Childhood Memories: Of playing 'Yes Boss', Yummy Nugget Frying Moments & lots more

Most of our childhood is stored not in photos but in certain biscuits, lights of day, smells, textures of carpet. - Alain de Botton

One of the most beautiful aspects about being a mother is to experience the world through a child's innocent and playful gaze. When my son looks back to his childhood days, I truly hope that these are some of the things that he will remember fondly and perhaps share as part of the 'Down Memory Lane' conversations as an adult.

When You are a No-Nonsense Mom - Not "Son is King" type

My boy has grown up with fun times with his easy going mother, who despite struggling with 24X7 work related tasks, kitchen chores and other odd jobs, makes sure that she raises a confident, down-to-earth and positive thinking kid who often tries his hand at being a brat. Whenever Adi's playmates would come with complaints about him, I would listen to each of them and tell them that yes, it is wrong if he did what he did and I would make Adi understand this and apologise. The enthusiasm with which his playmates took to this pattern is another hilarious story altogether, especially the ones who had an axe to grind with the brat.

This mom doesn't give him the 'Son is King and never at fault' routine and she grills him whenever it is required, asks him to pitch in to go buy groceries, keep his plate back in the kitchen after eating, tidy up and sort the laundry and clean up his small toy areas that he is prone to dumping toys onto. 

Sounds like Monster Mom in today's age of non-stop pampering! 

Childhood Memories: Playing 'Yes Boss' 

How many kids get their moms to acknowledge them as 'BOSS' once a month? Just for the fun of it, here's a slightly eccentric mom who insists that her kid plays the Boss at least once a month wherein he gets to choose everything!

From eating a pizza, letting him watch cartoons for half a day or munch packet crisps that he loves to indulge in. And every time he gives an order, Mom says "Yes, Boss. Your wish is my command." And then the two of them giggle together. 

But the realistic Mom tells him firmly, "In the real world, bosses and employees don't work like this. No one really orders another to do something. Every task has a milestone and a reason to get done. Work is shared and it helps both people to grow and learn from each other gradually towards a point of friendship and mentoring that is valued with trust. This is just a chilled out game, so don't ever think you can boss anyone like this in real life."

Sleepless during Singing Time

Sleep time is our best 'bonding' time together right from baby days. It is when a child is most open yet vulnerable and the need to feel secure and loved is more than words can express. It's the time when I sing songs ranging from famous melodies like Dakshinamurthy's "Paatu paadi urakaam njaan" which instantly puts Adi to sleep or a hymn that is a family favorite 'Away in a Manger". Sometimes the roles get reversed and Mom asks son to sing a lullaby for her. Result: Both end up singing together instead of getting some sleep. Adi's best songs are "God's love, its so Wonderful" and "Que Sera Sera" - which brings smiles all around.

Childhood Memories: Nugget Frying Moments

Delicious nugget frying moments when we seem to shout numbers at each other like "How many?" or "3 or 4?" and so on. Experimental moments when Mom tries hard to market her dish to the fussy food eater. Some 'best selling' experiments in the kitchen include Grated Potato and Cheese omelets, Macaroni Cheese and Creamy Garlic Potatoes. 

We've Got Our Share Of Teary Moments

Emotional, tear-jerker moments when Mom and Son hug each other and cry as if it's the end of the world over little secrets they share only between themselves and promise each other never to reveal to anyone else!

Like Adi loves to sing "Que Sera, Sera" - "What will be, will be."