For such a simple statement, it has different meanings for all. Our love for Hamilton lives on strong in our hearts. So glad that we were able to watch it streaming from our couches this year (multiple times). We have had nearly a year to try to practice the words from our favorite play. Here is our take on it (2020 edition).
Life: The most basic of rights. The right to be yourself. This, we all have mastered. We are definitely not trying to please each other in any way. However, Milan, Ayush and Avnie argue that the restrictions being imposed upon them by “authorities” aka parents are oppressive. Their asks range from: 7 hours of Madden or Minecraft in a day, unlimited screen time, pizza daily and the occasional epic board game contests. We gave in with 3 hours of screen time, pizza once a week and are giving them a good battle with Risk, Monopoly and charades.
Liberty: The ability to accomplish goals without feeling constrained. We remind each other that liberty is not something we automatically receive.
Pursuit of Happiness: Go for what you want as long as you are not infringing on anyone else’s happiness especially Mom’s.
Ayush (11) started 6th grade at Wellesley Middle School. In normal times, this would have been a monumental year. A bigger school, more independence, more academic workload. However, given the remote start to school, it was just not the same. Nevertheless, we were lucky to have a hybrid schedule early into the year. Ayush loves the two days he is at school. He refuses to take lunch
from home as supposedly the pizza at school is the best. He continues to love sports especially soccer and football. He has forgiven Tom Brady for leaving the New England Pats and has a newfound love for Cam Newton.
Milan (13) celebrated becoming a teenager in the COVID times. Luckily, it was summer and still the early days of the pandemic thus he had a few friends in the backyard to help celebrate with. He loves being at BB&N and the commute to Cambridge does not seem so bad now. He plays squash when he can and is an expert at Minecraft. There is a lot of coaxing required to get him out of his room and then there are times when we shut WIFI off completely to help get all the kids off screens. When he does come out of his room, I am keen to take advantage of it and try to banter of as much “mom advice” as possible. To his credit, he is doing great on his zoom school days and has the routine down pretty solid without being told what to do.
Avnie (8) is a 3rd grader at Fiske Elementary School and loves, loves, loves the two days that she gets to be at school. She is not a good candidate for remote school at all. I have found her watching you tube while “in class” which now means that she has to be supervised during class times. She is following in her brother’s footsteps and is a wonderful soccer player. She is playing basketball as well again this year and really enjoys it. Her Christmas list had “dog” listed five times, on the 5th line, she made it clear that it had to be a “Live Dog”. We managed to explain that Santa just cannot bring dogs into the sled. We are now on the search to find the newest member of our family. If you have recommendations, please share!
Atul has been working remotely for Hamilton Lane since Feb. He started off in the office on the 1st floor but realized he was way too close to the “action” of the kitchen, dining rooms etc. He has now shifted to the attic where none of us wander. When we do, it is a similar feeling as to being called to the principal’s office. Atul also is keen on decluttering as much as possible. There are epic moments to remember such as the time when Ayush was enjoying the sun during a remote school day on our patio table to only be asked to move from it as the table had been sold to a nice couple who patiently waited until I shifted him to our deck.
I am still at Fidelity and working on Indelish. It takes up a lot of my time, but I love to grow something that is truly my own. Please do subscribe to Indelish.com and stay tuned for news upcoming soon.
I am going to assume that you, like me, love your children and are happy to have them home with you safe and hopefully healthy. I love having our family together, but I miss my quiet times and my routine. I have always been the “nurturer” in the family – it is somewhat of my job to try to make sure everyone is happy. It is my “job” to worry about everything full time. While everyone is under one roof, I have been striving to make sure everyone is taken care of. I want to make sure there is plenty of food on the table, everyone has clean clothes, clean sheets and they are never bored. Oy vey- that will not work for much longer because I am tired and there is just too much to worry about.
Wishing you and all of us a start of a year that is COVID free and the ability to meet and greet openly once again. To your health, joy and prosperity: Happy New Year 2021!
Varma Family Chronicles 