a letter for Sashi

it is the first day of spring and what a great way to mark the 2 and half birthday. Convenient as I have enough excess energy to remember this important milestone. It has been a busy half year with a major start in preschool that finally made Sashi realize that home=boring and somewhere else=fun. We will never know how much of this early independence is a personality and how much the second child raising practice but we are bursting with pride and love to see the little dude make it out there by himself, conquering the hearts of teachers and other dudes and dudettes at the school.

Just yesterday when I was feeling somewhat guilty about not having any ideas or art project lined up (silently giving in the TV entertainment), Sashi comes to me with a piece of colorful paper and crayons and tells me that it is time to do a drawing and here are the tools and can you mama please get off that computer?

If that doesn't shape me in a better parent instantly I don't know what will. A child who has a project, tools and initiative and interest in involving that one adult who is inept at this thing called fun parenting.

The day ended up being one of the best I remember. It was so pleasant, in fact, that I skipped the nap routine, not to upset the balance and harmony of things.

There are harder days when it is difficult to get out and listen to that annoying parent who thinks that shoes need to be put on socks and not other way around and that jacket is useful when it hails. Not mentioning that headache of having an older brother whose schedule is significantly more rigid and we absolutely need to be places on time. It's been hard but Sashi, the dude, is really making an effort and the resistance or tantrums are short lived, for which I will be eternally grateful and I am willing to provide an unlimited supply of chocolate milk in exchange.

One thing I regret is not having charged camera when Sashi picked a shovel of a larger proportion and spend long time laboring along with bryan to set the rain garden drain. He was serious and determined. there is really not that much that can frustrate the little dude. I remember going to this one coffee house where he tried to hang his coat. Unsuccessfully, but man did he try. Over and over and over until the couple of young kids, sitting at the next table, dying from a quiet laughter gave him a hint of using his hood. there was zero frustration and the coat was up and child was waiting for his pastry.

the biggest frustration ensues when I try to help and there is no bigger threat to his intentions than me saying '.... otherwise mama will help.'

we love you Sashi and happy half birthday!