Children of a Lesser God

Author: Anu Karthik / Labels: , ,

This is a term I have always heard and assumed to know the meaning of. I found that this term originated from an old movie only now, thanks to wiki http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Children_of_a_Lesser_God .

I have always associated children with some form of a handicap to be created by a lesser God because I cannot bring myself to understand how he could do that to a child. He cannot be the best God if he did that to a child now can he? Whatever our scriptures say about karma and us being re-born and experiencing and paying for our past sins, it never can justify seeing a child like that. I am sure we have all had our exposures with children less fortunate than us but it sure hits you rock bottom when you encounter the same after having a child of your own, one that bring you so much joy with every smile!

Some months ago I came across at a get-together we went to; a child affected by Down syndrome. Seeing that child shook me as I was holding V in my arms and it brought back the never answerable question what if? When asked if we wanted to test if our baby had a chance of being affected when I was expecting, it was something I did not want to do as I would not know how to react if I found out the test came out positive. We wanted that baby no matter what and this was an unnecessary test I felt. However we did it just to find out if we needed to expect something different from normal so we could be prepared. I guess we were fortunate to find out that we were having a normal baby.

But I wondered even then, what if? Would I be a good parent to a child who would need special attention and patience much more than 10 normal children could demand? Can I accept the pity that everyone’s eyes would offer when they saw us? Will I even socialize and go out for fear that I would be different from the others? Every park and every street I go to, I would see beautiful children running and smiling at their mommies and daddies and riding tricycles and climbing play structures. Their parents worry about whether the child will fall off that swing when a parent with a special child worries if their child will ever ever get on the swing even if it was to get hurt. Such different perspectives, such different situations all by a twist of fate.

I always think back to Raghuvaran’s answer to his daughter in the movie Anjali when she asks him why Shamilee was born to them and not to the girl or boy next door. He would respond saying that God picked them because that child needed extra attention and only they were capable of giving it. There is a lot of depth in that statement. Maybe God hand picks the parents to these children with special needs, his children, because they are more than human. They are almost God in what they do for these children and how they care for them. I cannot even begin to understand how challenging their lives must be. I want to dedicate this post and offer my respect to these special human beings. In them I see God, in their action I learn what compassion and patience actually mean. Standing in their shoes, I remind myself I should never complain and try to become a better person. Definitely I realize how insignificant my trouble and how selfish my desires are.

It happens not only in India

Author: Anu Karthik / Labels: ,

When Macy's had their semi-annual sale a month ago, I went berserk and bought a lot of stuff. It does not matter that I got it at a good deal and absolutely love everything that I purchased. To the point that I chose my new sauté pan over my husband and refused to share it with him J

A couple of items that I had ordered were on backorder and would be shipped later and I was to receive 6 through mail in the first package. I waited eagerly for it only to find that it finally arrived with just 4. The Rival slow cooker and another sauteuse were missing. The invoice that came with it however showed all 6 items to be shipped and I was totally confused as to what was going on. A call to customer service at Macy's ensured that they would ship out the other two [Isn't the customer always right in the US?] but I wanted to know what happened to the other two parts. The lady I spoke to asked me to inspect the package. I had already noticed that the top seemed opened and re-taped with a different tape and I mentioned that to her right way. She responded to my surprise that they have been having this issue with Fed-Ex misappropriating shipments and them having to replace orders for customers. I was really taken aback for a few seconds as I did not expect this to happen here, after all is not every one a law abiding citizen. I found out that it is not to be. Anyway, this is the first time I have come across this and I found that not all is perfect here too sometimes.

Chloe

Author: Anu Karthik / Labels: , ,

The name Chloe might bring to your mind a beautiful girl. This is what the wiki has to say, "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloe". I am definitely talking about a beautiful lady, but a lady dog.

Our friends have this really cute 8 year old (56 in dog years) dog called Chloe. When we visited the first time, she was besotted with V as she had never seen a baby in a while. My son did not bat any eyelid and he had no clue what was going on. When we put him to sleep in his car seat, this smart lady would open doors (literally) to go peep in to see what kind of a creature he was. Admist all this my son blissfully slept. This was 5 months ago :)

Then came yesterday and we visited them again. This time there was reciprocal from V and he was touching Chloe and trying to understand that this is how the dog that I keep pointing to in books looks like. She was also going through a tough time as she was going to dog school to be disciplined, apparently she licks and does stuff she is not *supposed* to do and is learning to behave :) He was excited, it was 10:30 pm and way past his bedtime. I don't want anyone judging us for the kind of parents we are for keeping a 14 month old up at this time on a workday, we did not stop him from sleeping for one thing. It was a choice he made. Finally at 10:30 pm I took a reluctant V to bed on the second floor of their beautiful home and put him to sleep on the bed in their master bedroom which was generously offered. And then came down for some adult conversation.

We kept going up every 10 min to check on him to see if was sleeping or awake. All was good until 11:20 pm when I went up and heard him awake and crying before I opened the door. I saw a sight which I will never forget. There curled up in the corner of the king size bed was Chloe sleeping next to V. And my son was awake and sitting up crying a little bit. I was surprised and at the same time found the situation hilarious :) She had opened the door to the bedroom and come and slept next to him. And BTW this was one thing she is not *allowed* to do. Darn, I did not have a camera to record the moment. I was thankful that V was not scared or shaken and he quickly climbed on to me and snuggled on my shoulder. Chloe looked at me with huge eyes trying to understand what was going on. It was priceless.

Long story short, we all came home and V and I slept peacefully but K has been having sleepless night for fear that we will soon have to have an addition to our house, maybe a Chloe!