On Tuesday this week, Dhruv and his friends Ar and Iss, after returning from school in the afternoon, were playing in the newly renovated park in our apartment. While both Ar and Iss, who are an year older than him, climbed up the climbing frame Dhruv was cheering them from down below.
Ar, still at the top, called out to Dhruv – “Dhruv, get me a cup of chai (tea).”
To my wonder, Dhruv said OK and went to the side of the park pretending to make tea, then returned to the climbing frame and called out to Ar – “Hey Ar here is your chai.”
I couldn’t believe what I had just seen. Dhruv so ease at making the tea part, what if it was just pretend play. A part of my heart, auricle ventricle whatever it was, felt lighted up at the thought of my little success of keeping stereotype away from my parenting and household and for all those cake baking sessions where he keenly does the mixing part, thinks he is an expert at making cakes by mastering the mixing and without mincing his words tells me “Mumma, I will teach you how to make a cake.”
Before your mouth starts drooling at the mention of cakes, let me tell you we, the mother-son duo, make crappy cakes. You might just recall that I dislike cooking and baking is included in it. For us, it is about the process rather than the output.
So coming back to that day. At home, I appreciated him for making and serving Ar with chai (I love the sound of ‘chai’ more than that of ‘tea’) and asked him if he would like to make chai for his mumma too. Happily agreeing, he followed his process, went to the other side of room to prepare tea over his toy box and then came back with his pretend cup filled with tea. I said “Bravo.”
It was a nice play. Next morning, after our book reading, I asked him again for my morning chai. I doubted whether he would get out of the blanket and do the pretend play part. I was astonished when he said “OK” in his own style, jumped out of the bed, went to the dining area, came back with his tea cup and offered it to me. I relished it and told him he had put just the right amount of ginger in it.
Cheeky that he is, this conversation followed –
Me – “The chai is very good. You made it very well adding just the right amount of ginger to it.”
Dhruv – “Oh mumma, I forgot to add sugar to the chai.”
Me- “Okk.”
Dhruv- “Did you get the taste of Bournvita? I added bournvita in place of sugar.”
And he giggled.
*Bournvita is a chocolate supplement we add to milk for drinking purpose.
Ha ha! that is cute.. I am sure he is going to make some delicious ginger tea and cakes when he is allowed in the kitchen. Then Parul Aunty can also come over 😉 😉
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You are most welcome Parul Aunty 🙂
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He is turning out to be my favourite! I prefer a cup of chai anytime. And bournvita chai? I find it innovative;)
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Hahaha thanks Maliny 😀 Try Bournvita chai someday and let me know how does it taste for real 🙂
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Isn’t it an amazing feeling when kids surprise us with their little acts? Loved the part when he said he added Bournvita to the chai!:-D Kids actually love to cook…seen that with my son too! Cooking is a life skill and boys need to learn it early on…so, well done for instilling the interest in him! For now, enjoy these moments as much as you can 🙂
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It is amazing to see little kids irrespective of their gender trying their hand at cooking, pretend or otherwise but then what importance does gender hold for them. I too agreed long time back cooking is a life skill and boys and men should know it as well.
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Anamika, I agree with you…it gives me a wonderful feeling when the kids react spontaneously to tasks that are beyond gender stereotyping! Mothers have a great role to play, I feel, in how the kids take this learning forward in their lives. I am very keen to teach my son how to cook, clean and do basic housekeeping so that he is self-sufficient when he grows up, something daddy dear is still unable to do!
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Wow..that’s so cute …
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Thank you Shilpa 🙂
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Super adorable. Invite me over and i promise I will bring toys. ❤
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Toys…I am sure your name is going to shoot up in his favourite people list 🙂 Next time you visit India do plan Bangalore visit, you are heartily invited 🙂
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Cute and lovely this is… I love tea…
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Thank you. You love tea then try Bournvita tea as well 😀 Thank you for visiting.
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It’s so cute. In no time, he will serve you the best chai:)
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Thank you Vishal. I am eagerly waiting for that day 🙂
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Awww….such an adorable child! The innocence of childhood, the wonder and joy of discovery! Enjoy every little moment of these wonder years. Lotsa love to the little ‘Chai-wala’…who knows what he may grow up to be?!
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Thank you Kala 🙂
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This is so cute! I hope he makes bournvita coffee for me.. ask dhruv for me will ya 🙂
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Haha he has graduated to making cappuccino these days since mumma loves visiting CCDs 😀
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now that’s great news. When you inviting me to a cuppa of coffee 🙂
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Any day and every day is good day 😀
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Awww…He is such a sweetheart! His eagerness at preparing a cup of chai for his buddies and his mom warmed the cockles of my heart! God bless the young chef! And his mom, too, for moulding the little fellow so beautifully! You are indeed doing a good job, Anamika! You are an awesome mother! And you have an awesome son!
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