1. Aditya was almost 100% flexible with using restrooms on time as a way of taking care of himself. The only time he seemed rigid was at this restaurant when he insisted he would try only No.1 not No.2. This is food for thought for Baba as he knows he gets super-sensitive and demanding about cleanliness in that situation:-)
2. Aditya added 3 new take away menu's to his ever growing collection of "Take Away Menu's of the World"! In one case, sweet sister reminded he could ask for a take away menu at this restaurant, and later in the car they even discussed the menu. Aditya returned the favor by being really interested in talking about dogs. (How beautiful!) In every case, Aditya went up to the cashier and asked if that was the take out menu, and if so could he take it? Of course, they all happily agreed to this beautiful 7 year old customer taking away one copy of their take away menu!
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Lake Tahoe!
The family visited Lake Tahoe over the long weekend.
Every time we visit this place, we see a new and improved Aditya. This time, was no exception!
For one, Aditya didn't even care to look at the microwave in the hotel room. (Two years ago, the microwave in the hotel room was why he wanted to go on vacation.)
Other than that, he had a great time in general, and in specific doing the following things:
1. Watch cars passing by and proudly tell their makes and models often times ahead of sister
2. Take photos using his very own digital camera and gladly share it with us if we asked to borrow it
3. Ask where we are every once in a while (but not as if to "ism" about it)
4. Join sister in her conversations about dogs (which is her own "ism")
5. Join all of us in the family in a discussion about what dog to have if we will ever have one
6. Become Baba's helper in getting breakfast for everybody from the hotel lobby
Some of his own isms were-
1. Reminding dad of how many more miles can we go without refilling the gas
2. Ask food related questions
3. Ask where will be the next meal
4. Ask if we were in California or Nevada (Lake Tahoe is on the border)
On one occasion when Aditya was asking food related questions while Baba was discussing the day's plans with Aai, Baba told him how as a stage 5 person he could actually check in using his eyes if Baba was interested and listening, and if so ask his questions, not otherwise. He could try it, and it would be okay if he could not wait. But he did! I noticed it a whole minute later when I accidentally looked at him. There he was, looking at me in the eye, with his eyes lit up! I smiled back, to which he said, "Now cheer me up in volume 26". We all happily obliged and cheered him up!
He also had a gala time doing Bungee Jumping. He found it challenging at times and when he did, he told so to the guy who was running the show!
We also met here one of Baba's old school friends who happened to be in Lake Tahoe at the same time! Aditya did not seem particularly interested in this social situation, but was not bothered by it either. He asked what he could do (such as run around or go Bungee Jumping) while the grown ups did their thing (talking).
The icing on the cake was when we returned to our hometown and Aditya exclaimed, "We are near home". Only a year ago, he had asked me if we were in America when we returned home from some place!
Every time we visit this place, we see a new and improved Aditya. This time, was no exception!
For one, Aditya didn't even care to look at the microwave in the hotel room. (Two years ago, the microwave in the hotel room was why he wanted to go on vacation.)
Other than that, he had a great time in general, and in specific doing the following things:
1. Watch cars passing by and proudly tell their makes and models often times ahead of sister
2. Take photos using his very own digital camera and gladly share it with us if we asked to borrow it
3. Ask where we are every once in a while (but not as if to "ism" about it)
4. Join sister in her conversations about dogs (which is her own "ism")
5. Join all of us in the family in a discussion about what dog to have if we will ever have one
6. Become Baba's helper in getting breakfast for everybody from the hotel lobby
Some of his own isms were-
1. Reminding dad of how many more miles can we go without refilling the gas
2. Ask food related questions
3. Ask where will be the next meal
4. Ask if we were in California or Nevada (Lake Tahoe is on the border)
On one occasion when Aditya was asking food related questions while Baba was discussing the day's plans with Aai, Baba told him how as a stage 5 person he could actually check in using his eyes if Baba was interested and listening, and if so ask his questions, not otherwise. He could try it, and it would be okay if he could not wait. But he did! I noticed it a whole minute later when I accidentally looked at him. There he was, looking at me in the eye, with his eyes lit up! I smiled back, to which he said, "Now cheer me up in volume 26". We all happily obliged and cheered him up!
He also had a gala time doing Bungee Jumping. He found it challenging at times and when he did, he told so to the guy who was running the show!
We also met here one of Baba's old school friends who happened to be in Lake Tahoe at the same time! Aditya did not seem particularly interested in this social situation, but was not bothered by it either. He asked what he could do (such as run around or go Bungee Jumping) while the grown ups did their thing (talking).
The icing on the cake was when we returned to our hometown and Aditya exclaimed, "We are near home". Only a year ago, he had asked me if we were in America when we returned home from some place!
Friday, May 25, 2012
He is noticing our faces!
Scene 1. Aditya and Aai are in the car.
"But why are we picking up Alyssa (name changed, her brother is in Aditya's class) right now?" "Because.... " says Aai, and begins telling the reason.
"Hey do you like to eat blueberries or strawberries?" comes the next question before she is even done answering.
Roll of eyes from Aai.
Aditya must have watched that, because then he said, "You get to say", allowing her to complete telling what the reason was for picking up Alyssa.
Scene 2.
Aditya is asking Baba, "Do you think eating organic tofu is better than eating conventional eggs?"
(Our son loves talking about food, food ethics, organic foods, and everything else you can think of about food "and where food comes from.) Baba began answering passionately because it is a topic close to his heart too. "Hey do you think Honda Civic is a better car than Toyota Corolla?" came the next question before Baba was done. Something changed on Baba's face. (Must have been a exhausted expression.)
"You get to complete what you were saying" said Aditya!
"But why are we picking up Alyssa (name changed, her brother is in Aditya's class) right now?" "Because.... " says Aai, and begins telling the reason.
"Hey do you like to eat blueberries or strawberries?" comes the next question before she is even done answering.
Roll of eyes from Aai.
Aditya must have watched that, because then he said, "You get to say", allowing her to complete telling what the reason was for picking up Alyssa.
Scene 2.
Aditya is asking Baba, "Do you think eating organic tofu is better than eating conventional eggs?"
(Our son loves talking about food, food ethics, organic foods, and everything else you can think of about food "and where food comes from.) Baba began answering passionately because it is a topic close to his heart too. "Hey do you think Honda Civic is a better car than Toyota Corolla?" came the next question before Baba was done. Something changed on Baba's face. (Must have been a exhausted expression.)
"You get to complete what you were saying" said Aditya!
How would you feel if we told you we enjoy repetitive questioning?
How would you feel if you saw tacos filled with green beans?
How would you feel if you saw tacos filled with black beans but no sour cream?
How would you feel if you saw an electric guitar with pedals that help it resonate?
How would you feel if you saw a man tuning strings that hit the hammer inside of a piano?
How would you feel if you saw a piano with three pedals to control treble, bass, and volume?
How would you feel if you saw a piano that uses no electronics but can be made to sound louder without using buttons?
What do you like better? Corn tortillas or wheat tortillas? Why?
What do you like better? Electric guitar or a piano? Why?
Baba was watching this interaction between Aai and Aditya. Aai not only joined Aditya by answering his "how would you feel if you saw" questions, she even enthusiastically introduced the idea of speaking from behind an invisible voice-twisting machine as she answered his questions. The result was a child who was finding her "predictable and controllable as objects" but "way too creative" unlike objects.
How would you feel if you saw tacos filled with black beans but no sour cream?
How would you feel if you saw an electric guitar with pedals that help it resonate?
How would you feel if you saw a man tuning strings that hit the hammer inside of a piano?
How would you feel if you saw a piano with three pedals to control treble, bass, and volume?
How would you feel if you saw a piano that uses no electronics but can be made to sound louder without using buttons?
What do you like better? Corn tortillas or wheat tortillas? Why?
What do you like better? Electric guitar or a piano? Why?
Baba was watching this interaction between Aai and Aditya. Aai not only joined Aditya by answering his "how would you feel if you saw" questions, she even enthusiastically introduced the idea of speaking from behind an invisible voice-twisting machine as she answered his questions. The result was a child who was finding her "predictable and controllable as objects" but "way too creative" unlike objects.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Showing off!
We just had an interview with another interested future team member. As usual Aditya was part of the interview process.
We still remember the 4 and 5 year old Aditya who would interview a person by asking them about their first favorite color, their second favorite color, their third favorite color, and so on!
Today, almost no such questions. Instead, he asked his new-friend-to-be, "What's your hobby"? WOW! And this was after she had asked him, "What is your favorite thing to do?" And even then Aditya did not ask her back, "What is your favorite thing to do?" but asked it using a different phrase. One more time... I am closing my eyes and saying... WOW! Go Aditya!
Now to the highlight of this interview.
The person seemed to have played 3 musical instruments in her life! How cool. Our son who loves to know and read and talk about musical instruments was visibly happy. Soon after she asked him if he liked any instruments and Aditya shyly replied he is already learning the acoustic guitar.
On everyone's request then he played the notes of the scale (Do-Re-Mi... or Sa-Re-Ga). By the way for someone who has been playing it for only a month, he was super-fluent!
A little later we requested him to go back to his room, but he said, "After I play it backwards". He then demonstrated his newly learned skill of playing the notes of the scale backwards!
How cool! Our son actually "showed off"!!!
We still remember the 4 and 5 year old Aditya who would interview a person by asking them about their first favorite color, their second favorite color, their third favorite color, and so on!
Today, almost no such questions. Instead, he asked his new-friend-to-be, "What's your hobby"? WOW! And this was after she had asked him, "What is your favorite thing to do?" And even then Aditya did not ask her back, "What is your favorite thing to do?" but asked it using a different phrase. One more time... I am closing my eyes and saying... WOW! Go Aditya!
Now to the highlight of this interview.
The person seemed to have played 3 musical instruments in her life! How cool. Our son who loves to know and read and talk about musical instruments was visibly happy. Soon after she asked him if he liked any instruments and Aditya shyly replied he is already learning the acoustic guitar.
On everyone's request then he played the notes of the scale (Do-Re-Mi... or Sa-Re-Ga). By the way for someone who has been playing it for only a month, he was super-fluent!
A little later we requested him to go back to his room, but he said, "After I play it backwards". He then demonstrated his newly learned skill of playing the notes of the scale backwards!
How cool! Our son actually "showed off"!!!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Out little boy is growing up so quickly!
A couple of weeks ago, Baba with his car got into an accident. Thankfully, no injuries to Baba or anyone in the other cars involved, but the car was damaged to the "point of no return". In other words, it was declared a total loss by the insurance company.
We would get a rental car so Baba could still go to work. We also began looking for a new or used (but new for us) car.
Aditya was very curious about how the accident happened. Maybe a bit anxious (who wouldn't be!) but nothing compared to how he would be in a similar situation when he was, say, 4.
A day later, we played out the accident in the playroom with he being his favorite SUPERMAN and saving me from the accident by pulling the car with an imaginary rope!
Over the next weekend, the family went to several different dealerships, test drove cars, and the twins both opined on the quality of the ride, the color etc! (Aditya actually told us he loved riding a manual transmission car. The shifting of gears was probably a very "sensory" experience!)
At one dealership (where we eventually bought our new car), the sales manager was super-friendly and asked the kids what colors they liked for a test drive car.
"Red", said Aditya with spontaneity and, what seemed like a drive to respond first (i.e. before his sister) to the question! (Another first! Hurray!)
At another dealership as we approached the last minutes of negotiations and deal-making Aditya was super-patient and taking care of himself by running and spinning around, yet "aware" of what was going on.
When that deal did not work out, he was flexible. He asked why we were not going to buy it (since we had said we would buy... only minutes ago) and totally accepted our answer about how it was beyond our "budget"!
Once we finally got our new car (which was RED)... he again patiently waited through the hour in which the grown ups took care of paperwork etc.
To the grown ups, he actually also asked a penetrating question: "why will insurance pay if our brand new car gets stolen right away" (something the dealer had spoken about while selling the "gap insurance" to us!)
We are SO GRATEFUL to see the loving, kind, patient, intelligent boy that Aditya has become!
We would get a rental car so Baba could still go to work. We also began looking for a new or used (but new for us) car.
Aditya was very curious about how the accident happened. Maybe a bit anxious (who wouldn't be!) but nothing compared to how he would be in a similar situation when he was, say, 4.
A day later, we played out the accident in the playroom with he being his favorite SUPERMAN and saving me from the accident by pulling the car with an imaginary rope!
Over the next weekend, the family went to several different dealerships, test drove cars, and the twins both opined on the quality of the ride, the color etc! (Aditya actually told us he loved riding a manual transmission car. The shifting of gears was probably a very "sensory" experience!)
At one dealership (where we eventually bought our new car), the sales manager was super-friendly and asked the kids what colors they liked for a test drive car.
"Red", said Aditya with spontaneity and, what seemed like a drive to respond first (i.e. before his sister) to the question! (Another first! Hurray!)
At another dealership as we approached the last minutes of negotiations and deal-making Aditya was super-patient and taking care of himself by running and spinning around, yet "aware" of what was going on.
When that deal did not work out, he was flexible. He asked why we were not going to buy it (since we had said we would buy... only minutes ago) and totally accepted our answer about how it was beyond our "budget"!
Once we finally got our new car (which was RED)... he again patiently waited through the hour in which the grown ups took care of paperwork etc.
To the grown ups, he actually also asked a penetrating question: "why will insurance pay if our brand new car gets stolen right away" (something the dealer had spoken about while selling the "gap insurance" to us!)
We are SO GRATEFUL to see the loving, kind, patient, intelligent boy that Aditya has become!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
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