Dora, but only in Pink pls

A Happy En Xi in her new Pink Dora Nightie (Daddy bought this from Big W 'Mega store akin to Carrefour' in Rockhampton 'Beef Capital of Down Under', Australia)

Its funny how time seems to be an eternity when you are away from your kids. For the umpteen time (I lost count), Daddy is away for overseas work yet again. Its even more weird when you get home and never fail to notice even the most subtle differences in your kid. While it may seem trivial, every parent will always feel the need to exclaim and share with the whole world. So, here I go.

All Dressed Up and Ready for School

As always, you are taller and heavier, 96cm and 13.6kg to be exact. Your linguistic skills are picking up and you are able to express stuff such as, "Its ok Daddy, I'm ok, we can do it again." Unfortunately, your ability to follow instructions is still very much left to be desired. Your obsession with 'Pink' and 'Dora' has done to a whole new level. You are refusing to wear your uniform for school and this has been going on for a month plus now. The only outfit for school is the Pink 'Dora' T-shirt that Ah Ma has bought for you, matched with an orange leggings with a touch of pink, coupled with Pink 'Dora' back pack and Pink 'Hello Kitty' Crocs. We think you are getting over our heads as you always come home from school with the uniform on. Gotta catch up with your teacher for some tricks these days.

Personalised 'Dora' Themed Booster Seat

During my time away from home, Ah Ma finally managed to cajole you into sitting at our dinner table for meals, but at the expense of giving up the baby chair. The adult chair was too low for you, but you insisted on nothing else and we had to give in. So, off I went to look for a booster seat for you and I was exasperated when you refused to even try to sit on it. The problem? It was blue, not Pink! I should had guessed and made the colour of my choice as my primary criterion for selection. There was no exchange policy and Ah Ma came to the rescue again and suggested that you personalise the booster seat by pasting Dora stickers on it.

So much for 'Pink' and 'Dora', your favourite book from the library now is titled 'My Best Best Friend' of Charlie and Lola series. Daddy ponders if he'll ever be your best best friend in future.

Story Telling

Since at an early age, bedtime stories have been a habitual routine for En Xi. Every night, when we say “time for milk”, En Xi will rush into her room and grab her favourite books. She then tosses the books on the bed and lies down with both arms out stretched, reaching for the milk bottle. As she slurps down her fix, we sit down next to her and start reading. Before you know it, she bumps her milk bottle onto your hand to indicate that she’s done. This consummates with her licking her lips profusely in delight, before she sits ups pointing to a book and says “How about this one?”

I’m glad to have had adopted this habit as it allows us a little bonding time every night and more importantly, nurtures En Xi’s interest in reading. As a matter of fact, she has enjoyed bedtime stories so much that she looks forward to bringing back new books from the library. Sometimes, En Xi will read to us, albeit with the occasional prompting. Once done reading, she looks up and the sparkle from her eyes and warmth smile instantaneously energise us.

With En Xi’s affection for reading and her showing symptoms of bad mannerism, such as snatching and gobbling down her favourite snacks. We came up with a brilliant plan to cultivate her values by reading cautionary tales. Our first book was “Say please, Louise!” by Roxbee Cox??? A large text graphical book with emphasis on the phrase “Say please, Louise! A please and thank you is all that’s needed.” At the start, we were taken by surprise with her ease of reciting ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ as we flip through the pages. But I guess we did not explain when and how to apply the appropriate mannerism nor did we allow her to practise enough. It all seems confusing for her in the beginning. At times, she said ‘Thank you’ before asking for things and often hurries off without saying ‘Thank you’ when she gets her stuff. Eventually, our constant reminders and patience paid off. Finally, En Xi was able to communicate ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’ in the right situations.

Delighted and encouraged by En Xi’s progress, we decided to introduce more cautionary tales by the same author, such as “Don’t be Greedy, Graham!” and “Don’t be a Bully, Billy!” But it seems tougher than before, now when we ask “Can we be Greedy or Bully?” She would spontaneous reply “Yes!” much to our dismay. But I’m sure she’ll be on the right track in no time, all we need is a little more patience.

A little Daddy-Daughter Time meeting up with En Xi Favourite Cartoon Character

Communicating, the En Xi way

En Xi: Daddy! I want milk.

Daddy: Here you go.

En Xi: (knocks on ah ma's room door) Ah Ma! I blow milk.

Ah Ma: Blow milk? What blow milk?

En Xi: (pointing to the sofa, smiling) There! I blow milk!

Ah Ma: Oh oh... That's vomit... Are you okay, En Xi?

That was 3 weeks ago. The only positive out of the incident was her smile, proudly pointing at her puke as though it was cool. En Xi was down with stomach flu and among many other virus that hops along the sick wagon were a bout of flu, fever and phlegm. This prompted a drop in appetite and feeding became somewhat laborious. To make matters worse, En Xi started to thin down and felt like a bag of bones when we bathed her. Naturally, Mummy felt really bad and began her 'its all our fault' theories of feeding too much this and that or sleeping too late, etc, etc.

Getting ready for beach and insisting on wearing her swimwear while we pack our bags

Fortunately, En Xi recovered in time for our 2nd Bintan trip this year and what great fun we had. We had more company and my parents together with my brother's family were able to join us. So it was great thrill for En Xi as her BFF (Best friend Forever), Charlene Jer Jer (that's how En Xi calls Charlene) was there. We managed to visit the beach and pool on each of the 4 days we were there. Every morning, we are greeted with her saying "I want to go ah beach!" Speaking of which, we came to realise that En Xi talks in a very Singlish way. In fact, most of her speech contains the adjective "ah". Examples such as:

I go ah beach.

I want ah biscuit.

I want ah chee choo. (which means pacifier and I have no idea how she came up with that)

That's ah spider.

And the list goes on.

"Diao Deng" eyes with baywatch pose

En Xi has also started communicate herself a little better and is able to take simple instructions such as "Keep your toys", which comes in very handy, albeit with a little persuasion and reward at times. She is also able to state her needs and is quite comical at times (at least to mummy and daddy). There were times when daddy and mummy are engrossed in our own conversation and En Xi will stand up, raise both her hands in the air, shouting, "STOP! STOP!" She then bows her head, frown and look at us with her "diao deng" eyes, demanding for attention. What can I say? The kid never gets enough attention!

Another screaming episode

Of course, there are times, when En Xi is just sweet. Sometimes, but rarely, she tries the soft approach to get her way by grasping her hands together, tucked under her chin and with her sweetest possible voice, "Daddy.... How aboooout... biscuit?" This normally does the trick and we give in to her demands. Most of the time, she just spreads herself on the floor and starts wailing. I must say En Xi has great stamina, she can keep going with her face turned red and tears streaming down like a tap. At times, taking a break, with a deep breath and yawn before she starts the next salvo. And what do we do, we give up and accede to her demands again.

The little one never keeps still

(This photo doesn't quite relate to what I'm writing here, but I just like this photo, so what the heck?)

Once in awhile, we pretend to be angry before she starts her nonsense. What does En Xi do? She stands in front of us and says," Angry?" Starts shaking her hips, dancing and sings," Wiggles, wiggles! Dibo Dibo Dee?" That's her way of cheering us up.

Last, but not least, my favourite phrase from her when I tickle her neck with my rough stubble on my chin. "Daddy, why you do that?"

The hair on my chinny chin chin never fails to make En Xi laugh

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.