This morning, on our way back from Parvati (which we have started to get a bit obsessed with, given how we want to keep increasing the number of times we climb every day and how we insist that we must go there twice a day, morning and evening), this happened:
Kym: ‘May I ask you for something, Mr Baba? But it is a secret we have to keep from Mamma Bear.’
Me: ‘Huh? I am not sure it is a good idea, Kym. There should be no secrets between the Bear Family.’
Kym: ‘But please, Mr Baba. Pleaaaaaase.’
Me: ‘OK, what is it?’
Kym: ‘Is it fine if Vikas Kaka didn’t accompany me on his scooter when I cycle to school today?’
Me: ‘Yep.’
Kym <incredulous>: ‘I don’t think you understood.’
Me: ‘I did. I said OK.’
Kym: ‘I am asking if I can cycle all alone to school.’
Me: ‘Sure’
Kym: ‘You are kidding me, right? It that sar-something.’
Me: ‘Nope. No sarcasm. You asked. I said OK. What part of this is difficult to understand?’
Kym: ‘-‘
Me: ‘Do you think you are ready to go alone through traffic, stray dogs, cattle, cow dung, pedestrians, morning joggers, children, speed breakers, potholes, and other road users, then come back, and do it again and again every day?’
Kym: ‘-‘
Me: ‘Are you ready?’
Kym: ‘Yes. I think so. What do you think?’
Me: ‘You’ve been ready long ago. You just realised it. What I think is immaterial.’
Kym: ‘Yayyyyyy! You are the best.’
Me: ‘I think you should tell Mamma Bear. Else, it won’t be fair. You know the five rules of the Bear Family: No lying, no selfish behaviour, no going back on your word, no unfairness, and no cowardice. You are breaking several by lying to your mum. So, go on. Tell her.’
Kym: ‘OK.’
Me: ‘And you need your riding helmet.’
Kym: ‘I want to hug you, my cuddly Baba Bear!’
Me: ‘So, what’s stopping you?’
And so, even if a little late (most of our friends learnt how to cycle on roads at least 2 years ago), we have finally broken free. Like Baba, we will now experience the joy of two wheels. And Baba hopes we feel as much peace with the wind in our hair on our bike as he does on his. Maybe, just maybe, one day, Baba and Baby Bear will ride together. But till then, this will do.
P.S.: Whenever I am faced with a question of whether I should trust my child with whatever it is she claims I should trust her with, I remember my own Superman, my Baba, whose answer was ‘I’m ready if you are’ every single time. I do not know from where he got the confidence and the courage to let us do what was sometimes downright risky shit, but whenever I hesitate to give my child freedom, specifically when she asks for it, I just think of what Baba would have done. And then, I do it.
