Supermom! #100convos #5

I can’t even remember when I first met Malika, it feels like I’ve always known her. We work for the same company but in different departments and really don’t get to chat as often as I’d like, especially when her department moved to a whole different floor! Like good friendships, the space doesn’t seem to matter.

I caught up with Malika at the end of a busy day. She let out a sigh and told me someone had reminded her at 2pm to eat lunch – one of those days. Suddenly she looks at me and exclaims that she always thought that my eyes were blue-green, not blue-grey. Just another indication of how we all seem to rush past each other, face-to-face and one-on-one is becoming the exception rather than the norm.

I asked Malika for a story about her daughter.

“So, I phoned Aalia and asked her: ‘How was school?’ She is 3 years old and says to me: ‘Never mind about how school was, you just need to know we’re having a Halloween party tonight. So get your costume ready for tonight.’”

At home, I asked?

“Yes! Now you know what I’m in for. She actually used the word costume!”

Malika loves Pinterest and we chatted about all the DIY and design projects that we keep meaning to do. She has plans to build a fire pit in her back yard and showed me a lovely quote that she plans to paint about the pit. I shared how I was surprised that I manage to stick to my 100 day challenges. We spoke about getting started and keeping at it. Then like Yoda, Malika drops some wisdom on me.

“It’s like running, the 1st kilometer or 2 is easy, then you get to 4 or 5 you start to die, your legs are crying – then your second breath kicks in and you can go onto 10 or 15km.”

I just stared at her till she said; “Yes I run”

But you said 10 or 15km?

“Yes, the most I’ve done was 21km, once”

Wow, you’re Supermom!

"Aw, you think that of me? That’s lank cute!”

 

 

"Love is..." #100convos #4

I met Tanatswa (and Nako) soon after moving into my flat. They are fantastic, well spoken children. Tata is the perfect big sister and I often forget that she is only 9, she has a wisdom about her.

She once styled my hair while playing - it looked so good I kept the style and got compliments.

Tata launched straight into the interview, volunteering the basics.

"My favourite show is Two And A Half Men"

Nako chimed in with "Ag they kiss in that!"

He was shushed, and a small debate sprung up about the primary storylines - in the end the consensus was "it's about kissing."

Back to the interview.

"My favourite sport is netball. My favourite food is chicken, lasagna, and Spur... 'People with a taste for life!'. My best friends are Sawaso, Ruqueyah and Jadyn. I like swimming."

Then she looked at me expectantly. I explained that I ask grownups to tell me something inspiring that they want the world to know. She said she didn't know what to say, so I asked her the meaning of love.

"Love is marriage, babies... And that's all."

This seemed to spark some vision for the future because she quickly slipped back into her monologue.

"And when I grow up I want to be a dentist and I want a Mini Cooper or a Volvo."

Again the expectant look, but before I could reply, she added so advice for us all.

"For the people out there: Don't waste water and then we can make some fishes happy."

"Why do you have a tattoo?" #100convos #3

Runako is literally my favourite 6 year old on earth. His family stays in the same complex as me and I can bank on hugs whenever our paths cross. He loved the idea of being interviewed. Like most kids, he says the funniest things until you expect him to be official - like in an interview!

Nako, has a keen interest in my love life and has on more than one occasion threatened to beat up any guys that step out of line. He rates my gentlemen callers too (the kind that come over during the day while he is playing outside).

He is also my health guru. I told him that I had a tummy ache once - he insisted on rubbing my belly while dispensing the following advice "you need to eat more vegetables" and "drink more water, not coke, my teacher says coke is poison".

He and his sister (interview with her tomorrow!) once asked me to read to them, the book they chose was "Mr Greedy" - they were addressing my weight problem.

The joy I felt while sun tanning post losing 15kg to hear Nako exclaim "Sharon! You are skinny now!".

Now, back to our interview today, Nako thought it best to ask the first question, "Why do you have a tattoo?" - I deflected the interrogation and asked about his favourite TV show.

"My favourite show is Dragonfly."

Why?

"He first never has wings, now he has wings because.... So he fell down a building and he got some wings out of nowhere."

"And my favourite game is soccer"

Did you watch the World Cup?

"Yeah"

And?

"Germany won the World Cup. And Argentina was nearly there to win."

He raised a tiny hand to indicate that the interview was over, and ran off to play.