Dear Daughter ....

"My aappey aappey" is your En-jabi (English + Punjabi) phrase to tell the world that you want to do it yourself. At times it is followed by a 'My Help' as a push back to any help offered to your little bundle of effort. Each time the door to your car seat is held open, it is like a challenge assigned by yourself, for yourself to climb the Everest of that seat - your own 'aappey aappey' self! There is a certain self-assured, confident style to your ascent too, even at this age. On my car, with a fairly high child seat for your little hands and knees to mount, you start with touching, toying and fumbling with the various knobs and hooks on the frame. When an easily bemused Dad gently cajoles you to proceed with your mountaineering efforts, you start climbing on the various toys, bags and other assortments lying there, before getting a foothold on the car seat itself. It doesn't take you long from there to latch onto your car seat. Once there, you make ...

Originally Posted on 15/08/2015 Dear Daughter, The other day, on our way to the nursery, we started going through your routine there - starting with when we arrive there, when I kiss you before taking you off your car seat, walking to the door, appreciating all the squares and shapes on the pavement, going in and taking off your jacket, both of us looking for your picture in that little basket, then getting into your room and putting that picture up on the board for the carer. You helped me walk through the list. Or more like prompted me by repeating the words you had chosen with some benign wisdom. I paused at this moment and asked you what you do next? You paused too. I glanced at your face in the rear view mirror and our eyes met. I could see in your big sad eyes that you were aware of the next step in that little dry run of ours. Presently, both of us mentally paused, pondering over the moment that confronts us every morning when I gently let go of your little hand, to make ...