And She's Back... In style!

The sore throat is behind us and Iman is back to her usual self. As a comeback... she decided she was going to "sing" everything she wanted to say. So all day yesterday, she's been adding melody to everything, including her desire to watch TV, go to the bathroom or get something to eat.

It's so funny.

Don't know how long my appreciation will last for this new found style, but for now... I am a happy mommy to have my little chatter box back!

The Silence is Killing Me!!

Normally Iman is a chatterbox. Infact, so much so, that I have to ask her to keep quiet. Her run on sentences and run on thoughts make me crave silence in our house. She can go on and on and on and on and on... you get the picture.

Two days ago she got a sore throat. Poor thing, it's so sore that she hasn't been able to talk. Most of the time she'll answer questions with an "um hmm" and a nod or an "um um" and a shake of the head. She's been so quiet, that even when I try to initiate conversation, most of her replies are hand gestures!

When I called my sister (mother of 4 -- two girls and two boys) she said, "Enjoy the silence while it lasts... because it won't last more than two days!"

As much as I wanted her to be quiet, I really miss having her non stop chatter in the house.

Alone Time

Although this blog is only about Iman and my experiences while raising her... this post has entirely to do with me. But somewhere, there is a parental connection, because like me, all mommies must go through this too!

Yesterday in between classes, I had about 15 minutes where I had nothing to do. All my corrections were done, all papers marked. I didn't want to take a trip down to the staff room, and there was no one in my classroom. Instinctively I called Omair, because I'm not used to not doing anything. He didn't answer... so there I sat.

I had nothing to do AND I was alone. Normal people usually take this time to think about things, but really, I sat there thinking... I have no thoughts! Jokes apart, all moms are always working double time. We're doing something, thinking about something else while planning the next task ALL at the same time. So really, my mind is so cluttered with nonsense that its forgotten to think.

I looked out the window. Nicely manicured soccer field. Boys kicking the ball around. I tried to listen to the sounds, kids were on break so there was that "playground" noise. I had an orange in my bag, so I took that out. And perhaps after the longest time, I ate an orange so peacefully.

And while I ate my perfect orange, I decided that I would find some thoughts of my own. Thoughts that had nothing to do with Iman, Omair or school. Nothing to do with anything. My own personal thoughts. After all, I am a whole person on my own, I should be capable of thinking. So I started with current events. What were my thoughts on today's headlines? Uh oh. I really didn't know today's headlines. Not that I am shelled up in my own little hole, but really, I only catch the news once a week. Really.

Moving right along... what were my thoughts on the current cricket world cup happenings... ok, too painful, can't think about that EVER. Forcefully pushed that out of my mind.

Let's keep going... What movie did I want to see? Damn, I have no idea what's playing or what will be playing. I don't go to the movies.

And by this time my orange was just about finished, and so was my capacity for finding my "own" thoughts. So I came to a conclusion: This is who I am. Mom, Wife, Teacher and Friend. And for what it's worth, my thoughts can only consist of my existence. Trying to look for thoughts to think wouldn't be possible. So I decided to embrace my life for what it was and finished off the last couple of minutes thinking about what to make for dinner :)

And it happens to all of us…

I think we made a good record, Iman is 2 years and 9 months and this is he first time it happened to us.

What is this mystery episode?

The thing all parents dread… when their child breaks something at someone’s house. No matter how closely we watch them, no matter how many times we carry them away from potential “breakables” and no matter how many times we tell them not to touch something, it has to happen one day or the other. And for us, it happened yesterday.

I knew Iman would eventually break something at someone’s house. I just didn’t know where it would be, and what she would break. Nonetheless, in my head, I was prepared with a plan of action…

I would ask Iman acknowledge what she did, then hopefully she would feel remorse. Then I would want her to apologize to the person the item belonged to, and finally I would politely ask to replace the item, whatever it may be. I had even thought as much that if the person declined a replacement, in due time I would “casually” gift them something in return.

And like all good plans… mine wasn’t going to work either.

I was at a good friend’s house and Iman broke a clay plate that her son had made when he was 5. He had shaped it and then painted it all on his own… and my little darling dropped it. Now safe to say, these kinds of things are not replaceable. So even though I had Iman apologize, there was nothing I could do to restore it. This friend of mine is very close to me, and I could tell that there was a hint of sadness when she told me it was ok. Of course it’s not ok. If it was any other plate/glass/frame/ANYTHING, I wouldn’t have felt so bad. But artwork made by her son…

Oh great. When it happened to us, it happened bad.

The Dancing Duo

Last night Iman wore her "whirly twirly" dress. Put on some play back music on her piano and danced for half an hour. And who did she choose to invite to this cool dance party...? Her daddy of course! The two of them danced together for the first time. Not the kind of heartwarming first "dad and daughter" dance, but the crazy, "hands up in the air/wiggle and shake" kind of dance.

The best part was... Iman was teaching Omair what steps to do, and how to move his arms and body. It was too funny to watch.

I got to observe from the side line, since I wasn't invited to this party... but I enjoyed it all the same. I don't think I've ever smiled so much watching two people dance.

Pushing the Limits on Patience...

On my way over to work this morning, Iman decided that she was really going to test my limits...

First, the background info...My drive to work is about half an hour on the freeway. There are no signals or stops, the cars are really fast all around (Dubai traffic :) and most of the drivers are maniacs. So each day is its own battle for survival.

And now... here's the story.

Iman is all strapped into her car seat in the back and decides that she "really needs a hug". So I patiently tell her that I am driving right now, and I will give her a hug when we get to school. A minute later...

Iman: "Can I have my hug now?"...
Me: (patiently...) "We're not at school, I'll give you a hug as soon as I get there."
Iman: "Now?"
Me: (still quite patiently...) "Not now, honey we're still driving, I can't hug you when I am driving, you're going to have to wait until we get to school."
Iman: "mommy?"
Me: "Yes?"
Iman: "I'm really sad... I want a hug."
Me: (gritting my teeth...) "Iman, look at mama, I'm driving right now, I can't give you a hug. Can you wait a little while until we get to school?"
Iman: "ok"

This continues on again off again for another 15 minutes...

Finally I blow my top and answer in a much angrier tone...

Me: "How many times do you want me to tell you that I can't give you a hug right now? I really want to hug you, but I'm driving... you need to wait until I get to school! Ok? No more hugs, don't ask me for a hug... I'm driving. There are NO HUGS when I'm driving. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?"

Iman: (now with her puppy dog eyes...) ok. Then can I have a kiss?

The Stinky Truth

Omair came home really late from a "boy's night out" -- reeking of cigarette smoke. He crawled into bed beside me and Iman.

Somewhere in the middle of the night, Iman half wakes up and tries to literally kick Omair out of bed with her feet. She says to him...

"Baba you stink, you need to take a shower!"