Don't Panic

I got a new phone from AT&T (iPhone 4S) this week. I have been using the GPS & google maps on it to navigate Charlotte "ki galiyan" extensively. I was on my way to a friend's place when inexplicably the GPS on the phone decided to play a foul trick on this poor little brown fella. So I am driving around in the streets of a foreign town, that too after a really long time in a foreign country, with a GPS showing my really really approximate location - within a half km radius. Its for this very situation you need to read the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or at least its cover:

Courtesy here

Its a best seller because of it has the words "Don't Panic" written in large friendly letters on the cover :) (1). So after about 2 hours of trying to reset my phone, driving around in crazy circles, getting scared of stopping in unknown neighborhoods and doing all of this over again, I found my way to the safety of the place I call my home these days.

That's just what we need!

Ever wonder how frequently we use sarcasm in our speech. Its so habitual that you forget who you are talking to. Meera (my 4 year old niece) & Avani (my 15 month old daughter) are frequently at receiving ends from their respective mothers. Sample this:

1. When she refuses to eat - Khana mat kha! phir pet nahi dukhega to kya
2. When she skipped her day naps - Tu so mat! aur phir rotey baith
3. When she's throwing things - Wo tod de tu!
4. When she's rolling on the floor  - Aur poch le purey jameen ko apne kapdo se!

If I were hearing this as a child, it would be really confusing to understand why I am being shouted at, when I am doing exactly what I am told:

1. Don't eat your food
2. Don't sleep
3. Break that
4. Roll on the floor

This is really funny to observer and I guess a bit damaging - depending on how your child takes it. I think its just better to make it very clear on what you expect from your kid rather than getting frustrated and resorting to sarcastic language. Some food for thought...