The first time I saw him was when he was peeping from the drawing room of the Creche. It was noon time and I was visiting the Creche to check on my little one. But I did not remember to have seen this little cry baby earlier in any of my routine noon visits. One glance, and I could tell without doubt that the kid was missing his mommy dear and came looking for her. He saw me and the little brain could very well make out that I was not his Amma. So the protest was even louder this time! How innocent are they!! Not bothered about social etiquettes, not worried about the strange glances, least worried about impressions that they create while throwing tantrums. The little eyes were flowing, the cheeks were glowing pink, the mouth was wide open and yes the scream was in-tolerable!
In an attempt to pacify him, I moved from my cushion to the wall close to him, at the same time trying to ensure that my own little kid who was being fed by his care-taker does not notice me. I touched his cheek and asked, “What happened?” Well, no idea what the mother tongue of this little chubby cheek was. But being a mother of a similar toddler I knew that a child can make out signs of love, concern, anger etc very soon.
No, he was not impressed! He continued crying, “Amma.. aaa.. aaahh.. aahh… Amma… aa.. aaahh.. aahh..” He walked past me and climbed on to the sofa from where one could see visitors coming to the Creche. The lower half of the wall was opaque, while the upper half was of glass. He stood up on the sofa so that he could get a good view of the people walking towards the main door. God! How intelligent they are! He must be hardly a year and half old. Must be a couple of months older than my son, I thought. He was still crying. By this time two other mothers had come in. I was peeping into the drawing room to watch my fussy eater being fed. I could see him showing weird faces, rejecting food at times. And Veena was struggling hard, but was very patient. I wonder how each care-taker at the day care feeds 2-3 kids simultaneously when I find it a big challenge feeding even one at a time. If he happens to see me, then like any typical kid would come running to me and that would mean a full stop to lunch!
“Illi ba.. It’s your Amma’s call”, I heard a voice from behind. I turned back and saw that this little one was now carried by his care-taker and she was attending the land line. I donot know what the name of this kid is. For easy reference let us call him ‘Manu’. Manu was still not happy as he could not see his Amma. It was the care taker who was speaking to her. He wanted to get down from her arm now. She let him down and continued talking. Probably his mom called up to check if he is fine. Manu once again climbed on to the sofa and started gazing outside. He was still crying at the top of his voice. The most interesting thing one notices at a day care is the way kids cry. One starts and the others follow suit. Best example for resonant frequency!! Afternoons at the day care are the best!
After every few seconds Manu would turn back and look at me with the same sad expression on his face. God! It’s so difficult to watch a little one crying for his mom. He was wearing a jeans and a T-shirt. The jeans was pretty loose for him and looked like he was having a tough time managing it while climbing on to the sofa. It was nice watching him hold his jeans with his left hand while helping himself climb using his right hand. Christina, his care taker tried to help him but he would refuse. Kids are very egoistic!
I could not stop myself from watching his actions. This cutie pie hadn’t closed his mouth for a second all this time. I started thinking of what could be going through a kid’s mind when he longs for his family at a new place amongst strangers. He is waiting desperately to be with his mom and his mom like any working mother (read helpless IT mother) has left him at the Creche. Though I can bet she would be worried all the while thinking of her little one.. would he have adjusted to the place, will he like the place, will he be taken care of and fed on time, etcetera. I know this as I too play the same role of the so called ‘helpless IT mother’. But what difference does it make to a kid who does not understand the difference between a working mother and a non-working mother. All he knows is ‘mother’! Now Manu (who is just a representative of many other kids there including my son) is eagerly waiting for his mom (a representative of all mothers, including me) to return and all the while crying (only language known to him!). Several years from now they will switch places! The mother would be waiting for the ever busy son. The mother would be looking through the window and wondering if only she could rewind time and go back to the days when her son was comparatively free. I imagined myself after several years looking out of the window, waiting for my son. The feeling was so heavy. I could feel my eyes getting wet. I also thought of my mother. Poor mom would be missing me day in and day out. My son is just over a year old now. Nevertheless, I am worried thinking he will be a grown up man in may be another 25 years or so and I will miss him terribly when he is away from me.
This is life! However, you can’t help it!
