Happy 5th birthday kuttyma and let me get over with the cliched “where have the years gone” right at the start. I still can’t believe it.

The past year (just like I said every other year before) saw you grow tremendously. I watched you from the sidelines with equal amounts of anxiety, pride, fear and responsibility – the emotional roller coaster every parent rides. I have paused more than ever to wonder if I am doing the right thing and teaching you the right stuff. I have wished I could be a better role model for you.

I learned more about your personality – your unique traits and wondered if I will ever survive. You are the polar opposite of me in many ways – you are determined and set on your path. Your face pluckers with resolve as you tackle the challenge. I admire you.

I always called you a “little rowdy” and everyone in the family cried foul. But you are one and you know it. You can be rough and tough. You can bully and tease. You know the right strings to pull and have everyone dancing to your tunes. Be it your uncle or your grandparents.

This was the year, I learned about dinosaurs. I can name quite a few of them and recite facts about them. As your interests varied, I learned with you. From dinosaurs to robots. From butterflies to Mt.Rushmore. Centipedes to pilots. You lived through books. I enjoy this phase. I love the learning process. I wish I could just retain the facts in my mind like you. Unfortunately I forget most of the things I learn.

We are polar opposites when it comes to social skills. Anyone who knew me as a child would tell you stories of how painfully shy I was (I still am socially awkward and hate talking to strangers face-to-face). You are just the opposite. You can talk and make conversations with ease. Little Ms.Chatterbox and Live Commentator are some of your nicknames. You really can talk my dear. There are moments when I beg you for silence but then I worry about taking away a part of your personality. Your words fill the rather silent place called home.As much as it irritates me at times, I love to hear your chatter and I hope you continue doing it.

You learned to read and write this year. Yes I helped a bit but most of it came from your own determination to succeed. I pointed to the right books in the library, you picked them up and started reading. As I watch you read, the wave of emotion rises in me. Soon it will be time for chapter books and Enid Blytons (I actually have picked your first EB and soon we will start reading it together). I cannot wait to share that world with you.

You know what you want and have a say in our decisions. You want us to move back to Houston and live in the home you were born. You also want dada to find a job in Chennai so that you can be close to your grandparents. You want to head to Mt. Rushmore, San Francisco, Italy, Bali and London. You want to move to Indonesia and live next door to your uncle and the next day you want your uncle to move to Australia.

You want to be a part of the Hi-5 team. You want to sing and dance like them. I see you in front of the mirror with your mic practicing the moves and making up songs. It is beauty.  Oh your mind is fascinating.

You had your first pets – a pair of guinea pigs this year. You named them Alex and Alzhagi. You learned to pet them, take care of them and mime them. You called yourself their mother. It was a cute sight.

We journeyed around the world this year. We discovered ourselves as we travelled. Goodbyes have been hard and you handled them with ease. I am looking forward to more journeys with you the coming years.

You are a creature of comfort – you prefer your bike shorts and tees. Oh yeah Indian outfits loaded with bling are awesome but you really don’t want to wear one.

As per tradition, we celebrated your birthday once in Chennai. And a couple of weeks earlier at home with your uncle. You loved your gifts, said no to cake and enjoyed the ice cream.

Oh my little one! I wish you happiness today and forever. Happy 5th!