Maya the threenager

To get a better look at this photo, click on it to enlarge it. I've talked before about the state of Bangalore's pavements, but honestly, this one just takes the mick. Andy looks despairing and Maya just looks amused. Which is good - at least she wasn't having one of her threenager fits or she may well have hurled herself down this hole. Whoever coined this phrase, 'threenager', hit the nail on the head - admittedly I don't yet know what it's like to have a teenager and I know, I know, teengagers shouldn't be demonised and stereotyped (but come on, generalisations have to come from somewhere!). But whilst Maya is often a lovely, gentle soul, her behaviour of late has resembled what I imagine a stroppy teenager's to be. Here are a few examples, and I'm not exaggerating a single bit:

- Storming off to her room and slamming the door with an almighty bang.

- She has learnt how to operate the laptop and many of it's functions worryingly well. Now, every time I put music on that I want to listen to, it's only a matter of seconds before she marches over and changes it to her music of choice ie Nelly the Elephant and We've got the whole world in our hands. When I say to her that it's my turn to choose the music, she just tutts and says 'No, it isn't.'

- Being so exhausted by her intense partying (or excitement and antics at pre-school I should say) that she will fall asleep anywhere. Even under the desk (see photo two taken yesterday).

- And this is my favourite: If Maya doesn't want to answer a question I've posed to her because it's too probing or annoying she shakes her head and says 'I'm not talking to you.' But Maya, I say, all I'm asking is...'NO' she repeats even louder for the benefit of irritating, slightly deaf mother, 'Did you hear what I said? I'm NOT talking to you.'

Now all I've got to say to that is how very charming.