Image via WikipediaWe were quite enjoying the movie, especially relishing Auro's endearing wisecracks. Everyone from Vidya Balan to Abhishek Bachchan to Arundhati Nag (especially her!) was a treat to watch.
For the most part of the movie, our son was playing nearby, organising his toys etc. But towards the end of the movie, he too began watching it. We had no idea what went on in that little 7-year-old mind of his.
In the middle of the night, he woke me up saying he'd had a bad dream. When I asked him what he'd seen, he refused to elaborate. I told him the usual, "It's just a dream, go back to sleep". He asked me if it was OK if he didn't go back to sleep at all, if it was morning yet and if not, how much time till it would be morning. He asked for water, used the bathroom and went and peeked out the window to ascertain that it was indeed a long way till morning. Then I asked him again what the dream had been and he said he'd dreamt that he and a friend were being chased by 'Paa' by whom he meant Auro - the aged-child. He was so terrified that his eyes teared up just talking about it. Apparently, Auro's bald, wrinkly face had stuck in his mind in a not-so-positive way.
I spent the next half-hour or so telling to R how Auro was a good, kind, funny, smart and friendly kid who looked like that because he was sick with a disease. I took the opportunity to explain why some people might look different but are just like us in other ways. I hope he absorbed at least some of it and grows up to view differently abled people in a healthy way. It was also a good chance to teach my son a little bit about prayer and God. I told him what I did when I was scared: I'd pray to God so that I felt better, if not braver. Bless his little soul, he didn't question my faith at all and proceeded to bow his head and pray. His only question was, "If I pray in my mind, can God still hear me?"
5 comments:
"I took the opportunity to explain why some people might look different but are just like us in other ways." That was wonderful, RajK. I have dealt with fear arising from lack of awareness and prejudice in my post "Of Mockingbirds and Harry". So I know where you come from.
And so true- we never know how a child's mind reacts to something we might take for granted. You have given me an idea for a post. Will send you a link when I do it. Thanks.
Thoughtprovoking.. and touching too especially that question
So often its easier to say 'There's nothing to be afraid of' and negate their feelings, but to tackle them like you have - hats off to you for dealing with your son's fears so well.
You handled it so nicely. I am glad you kept asking him about the dream. I haven't watched the film so don't know much about it.
I am sure you answered his last question as well that God listens to each and every prayer but specially the ones when you remember him in your mind. At least that's what I was always told. :)
Sandhya, thanks. I'm waiting for that post of yours!
Arundhati, thank you. If only I handled everything else half as well!
Kanan, what a surprise! Glad you liked it!
Back to reading your blogs after a long break - and I loved the wasy u helped R get over his fears - these little souls are so innocent at this age - wait till he turns 10 like mine! phew! But yes, my K still has his bad dreams, wakes me up in the middle of the night and I too have a seesion with him like u had, and then I get him to sleep in between us, and I love the way he cuddles in then - sometimes, I wonder if he is playing pranks on me just to be able to sleep with us!
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