Aiiyo

Aiiyo - pronounced "Uh-ee-yo" is a general expression of sympathy in India.

This morning Evan was cranky. Which is our indication that he is ready for his morning nap. But the crankier he is the less likely he is to see things our way. In any case, Jo put him down for his nap at the usual time. He usually screams and yells a few times before falling asleep.

Savitri - our maid - had a problem with that. When she heard the first cry, she came running over to tell us that he was crying. I said yes. He'll soon fall asleep. No big deal. Unhappily she went about her work. Till she heard a second cry a minute later. She made a run for the door to Evan's room. Jo asked her what she thought she was doing but Savitri doesn't speak or understand English. I intervened before Savitri managed to open the door. I again explained that Evan was going to take a nap and that it was okay for him to scream for a minute or two. She huffed and aiiyoed and went back to work, probably convinced that these foreign people don't know anything about raising kids.