Bless you!

I sneeze. A lot. It’s called rhinitis. Lil Reuel’s used to a blessing every time she sneezes and she returns the gesture every time someone at home sneezes. Naana-naani just have to get blessed by her hand when they sneeze.

Last night, as I put her to sleep, there was an inappropriately timed sneezing attack. As I cringed at the thought of the baby waking up, I felt a little hand on my head. Thankfully she was still sleeping but with every sneeze her little hand rested upon my head. My heart leapt with gratefulness at the tiny, selfless and unconscious gesture. May she be a source of blessing to hundreds around the world. :-)

Picture credit: bebo.com

Vaccinations continue to be painful

Lil Reuel’s used to always coming to me every time she gets hurt – scrapes, falls, bug bites, even the imaginary ones included. The hurts are hugged and kissed away so naturally she’s never seen me as the cause of any of her pains. I’m the one who makes them disappear.

A couple of months ago, she had to go in for a couple of shots. The nurse asked me to hold her in my arms as she injected my baby on her arms and thighs. The little one sat trustingly on my lap and then she suddenly felt the needle prick. I saw a momentary look of horror pass through her face before she let out a cry that reached into the deepest recesses of my heart. I imagined her question was how I could let someone cause her pain. I had no words to explain to her as I hugged her close until the turtle in the fish tank grabbed her attention. Thank God for that aquarium though. It’s quieted many-a-child’s injection related tears.

Picture credit: citris-uc.org

And now it’s Tom and Jerry

I was eleven when I first saw the universally adored cat and mouse team. The time coincided with the arrival of the television and the VCR at home. My brother and I fell in love with them and the cartoons. The videotape was played almost everyday until we knew the order of the sequences. They continued to remain among my favorites amidst Bambi and Simba and scores more.

And, in time, the cartoons were replaced by other favorites but they were in a cherished area of my memories. It seemed, therefore appropriate, to introduce our princess to them. However, I was horrified, to say the least. There just seemed to be a lot of whacking, chasing, destruction, vengeance and other undesirable attributes. At eleven, I enjoyed it no end but I’m re-thinking about allowing two-year-old Reuel to watch them.

I don’t think I’m ready for any Tom-and-Jerry style imitations, just yet.

Picture credit: blog.tystoybox.com