For a long time now, I've harboured the idea of doing a blog post series where each year I ask Xena some 'serious' adult-level questions and record her answers and over the years I see how her answers change, showing the evolution of her thought process. And I thought I'd label the series 'Xena isi ka naam hai' -- a joke my dad has been cracking since forever! (Since 2011, to be precise.)
Obviously, to embark on a project like this, you need your child to be of a certain age. First, I thought I'd start when she turned five, but she didn't seem too keen so I dropped the idea. The last thing I wanted was it to become a tedious chore for her. Now that she's turned six, I thought of trying it out and hey, this time, she really seemed to like this 'fun game'!
I was in the kitchen and she was at the dining table playing with her toys and chatting with me. As we talked, like a court stenographer, I was furiously typing on my iPad, every word she was uttering. (I realised it was too much for me to remember and type later, and I wanted to capture every 'hmm...', and 'oh' and 'hee hee'.)
We had the coolest Q and A session ever. Here it is, all the gyaan, straight from the 6-year-old horse's mouth.
Q: Why are some people in the world sad?
A: Because their daddy is away.
Q: Why are some people in the world happy?
A: Because their daddy has come back.
Q: How much money should a person have?
A: Oh, that's an easy question. (thinks) No, I mean it's a tricky question. Ok let me think. I know, I know! 200 dollars. Mama, I will also tell you how many notes and coins, ok? (thinks) Each person should have ten note monies (sic) and... 48 coins.
Q: At what age should a person get a mobile phone?
A: 28 or 29 or 30.
Q: At what age should a person get married?
A: 30 or 29.
Q: Is it ok if someone doesn't want to get married?
A: Yup.
Q: Is it ok if a man wants to marry a man, or a woman wants to marry a woman?
A: That's a funny question. Hee hee!
Q: But they love each other and want to get married... can they?
A: Hmmm.... Yup.
Q: How many friends does a person need?
A: 11 to 13.
Q: Why do we need so many friends?
A: To have swim class with, play dates with and to go out with.
Q: Why do some people have cars and others don't?
A: Because I think some people like cars. And others think that it is too difficult to drive a car or they don't know how to drive a car.
Q: What should you do when you feel lonely?
A: Hug your mommy or your daddy if they are there. If only mommy is there, then you hug her. Then roll around the bed.
Q: What if no one is there?
A: Be sad and start crying?
Q: What does a person need to be happy?
A: Hugs, cuddles and squashes.
Q: What are squashes?
A: I'll tell you all three, ok? Hug is like a BIG hug... like this (demonstrates), cuddle is like a small one, and a squash is when you're sleeping next to me and I snuggle up to you and squash you.
Q: Are you a happy person?
A: I am medium.
Q: What does that mean?
A: That means both sad and happy.
Q: Why sad?
A: Because my daddy is not here.
Q: And why happy?
A: Because my daddy is coming back.
Obviously, to embark on a project like this, you need your child to be of a certain age. First, I thought I'd start when she turned five, but she didn't seem too keen so I dropped the idea. The last thing I wanted was it to become a tedious chore for her. Now that she's turned six, I thought of trying it out and hey, this time, she really seemed to like this 'fun game'!
I was in the kitchen and she was at the dining table playing with her toys and chatting with me. As we talked, like a court stenographer, I was furiously typing on my iPad, every word she was uttering. (I realised it was too much for me to remember and type later, and I wanted to capture every 'hmm...', and 'oh' and 'hee hee'.)
We had the coolest Q and A session ever. Here it is, all the gyaan, straight from the 6-year-old horse's mouth.
Q: Why are some people in the world sad?
A: Because their daddy is away.
Q: Why are some people in the world happy?
A: Because their daddy has come back.
Q: How much money should a person have?
A: Oh, that's an easy question. (thinks) No, I mean it's a tricky question. Ok let me think. I know, I know! 200 dollars. Mama, I will also tell you how many notes and coins, ok? (thinks) Each person should have ten note monies (sic) and... 48 coins.
Q: At what age should a person get a mobile phone?
A: 28 or 29 or 30.
Q: At what age should a person get married?
A: 30 or 29.
Q: Is it ok if someone doesn't want to get married?
A: Yup.
Q: Is it ok if a man wants to marry a man, or a woman wants to marry a woman?
A: That's a funny question. Hee hee!
Q: But they love each other and want to get married... can they?
A: Hmmm.... Yup.
Q: How many friends does a person need?
A: 11 to 13.
Q: Why do we need so many friends?
A: To have swim class with, play dates with and to go out with.
Q: Why do some people have cars and others don't?
A: Because I think some people like cars. And others think that it is too difficult to drive a car or they don't know how to drive a car.
Q: What should you do when you feel lonely?
A: Hug your mommy or your daddy if they are there. If only mommy is there, then you hug her. Then roll around the bed.
Q: What if no one is there?
A: Be sad and start crying?
Q: What does a person need to be happy?
A: Hugs, cuddles and squashes.
Q: What are squashes?
A: I'll tell you all three, ok? Hug is like a BIG hug... like this (demonstrates), cuddle is like a small one, and a squash is when you're sleeping next to me and I snuggle up to you and squash you.
Q: Are you a happy person?
A: I am medium.
Q: What does that mean?
A: That means both sad and happy.
Q: Why sad?
A: Because my daddy is not here.
Q: And why happy?
A: Because my daddy is coming back.
