As a kid, my mom always told me to never lie to her. She said that if I ever did, she would always find out. Her eyes would be following me everywhere I went. This kinda stuck with me through my growing years. So much so that the other day, I found myself sounding very much like my mother…. saying something similar to Tanay.

I had picked up a box of the mini Oreo cakesters from Wegmans. Tanay loves them and I usually give him a couple in his lunch box. He knows, he is not allowed more than that and definitely not without checking with me first. Yesterday, I was upstairs in my room feeding Dhruv. Tanay was downstairs with my in-laws. His grandma asked him what he would like to have for a snack. He pulls a chair, climbs up, gets his hands on a couple of packets of the sinful cakesters, tears open the packs with his scissors and gobbles them all up. Not only that, he threw the packs in the trash, washed up and even wiped his face dry. Just look at the four year old’s scheming mind. Trying to bury all traces of the crime before the mother walks in. 

How do I know all this? Of course, my MIL told me. So, later that day at dinner time, I was being a little “non- smiley”.

Tanay: Why are “some people” being so mad?!

Me: That’s because “some people” are not being very honest with their mother these days.

Tanay: You mean me?!!

Me: You tell me.. Just remember that your mother has super powers! She knows everything that you do, even if she is not in the room. 

Tanay: huh?!

Me: I have eyes everywhere… in the back of my head… on the sides…everywhere… so you watch out!

By now… he had this glazed look in his eyes, which he usually gets when he is imagining something.

Tanay: I know!! Mommy.. Your are an ALIEN!!

Now that Tanay is a big brother, he is taking his new role rather seriously. He thinks that he is responsible for teaching Dhruv everything there is to learn. Topping the list is an in depth knowledge of Star Wars and of course The World of Dinosaurs. 

I managed to capture one such lesson. Enjoy.

On the way to school the other day:

Tanay: ” Dhruv is a crazy hair guy. Actually, he is a baby porcupine!”

Here’s why….

Little does he know that his own hair is not very different from this. I am seeing myself struggling with two porcupines in the coming future. I am exhausted just thinking about it.