Appuppa Had a SPA

APPUPPA HAD A SPA Dated 10-07-03

When I say APPUPPA you do not have any slight clue what am I talking about. Well, in my mother tongue, APPUPPA means grandfather, whether from mother’s side or father’s side. It is a rare opportunity to spend a whole day with your grand daughter, particularly, when she is only about five months old. This is the time, when she can recognize your face, your voice and all your KOOCHIKOO that you utter.
I had that opportunity the other day, in my home in Naperville. My grand daughter, the very first one, and her parents came visiting us from Arlington heights where they live, which is roughly forty five miles north of here. Her real name is Vaishali Subash. But I call her Vavini, just a playful name, that is all. They arrived early at our house to spend the weekend with us. The very sight of the grand baby invokes in me, the sense of happiness, just by seeing her face and pretending that I am really talking to her, gives me the pleasure that words cannot describe. The expression of joy, first a puzzled look, and then gradually blossoming smile and a then a giggle bring in me the unfathomed happiness.
After their arrival, we, my wife, and I were playing with our grand daughter for a while, while the parents were eating breakfast and arranging their clothes etc in their room. A while went away, and even before we noticed, it was noon already. It was now time for Vavini, that is what we call our grand daughter, to get a bath. Of course, as like any other baby, she was also afraid of water. As soon as her dad or mom take her to the sink-top tub for her bath, she would start screaming, showing her fear or dislike of the bath and water. Seeing this, I was thinking about a way to show her that he water is okay and it is all right to take a bath. So I decided to try to show her my way of taking a bath, and asked my daughter to leave the baby in her grandma’s hands, which she did and left. I filled the Jacuzzi slowly with warm water, while vavini watched in amazement, the flowing water and Appuppa getting into the tub and gradually sitting in it. Yet she was still puzzled as to why anyone would get into the tub and get wet, sitting in the tub. Once the water was about six inches high in the tub, I asked my wife to put the baby in my lap, half of her body immersed in the 6 or so inches of water in the tub.
Grandma just did that, and for a moment or so Vavini cried. Then Appuppa, while holding her with left hand, showed her how to get water in a plastic bucket and pour it gradually back into the tub. She was quite thrilled at he sound of the flow, and raised her hands to grab the stream. She could not reach it, and so I raised her a bit and she could touch the flowing water> She was quite fascinated by this trick
Now she is all for taking a bath at any time of the day or night. No screams, or cries. If I ask, “Vavini, shall we take a bath”, I can see the brightness in her eyes, as she gleams her smile at the prospect of playing with water and the rubber ducky that grandma bought for her. Mom and dad also say that it is very easy to give her a bath, no hassle and no problems.