Watching Them Growing!

I can not stop the time, in fact no when can. But yes! We can record them and reproduce as per our will. The journey has been tough though. Here is my attempt to capture a few moments.

We are in the most fortunate time of our life when we can enjoy watching our grand kids growing and developing new skills every now and then.

Both of us are working hard to add value to the course of development of our lovely kids. The best part is that they listen to us most of the time.

At this stage of life, there has been phenomenal Achaements in their activities. We continue to work towards development of their personal skills and activities rigorously.

It gives a big thrill and satisfaction to us when we see them biking, swimming, knitting, cooking, gardening or learning a new language. While Shiv continues to watch and help them on Piano and Cello classes.

But at times, it becomes really hard when we have to divert their attention from their favorite activities like TV watching, gaming and doing computer stuff. 

Getting harsh at them at times in the process is painful but the good thing is the kids forget all this next moment but our pain carries on for long time.

I am reminded of a beautiful poem written by Kay Theese

"AS I WATCH YOU GROW"

Do you know how much you mean to me?

As you grow what you will be.

You come from within, from just beneath my heart.

its there you'll always be, though your own life will now start.

I know sometimes to you I seem so harsh and so unfair,

But one day you will see, I taught you well as I care

You must stand up tall and proud, within you feel no fear,

For all your dreams and goals sit before you very near

These Kiddos!

The Sunday evening is usually a lazy time. After getting up relaxingly in the morning, we get ready to proceed to Gurdwara. That has been a normal routine after settling in United States of America since 1991.

Langar makes you further lazy and we dose off for a short nap in the afternoon. The tea at 4.00 PM really wakes you up.

The kiddos have already got commitments for a dinner treatment at their favorite places.

Today we decided to stay home. We had lot of green salad some fruits and roasted bread slices followed by refreshing green tea.

We enjoyed couple of TV serials on Indian Channels bombarded with Bolywood movies and music. We wait till kids return after the dinner.

Gobind rushes in first to enquire of grandma how was her shoulder doing? Here comes Jania rushing to give a hug to each of us and simultaneously offering each of us a mint Candy which she collected from the restaurant. She typically behaves like a loving daughter who can not forget her parents even if they eat away from them separately. She manages to bring something to eat for her grandparents.

Daughter will always remain daughters! Love you kiddos.

Jania Kapoor Learning Punjabi

I have been purposely going slow in teaching Punjabi language to Jania. I find different problems with each kids. I spotted some problems with Gobind and focused on rectifying the mistakes, after that he was learning much faster and enjoyed his Punjabi Learning.

Weekend Activities

In case of Jania, she was finding it difficult to recognize the letters, so I made her to speak and write the Punjabi alpha-bets repeatedly. Her problem was that after her vacations or long week ends, the Punjabi letters were wiped off from her mind. After such adventures, her mind was like a fresh clean slate where nothing like Punjabi was ever written.

I tried to concentrate on this issue, As I, now, knew where was the bug? So I stopped allowing her long gaps of furloughs with no exposure to Punjabi learning.

In view of this, I started giving her frequent lessons of shorter duration of one to two minutes every now and then several times in a day. I shall take out my iPhone and pull out the Punjabi letter screen and ask her to read out one or two times. I also followed by random checking of letters. this gave her lot of confidence in storing them in her mind.

I knew she was tired of me as I asked her to do writing exercise on a writing board of our little Geet. Now as a good pupil she started writing on the Board. 

When I checked, I was shocked to see the whole Writing Board was filled up with Only two Letters shown above. And when confronted she relied that she was asked to write ਓ, ਅ and hence I wrote the same ਓ, ਅ, no less no more. This made me laugh whole heartedly instead of getting mad.

It is really strange to note how the kids can maneuver things in their favor. I am still laughing while writing this blog.

But I am glad to inform that Jania is adept in remembering the letters and is on the way to learn full Punjabi course.

Gobind Initiated To Reading Sri Guru Granth Sahib

Gobind is being guided for reading Sri Guru Granth Sahib by Grandpa.

Gobind was trained repeatedly to learn the following hymn 'Mangalacharan' by heart as the Guru's Hukamnama has to be read after this hymn. It is not a 'Must' as my Dad who trained Harvinder used to to say simply 'Waheguru, Waheguru' to make it simple.

Gobind was asked to wash hands and face before proceeding for taking 'Hukamnama'.

Shiv advised Gobind to sing this 'Mangalacharan Shabad' melodiously rather simply reciting. This made a phenomenal difference to his presentation. A new phenomenon was born, Gobind was into singing too.

Joining letter to letter and reading word by word carefully.

Gobind has been going to Khalsa School every Sunday for studying Punjabi so that he has the tools to learn Sikh Scriptures in its original language they were written. We made it a point to send both Gobind and Jania to Khalsa Schools first in San Jose Gurdwara Khalsa School and again for couple of years in  Fremont Gurdwara School. The kids did not take interest and the parents also got disgusted for traveling long distances and decided to abandon the studies after a couple of years. 

Frustrated as we were, we again tried for a year in San Jose Gurdwara Khalsa School. This also did not work

Observing how to open holy book while using the Chaur to fan Sri Guru Granth Sahib as a sign of reverence and respect for the Scriptures.

While the kids of entire community were progressing and enjoying the Punjabi Classes in Khalsa Schools, both Gobind and Jania were lagging so behind. Being an ardent and passionate follower of Sikhism and our family adopting and practicing Sikh way of life, we felt so small.

Shiv suggested as he himself was introduced to initial Punjabi learning by his grandfather and my Dad late Sardar Vas Dev Singh, it will be a good idea if the kiddos are taught by their grandpa now.

So it fell upon me to teach Gobind and Jania this arduous task of teaching a foreign language though our own.

But to a great surprise of me and family, Gobind became adept in reading and writing Punjabi on fifth day itself. Jania is also not lagging behind.

Gobind was also able to read Jap Ji Sahib and Ardaas in Punjabi language itself. So we decided to introduce Gobind for initiation of Sri Granth Sahib reading for the first time in his life. And after the initiation, Gobind is very excited and would be glad to learn Hindi language too.

Very well done Gobind!

Gobind Jania Armoured with New Bike Gears