Until some 12 years ago, my wife and I were regulars at Parent-Teacher Meetings in Sharjah, UAE. Like most expatriates, then, we lived in Sharjah, not for the sea breeze or cultural charm, but because rents were lower than in Dubai. I worked at Gulf News in Dubai, which meant a daily 27 km commute that took an hour on a good day, and two on days when the traffic snarled bumper to bumper.
At those PTMs, the script rarely changed:
‘He’s good, but with more effort he can do better,’ teachers would say with the calm assurance of people who knew they would be repeating that line to 40 other parents before lunch.
Character and discipline? ‘He’s a gem.’
But inevitably came the euphemistic qualifier: ‘Sometimes he gets distracted.’ Translation: ‘Your younger one is playful in class.’ No such footnotes for the elder; he was the model student they would likely present if school inspectors ever dropped by.
A different kind of school visit
Fast forward to the present, we are back in school, not as parents, but as grandparents. Not for a PTM either, but for Grandparents Day at our granddaughter Kriti Varsha’s EuroKids school in Uppal.
The WhatsApp invite, forwarded by our daughter-in-law, had the kind of poetic optimism only preschool administrators can produce:
‘They say parenting becomes clear only when we become grandparents – a beautiful irony of life.
Grandparents, with their endless love, wisdom, and gentle touch, are truly a child’s greatest blessing.
Dress Code: Grandparents & Children – Red & White.
Let’s add a splash of joy and unity with coordinated outfits as we celebrate love across generations!’
I chose white; my wife, Uma, went with red. Not because I dislike red – it is just that my wardrobe does not believe in it. And it is not about any ‘ism’.
A rainy morning of joy and dancing
We reached the school at 11 a.m., unsure what awaited us. Would we hear that Kriti was an angel? Or the diplomatic ‘She talks too much’?
Instead, joy took over. The school had planned activities – charming chaos, accompanied by a sound system with a mind of its own. Kriti beamed as I attempted to dance with both left feet, while Uma, far more graceful, walked the ramp and even joined the teachers for a group dance, as if she had been rehearsing since her kindergarten days
Meeting the teachers
Later, Kriti introduced us to her class teacher, Ms Manjula. No euphemisms this time: ‘She is friendly, quick to learn, sings beautifully, and joins in every activity.’ Not a single ‘but’. Whatever distractions Kriti’s father had at her age did not carry forward.
A note of thanks
Our heartfelt appreciation goes to Principal Ms. Deepam, whose thoughtful planning turned an ordinary weekday into a celebration we will remember fondly. She and her team gave us an occasion filled with laughter, warmth, and the promise of more such memories in the years ahead.
Two hours later, we walked out with our hearts full – and our knees faintly protesting the impromptu dance sessions. Parenting might have been about deadlines and PTMs. Grandparenting, it seems, is about showing up in white shirts, making a fool of yourself on purpose, and finding that you do not mind one bit.
