Conversing with a 5-year-old is a complicated task. Every sentence must be backed with enough logic to answer at least 3 questions that follow pertaining to that sentence. Right from ‘why’ to ‘what’ to ‘where’? And if there are no answers, or even worse, silly answers to these questions, then there are 5 more questions which follow that may even challenge the genuineness of your motherhood.
On one such Sunday morning, while I was really savoring my cup of tea (something, even my mother will not dare and disturb {but my daughter gives a hang}), I was engrossed in reading an enticing article about molding into relationships. Just then this little ‘I am smart and I know it’ package, I call my daughter, walks up to me and crawls into the chair next to mine. I try hard to not take notice of her and pretend like I am still that engrossed in my read.
She sits quiet, for 3 minutes precisely. And then says the word which I know will be followed by some 4 statements, 6 questions, a story and some soulful conversation and will completely drift me away from what I was enjoying just 3 minutes ago. Yes, she says ‘Mummaaaa…….” and so it begins…
She: “Mummaaaaa, what are you reading?”
Me: “Sweetie, this article in the papers”. I’ve learnt now that “reading the Papers” is an unacceptable answer as it may lead to “I know that Mumma” And being specific also means fewer questions. So I just answer her clearly.
She: What is written in it?
Me: It’s about how one should be nice and not fight.
She: Tell me more…
Me: Ummm, It’s like how you must be patient and not pick up fights with others..
She: Trying to pay attention starts scratching her leg.
Me: “What’s wrong? Is your leg itching?”
She: “Yes mumma, I’ve got a mosquito bite”
I instantly check her leg and find a big reddish plump mosquito bite. My heart melts as I want to do something for it to stop bothering her right away.
She: Taking advantage of my melted state of mind, clenches on to my arm and says, “why do mosquitos always bite me”? Which is true. She has always been extremely susceptible to mosquito/insect bites.
Me: “Oh Sweetheart, because you are a sweet girl. The mosquitos get drawn to you because you are a ‘Mitthu’ (sweet in Gujrathi) Girl.”
She: Making a sad face, “That’s why I don’t want to be a ‘Mitthu’ girl anymore. They always bite me. You tell me one should be sweet and nice. And I always listen to you but now these mosquitos bite me all the time”
I try to figure out how the blame for a mosquito bite has come on to me and feel like I am caught in my own web of words. In an attempt to sound sorted I say, “Well it isn’t always like that. Maybe we need to use repellants more regularly and you won’t get bitten, I promise”. “Also, come to think of it, the mosquitos are just trying to show you how sweet you are. Which is why they pick you to bite”
She: “Ummmm…. Mumma sometimes I feel I want to be a mosquito”
Me: Shocked! “why?”
She: “So I could just fly here and there. I wouldn’t need to go to school and I would never be found while playing hide and seek… Also instead of telling people how nice and sweet they are, I could go and bite them”
I give her a horrid confused look and try to whip my brain to come up with something to say which would neither discourage her imagination, nor encourage this weird thought. I also try to smile.
She: “hahahahaha, so funny mumma. I want to be a mosquito”
Me: “hahahaha! Baby you are so funny”
She: “Thank you mumma! You are so sweet. Oh let me bite you”, and she comes closer to me and gently bites my arm.
Making a small squeak, I draw her closer and plant a thousand kisses on her face and a big one on her mosquito bite. Once I am done so, I realize, my tea is now iced tea, I’ve lost track of what line of which article of exactly which page of the newspaper I was reading and I drift away into the thought of turning into a Mosquito myself! Motherhood instigates imagination for sure.
- Kalamwali