Diwali - Firecracker Conversations

I know I've raised profound thinkers and resilient counselors when I hear conversations like this. 

  

From the back seats in our car, when I asked them to sort out a brewing squabble between themselves:

Sis Bear: :I like to play with you, but you never play with me".

Bro Bear: -------------

Sis Bear: Even at home, I want to play with you, but you always say,"Later, later and even later, you don't play with me." 

Bro Bear: "That's coz I'm bigger and you are so much younger to me."

Sis Bear: "But you like playing with babies.....I'm not so little like a baby?"

Bro Bear: "No, I don't"

Sis Bear: "Yes you do....."

Bro Bear: "Besides, I feel like doing something else"

Sis Bear: "But you are doing nothing else in the car right now?" 

Bro Bear: "So?"

Sis Bear: "So, I want to play with you"

Bro Bear: Sigh! "Lets face it - I want to be at home by myself, play all the video games I want, but just because I want it, it doesn't mean it's going to happen?"

Sis Bear: "Look Amma! he's not being nice"

Amma (that's me): "Try telling him he can choose the game that you'll play."

Sis Bear: "You can choose the game - Word building? Categories? I spy?......."

Bro Bear: " I know! How about you stay quiet until we stop and Amma will buy you this really nice treat at the store?"

Amma: "Huh?! No sorry guys, no treats for being good - that's normal."

We reached the store!

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Both kids in the living room with me, after they just got back from school:

Sis Bear: I din't eat my lunch amma, I don't like marmalade.
Me: I'm sorry gudiya (doll) but when it is home made, we don't choose.  You'll have to eat it.

And I went on for a while explaining why we have such rules within the family.  I even chatted with her, narrating how I first tasted marmalade in Scotland many years ago, how I loved it and ended up explaining what a B&B was, etc.  Still, Sis Bear didn't budge.  With my recent success of having them talk to each other, I involved Bro Bear into the conversation.

Bro Bear: OK, so why don't you like marmalade?
Sis Bear: Because it is made from orange.
Bro Bear: (Gasp!) But you love oranges don't you?
Sis Bear: (sheepishly) Nooo....
Bro Bear: Okay tell me what's your favorite food?
Sis Bear: Pizza, Mac & Cheese, Rice with dahi (Indian Yogurt) & soups
Bro Bear: (to me) Amma, if she eats up her sandwich can she get one of her favorite things later?
Amma: Of course! But I get to choose which one of those okay?
Both Bears: Okay!
Duh! And I went as far as talking about Scotland? 

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Diwali lights are up and guess what? So are many others' on our street - it looks pretty :) Looking forward to some awesome parties coming up.  

Happy Deepavali to you! May this festival of lights fill your lives with the brightness of knowledge, success and joy.  May the fire crackers expel all negativity and darkness & May you retain the sweet taste of it long after the celebration is over.