Medical exam, Dilli haat, and one playground mishap

This little trooper never lost her smile, not needle, not doctor, not TB injection would wipe the smile of this girl today.  I of course had more nerves than she did today for her medical exam.  I had no idea how a doctor visit or a shot would treat her.  I was flashed back to many vaccination visits full of tears by Lucy and Charlotte and guilt by the responsible mother while we waited in the lobby for Neha's medical today. Would she blame me, would it ruin our day?  Well, Neha obliged the doctor, answering question in both Hindi and English.  She  smiled the whole time. And she inquisitively watched the needle go in her arm without a wince.  Seriously, I almost passed out, but she kept on shinning.

        Dilli haat, a craft market.  And Neha learned finally, "don't touch". Well kinda, but we have come a long way from grabbing everything. 

Nice that these were faux, mike and I think we have both acquired many gray hairs trying to keep these girls out of the eminent danger of parading elephants, striding camels, and galloping oxen carts. 

Finally we were able to "let the dogs run" as I put it today.  Between city palaces, and crematorium temples I think mike and I have had to shhhhhuuusshhh the girl more than 200 hundred times so far.  I have said a few time that I would pay approximately 98 dollars for a monkey backpack with a leash on it (as seen at target and on rebellious rowdy children in large crowds before) 

Today was a break from the shushing and a much needed crazy time for the kids.  Rajeev was nice enough to buy us lunch and treat the girls to an enclosed playground.  We were happy to sit on our butts, drink a cup of tea and release control for a few moments.  The girls played like true sisters. Watching each other, learning from each other and protecting one another.  Neha had a small encounter with the spinning metal track and the gate causing the second set of tears that we have ever seen from her (the first being when she slide her hand in between the sliding doors of our hotel in Chandigarh) ouch!!  Lucy's motherly instinct called out for me and "mom, Neha got hurt" and I rushed in like my life depended on it.  She got a hug, wiped her tears and moved on.   Charlotte could use a few lessons in resilience from this tough ol girl.  

I noticed another little girl having quite the conversation with Neha on the playground.  I saw Neha sassing with her head and pointing to me.  The other little girl sassed back and shook her head as if she was saying "no way". Of course I had to see what was "going down".  I walked over there and said "tikka Neha?". Meaning everything ok?  She pointed to me, looked the cocky little girl in the face and said with her hand faced upward in my direction. "mele momma".  Meaning, "my mom".  The little girl dropped her jaw in dis belief and Neha, quite proud of herself walked away with a confident swagger as of to say. See, I told you she was my mom.   Damn if that isn't cute.  She is proud of me, I am so proud of her. And between the two of us we have a lot of people to set straight so to speak. Look out world, stop the judging crap. A mother is a mother, a daughter is a daughter not matter what the appearance difference.