Its been ages since I wrote my blog. Among the many promises that I keep making to myself, and breaking, one more is to be regular in blogging.
The core idea popped up in my head today morning during my walk (another promise to myself) when I smilingly recollected how my son, Anirudh, used to address relatives who came to our house and used some nickname to call him. For example, my cousin would come to visit us and would call out "Vaaareees" to Ani. In time, my cousin became Varis peripa for Anirudh. My brother in law would call my sons "Somaari dai, Somberi dai". In time, he came to be called "Somaari dai Athimber" by Anirudh and others followed suit. Another brother in law used to tease Anirudh as "Aani" and slowly converted that to "Nail". So he became "Nail Athimber". Kids know to give back what they get. And when they do so, we have nowhere to hide, since that will stick with them.
I realized that this nature is not quite unique to my sons, when I visit my nephew whose daughter, Diya calls her grandfather Porukki thatha and grandmother Kuppi paati. The reasons for her calling them thus is a no-brainer.
So let us be careful how we address kids. Who knows they will start calling us by the same name later. Let me tell you, Anirudh even now refers to the relatives the same way he did 20 years ago!
The core idea popped up in my head today morning during my walk (another promise to myself) when I smilingly recollected how my son, Anirudh, used to address relatives who came to our house and used some nickname to call him. For example, my cousin would come to visit us and would call out "Vaaareees" to Ani. In time, my cousin became Varis peripa for Anirudh. My brother in law would call my sons "Somaari dai, Somberi dai". In time, he came to be called "Somaari dai Athimber" by Anirudh and others followed suit. Another brother in law used to tease Anirudh as "Aani" and slowly converted that to "Nail". So he became "Nail Athimber". Kids know to give back what they get. And when they do so, we have nowhere to hide, since that will stick with them.
I realized that this nature is not quite unique to my sons, when I visit my nephew whose daughter, Diya calls her grandfather Porukki thatha and grandmother Kuppi paati. The reasons for her calling them thus is a no-brainer.
So let us be careful how we address kids. Who knows they will start calling us by the same name later. Let me tell you, Anirudh even now refers to the relatives the same way he did 20 years ago!
