We're on the Young World Quiz circuit again! Today we took the train from Calicut to Cochin (sorry, but I prefer the old names)where the quiz will take place tomorrow. I'm now going to rant about my experience on the train journey. You may think I'm totally heartless after you read this post.
Whenever I travel, I pray to God, that seats near me are not occupied by kids. Not the cute, cuddly, infants that sleep angelically on their mothers' laps. I mean the 2-3 year olds that can walk, talk and throw tantrums. And the good Lord intermittently tests my endurance. Which He did today.
A lady, traveling with her two children, took the seat opposite us. A boy and a girl. I looked apprehensively at the boy. I know what boys that age are capable of by way of tantrum throwing. I once traveled with a boy, who stamped his foot and rolled about on the floor while his mother looked on in helpless embarrassment.
I need not have worried. The boy behaved impeccably. It was the little girl who was the star of the show.
She began with the usual kiddy babble and curious looking over the seat backs at other passengers. All fine. Till her mother took away something that she wanted. Then began the shrieking and screaming. I swear to God. I never knew something that small could emit a sound that loud!
The little girl's mother did try to quieten her. At which the child only yelled what sounded like 'Adikenda! Adikenda!' I assumed it meant 'Don't beat me' in Malayalam.
I spent the next four hours trying to drown out the sound of that shrieking by turning on my MP3 player. But the sound penetrated even the melodious strains of Mohammad Rafi. I tried Zandu Balm. Didn't work. Finally, I could take it no more. I left my seat and stood at the door of the coach, watching the countryside whiz past till we reached Cochin.
I'm a person who likes kids. I am! I've been around tons of kids, baby sat cousins and nieces. Kids generally like me. But this little girl? She could patent that shriek as a means of torture.
Still, I have no hard feelings for the little girl. God bless her. But I do wish her mother finds a way to stop her incessant shrieking!
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Thanks to my namesake: Deepa
Oh! I've got a 2 year old and she's on my lap fiddling with the keyboard & the mouse as I write this comment. I'm wondering how she would behave on the train. Normally she's sort of well-behaved when we're out of home (she keeps me on my toes alright, but decibel levels are comparatively low!) Some kids are difficult. I guess that's why they say "terrible two" :P
Wow! The shrieking kid must have got the better of your better half's sense of humour ;)
Roshmi: Actually, he was totally unaffected by it!! In fact, seeing my agony, he claims he looked at the kid and shook his head at her. And the screaming stopped! No idea if it stayed stopped coz we got off like 5 minutes after that.
RGB: Actually I find girl children easy to handle. Maybe it is a generalisation. But that has been my experience. You are blessed that your little one is content with exploring mouse and keyboards!
Children are fun...context could vary!!! ;)
Deepa,I am convinced that it is Indian kids who shriek and scream. I once travalled from Chennai to Singapore and there was a little girl screaming her guts out right through. Amazing lung power I must say.. Never have I noticed foreign kids behave like this.. I am sure it is a parenting thing. We Indians dont know how to get it right. But thank god Chichu was always a well behaved traveller.
Some children are born like that! Very rarely parents are able to control them. Once they grow up, they will be OK, I think.
Oh you are not the only one. I can tolerate to some level, but the spouse cannot. He makes it very evident. And believe me, he loves kids, well- behaved and naughty ones too, but not ill-mannered ones.
@Kushal: Children are fun of course. But I think adults have a threshold too!
@Meera: Yes. Chichu was a good girl during travels. Except for wanting to chat with all the co passengers that is!!
@ Sandhya: Yes. I hope they improve when they grow up. Adults throwing tantrums would not be an attractive sight at all
@Radha: Am glad I am not alone!!
Hi Deepa, I love the look of your blog. Hey, I share your apprehensions of being stuck with wild kids. I have two sons -- the younger one is 4 years old. He also has a terrible shrill sound which he uses when bugged. But, luckily, when in public places he is shy and controlled. Trust me, all parents try to control this behavior, but with younger boys it is so much more difficult. I do understand your plight though.
Rachna: Welcome to my blog. And thanks! Even I like my blog template :)) Hope to see you here often.
I like the diary very much. Very nice template. :)
Children are adorable but sometimes some of them are ......
Fluent writing laced with humour.
I liked the line "She could patent that shriek as a means of torture"
@KParthasarathi: Thank you!
he hehee :) kids sorry i am laughing .. I dont hate kids and am great with them but this reminds me of the flight i had a couple of years ago .. flight from hell it seems cause this kid would not stop screming no matter waht hte poor mother was doing ...
I had the music loud and inspite of a few drinks STILL i could not get comfortable ...
God bless the kids though , they cant help it after all they are kids that what they are suppsoed to do :)
I would be worried if it was otherwise
Bikram's
@Bikramjit: Welcome to my blog.
Usually I don't mind it. In fact my feel rather bad if a child cries. After all that is the only way they know how to communicate. But this time I think 'paani sar ke oopar se nikal gaya'!! :)
Yes, Parents will undergo embarrassment if they can't manage well in public place.
Fluent writing laced with humour.
I liked the line "She could patent that shriek as a means of torture"
I like the diary very much. Very nice template. :)
Children are adorable but sometimes some of them are ......
Some children are born like that! Very rarely parents are able to control them. Once they grow up, they will be OK, I think.