Our son has been a constant source of delight throughout our lives, filling our days with unexpected moments of humor and wonder. While we’ll keep the specifics private, the memories we’ve collected are too precious not to share in some way. Here are a few lighthearted anecdotes that we hope will bring a smile to your face.
#1
One of the earliest quirks we noticed was his unique way with names. Until he was around five or six years old, he had this funny habit of shortening the names of his playmates. Prabhakar became “Pakar,” Shyamprasad morphed into “Shampoo,” and there were several other amusing variations. It was never something we did, so we always chuckled, imagining it was just his way of hurrying things along in his eagerness to play. Thankfully, this spontaneous renaming phase eventually passed as he grew a little older.
#2
Moving into his school years, there was an incident during his 11th standard Economics class at Demonstration School in Mysore that still makes us laugh. Apparently, he was being a bit chatty and was asked to step outside as a consequence. Instead of just standing there, he positioned himself by the window, peering into the classroom. Moments later, his accomplished teacher posed a question to the class. When silence met her inquiry, our son, from his vantage point outside, quietly offered the correct answer. The teacher, likely bemused and perhaps a little defeated that her brightest student was solving problems from exile, had no choice but to invite him back in.
#3
His attendance record on Saturdays during his two years at Demonstration School remains a bit of a mystery. Somehow, he managed to consistently skip school on Saturdays and stay home. We still don’t quite know how he pulled that off!
#4
Another consistent trait throughout his school days was his apparent aversion to homework at home. As far as our memories serve us, he simply never did it once he walked through the door.
#5
Then there were his mysterious disappearances after evening snacks. One moment he’d be there, the next, poof! He’d seemingly vanish into thin air.
#6
We also had a little discovery under his bed one time – a collection of Kurkure and potato chip packets. We suspect a clandestine partnership with his grandfather in this particular indulgence!
#7
During our time in Bangalore, he seemed to catch colds and infections quite frequently. Wanting to avoid a constant cycle of antibiotics, we decided to try a homeopath. This doctor had a clinic that could politely be described as “unconventional” in its cleanliness, and he spoke loudly in a rural dialect of Kannada that even I, with a decent grasp of the language, struggled to understand. As we walked home after the appointment, our then four or five-year-old son, holding my hand, declared firmly, “I don’t want this Kannada medium doctor!” His little mind had clearly processed more than we thought.
#8
One evening, while enjoying snacks at Nalpak restaurant, I suggested to my wife that she cut a piece of our son’s dosa, thinking it might be too much for him. Amidst the usual restaurant buzz, my wife noticed his plate wasn’t moving. Our son, with surprising determination, was quietly holding the plate steady with his tiny fingers, clearly intent on finishing it all himself.
#9
Surprisingly, considering his earlier aversion to the “Kannada medium doctor,” he consistently scored the highest marks in his Kannada subject at school. The irony? His tutor was my wife, whose Kannada skills were, shall we say, less proficient than his!
#10
Finally, one heartwarming memory from when he was just a few months old. My father was visiting us and one morning, as he walked from the dining room to the balcony with his hot cup of coffee, he inadvertently passed by his grandson in his stroller without saying hello. Our son, not yet able to sit or walk, noticed this oversight. He let out a sudden, loud howl, startling everyone and effectively forcing his grandfather to backtrack, greet him, and give him a pat.
We truly cherish these moments, big and small, that our son has gifted us. If these little stories have brought a smile to your face, please feel free to share them with your own friends and family.
Let’s spread a little joy and make their day a bit brighter too!
