(Pictures) Aug-Dec-2013

loads of sweetness here

Competitive spirit

Being first is important.. very important. What does it mean to be first? Well, it meant nothing much a couple of months back. Paaduka used to be and still is very particular to add the word "first" to every activity she did. So, I assumed that it should be important. Once...

Paaduka - nAn first kulikkanam ammA ( I have to take bath first)

ammA gave me a bath before Paaduka. So, Paaduka was very upset. I felt really sad for her. So I consoled her.

madhurA - Paaduka naan first thulichen ( I took bath first) ippo nee first thuli (now you take bath first)

Now I know about doing things first much better. I need to compete to be first - the lesson Paaduka has taught me. Our parents knew that our competition has reached a new high after they over heard this :-

Paaduka - enna kosu kadichirukku (a mosquito had bitten me)
madhurA - enna thosu thachidhu (a mosquito has bitten me)
Paaduka - enna copy pannadhey (don't copy me)
madhurA - smiles
madhurA - thosu enna first thachidhu (mosquito bit me first)
Paaduka - ilai enna dhan first kadichidu (no it bit me first)
and so the fight went on for the next five minutes before we were both distracted by something else.

Quest for answers

I am exploring quite a lot now a days and I get into trouble often. Everyone around questions me as to why I did something but I do not have any answers. After trials and experimentation, I have found the right answer when I am questioned for being mischievous. The charm of each answer wears off with time. Here is how I evolved and refined my response mechanism.

Original response

ammA - madhurA, yen jalam kottina (why did you spill water?)
madhurA - silent but looking innocent not knowing why it is such a big deal.

Stage 1

appA - crayon vechi ezhudinaya tharaila? (did you write on the floor with crayon?)
madhurA (nodding) - chumma ezhudinen. poo floweth ezhudinen (I have drawn a flower)
appA - (cools down) paperla dhaan ezhidanum (you should write on paper only)

Stage 2

ammA - yen patram laam eduthu kizha potta? (why did you take the vessels and keep them down?)
madhurA (pretending to be sad) - yen edukka kudAdhaaa? (why shouldn't I take?) naan vilaiyaada kudAdhA (shouldn't I play?)
ammA (calming down) - toys  vechi vilaiyaadu (go play with your toys)

Stage 3

ammA - paint yaaru onna edukka sonna. paaru odambu muzhukka paint! (who asked you to use paint. you have paint all over your body!)
madhurA - pAdukA pannalaamA naan panna kudAdhA ( pAdukA can paint and I can't)
ammA - ! (Am I being unfair to her?)

Stage 4
appA - ennoda phone yen charger lerndhu edutha?(Why did you pull my phone out of the charger?)
madhurA (even though she did it) - nAn pannala pAdutha dhaan edutthA (I did not do it. It was pAdukA)
pAdukA - poi sollara appA (she is lying appA)
madhurA - pAduthA poi sollara nnu sollarA appA (pAdukA is saying I am lying) badh dhirl (bad girl!) fight starts between the two..

I should confess that stage 4 response is quite effective as I redirect the attention to pAdukA. It is an even battlefield when I fight with her and the original question is lost in that. Looks like I found a winner response which is here to stay for a while :)