A rainy day!

If only..

The day began as usual at 5am with me pushing me out of the bed to turn off the mobile alarm and start cooking. I was ready with today’s menu of tomato rice and ladies -finger curry. Kept idli and went to wake my son up. I knew it was pouring heavily since midnight, but I didn’t want them to miss school. If school declared a holiday, that was fine. I immediately pinged our close friend’s WhatsApp group and asked them for any information as my set top box went into a hibernation mode as if not willing to get up in the cozy rainy weather.

We all weren’t sure and the other side, my kids were getting ready. As my son’s van was expected at 7:10, I made him ready much to the glare from my mom from the opposite apartment! My daughter was sitting idle (as if in her vacation, slouching) waiting for me to give her a bath, which would be usually after my son leaves. Just as I called the van driver to confirm, I saw a message in the school website that it’s a declared holiday, the message in WhatsApp groups all at the same time!  I then shared with my close friends and just then the van driver called back and confirmed! A relief!

Really?!

I was thinking kids would be back by 3pm today as they had exams till yesterday and so I could sleep till 12 as I was down with cold. That remained a dream!

The actual challenge began!

Though I was guilty what am I thinking as a mom, that what if kids had some challenges in commute, what if the roads were waterlogged, what if it poured when they started back home? What if they played in the puddles and caught a cold or fever?

I thought I was too selfish! Until I realized..

The exhaustion is directly proportional to the active engaging of the kids on a holiday! For everything, Amma is needed! Thank God, cooking was over now that I could focus on them but the part of me was craving for the bed and pillow and some silence!

I proposed to play carrom board with them despite my fatigue and they agreed! Both had misplaced the coins which raised my sweat and anger levels! I couldn’t find them and so it was given up. The clock refused to move fast, and it was still 8am! ☹

Now I had to find another option to engage them. I told them to read a book, but they weren’t interested as Amma didn’t read for them! I made a hot cup of tea for my parents and me and told the kids not to disturb me till I had it. They tried to color a page but got bored soon. Then they wanted to watch tv and I agreed. Something without me, is fine! But as it had to be played on YouTube, mind you my set top box was a weather predictor and it hadn’t turned on since morning, I had to sit with them! Little Krishna didn’t engage them and so did Max and Ruby.

I now thought of a master plan and opened a new toy. That was a well-protected robotic toy which was kept hidden from them since the past two years. Today that was my resort! I opened it, read the instructions carefully and involved the kids to assemble it. Finally came a surprise to me that it needed 3 AAA batteries! OMG! I am not sure if I have batteries at home! I felt like crying and finally flicked the batteries from the tv remote. All set now and kids were excited! The robot mouse moved nicely towards the cheese and after their turns, I told them to stop as the batteries would die. My son immediately asked, Amma, you will bring new ones tomorrow when we are at school, no? I was like, lets see. Everyone makes plan for Amma! My daughter quickly reminded me of the drawing charts! Nobody thought Amma needed sleep or at least a break!

Then it was lunch time and since I had already packed their boxes, I asked them to eat from the boxes which they did but my daughter poured the food on the chair! I was done! I couldn’t force myself more, but I had to clean up! With lot of shouting, I did it and told her she need not have had a holiday! They then went to play with my dad and before I decided to lie down, the maid turned up! I was in a fix whether to be happy that she turned up despite the rain or to feel sad that my distance with the bed has increased again!

Soon before she left, kids came back home and didn’t know what to do! One wanted to color, the other did some puzzles but they didn’t want to sleep! They finally settled with some schoolbook and I was peaceful. It was still 1:30!! I still have half a day to pass and today there are no classes to attend! They soon started cycling.

My daughter wants me to make pasta and my son wants chapati where I want nothing for dinner!  

I hope the rain takes a break and its working day tomorrow! Am I aging or it’s the cold that has exhausted me, I wonder! Now I feel my friend who used to cry whenever her son had a holiday! Thinking of the to-do list (which is obviously made by me) I am tired! Read a quote somewhere, “I get tired just thinking of everything I have to do”! How true!

--Vishnupriya