Last Saturday was a blast. For Jispa’s birthday I had organized
a pool party and made the kids play games in the pool. Post this some parents
wanted to play again, so we had one more game-day. Seeing the game day and the
fun that we were having the Gymkhana committee wanted me to organize one game
day for the gymkhana as an open fun event. Sure. My logic is simple. I want my
child to have fun and my friend’s children to have fun as well. Everything else
is a bonus. Well it’s not that hard core but yes, organizing games for the
greater public is always fraught with danger. People not behainving the way you
want them to, people suddenly leaving, suddenly fighting, my child this, my
child that… known people are easier to control than unknowns. Or possibly the reverse
is the truth. Sometimes mothers are really tricky.
I see it all the time. the mothers are really agitated at the
sports meet. They are the ones pushing their child to do better. Possibly they
are living their aggression through their children. At Jispa’s birthday and the
other party it was the mothers who really I had to stop from fighting and cheating
and trying too hard. STOP IT gals. Fathers possibly get their dose of aggression
at the office place and this is the time for them to unwind and not show their agression.
Whatever… the mothers are the worst to handle.
This time around there were hardly any mothers registered
for the meet. The mothers possibly were shy of roaming around in a swimming
costume whole day. A few fathers registered and a few semi adults… kids aged
older than 18. I branded it splash day, ensured that the tone was fun and whole
sale fun. Made the kids dive in, splash around and played some ridiculous
invented games. The kids needed to learn to relax and play the game with the
fun association as opposed to the competition association. Luckily the mothers
stayed at bay. The kids did what they wanted to and to my relief it was a huge
hit.
We started at 3 and went on till 7. Splashing around. Mikes
went kaput, games had to be modified. Some kids were really bad swimmers. But overall…
good fun. I kept asking the kids and they kept saying yes, it was fun. Some kid
even said, it was the best day of their life! Wow, that was a big compliment.
Of course organizing this event was back to college days in
terms of partnering with Jasmine. That is the best part of the entire event.
When Jasmine and I take up any project together, it’s always been a great experience.
We complement each other’s skill sets very well. I will do up all the mike
handling, crowd handling, big vision, thinking over all; and she will get the process
in place, man the tables, ensure things move in the back ground, food is served
etc. I become the style and she becomes the substance. We think together and plan
together and execute together. It works well. We don’t get too many opportunities
to do that these days but these small ones are worth their weight in gold.
So we did get a lot of appreciation but the greatest moment
was at the end, when the kids started pushing me into the pool. I handed over the
mike and jumped right in and I was surrounded by kids jumping all over me.
That a nice pic I say.
Of course it all finally comes together thanks to a team. When
I was younger I would want to change the world all alone. Push the bar, be in
all places, walk, run and pull the entire event on my own. Over the years I have
learnt that it’s not possible, or even if possible, the strain is too much. So I
have been learning to delegate and then manage. People will rise to their level
of competence. And people who want to work will see work and not raise hands
but will move their entire body there and start working. That simple. I got a
few volunteers from the mothers, essentially our friends. And I got a few fathers
are well. Predictably some worked harder. The trick is to let them do it the
way they want to. Normally I would have briefed and rebriefed. But I realize that
this is just a gymkhana event. People are here as volunteers not paid jobs. They
will do what they want and they do because they enjoy doing it not because they
‘have’ to do it. I let them handle the situation and they did so admirably
well.
it’s a team game. Kids love to see everyone involved. We had
around 90 participants at the Splash Day. What a day. At the end, the kids
enjoyed and that the main thing. Someone told me that the gymkhana must be more
appreciative of me for doing this for them. To which I say, our kids enjoyed,
right? Then it was worth all the effort.
For me parenting at its core is doing stuff that I thought I
wanted my parents to do with me. I wanted them to play with me. I wanted them
to enjoy games with me. At the end I asked many kids, they all enjoyed it… and
then I asked Jispa “so how was it?”. She said “ok ok”. “so what… you didn’t enjoy
the day”. “it was nice” she answered, “but there were too many people”. Oh yes
there were. But I think Jispa is used to having fun with her dad. Going out and
playing. Swimming pool games. Good fun things. He excitement level is possibly
set up pretty high. Well it is my doing I guess. So at the end of it – the final
verdict that counts was – ok ok. Awwww…..
But then the photos came in and I saw the kids very very
happy. So I am back… we will raise the bar next year. We have a lot to learn. Here
catch a few moments…
at the start - forming the teams. i wanted them to come with their own teams... but the committe over ruled. hell... it was still fun
The kids at the games - some kids couldnt do much. The life gaurds just dint dive in to help out teh stugglising kids. I think its a socio economic issue. they would only get in possibly if someone was drowning or something. not sturggling. No problem. I dived right in. the kid clung onto me and it was a great feeling. Hugging / reassuring the kid, its ok...
SMILEY faces....
More smiley faces
My favorite kid. This was atough race. One kid sits pretty while the team pushing them to the close. I had "saved" him in a previous event. He was tiny.. I promised him the next event, he will be the most important part of the team. Being light has its advantages.
Sometimes instructions have to be given from the pool itself.
More fun...
