New Year, new us

Resolutions for 2015 for the child and I.

Ring in the good: The year ahead abounds with plans for healthy living. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

This year, I have a whole new list of New Year’s resolutions. I’m not even going to bother with the usual suspects — lose weight, eat less, work out more — because they go without saying, and as always, will go without doing as well. Instead, my new list is all about changing things around as a mom, a list that prominently features my toddler (you’re welcome, darling), and is all about the things I’m going to do better for myself and for her. In the spirit of holiday goodwill, I thought I’d share it with you, so here goes.

I’m going to make sure my toddler has complete, nutritious meals every day. Each of these meals will contain just the right servings of carbs, proteins and veggies. No more pasta and tomato ketchup or plain dosa and sugar masquerading as lunch or dinner. Healthy sprouts and sundals , organic spinach soups and home-made yoghurt smoothies. Yup, that’s the way we’re going to roll. (Don’t ask me how I’m going to make her actually eat the stuff. I haven’t figured that part out yet.)

We’re cutting back on TV watching and cartoon time. It doesn’t matter how much she begs for “one more, amma!” The last cartoon

is the last one. No room for negotiation (or tantrums or sobbing). There will be no more than an hour of TV a day overall. Okay, maybe that’s a bit drastic. Let’s say two. Fine, two and a half. But that’s

it.

And no more staring at the tube like a zombie while eating; my toddler is going to eat at the dining table like a civilised human being and participate in dinnertime conversation. Or, you know, stare at her phone and scroll through her messages. Just like mummy and daddy.

We’re going to go to preschool every day. Well, we’re going to at least try and up our attendance record from last year (we were averaging 10 days a month; so that’s not too lofty a goal). The problem, of course, is the remarkable willingness with which kids (who will share nothing else) share germs. How’re you going to stop the one-week-school-one-week-flu cycle, you ask? It won’t be a problem for us healthy eaters with super-strong immunity! (See No.1)

The kid’s going to have a proper routine. No more staying up late at night just because mummy and daddy are, watching inappropriate movies with them and asking random questions (“What are the uncle and aunty

doing , amma?”). No more waking up at 11 a.m. and eating lunch at 4 p.m. No more 7 p.m. power naps. It’s going to be regular, early bedtimes, followed by regular, early wake-up calls, and meals at — you guessed it — regular times. Also, I fervently hope, naps at regular times (please God, please).

No more excessive toy/book/clothing purchases for the child. One new dress for Diwali and one for the birthday. New toys only for the birthday. No more ‘just because’ gifts. No more “Aww, How cute is this outfit” impulse purchases. No more wanton consumerism of kiddie stuff in general. I don’t have the place to put any more of it. Well… okay, maybe the occasional little gift when she’s been sick. Or especially good. Or… No. No. (Be strong and think of the mess).

And now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go. It’s past 10.30 p.m. and my daughter’s still up, playing with her new toy umbrella (It’s hot pink and frilly). She hasn’t even finished her dinner yet (poori with ketchup) and the same five cartoon episodes have been running on loop since god knows when (if I hear the theme song once more, my brain’s going to blow). Of course, this is all going to change very, very soon. New year, new me, new toddler.

Or not.

Happy New Year!