Siddharth Parmar, my son, blogs at Musings of a Bookworm. He is an avid reader who reads Chemistry encyclopedias in the same vein as he does his Asterix and Tintin comics. He also loves playing Football, cricket and Table Tennis. He is a quizzing enthusiast as well. I take a lot of pride in how he is turning out to be an intelligent, sensitive and mature young man and especially because he takes after so many of my own passions. Yeah, yeah, I crib a lot about him and my other son in my posts. That just shows that we are a normal family with fights, yelling and differences of opinions. It is with great pleasure that I welcome him in my space with a post very close to his heart. Do show him some love…

***

Well, I was about 3 years old when I started asking mom for a sister (I was envious of my friends). Then finally after loads of pestering she told me that I would have a sibling. Fast forward to 2006 and finally my brother was born.

When he came home, he looked so cute, and all my friends used to come to see him. His crying at night was a not-so-much problem for me, as I do not wake up easily. Though I was happy I was also jealous of all the attention he got.

Slowly he grew and started crawling all over the house. I would try to play with him and always asked to carry him. Finally he started walking and talking. Now he was about 2 years old, and I loved playing with him but at the same time I also started feeling upset that no one really gave me much attention, and he was getting pampered.

Then as he grew more, I taught him to play some things with me. Then he joined school, woke up with me in the morning, I accompanied him to his class. That was also the time when he was 3 or 4 years, and we fought a lot which was natural. No matter how much he hit me, it always seemed like I was the one getting all the scolding, and he almost never got scolded in my point of view.

This was also the time when I used to have many tantrums that everyone was always talking and playing with him and it felt like no one really played with me or did fun things with me. That phase was the most difficult for me.

Then he grew and became taller, faster and better while playing with me. He slowly learnt football and some other sports. He then reached 1st standard. Now at the age of seven, he plays with all my friends, competes with me in everything, listens to all my random ramblings and stands up to any person who hits me (After all by his logic, he should be the only one to hit me).

When it comes to video games, he is almost at my level and in some games even better than me. He quickly learns the controls of the game and soon is posting high scores. Well he just loves to discuss one game that he plays a lot: Clash of Clans. He keeps talking about the game to everyone in the family and reserves a lot of questions for me.

He likes going to our terrace garden and helping out dad in his gardening. He knows so much about dad’s garden that when dad is out of town, he is the go-to person about the garden. He is also super curious and picks up many things.

He can also be a huge pain. He loves asking questions. It is a bad quality when watching a film or program; he just keeps asking questions at strategic times like important dialogs. In fact, according to me, he is the deadliest weapon to unleash on someone watching a movie.

He also fights a lot and in the end I always get the “You are the elder and more mature one and you should control your strength” lecture. Waking him up is a pain for me. When it is time to play, and I go to wake him up; he gets cranky. He has Jackie Chan reflexes and performs his very own sleepy martial arts on me. He gets super cranky after that.

Now when I look back, no matter how much we fought, I am not sure what I would I have done without my brother. Yes, it was not always good, and there were many bad moments but still living all those years without him seems impossible. I am looking forward to many more experiences in this journey.


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107 Thoughts on “A friend for life!

  1. Wah wah, Sid! That was a very mature sounding post, and very dil se 🙂

  2. Rickie on March 27, 2014 at 10:28 am said:

    Wah, what a great essay. Bada honehaar baalak hai! I look forward to meeting your Karan-Arjun next month.

  3. Awww…such honesty. Siblings are definitely a pain at times (especially when they start meddling with ‘our’ things 😉 ), but without them life is not worth it. And Sid, since I’m also the elder one I can tell you that this is only going to continue, but the bond will definitely grow stronger and stronger. And he is blessed to have you as a big brother to come to and that is exactly the reason why he’s turning out smarter. Kudos to you! 🙂

  4. Sid, my older son would totally agree with you! The older one gets blamed or at least questioned even if it was the younger one who instigated the fight! I get it now and so I try not to take sides, though sometimes it is hard! I’m so glad that you are so close, as brothers should be!
    Also, my boys love Clash of Clans too!! Hope we can all meet some day and you four can exchange notes!

    • I surely agree. We elder siblings are always supposed to be at fault during a fight. I would love to meet your sons and discuss few things.

  5. ah sweet!I could relate because I hated my brother as a kid. I did not even know my mom was pregnant and one day she came home with this kid.
    Now I love him to death. But he doesn’t have to know 😛
    awesome post

    • Thanks a lot. Yes there are many moments when you hate your brother but after we cannot imagine living without them. Life would surely be more dull without siblings

  6. I have two wishes after reading this adorable post by a brilliant boy. No not of having another one, but: 1. My kid brother reads it too, and so I forward this to him. 2. Nishad too learns to write as sweetly and honestly as your boy one day.
    Looking forward to meet them soon!

  7. Sid, I am the older one, so I can totally imagine where you are coming from. These parents I tell you, always giving us that ‘bade hone’ ka lecture. Ufff!

    But I also caught the pride in your post, about having a sibling and being there for him, just as he is there for you. True, siblings are the best friends one can have. I know I have one too. She is 7 years younger than me. She tells the world, everyone has one mother, I have two! LOL.

    I hope and pray that this bond remains for years to come. Stay Blessed. Both of you. Much love, always.

  8. Such a sweet post by an adorable big brother. Sid, I am the younger one so I think ya, my brother got most of the flak but then what would be life without them around, as you said 🙂

  9. Hey Sid, I hope my elder one should be as loving towards his younger one as you are though my younger one being a girl complicates matters sometimes for me… loving post .Short and sweet 🙂 wishes to you and the lucky Mum Rachna 🙂

  10. He writes so well Rachna… The way he articulates his thoughts about his brother at such a young age…I’m amazed…You have got a gem of a young man there…I wish him all the luck and wish this love and bond between brothers grows manifolds with time for this will be the unflinching support for them many many years later! *touchwood*

    • Thank you, Naba! I agree. I am very sure that I wasn’t writing this way when I was his age, nowhere close. And the vocabulary the kids use these days is mindboggling. I am also crossing my fingers and hoping that they will always find companionship and love in each other the same way as I do with my siblings and as you do with your sister. It is such a precious bond really! Thank you so much for your warmth and support always.

  11. Oh and Sid well done boy…Loved the honesty in your post..Never stop writing apart from the other wonderful things that you do …. 🙂

  12. I love your honesty, Siddharth. And that makes your post so genuine and sweet. Yes, life would be dull and boring without siblings.
    And you’ve definitely inherited your mother’s writing skills. 🙂

  13. You said it like it is, Sid. Enjoyed reading your post.

  14. Given that I actually got to see Sid in person and noticed how well behaved and smart he was during the IB meetup, I can safely vouch for the fact that he is a good big brother for sure.

    As for this post, just goes on to show that he has inherited the ‘writing genes’ from his mother.

  15. Your trademark honesty, insight (the BEST kind – into oneself) and humor too, Rachna! Wah! Siddharth!

  16. OMG…Sid, you are really a sweet heart. And that was such a mature post. Now, I want to make my son (who is as old as you) read this and write a post for my daughter…copy cat..huh? hehehe…You know Sid, we all parents make that mistake. We tell our older ones to bear the brunt. I had been told it all my life. It’s not fair naa? And next time, put a plaster on his mouth while watching a movie. MY lil does the same. God bless you. You should always be the same bigger brother you are now. Rachna, he writes so well. Put this thoughts in the right words and right order. In the crazy phase I am right now, I wouldn’t have opened any blog if not for Sid’s post 😉

  17. Such a sweet Post, Rachna! Kudos to Siddharth! Very well-expressed!
    Case of the Elder Sibling- Know this story as even I am the eldest 🙂

  18. ‘Deadliest weapon on someone watching a movie’?? That was so cute 🙂

  19. Well written Sid.
    The elder one always feels this way only, and you know the younger one also feels nobody listens to him/ her and always believes whatever the elder one says.
    This is the classic tale that has been going on in all households.
    Don’t let such things bother you, I know having a younger brother or a sister is very frustrating sometimes, and the same is the case with younger ones too.
    I have seen in my own house with both my children literally hating each other, but as they grew up they became good friends.
    Actually I thought you had written about Coco your best friend for life.
    Very nice keep writing.

  20. Rajeev Moothedath on March 28, 2014 at 3:57 am said:

    I can relate to this post, being the elder one of us two brothers.Good, Keep writing…

  21. Only Sid can blog like this.. How touching is that post! I am speechless. You are amazing boy wonder.

  22. Anita Desai on March 28, 2014 at 10:00 am said:

    Beautiful thoughts Sid and brilliant expression. Great going, keep it up young man 🙂

  23. Aww!! That’s such a sweet post!! This is a post for keeps and the one that will warm the hearts and bring loads of smiles whenever you all will read it!! 🙂

  24. This is one of the BEST posts I have ever read! SO SO SO sweet! And I am super glad I got to meet the Author 🙂 Sid, this was fantastic, your brother is so lucky to have you 🙂

    And Rachna, give yourself a pat on the back for bringing into this world such beautiful human beings 🙂

    • Awww my chest swells in pride, and I remember your compliment for him that day at the meet. What more does a mother need! Thank you Seeta for such a lovely comment.

  25. Awww! That was adorable! Rachna your heart must be so proud right now to have two such amazing boys.

    • Yep, I chuckled loudly when I read the post the first time. Plain honesty with doses of wit and humor; I felt so proud. Thanks for reading, Swapna!

  26. That was very well written, Sid. You sounded so mature already like a grownup. (I mean the ideal grown up. Lot of adults are also childish in reality)

  27. Ah, namesake. We meet again 🙂 First of all, it was an absolute pleasure to meet you at the IB meet on Sunday. Secondly, I loved the post. Honest, witty and lots of little insights. Now, since I’m an only child, I will not even pretend that I understand how it is to have a sibling. But I have always imagined how it would be and your post resonates with me because of that. God bless you Sid. And your little brother and parents too. Till we meet again…..

  28. Wonderfully written Siddharth! God bless you!

  29. Big brother talking! And from his heart.
    Very well written Sid!
    Look forward to meeting you.

  30. I thoroughly enjoyed this post!! “He should be the only one to hit me” LOL!!! Sid writes really well, with the right mix of seriousness and humor!! Not to mention abundant doses of brotherly love! Now waiting for part 2 from the little bro!

  31. Very nice post Sid. Even my kids are the same…though they are teenager now. Hope the love between you both only grows. Good wishes and love.

  32. Aww this is so well written. I got so emotional reading it because I can relate to so many things in it. The love for his younger bro is so evident. Also I loved the humor he has added, especially the Jackie Chan reflexes. ROFL!! May their love and bond remain like this forever. 🙂

  33. Adorable blog post, took me back to the time my sons were kids

  34. WEll written Sid!
    Years later, you’re gonna come back here and read this with a lot of mixed emotions! Keep writing always…you have great potential to be a great writer!

    And Rachna! Like mother like son! WOw! TO have a son who follows up on writing like his mother shows that you have encouraged him to get into his giftedness! Well done! In a age where video games and less people interaction happens, it’s not easy to see young ones come up with gifts like this!

    • Thanks a lot. Surely I will re-read this post in a few years.

    • Thank you, Danny, for such a gracious and warm comment. As any mom, I take a lot of pride in my son. I am glad that he is following his own passions. And that even in this day and age, he so enjoys reading and writing. Thank you for your encouraging comment.

  35. A beautiful and warm post celebrating the precious bonds between sibling…

  36. Great beginning, Siddharth! I feel I know you! I felt as if I was reading my elder son’s writings. He would have written just like you if he had written one when he was your age. Yes, people always ask the older one to ‘adjust’ all the time. But do you know, we mother’s give importance to the view of the older one on important matters even from his small age! It happens in our house!

    Keep on writing! You are very very good in expressing yourself!

  37. Hey, that was a sweet post. I loved some of your sentences Sid, like the one where you mention by his logic, he is the only one who can hit ,e 🙂 Your post reminded me of the diary I used to keep when I was quite young. Keep writing. A post from a child can be so refreshing 🙂

  38. I am so late in reading this, but then how could I miss a post by Sid !
    Sid I have a older brother and you know he really bosses over me all the time. But then he is also so protective and so much fun. I asked him a lot of questions too when we were kids and wanted to be a part of every game he played with his friends. I look forward to meeting both of you when you come to Delhi in April.
    Also, you write so very well Sid. I thoroughly enjoyed this post. Keep writing !

  39. I am the older one of the siblings and I can relate so much with this post. The not-getting-attention part always hurt but you understand after a while that it was never deliberate.
    I am sure there are a lot of amazing experience coming ahead.
    You write well Sid. 🙂

  40. Manika on March 29, 2014 at 2:57 pm said:

    It was just yesterday…when Sid was so young….and today he is writing about his younger brother…so proud to see this and thoroughly enjoyed the blog..God bless him…:)

    • Yep, Gautam was born in front of you. Just the other day, you had visited the hospital, it seems. And it has almost been 8 years to that day :-D. Amusing to read their account of their childhood!

  41. Sid,

    I have no siblings so I can’t really know how a younger or older sibling makes you feel sidelined. But I do have a son who has a penchant for asking questions- specially during the climax of a thriller. At those times, I have to remind myself that I am ‘the older and more mature one’ and so must keep my temper and strength in control. But man, it is so tough!

    Rachna,

    I wish I wrote half as well as this when I was Sid’s age. Is it any wonder I chose you to raise my kids should I suddenly conk off one fine day? You’d do a fine job with them, I know that. Take a bow mommy! 🙂

    • Yep, keeping quiet the first few times is tough, then I start trying to shut him up. The saving grace is, nowadays we normally record and then play programs or movies so that we can easily pause and rewind.

  42. I was fortunate to have 2 younger brothers. Oh how they drove me crazy back in the day, but I agree with you — I can’t imagine not having them in my life now. Family (in general) is priceless!

  43. I had posted a comment the very next day this post was published, don’t know where it went.
    Sid loved your post. Can feel your love and pride for your brother. Love, hugs and lots of blessings

  44. How sweet and honest. Totally love the progression in the story and the honesty.
    I remember my mother having my sister 12 years after my birth and 9 years after my middle sister’s birth. I was so eager to welcome her into our family and then in my teen years I was (being the oldest) I was made responsible for looking after her which took time away from my friends. Though I resented it then I grew to love and enjoy her a lot and the bond we share now in adulthood is precious. She lives 5 minutes from me (we are both married) and has been a great source of love and support to me and my family.
    That little baby is a gift to me!
    Thanks Rachna for sharing.

  45. Lovely post, Sid. I am so sorry to be commenting this late, but didn’t want to miss doing it 🙂 It is not often that elder siblings realise what you have done at such a young age. Sometimes one becomes an adult before an elder sibling confesses to having all the mixed feelings about the younger ones. How do I know? I am the last of six siblings, that is how! We youngest have a tough life, you know, being compared to the older ones and sometimes scolded for not being so good 🙁 But having a sibling or more is the best blessing one can have in this world. Hugs to both of you 🙂

  46. Aww such an adorable post 😀

    I like the reference to ‘secret weapon being unleashed’. I admire the maturity and innocence combined in this piece. It speaks volumes for his sensitive nature and his ability to look past the surface and understand things at such a young age. May he and G always be blessed, happy and healthy for many years to come.

    • Yes, Sid is very sensitive and mature. Yet, I know of times when his younger brother has gotten away with many things. It is a tough job to referee kids. One child will always feel that the other has been favoured. I loved his wit and humour in this post. Thanks for reading, Shailaja. I am sure he will be thrilled with your comment.

  47. He is going to be another writer in the family. I loved the way he has described his relationship with his brother, with a bit of humor and lots of love. Loved the part about Jackie Chan reflexes ?

  48. I had SUCH a huge smile on my face while reading this. It’s just sooo cute. Love that bit where your younger one won’t let anyone hit Sid because he should be the only one who has the right to it. Sid comes across as such a mature child – to be able to identify his emotions – happiness, envy – with such clarity is amazing. I love how he gives credit with such generosity to your younger one.
    Oh and I’d like to see the Jackie Chan reflexes. The cutest ever.

  49. It was a heartwarming read. How wonderful it is to read something written from a child’s perspective and by the child. That bit about the deadliest weapon gave me a sense of deja vu. I can completely empathize with Sid since I bear one such weapon at home. The dialogue which comes to my mind for this is “Unleash the terror (of questions)” 🙂

Do not leave without commenting. I love a good conversation :).

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