? What is the rush to have these coy conversations with imaginary dudes? Maybe she is breaking me early?

I stand no chance!

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