Wednesday, March 23, 2016

The Arrival of Dev

Hari Dev was born on 19th January via a C-section. We requested a C-section when the doctor told us that he seems to be growing at 80th percentile. I was 42 and was already worried about complications though I must say that I had the least complications with this pregnancy - no bleeding, no cravings, no nausea, no loss of appetite, and no extreme lethargy. I took care to rest of course because there is so just much that the body can take - in its 40s and with a 3rd pregnancy that was unplanned.

Now, another mazing bit to my sanguine-ness during this 3rd pregnancy was the fact that the world was kind to me. I often had strangers offering me seats, favours and care when they saw my bulging middle and tired countenance - all the more when I bring my two active angels with me. It made me romanticise that I had God's undivided attention.

Another source of support came from my four bosom buddies from old JI (not terrorists but a centralised institute which offered the A level course where I taught, as a teacher, in the 1990s). They kept in touch with all of Dev's developments - more or less - given the fact that we don't meet but a few times a year. In spite of the less than frequent meetings, we had smses and emails (which was also not v prompt...) Now why did I say they were a source of comfort? Hmmm. Oh yes, during every lag period, there would be this incredible effort to try an arrange the next get-together which always made me feel so needed. I remember how a meeting in July gave birth to the trip to Bintan in August. Yes, I actually went along with my buddies who took special care of me every step of the way.

Then again, the year I was expecting Dev was eventful.

I also met up with friends from my secondary school days. It started with the efforts of Reena, who tried to connect with some of us on FB. Soon, she had a number of us connected with each other. Frankly speaking, there were aspects of my secondary school life that I'd rather not remember. But the first meeting with two of my long-not-engaged-with friends found me coming to terms with another aspect of my life.  I also met up with my ex-colleagues that same year.

The result of all the honest to goodness connections with people in my life is a more self-assured mother.

When Dev arrived, there were so many people who wanted to re-connect with me, see him and the gals. It was a warm welcome to my lil serious fella. Nice.
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)

About My Little Family

I have three beautiful children who mean the world to me - Ashwini (13), Mira (11) and Dev (5).

Ashwini is an amazing gal. She is a 'thinker' - through and through. She started talking and walking early - before she turned one. She has an impressive vocabulary and is very observant, has a great sense of spatial awareness (she's a walking compass and rarely gets lost) and has a rational way of looking at things (even what she watches on the TV). She showers me with so much love that it makes me feel guilty for not being with her enough. (I wish she could shower her sister with half of that affection she bestows on me. But with sibling rivalry as an unavoidable reality at five years of age, that's asking for the world.)

Ashwini is a busy child with an assortment of learning to juggle - swimming, gym, speech & drama and Tamil language. She has just given up piano and is considering Bharatanatyam (I'm not sure if she's going to take to that but if she does, we'll need to make let something else go 'cos it's the parents who cannot cope!) Of these, she loves speech & drama the most, followed by gym and swimming. Like all other children, she prefers less structure and would rather play at the pool than learn from an instructor! No guesses for what she rather not do:)

Mira is another bundle of joy who arrived in 2005 and I really wanted my second one to bring that extra to the family - the sense of completion - and companionship for Ashwini. And we could never have been more prepared. Armed with an independent spirit, charm and intelligence (as well as a slippery presence) as her arsenal, she has gotten into and out of trouble with sweet innocence. Our and Ashwini's life is indeed more complete - with all her little contributions to life - from stokng the fire to playing with fire and extinguishing the fire. Mira is one highly provocative, communicative and relational child. Mira's first learning will involve swimming, i.e., starting with getting to know water. The rest will be underway.

Dev, (Hari Dev as he is officially named), is the latest addition to the family. A milk guzzler, he's adorable and fun to get to know :) He loves singing and it does not matter what language it is - English, Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi and Chinese. He will pronounce sounds the way he 'hears' them but the tunes will be discernible. It's time he gets some vocal training, and yes, some swimming too cos he believes he can swim!

Mum & Dad's Big Day

Mum & Dad's Big Day
Wedding at Shivagiri 26 October 1966

My mum's family

My mum's family
Growing up in Vettoor, Varkala

About My Extended Family

Extended Family:



Most of my first extended family are in India.



My mother, Jija Bhai, is one of two daughters and one of eight children (yes, she has six brothers!) born to the late Madhavan and Lecthimy in Varkala, Kerala (S.India). The names of their children are in this order: (1)Balaji (passed on), (2)Rajaji, (3)Lalaji, (4)Rajan Babu (passed on), (5)Jija Bhai, (6)Anandha Bhai, (7)Sasi (works in Abu Dhabi) and (8)Chandran. All of my mother's siblings are married with families who in a general way of speaking, are still living in India. And I have many, many cousins whose names I hope to spell out in a family tree one day. I heard from Mummy that it was my second uncle, known as Manian Maaman who gave me my name.



My late father, Sathiya Sidhan (or Sathyaseelan as he was named; one of those things about inaccurate records), was the eldest of TEN children of Damodharan and Bhageerathy. Two of his brothers are in Singapore - Sambhasivan and Susheelan - married with two children each. The rest of his family are in India with the exception of my grandparents who have passed on.



My current extended family are all n Singapore.



My sister, Shanthi, is married to Murali who is an editor. Tara and Raul are their children and share a special bond with Ashwini and Mira. Tara and Ashwini are almost like sisters, having spent their early childhood in my mother's home when my sister and I were working in the day. Leena married Rajendran. They are the favourite Kukumma (oops! Elaiamma as Leena insists that she be termed) and Uncle of the all our children. There's some magic in the air each time they come by, and we are just happy to receive them.