I love National Day

Ever since the school started to prepare En Xi for the National Day celebrations, they have been incorporating the national day medley songs as part of their daily choir practice.  En Xi seems to be hooked to singing it, and she can sing all day whether she is painting, bathing,  before bed and not forgeting..whenver she sees a Singapore Flag.

I never knew that our national day medleys can have such an influence on her!  It has definitely made it to her top 10 Billboard KTV list, replacing "Happy Birthday" as the most sung number.

Here's her rendition of the 2 favorite songs.


p/s Thou she didn't quite exactly get every word correctly, but I have to say I enjoy it anyways!

Princess Pink

Call me Princess Pink ok!

Since a few weeks back, you have officially proclaimed yourself as "Princess Pink" & try to associate anything you can to be "Princess Pink".

The Rock-Pink look

• You only want to change into this only pink bubble-dress pyjamas we have, else you will go hysterical and wail as thou it's end of the world.  Once you have successfully coerce us with your emotional blackmail and squeeze yourself into the pink frock, you will point to yourself and say "I Princess", complete with a 360-degrees ballerina spin. (p/s Whenever it rains, we will get very stressed cos it means that you pink pyjamas may not be dried in time...that means that it's trouble for us again)

• When we start counting the characters in "Twelve Dancing Princesses" story, you will go "1, 2, 3 ....12 and ...(pointing to yourself) 13."

• Whenever you see Mummy in this particular dress, you will say "Mummy, Princess"and insist that Mummy do the ballerina dance number, just like the way you did.

• Once Daddy tries to tease you and say you are too fat to be a princess (while pointing to your inflated tummy that forever looks like you just had 2 bowls of rice), you will get upset and insist firmly "I Princesss!"

• You try to change the lyrics of this alphabet phonics song to suit your Princess fetish.  This is how it goes, "Itchy Princess (instead of the original "Itchy Insect"), I, I, I.....this is the sound I hear".

Your extreme obsession with pink color...that's one of the constant headaches we have every day.  It started with your shoes, as you will not wear any of them except the pink one. Even if we managed to tactically trick you into wearing another color, you will eventually find out and insist that we removed it immediately (even thou we are walking in the middle of the road).  You always have an issue with your uniform (which is not pink) and insist that we change you into some pink top or dress that you have picked.  Even when it comes to brushing, you will always choose the pink toothbrush, despite it being so old and worn. And when it's bathtime, you refuse to bath till we wave some pink outfit at you.

It can be very trying sometimes, especially when we try to dissuade you from looking like a pink panther.  But it will never pass your "screening" check in front of the mirror, and we have to remove anything un-pink.

Pink makes En Xi happy!

Nonetheless, that's what make you sooo cute. Mummy was exceptionally relieved that you have inherited the genetic vain DNA from me.  As for the longest time, I was getting quite worried that you may turn out too boyish since u are never the typical girl-lish persona.  

I'm Mummy's Mini-Me

My relatives always tell me that you are just like a mini-me, and reminds them so much of me when I was young.  The only contention came from PoPo cos she always feels like you are the much dare-devil version (unlike me, who was most of the time sitting quietly at one corner and barely could be heard).

Parenting

A picture taken at the Singapore Night Festival 2010 that Daddy really liked

Recently, Daddy went for a Secondary School gathering and somehow got to know a few more friends, rather than catch up with old ones.  There, Daddy met a SAHM (Stay At Home Mum) and we spoke at length on some parenting matters.  One such conversation that got Daddy thinking again was the effect of enrichment programs for kids.  Enrichment programs in the "Little Red Dot" is a BIG thing, as you will know when you grow up that Education is everything and all that matters in our country.  Some might beg to defer, but for a guy who works in the civil service and watch countless inapt superiors get a pay rise for doing half the work of what I do, this idea kind of sinks into my head.  Ok, enough ranting for now and back to the subject proper.

One of many places that Daddy and Mummy brings you to cultivate your artsy fartsy roots

I was explaining the routines of your everyday with regards to the homework in the evenings and stressing the importance to keep up or drop out.  But my new found friend opined differently and only subscribes her kids to nursery and kindergarden.  No additional enrichment programs and lets her kids play all the time and as much as they want, but of course within limits.  She said, "Kids are going to start carrying big and heavy textbooks from 7 years of age, let them have their childhood, they will learn to write and read anyway."  Wow, you better start thanking this lady when you grow up and happen to bump into her in future.  She was right in her way and I can understand that to a certain extend, while learning to pick up life skills early is important, such as writing and reading.  It is only a matter of time you will learn these skills, what's more important is to let you enjoy this process.  That is why I'll continue to read to you every night because the bonding is just great and irreplaceable for me.  You'll also be glad to know that you will be ending your enrollment to Shichida classes by the end of the year.

Ok, let's stick to play now, shall we?

Daddy was reading the New York Times and came across 2 interesting articles that might be of interest if you are a parent.  Sometimes, we wonder what we do as a parent actually helps.

Accepting That Good Parents May Plant Bad Seeds

We marvel at the resilient child who survives the most toxic parents, yet the converse — the notion that some children might be the bad seeds of more or less decent parents — is hard to take.

http://nyti.ms/8Z1MDu

   
Computers at Home: Educational Hope vs. Teenage Reality
Researchers measuring a home computer’s educational value to a schoolchild in a low-income household are finding that test scores tend to go down, not up.

http://nyti.ms/aOiiLl


There's so much talk about filial piety these days, Daddy wonders if you will hold onto Daddy and Mummys' hands when we are old, just like we once did when you were young.

Growing up Together

My journey with En Xi for the past 2.5 years has bought quite a fair bit of reflections for myself. At times, it has led myself to question the beliefs, values and principles that I hold so truly in life, but more significantly, it has led to another level of understanding between Rei and myself.

There are times when I wonder if I'm strong enough when the going gets tough with you? Will I wobble and succumb to your bidding? Is bending backwards for the sake of complimenting one another's parenting styles the way forward? What if Mummy don't agree with Daddy? Should there be define roles and areas of scrutiny for each parent? If yes, then what happened to bringing you up as parents where couple-hood is the core and nucleus of a family? What about your speaking rights? What do you believe?

Lion or Fish? Is it even Real?

Here are 4 examples of distinctly different parenting styles:

1. 'Spicy' Tapioca Snack

The family shares a pack of spicy tapioca snack, you kept wanting to try it and kicks a big fuss over it. We can let you have it and you will understand the meaning of 'spicy' when we say 'spicy'; or just keep the pack out of sight and consume when you are out of sight.

2. Fun in the Playground

You start to walk and climb, we can continue to run behind you in case you fall; or watch from a distance and intervene where a fall can mean dire consequence.

3. Let's go Now

You refuse to walk towards the right direction and insist on moving your way. We can walk up and reason with you; or watch from a distance that is slightly out of sight to let you understand who's the boss.

4. Eat it all up

People should always finish every bit of food on your plate unless they are too full; or leave pockets and bits of rice on your plate when you are done cos it don't matter anyway.

Ultimately, the differences are what they are because of one's upbringing. The values imparted from the grandparents may or may not left an impression on the parents. The parents chose to see the positive or negative of each belief, coupled with the environment they grew up in and the type of exposure one's get, particularly in school and work is what very much defines the parent. If the parents are so different from one another, then the question is how can 2 seemingly different persons become a couple? Your guess is as good as mine, but I chose to believe that positive attracts negative, bad attracts the good, and we are together precisely because we compliment one another.

Little Pigs Little Pigs Let me in...

Taken from a Batik Market in Bali

En Xi's favourite bedtime story for the moment is "Three Little Pigs". Sometimes, when she is in the mood, she will even read together with me, but of course, she can only say "Little Pig, Little Pig, Let me in" or "Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin". I guess these two phrases are her favourite parts. In fact, we think that you are having one of those "talking outburst" many parents told me about. Its funny, how sometimes she speaks, but then again, every parent feels the same for their kid. Here's one of the those moments when my parents came back from Korea:

(Knocking at Grandparent's Room)

En Xi: Ah Ma! Ah Ma!

(Grandpa opens the door)

Grandpa: Yes, En Xi?

En Xi: Are you tired?

Grandpa: Ha ha, yes, very tired.

En Xi: Ah Ma Sleeping?

Grandpa: Yes, she is.

Her favourite impromptu phrase includes, "Mmmm, I think, Ah Pink!" when she see's her favourite colour pink. When she is playing and drops something that she associates with feelings, she will go, "Are you ok?" And let's not forget her favourite phrase, "Dun want dun want, Bu Yao Bu Yao".

Inverted shades for the flat nosed one

It has been 2 weeks since En Xi went school. Not because of illness, but rather, we went for yet another trip. This time to Bali, its been 8 years since Rei and myself stepped foot on Bali. In fact, back then, that was our first trip together. As always, it was a blasting time for En Xi, not so for Rei, but not too bad for me. We kind of think En Xi is a born swimmer, because she is never afraid of the water. Despite being submerged in water and gulping pool water for 2 sec or so, En Xi still gets her head up with a big smile on her face. After the trip, it was a week of school term break, while Rei and I get back to work. We knew that keeping En Xi entertained while she is at home all day will prove to be a challenge. Hence, we bought quite a number of books and toys for her. Not only that she was painting for almost every other day. There's also this fascination about bubbles and spraying water onto herself that she finds funny. These days, kids really have all the fun, at times I wonder if we spoilt En Xi too much, the Bali trip was to be the sixth trip for her and her fourth time on board a plane.

En Xi is still quite a bully, impatient and at times very irritating.

En Xi's tendency to bully kids younger than her is something we can't quite understand. Today she went onto her biting rage again when her cousin, Julian was trying to sit on a rocker that she was just done playing. So "Pai Seh" for both of us, but more worrying is this continual trend. Since she started holding onto a pencil/pen, she never like us to help her hold the pencil to write or draw.

En Xi's impatience can be best observed when she's trying to fit things into fillings that are obviously too small. Things such as trying to fit her Hello Kitty umbrella into her little Dora handbag or trying to fit the hardcover books into the same bag. Then, she starts going into those mini foot stomping, followed by flinging herself backwards onto the sofa while wailing at the same time.

2 recent episodes demonstrate En Xi's potential to be a very irritating person. Episode 1: En Xi didn't want to sit in her car seat and despite all attempts to get her own way, she was strapped up tight in the car seat. Unhappy with the treatment she received, she pout her lips and crossed her arms, while using her right leg to hit Rei's leg repeatedly. Episode 2: En Xi was lying down face up and watching Dora on my iPod Touch while I was cleaning her up after she pooped. Maybe she felt the strain on her arms and she proceeded to reach for my hands to hold the iPod for her.

Tackling the Problem

The above painting is your masterpiece, titled "Lady" and it cost Mummy $25 to bring it home from the School's event, "Art Feast". Apart from paying the exorbitant school fees, now we have the privilege of being 's**kers' to actually pay for what you drew in school in order to bring it home. Of course, it was our choice to buy it or not, but then again, no parents would want to miss this milestone for their child, wouldn't they? In case you are wondering, you drew on a much larger paper and had the teachers to guide you or the paper. Nonetheless, its still quite artsy.

Anyway, after Daddy's complaints in the earlier postings, something disturbing happening in school of late. Your teacher called and told Mummy that you actually bit 2 of your friends in school. Now, this truly came as a shock. Even though you are at times (mostly) a tough kid to handle, I had yet to witness you being a bully. After the traumatising experience that day, you came home and was particularly moody. You were being rude again and Mummy was putting you in place before you sat down and bit yourself in the arm. This aren't any good and there can only be 2 reasons why you did that, (1) you did not know how to express your unhappiness and resort to self harm or (2) your teacher asked you to bite yourself to see if its painful when the other 2 victim friends cried. Daddy thinks its the former reason. The teacher even went on and on and suggested (by the book) that you may suffer from mild autistic as she noticed you had troubles concentrating and taking simple instructions. This caused Mummy to suffer a mild depression for a day, but Daddy just think that the teacher was so full of sh*t. Fortunately, our worries were dispelled over the immediate weekend when we went for a couplehood seminar that had some talk on parenting. Your behavior is classified as the strong will-ed child and we have good reasons to think you are one. Although you have problems looking directly at us when we talk and can't seem to take simple instructions, we realised that you actually hear us when we talk and know when to look at us (when you want something). Coincidentally, Daddy is on a 2 weeks break from work and with your grandparents on a holiday to Seoul, Korea, Daddy is on a mission to set things right.

Alfresco Dinning

But before Daddy can start on improving your mannerism, I gotta start to learn how to cook for you. Daddy is proud to improve his cooking ability from 1 dish (maggi mee) to 6 dishes (fried rice, mashed potatoes, porridge, pancake, bee hoon soup and maggi mee). Taking care of you by myself in the day for a straight 5 days was a first for Daddy and I'm proud to say that I had managed to survive through unscathed. Now back to our problem, the biting problem seems to be gone away and I kind of tried to fix a routine for you, getting you to eat, sleep and play at the right time with the right rules. It was difficult in the beginning, but you did showed improvement and even took the initiative to get the books when its time for your afternoon nap. Bathing and changing your nappies are no longer a struggle and getting you up and ready for school is now a breeze. But the biggest take away is that you now know when we are upset with you and you know it when you are in the wrong. Although you still enjoy slapping me in the face, you are more sincere with your apology (don't ask me how, I just know).

I guess this leads to the morale of the story, no matter who takes care of the kid, be it the grandparent, the teacher at the childcare center or the maid. Nothing beats having the parent to spend quality time with your child. A marked improvement was achieved in a week, can you imagine the difference a SAHM (stay at home mom) would make to the kid? (hint hint to Mummy.. :P) Daddy always though he was a great dad who spends quality time with you on weekends, but I guess when you are young and is still finding your feet in this world, quantity still outweighs the quality we share together.

Here's some pictures Daddy took 2 weeks ago when we visited the National Museum of Singapore (free) on the International Museum Day 2010 and the Rainforest Kidzworld @ the Zoo.

You never quite replicate your artwork from school, made me wonder if the picture was a fake?

Baywatch moment

As always, knocked out after another crazy day.

While Daddy is away

Disclaimer: This is a super-belated post that Mummy was suppose to fill in months ago when Daddy was away.  Along came a major career switch and it has been sitting in the "edit" list for the longest time.  Nonetheless, Mummy will still like to share this post as it marks some of the remarkable moments that still tickles me.

Hello Doctor!

Mei Mei fell sick just days before the school holidays.  For some reasons, she has been quite scared of visiting the Uncle GP, always attempting to escape before we make it through the clinic's entrance.

Let me out..

The 45mins of waiting time feels like hours, not because of anxiety but rather due to Mei Mei's hyperactive-ness in the clinic.    Sometimes I wonder why she can be so active even thou she is unwell. 

Preparing for seventeen

Gor Gors

As it's difficult to bring Mei Mei out when Edwin is away,  the best place to hang out is always my brother's place.  Mei Mei gets along really well with her 2 cousins now, a stark change ever since she turned 2. It's quite entertaining to see how they interact, everything just seems to funny.

Rehearsing "Yum Seng" for Uncle Sam's big day

Let's pretend 

Role play has a new found meaning for Mei Mei since she step into her 2nd year of growing.  In fact she wasn't really the typical girly type who likes to play her masak masak.  She is always more attune to "destructional" games like dismantling her kitchen set or toys and fixing it back.


Here's some of her "pretend" moments which was quite refreshing for me:


- Transforming the multi-purpose hairband into both a sunglass and belt

 




- Using her princess rattan chair as a stroller for Pinkie

 

Stickers galore

This has been the all-time hobby for Mei Mei since she was a baby.  I figure out that it's a good finger training exercise for her, and most importantly it can get her occupied for a long time while Mummy gets busy.  What I thought was quite interesting is that she has this thing about stacking the stickers (instead of spreading it out) by pasting it on top of each other.