The Dossier

The plane still has four hours to go before it lands, and nothing can quite compare with the thrill of seeing the children’s faces. It’s been nine days since we left home. And leaving the kids is never easy.

Any mother who doesn’t look forward to the break needs to get her head examined. And yet you hope that the kids will remain well while you’re gone.

I’m one of those who jots down copious lists - lists to help the able and caring grandparents, just in case something slips their mind.

I remember the first time I had compiled a dossier with all the lists, the parents were more than amused, but they were too polite to say anything.

Firstly, let me explain why I make lists. It’s because I want the children’s existence to carry on just as it would have, if I were there.

So, to begin with we have a detailed list of their activities and school timings. I have two children going to different schools at different times.
All play dates have their friends’ parents’ numbers, so that any alterations in the programme can be coordinated directly.

Then I make a list of their timings and dos and don'ts.
Bath times, food times, total amount of TV time etc.

The nitty gritty list ranges from the grandparent checking their diaries daily for homework to wearing warm vests to ensuring that extra food accompanies the child during extra-curricular activities.

Birthday party presents are brought in advance and labelled. Medicine charts are printed and updated. And the list goes so on and so forth.

Then there is the most crucial list of them all – the list of numbers. The house staff, teachers’, grandparents, doctors, dentists, the inner circle basically.

I circulate this list to all and sundry, just in case my child is found wandering around the streets, at least he will have all the phone numbers to rescue him!

So the dossier is printed and handed over to the caretakers, to the grannies, pinned on the tag board, and short of making them all go through rote lessons, the kids schedule is on everyone’s fingertips before I leave town.

If you have a young child, it doesn’t hurt to call the class teacher to tell her you will be traveling for a few days, so that she can keep a special watch, in case he or she is acting up in school.

So after all this plotting and meticulous planning, one has to be prepared that it can all go for a complete toss!

The play date has cancelled. School wants your child to stay back for a special practice.
Or the child’s maid has fallen sick! Whatever might be the case, you realise that life moves on, despite your dossiers going haywire.

And the kids have a blast, work gets done, schedules are adhered to within reasonable variations, and each time you talk to them, they sound fine.

That’s what matters. You can have a great holiday if you realise that their anatomy doesn’t get damaged if they eat many more pizzas while you’re away!