To dear daughter on your first day of School

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!*

My dearest dear Aamu,

Today morning when I opened my eyes, there was something magical about the moment. For the first few minutes I could not move, held captive by the realization that today will be your first day at school!  

 

Then I tiptoed into your room to steal a glance at you, my little one. There you were – up and awake and fussing about getting ready to embark on one of the most important sojourns of life – School. Your mom’s and my eyes met and I am sure we both felt the same thing – our baby is now grown up! 

Time, you old gypsy man,

Will you not stay,

Put up your caravan

Just for one day?**  

You saw and came bundling towards me. As I lovingly picked you and threw you up in the air and back to the safety of my arms; you squealed with delight. You did not want me to put you down; instead gave me one of those special Aamu hugs – a big tight wrap around squeeze with your little arms. I could sense your excitement on the events of this special today as much as you could sense mine. 

Oh, there is so much to share with you. But I hated to pull you out of that moment; you looked amazingly beautiful checking out your new school dress and new shoes (yes; those magical ones!) Pirouetting in front of the mirror like a ballerina; you asked your mom the tenth time to comment on your new get up. Yes sweetheart, you look like a fairy, I nodded in agreement with your mom. 

Hence I am writing this. You could read this once you are back from school or maybe we could go over this together when I return from office. 

Aamu, these are few tips that I am sharing with you, stuff that I and your mom learnt over the years. You could call this experience we want to pass on or simply put, the love and care of two over concerned and over anxious parents. Hahaha! (See, how nervous I am!) 

Ok. So let’s start. 

School –  Twinkle, Twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are? How you are?

 

Sweetie, school is an extension of home where you will have the friendliest of persons – your teacher to take care of you while you are away from us. Respect her. Love her. Listen to her. Ask her any question you want to. Hold her hand whenever you need comfort. Learn as much as you want to. School will also have other children like you. Play with them. Share with them your love and kindness and tiffin. Yes, yes even your favorite noodles! C’mon; mamma will pack you more. Remember; this is just the start – the beginning of an exciting phase in your life. 

Where elephants fly and fishes run

 

Darling, starting today you will learn so many new things. But; like I always tell you - do not believe everything you see or hear. Don’t be afraid to question. Be imaginative – the world is your canvas – splash it in the colors you want to. Mix your colors well. Use bold strokes. Paint the town pink, violet, indigo, magenta! So what if people say elephants can’t fly and fishes can’t run. Smile, roll your eyes over, tilt your head and say – yes, they can! Coz’ in your little heart you know they can. Wink, wink! 

Fight back, Fight hard

Sweetheart, in school you will find other boys and girls of your age. Reach out to them. Talk to them. Have fun with them. Climb trees with them. But when it comes to that one or two special ones choose wisely. These beautiful friendships; and it is okay if you have just one; will be for life. Remember there is no pressure of you belonging to any group. Trust your guts. Be bold. Say no – if there is something you do not want to do. Accept no bully. Oh! School will have many. Stand up for the one who is being bullied. Also don’t bully anyone. Fight back! Fight hard! No being sissy. But no name calling and hitting below the belt. Okay? 

Sssshhh……..I’ll tell Ma and Pa

Little one; now this is going to be tricky. Never do anything that you cannot share with your mom and dad or your teacher. Reach out to us if you find something amiss. Immediately! Whoever asks you to keep mum – beware! Remember you are in a school and not on a secret mission. Don’t worry about time or day or place or people – if you need to ask – ASK – ask for help; if you need to shout - SHOUT – shout for help.    

Well, that will be it for now. I see that you and your mom are almost ready; now it is my turn. After all; today is going to be my first day at your school too!  I promise I will rush back home in the evening, and then together; we can read this.  

Remember doll, you have such fine brains and such fine shoes (yes, those magical ones with wings) and you are off to a great start.  

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way! 

And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.) 

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!* 

Trust your Baba, you will! (Am adding the remaining 1¼ percent) 

Love you my little monkey…and lotsa potsa hugs and kisses! 

God bless!

Yours Baba

 

*Quoted from Dr. Seuss “Oh, the Places You will Go!”

** By Ralph Hodgson

 

To dear daughter on your 2^nd Birthday

                                                              Part 1

30 April 2015

My dearest dearest dear daughter Aamu,

By the time you read this you would have started school and been introduced to the alphabet. I wanted to defer writing this then, however there’s so much to share; that I simply could not hold myself back.

This April you will complete two summers. Wow! A fine young lady you will be!

Time flies. It seems like yesterday when you were wheeled in and handed over to me. I was trembling with excitement. Oh! How I longed to hold you; my little bundle of joy!  Yet I was scared. What if I dropped you?

You were so tiny. The attendant showed me how to swaddle you in a blanket with the folds neat and tight to keep you warm, how to place one hand below your head for support and how to pick you. Don’t tell your mom this – my first attempt came a cropper – I had the blanket in my arms and a naked baby on the bed! Oh! God that “my dad is so clumsy?” look you gave me!

Since then I have practiced hard in all departments of bringing up a daughter. I know I am not a super dad but have not done a shabby job either!

Picking you up the right way, singing your favorite lullabies (your mom tells me I am a horrible singer,) changing your diapers, and replying the nth time to your question: “Ma kothai? Where is Mom?” This is when you could see your mom standing next to you. I love doing it all.

Or when you come running and adsfdfoidfekngngeoq{}|\82093492….that’s you sitting on my laptop keys. Or asking me to play the dolphin video (remember the one in which dolphins do that crazy Zulu dance in the pool) ten times in a row – and each time watching it more curiously than before. And I had to pretend; I too; was enjoying the show!

Or when you would pick things up and throw them with gay abandon without an iota of care for your father’s hard earned money. Or when you would gleefully put your hand in the dustbin and rummage through the discards and on being scolded make such a piteous face and come running and wrap your arms ( the dirty ones of course) around my legs imploring me to pick you up. A moment’s delay would invite your wailing – as if I did not understand you and your crocodile tears!

I have chuckled with every chuckle of yours and cried every time you cried. Each time you call me Baba (father in Bangla) my entire being melts with an unspeakable joy. And my heart goes pitter patter!

Aamu, from you I have learnt the true meaning of unconditional love. You have taught me the ephemeral nature of being. To enjoy in the mundane! To be happy without a reason! If someone were to ask me the single greatest thing you have taught me - it is this – childlike innocence and to see the world around with wonder!

You are curious. You ask a lot of questions. You love to experiment. The rising sun is your friend. The prancing of the squirrel from one bough to another spreads a smile on your lips. You laugh (oh that spirited uninhibited laugh of yours) when you are happy and cry when you are sad. You dance without a care in the world and find it difficult to hold yourself back from splash splashing in the rain.

You have taught these and much more. I feel blessed being a dad and more so in having you as my daughter.

On your birthday Aamu; I wish you all a dad can wish for his daughter – health, happiness and good cheer!

Happy birthday little one - live a blessed and divine life.

Grow up Strong! Grow up Great!

With lots and lots of love, hugs and kisses!

Yours Baba