Like every other week day, I put Dlittle in the car seat and drove to D’s school to pick her up. I think it was a Thursday, not too sure. D hadn’t eaten lunch properly 2 out of the previous days. I was at the peak of anger, talking to myself while driving. That, this is the end of my patience, her lunch box better be empty or atleast half done, else today would be her last day of pre-schooling. She can stay home and go to school when she hits 5. You know, its like this. When you have tried various methods to get a job done and fail miserably one attempt after another, it is very difficult to articulate. Enough is enough, I just couldn’t take it no more. Deep down I knew I wasn’t going to take this drastic step, though the thought seemed to satisfy the failing mind at that moment.

I reach her school, first thing I do is feel her lunch box. The weight, I mean. Sure, it was HEAVY! Even before it registered to the mind that I was still within the school and not in the comfort of my own house, I yelled at her - D, you did not eat lunch again today? Looks like you did not eat snack either? I mellowed down the very next minute, outwardly that is. Inside I was fuming with anger. So much that I kept quiet, walked back to the car and drove back home.

We reached home, I still did not talk anything, neither did D. She knew I was not happy, also no energy left in her as there had been no intake the whole day. At the least, that is what I thought. I got out of the car to unbuckle her and was shocked to see she was not belted. My daughter’s not eating lunch leading to weight loss upsets me on one end, the other end I forget to put her seat belt. I was shocked, but in that grumpy mood all I could manage was yet another session of yelling. Why did you not tell me to put your seat belt.

My eyes were all teary while we stepped into the house. D came close, hugged me and said - I am sorry mumma. Don’t be sad. I will eat tomorrow. This girl knows how to play me, she definitely does. Still, that was enough for the weeks pent up anger to melt like butter in less than a minute. I hugged her tight and asked her in a very low and loving tone, Why did you not eat sweetu? She said, D’s mommy got pizza, I ate that. I am not sure how much of that is true, but for that day we mushed up and she ate her dinner without making any fuss.


The next day while driving her to school, I am telling to myself, never again I will do this. Its way too dangerous. What if I forget to put the seat belt on little D! God! I started talking to D,

Me: Hey D, you know yesterday I forgot to put your seat belt.
D: Yes, mumma.
Me: Sorry beta, mummy was very sad. You know why, because you did not finish your lunch na. Thats why. I was so sad and angry thats I forgot to put your seat belt cweetu…
D: Thats ok mumma. Its okaiy.
Me: [hmm.. She is a big girl now]..
Me: Hey, maybe next time I forget to put it, you can tell me - mumma, you forgot my seat belt. ok?
D: okaiy.

Just then it struck, why not make this a game, something fun, something that will make her tell it out loud in case I ever forget again. That evening when I picked her up, purposefully did not put the belt. I came to the drivers seat, started the car and exclaimed in a shocking tone:

Me: Oh my goodness, D! Guess what happened.
D: What happened?
Me: I forgot to put your seat belt, betu. Thats not good.. Thats not good..
D: yes mumma. You forgot. Oh my goodness, mumma.
Me: hmm.. You can get hurt when you are not belted. Thats why I wear it, Dlittle wears it, everyone in the car wears it. Next time if I forget, you tell me ok?
D: okaiy.

Some days I belt her, come to the drivers seat and start asking

Me: Is my daughter wearing seat belt?
D: Yes, mumma.
Me: Are my two two daughters wearing seat belt?
D: Yes, mumma. Both both your daughters are wearing seat belt.
Me: The big girl and the small girl? Are you sure?
D: Yes.

Few times into doing this, it was that day for me to purposefully forgot to belt her.
Even before I started the car, my little one exclaimed, just as I wished,
Oh, you forgot my seat belt, Mumma! Not good, Mumma!

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