For the Iyers imagining home without their children is impossible. The close knit family comprises K Karthik Iyer, assistant professor department of medicines in the Mahatma Gandhi Medical College (MGM), wife, Rama Subramanium the head of the B.Ed Department Graduate School and College for Women. And then there are the two lifelines daughter Upasana in Class VIII of the Sacred Heart Convent School and son Abhishek Class VI in Loyola School.

Karthik Iyer, a medical practitioner by profession and his wife Rama relaxes most in the presence of their children. ?Our kids are very obedient and disciplined. The best part in our relationship with them is that they are open to us and treat us as family and not just authoritarian figures,? both the parents feel ?Mama and Papa? are the world for Upasana and her kid brother Abhishek. ?I feel my parents are different from all other parents. Though many parents resort to scolding their children to make them understand anything our parents have always used logic and words to tackle situations,? says Upasana.

If little Upasana is a practical kind then Abhishek is absolutely chilled out and adorable. ?My friends get beaten up by their parents but my parents have never raised their hands on us,? says Abhi as he is fondly called in the family. ?Well mama does corrects us sometimes but daddy hardly tells us anything. But if ever he gets angry then god only save us.' quips Abhishek looking at his father.

Rama says 'Our kids hates to go for tuition,? And as every one knows that is against the current trend. ?Why do we need to go to strangers when the best teachers are available at home, my parents and my aunt guides us in the difficult subjects and the rest we can manage,' says Upasana. ?In tuition classes one has to be in his best behaviour and always alert, but at home I can be more relaxed,? says young Abhishek constantly shaking his legs and showing a childlike energy. ?My sister in law takes care of their lessons, she is almost like a second mother to them,? says Rama.

Irrespective of being the centre of attention the children are not allowed to take things for granted. In fact if there is any trait in the children that irks the father, it is their irresponsible attitude towards material comforts.

?I was born in a big family and my father could not afford what we have given our kids. Anything we ever got was very precious to us. But for them everything is taken for granted and they do not know how to take care of their belongings,' says Karthik looking a little worried.

?They have got too much of everything and may be that is why they do not know how to value it,? says Rama. If the smiles are anything to go by then, it seems, the children have heard the complaint before.

'Sometimes scolding becomes almost like a habit, it does not affect anymore and moreover I do not even bother to correct myself,? says Upasana. ?They both are completely thick skinned,' says the dotting father.

?They should not let everything affect them but then at least should listen to their parents,? feels the strict mother. Both Karthik and Rama are pretty occupied with their professional lives but it does not seem like the children ever feel left out ever as they are easily the centre of attention always.

Nilanjana Ghosh Choudhury