In a country like India just as population is plenty so is love and affection showered on infants and toddlers by not just grandparents but mamas, mausis, chachas ,the next door neighbour, the aunty who meet them at park ,the friendly grocery store guy, housemaid etc.
This is a thought written by one year old about different kinds of affection... (of course writing his motive of writing this in the end)
GRANDPARENTS - They exist as a pair and love to spoil me. Generally slightly different they very sweetly argue about how to handle me. One is indulgent and would let me do anything within limits while other is protective and takes care of my every need without me even pining for it. This pair loves me so much that they the spoil me every single moment and I feel happy and safe around them. I call them GRANDPARENTS
UNCLES and AUNTS - I divide them into two categories. One with kids and one without kids. Uncles and especially aunts with kids have always advices ready on their lips for mom. Often they would spend a lot of time telling mama and dada what to do and what not to do and how their kids were(their kids happen to be smart always)!!! Uncles and aunts without kids are more experimental than experienced. They do not have any "right or wrong" thoughts and I constantly remain an object of wonder and fun to them. I love my aunts and uncles with kids since I get to play with their toys. I love my aunts and uncles without kids even more since they always have more time to play with em and carry me around (yipiee)
THAT FRIENDLY NEIGHBOUR- I see him everyday greeting me with a smile when he walks by our home. Occasionally he would carry me to his house and I would be with a biscuit or chocolate when I return.
HOUSEMAID : the only stranger I trust. Of course she would never disappoint me when I throw up my arms to be lifted. I talk to her the most and especially stand in awe of her as I see her brooming and moping the floor. The only person whose activity I keep watching with lots of interest. I wave goodbye to her everyday when she goes away.
Well, the love showered on me is plenty right from the hospital staff (after my birth) and other friendly strangers on the lift moment I was in my mother's lap moving out of hospital to home to the nice aunty who goes to park everyday and would even inquire about me if I am absent for one day to that friendly local shopkeeper to even the autowaalas when they look at me peeping out from the car.
MOMMY: She is supposed to be and always would be important person. She may not shower much affection and attention on me all the time but I feel a strange sensation of familiarity, a comfortable familiarity. if she is in a joint family, she may not be with me all the time but would never let a day pass by without giving me that affectionate hug and kiss however busy she is. If she is in a nuclear family she would take care of every single need of mine. No one has taught me, but I use the word ammma exclusively reserved for her.
This person is bigger and taller than mamma. Plays more than mamma, spoils me more than mamma, gets more upset if he spots a teeny weeny scratch on me. gets me toys even if I am less than a month, keeps me in his arms most of the time. If mamma preserves and nurtures life before birth then he does so after birth throughout his youth until he turns old. He is big and strong and yet a softie at heart. He is DADDY.
As I turn one I am dedicating this post to my daddy dearest who is not with me right now but in another country. I LOVE YOU DADDY :)
