Parenting is a tough job.
As a parent, the aim is to achieve the right balance. You need to be strict, you need to indulge, you need discipline, you need to pamper, you need to be a friend, you need to encourage, you need to... .
I told you, it is tough.
For me the strictness part is in my blood. I inherited it (I hope my parents are too busy to read my blog this week).
So even though I try my best to use my patience, love and flexibility to do the balancing, somehow in most cases the "strictness" part tends to dominate.
A-junior feels the same.
I end up being the " not normal" mom.
But who cares? Did SHE care when I cried and complained about HER strictness ?
No.
But SHE made me who I am today.
Therefore, we mothers have the right to judge what is good and what is bad for the kid and hence we have the right to define and redefine and re-redefine "balance" whenever we feel like.
Amen.
The morning started with a bit of a turbulence.
Just 2 minutes before leaving for school, a frantic search for the gloves began.
Under the table, in the bag, on the shoe rack, in the shoe rack, on the bed, under the bed.......all over the house. Under such circumstances, one cannot expect the mother's temper to stay low, right? The temper rose, so did the voice. Meanwhile the clock ticked away happily which made the temper rise even higher and the voice too. Finally, angry and sad, amidst a raging storm and the mercury at -2 degC, mother son duo left home without the gloves. The atmosphere inside the car stayed stormy -- the mother could not stop grumbling and son's eyes were brimming with tears.
Inspite of reminding him 10,000 times that the gloves and the cap needs to go into his bag as soon as he reaches school.........Ufffff.....
However, after dropping him off at school, I did feel bad. Maybe so much shouting and screaming was actually not required. I promised myself that I will handle this with patience in the evening.
[Evening: After school]
As soon as he entered the car , he smiled and said. "Ma, look, I found the gloves. Do you know where they were? They were actually infront of the gym, I must have left it there.......etc etc etc"
Awwww.....I gave him a quick hug and thought that this is the time to kind of neutralize my morning behaviour.
I said, " I know I am very strict at times. But all this is for YOUR good. You will understand when you grow up.
A-junior: (Absent mindedly) Hmm..
Me: (wanted to elaborate and make sure he understood): Even my parents were like me, very strict. You will not believe how strict dadu and dida were. But after a certain age, I understood it was all for MY good.
A-junior: Hmm...can you tell me EXACTLY at what age you understood it was for YOUR good?
I did not see this coming, hence I was not prepared with THE number.
Me: (hastily blurted out and I have no clue why): 35!
A-junior: O baba...she to onek deri!! ( Oh no! that is really far away!!)
;-) he winked! the little devil.....
That reminds me ...I wanted to share the recipe of "Dim-er Devil" today....
Dim-er Devil (Egg devil : a typical Bengali snack)
I used:
- 6 Eggs (hard boiled)
- 6 potatoes (Boiled)
- 1 small onion (chopped super fine)
- 1 tbsp Ginger paste
- 1 tbsp Garlic paste
- 1 tbsp cumin powder
- 1 tbsp coriander powder
- 1 tbsp garam masala
- 1 tbsp red chili powder
- Chopped coriander
- salt to taste
- Oil for frying
Ready steady cook:
- Cut the boiled eggs into halves/quarters. (I cut them into quarters, it is easy to handle and the devils are of reasonable size, not too big).
- Mash the potatoes and mix in all the spices mentioned above.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a nonstick pan. Add the chopped onions and fry them till they change colour.
- Add the potato mash and cook the mixture for a while. adjust salt according to taste.
- Also mix the chopped coriander.Let it cool.
Now prepare the coating.
1. some plain white flour
2. One egg beaten
3. Bread crumbs.
- Take one round ball of the potato mixture and flatten it in your palm.
- Place the egg quarter/half at the center and cover it with the potato mash from all sides.
- Gently press between your palm to make it into a flat oval shape.
- Roll it in the flour, dip it in the egg and then roll it in the bread crumbs.
- Repeat for all pieces and once done keep it in the refrigerator for an hour or so.
- Deep fry them and serve with mustard sauce (or the Bengali Kasundi) and sliced onions.
