Of shopping tantrums and pink shoes

Over the last couple of weeks we landed up making 3 shopping trips. And each was just that - a trip! Here are the stories.
1. Trip to the mall to buy RK clothes for his b'day - We left early so we could come back in time for dinner. DT was great about getting dinner ready so we could leave as soon as I got home. RK sat in the stroller for exactly 5 mins. The first tantrum was to walk and by himself too without holding hands. So somehow we reached the store we wanted to go to after 15 mins or so with RK walking/running by himself all over and exploring. At the clothes store he was a doll (can I say that about a boy?) and sat and watched a little bit of TV and even stood up so DT and I could measure the pants on him! Bright t-shirts in red, orange and green were bought. One with a mammoth (elephant for RK) with a googly eye even! As we proceeded to leave the store, me with the bags and DT with the folded up stroller, RK wanted to be carried. 'Thooki' he demanded. We smiled and rolled our eyes at each other. 'Thooki' he screamed and we gave in. DT carried him and we came home exhausted but happy with our purchases.
2. Trip to buy RK shoes. We had planned this for the first trip but one tantrum later we left. And this had to be another trip. RK has been wearing the same shoes for almost a year now and we figured it was time to get him a bigger pair. Again it took us a good 20 mins to reach the last store in that line of stores at the mall with RK walking/running by himself half the way. He also wanted to get on and off the escalator all by himself. And then as we were nearing the store he demanded to be carried. My patience at an end, DT carried him the rest of the way. Once in the store, for the first couple of pairs that I selected RK cooperated by trying them on. By that I mean he would obligingly wear a pair and then run away into other aisles to tease me. He then picked up a pink pair of slip-ons with a big glittery flower. This must have been a good 4 sizes bigger than his size. RK then threw a tantrum demanding we buy him that one! He stretched himself out and stomped away! LOL... DT had a great time with that - teasing me and egging him on. Anyways we walked away with a boring grey pair with a yellow streak for color and a standard black pair of open sandals. Joys of having a boy here in the US!
3. Trip to buy b'day gifts for upcoming b'day parties. We had 3 kids to buy gifts for. We went to the local Walmart. There RK saw a puzzle that he has. And next to it a similar one but different from what he has. RK wanted the puzzle so DT got it out and asked him what everything on the puzzle was etc. And then we had to keep it back since we were not planning to buy him a toy. He just had a b'day and has enough of them. Besides this puzzle was similar to one he already has. (Why am I explaining this here?) However RK wanted it. He started to throw a tantrum and was distracted by the chalk that we bought for him. He then threw a tantrum at the billing counter for keeping the chalk on the billing counter. It didnt help that the cashier was most unhappy about me not asking for a gift receipt before him billing the toys! However this did not end there. The next evening we were on our way back home from buying groceries. And RK out of the blue says 'RK kku Walmart lerenthu antha puzzle vaangi kudu amma'. (Buy that puzzle from Walmart for RK). We were stumped. Anyways DT said yes and joined in the chorus with him and my boys gave me a hard time. I am contemplating doing all the shopping by myself from now on. Who needs the boys to go shopping anyways :-)

Tantrums are here II

It is a tad too cold to take RK to the park. So I take him for a walk around the block promising a glimpse of the neighborhood dog and cat. We couldn't see either nevertheless...RK got excited about walking on the grass. And there is only so much grass though little shrubs, mud, stones etc all qualify. At one point he sat down at the edge of a patch of grass and declared 'Amma RK grass'. I said you are on the grass. He then said 'RK grass walk'. I just could not convince him that is exactly what we were/are/will be doing. It was an LOL moment for me! I score a laugh!

One fine morning...
4:45 AM
RK: Amma...thooki (mom, pick me up)
Me: Ignore once
RK: Amma...thooookiii
Me:Ignore twice
RK: Ammmmmmaaaa..thookiiiiii
Me: I get up to pat him back to sleep and in the process find that his clothes are wet. Diaper gave in. So I have to now change his diaper and get a new bodysuit on. I bring him to the bed, lay a sheet and lay him down.
RK: Howls...amma..thoooki..
Me: RK, diaper change, dress change then taachi (sleep)
RK is not convinced. He howls all the while with me trying to lift him a little, soothe him a little and get his changing going. DT reaches out to RK lovingly and tries to soothe him. RK gets mad and swats his hand away. Then he says..
RK: Amma, pillow
Thats when I realize RK wants to make sure he is sleeping on the bed post all this changing! Grrrr...and hee hee. Things quieten down. RK gets to sleep on the bed. RK scores one?!

3:00 PM - Saturday afternoon
DT is heating up milk for RK. I am carrying him around cause he will howl if I put him down. RK is sleepy and that means fussy! DT attempts to pour milk in the sipper.
RK (howls): Antha sippy paal (That sippy milk)
DT: Which sippy?
RK (points to one he wants)
DT proceeds to wash that sipper with RK howling all through demanding milk in that sipper only. Of course the sipper is not ready for him. And in the end RK gets his milk in 'antha' (that) sippy too! RK scores one more!

Tantrums are here I

And they are here. Hands flailing, legs kicking, its tantrum time. They come in various forms too. Captured are some of golden moments...I am sure the platinum are awaiting the right day and time (muhurat)

3 AM: RK in crib, DT and me in bed right next to the crib
RK: Amma...(wails)...Thooki (pick me up)
Me: Taachi pannu..allarumay taachi (Go back to bed, everyone is asleep)
RK: Amma, thooki...crib taachi no no..RK bed taachi
So of course it being a Saturday night when DT and me stayed up with LOST (ahem, the series) and me being too bleary eyed to protest he got to come to the bed. RK scores one!

8:15 AM: We are trying to get RK to have his milk in a sipper and leave the prized bottled. Ooh,..what terrible parents we are!
RK: Paal (milk)
Me: RK, ethula paal kudikanum? (What must RK drink his milk in?)
RK: Silent,..looking at me. Sad puppy eyes already starting to take shape.
Me: RK sipper la paal kudikanum. I go on to name his friends that have moved on from the bottle (whether or not they have!)
RK is put in his chair. He refuses to open his mouth for the sipper spout. He is constantly talking, repeating etc. but nothing goes in. I insist. Hand flail...legs kick. His forehead creases. He develops a sniggering cry (if you know what I mean!). He pushes the sipper bottle away, his hands clear anything in their way. God forbid we make the mistake of keeping anything close by that can tear, break, fall etc. I give up. Tantrum successful. RK scores one!

More to come...