Friday 16 January 2009

Madness leading upto vacation!

I have just under a week before heading off on our annual India vacation - and as usual - nothing is done! There is something about me and last minute madness! Why, why do I leave everything to the last minute!!!


There is so much to do - that I can't think straight ! I actually miss those days, before my daughter was born , when packing was so incredibly simple! Just throw in everything into the suitcase! Its all changed now. Now, just as I was heaving a sigh of relief that my daughter is now completely toilet trained - I don't have to worry about diapers - a friend of mine reminded me that they could get a tummy upset - so back to square one!

And husband and I , being very smart , for some weird reason, did not shop for chocolates, during the Christmas season - when there was a whole load of variety - now when I scan the supermarket shelves - I get hardly anything.. All I get to see is Cadbury's of which we get better variety in India - unless I pick up Easter eggs- which by the way, are already on the shelves!

One of the biggest problems. I face is trying to figure out gifts.. I hardly find anything that we don't get in India these days... Clothes - check, toys - check, cosmetics - check.... Do you think, it would make better sense to just buy gifts in India - instead of carting along stuff from here?

This time, thankfully, daughter is over 2 yrs old - so she gets her own seat - I am so glad of that I plan to sleep my way through the flight.. I remember those days, before she was born, when I always carried books to read on the flight- these days - all the reading that I will be doing is 'goldibocks'(Goldilocks - to the rest of us).

In addition to all the packing,shopping - I have to somehow, get my daughter to forget the word 'Chicken'.. This has become her favourite food - though we don't cook it at home, she's had it just a couple of times, when we've been out.. BUT that's what she wants the whole time! So I have to trick her with soya chunks to get her to eat her food. Now, all that would have been fine - had it not been for the fact that my in-laws are very strict about not eating non-veg.. And madam, even if I ask her, what she wants for breakfast - pat comes the answer - 'Chicken' ! Someone please tell me , how, how do I get that word out of her head!!!

The only thing that keeps me going is the thought.. 'This time next week I'll be..., This time next to next week, I'll be.... ':) And by the way, I am having long, long vacation too - 7 weeks :) These are the good parts of not working and a child not yet in school :)

11 comments:

Indyeah said...

Lovely to read you are coming for the vacations..
and oh my!such rush-rush ,hurry ,confusion and all....I can't identify and yet I can..:) does that make sense..?:D
yeah, buying things here would make sense right?unless people are hell bent on UK stuff only...:D
and your daughter saying 'chicken' only?!soo cute...totally cute in fact!!awww!!so how will you get her to stop saying it haan??:D
lemme know too..:)

and this I love..
''And by the way, I am having long, long vacation too - 7 weeks :) These are the good parts of not working and a child not yet in school :)''

manju said...

Smitha- I remember when my children were this young. I used to dread taking them on a vacation anywhere!

I used to feel that my best vacation was when my parents took the children to their house for a few days. Even if I had to use the time to catch up on my housework.

Don't have any advice regarding the chicken. Maybe you can convince your MIL that your daughter calls vegetables, 'chicken'?

Enjoy your vacation. :)

OG said...

Congrats on your vacation....
7 weeks... I wish I could get that :)

Vinod_Sharma said...

Have a great vacation Smitha...but keep writing even then!

Anonymous said...

I am a last minute person too though I make a list cross check it tons of times and finalize things at last. I take 3 months vacation with little one. This is the time when we can do that. I don't think it is possible anymore.

Okay now I am already missing you:( Have fun!!

Smitha said...

@Indyeah - We are all majorly excited - this time its been over a year since we last visited home.. Hopefully, the next time, we will be back for good - waiting for that! As for stuff from UK - half of the stuff we get here are 'Made in China' or 'Made in India' anyways :) I have no idea what to do with her 'chicken' mania:)

@Manju - I am waiting to reach my parents place - then I am just going to take it easy - my parents will are just waiting to get their hands on her :)That is one good idea, about calling veggies chicken - yes thats what I will tell my MIL :)

@Ajit - I used to yearn for a long vacation - while I was working - now am taking advantage of being out of work - and looking at the state of the economy - I might have to remain a SAHM mum for some more time:)

@Vinod, Thank you - I doubt if I will be able to do any writing in the first 3 weeks- plan to get back to blogging after that.. I am sure to have withdrawal symptoms :)

@Solilo - I am going to miss all of you loads - It is almost a virtual community that is out here.. I almost feel as if I have known all of you for ages.. As I said - I am sure to have withdrawal symptoms.. Anyways, I still have one more week to go.. so will be commenting for sure - even if I don't get down to posting :)

Bones said...

Have a great vacation!!!

J P Joshi said...

Have a great vacation and don't worry about upset stomachs....they happen if you think about them. Just enjoy the trip and the beautiful weather all over India at this time of the year.

Smitha said...

@Bones, Thank you!

@JPJ, Yes you are right, no point worrying about upset tummies :) We are really looking forward to the vacation - there is just something about India.. guess -its just coz it's 'home' :)

Happy Kitten said...

Have a great vacation Smitha... Can relate with you.. nothing ever gets done when you have a small child.

LOL! the chicken part is cute and I wonder how you are going to handle that!

As for shopping you are right.. one gets everything in India and these days it is hard to find anything made in UK even here in Kuwait. The factories have all shifted elsewhere. But sweets yes.. it tastes different.

Smitha said...

@Happy Kitten, Thank you for your wishes! I think more than my daughter being naughty - I am being very lazy plus the fact that I fnd it difficult to just shut down the laptop and get down to work :)
You are right about sweets - though I used to find them much better in the US - UK is not so great.. Anyways, we have a stopover at Dubau - so maybe, we can pick it up there :) About the chicken - no idea - but she has been slightly better in the last 2 days - so I have hope :)