My Typical Day

As much as I would like to be a SAHM to witness every milestone of my 2 little ones, I still do enjoy my current status being a FTWM. At least, I am kept away from my kids for some good hours so that I can preserve my sanity.

A typical day of mine starts early and ends late. Since Jan 4th, I started waking up earlier to fill up their water bottles, check their school bags, making sure they brought all the stuff that they are supposed to bring. End of the day, I make sure all the bottles are washed, uniforms ironed, books packed, worksheets completed, and more importantly, those daily dose of new words were learned and absorbed by our little girl.

I used to ask her to write repeatedly and spell out the words for English spelling. As for Chinese spelling, she will have the write the characters and read out the strokes as she did. Well, she inherited my way of learning. I hated writing when I was a kid and often did not do my homework when it comes to writing. I understand, like me, she asked why should she write so much when she already knows how to write? Fine, I gave in. So long she can write I correctly, she need not finish writing those that I gave her in addition to what she already had.

These days there is no more luxury of “me” time. The only time I get is probably when I am in the bathroom, or when I am travelling to work. That’s about all left for me.

On days when Ethyl has enrichment classes after her usual curriculum, I will wake up earlier to prepare her breakfast. Mom saw how tired I am, and said she will cook lunch and bring to school, so that she can also feed the little boy while waiting for Ethyl’s class to end.

Things would have been easier if Ethyl is more cooperative. She refuses to let Hubby take over the rein in terms of coaching her in her school work. I was so irritated one evening that I caned her when I saw her still clad in her uniform and refused to do her work at 7ish when I reached home.

I explained to her that I am also tired after a day’s work. Why can’t she do her part by helping me to finish her work so that I just go through with her those that she has doubts on? The next day, she obediently did her work and changed out of her uniform the moment she got home.

Seriously, such small acts help a tonne. Just because she listened to me, finish her work; I can have some time with the little boy to bond with him. Else by the time we finished homework, it’s his bed time.

On a lighter note, little boy is progressing well in school too! The latest update I got from the Principal said, “Very Good. Unlike 1st day, he never cried when being refused by teachers. It seems tat he is adapting very well to the dos ad don’ts in school. We brought the kids outdoor for play yesterday and I could see he had a great time! I also witnessed him dancing with his friends when the teacher turned on the cd. Overall, I am very pleased with his performance so far.”

I hope he continues to enjoy school as this is a life long journey of learning.

Brayden's Day 1 in School

As compared to Ethyl's day 1 in school, this time, the excitement is defintely lesser and the eagerness and anxiety were like 50% as compared. Probably I have been there, done that, that is always the case with kid # 2 for most parents I guessed.

I was not able to witness his first day in school as I had mentioned earlier that I have no leave to clear anymore as I am leaving my current job in less than 2 weeks' time. I trust Brayden as he has been very independent and adaptable.

I entrusted the photography role to the doting jiejie, however she didn't take any pictures and her argument was, "Didi and I go to different classroom. I don;t send didi to his class, how to take pictures?"

Oh well, I buy that. I shall take a symbolic picture when I have a chance. That is for safe-keeping purpose.

Day 1 ended well. He cried occassionally, not because he is unable to find Grandma, but because teachers refused to give in to him! On top of this, he cried for a short while the his friends were dismissed and he didn't see Grandma.

Today's update is really heartening. He followed the teachers into the classroom once he reached school, even attempted to help teachers carry things and also followed teachers' instructions. No cryig or fussing today.

I hope he continues to behave this way. I do feel the slight guilt by not being with him on such occassions, I hope he understands when he is older.

He will have his first dancing lesson tomorrow. I hope he is able to enjoy as much as jiejie does.

The Stress We Faced

There were times I wondered how my life would be if I am not a Mommy. No matter what the scenario might be, I am sure those are not as fulfilling as being a Mom.

Having said that, being a Mom isn't always a bed of roses. Whenever the little ones were throwing tantrums, behaviors were undesirable; it would be a hair pulling and tugging session for me. As much as I try to be rational and keep my cool, I still do have moments whereby I lost my cool and whacked them hard.

Ethylyn has always been a sweet darling. However, I notice the change in her behavior since last year. She has started to rebuked rudely at times. I know she may not be able to clearly differentiate what’s right and what’s not, I should be more patient and try talking to her about it, I still felt irritated by such reactions from her.

My expectations for her is high, I have to acknowledge that. This is not healthy in the long run. I need to adjust my expectations from time to time; she is after all a 5 year old kid.

Her new school has a very academic based and result oriented environment. I am already having sleepless nights! There are home works, lots of them. There are also spellings every week in both English and Chinese. I feel the stress, and I believe she does too. How? I need to prepare her for P1. My consolation from all these is her reassurance, “Mommy, I enjoyed school. I only don’t like to do writing.”

Teachers’ feedback about her was good. Even the principal said her English reading skills is good that she can only join the group for enrichment in the advanced level. Her Chinese enrichment teacher also feedback saying she picks up new words really fast. She can only read 85% of the passage before the class starts; she picked up all the words in one lesson!

My main concern is her Math. I realize she picks up languages really fast, but a little slow in mathematics, unfortunately, she inherited this from me. I know she is trying hard to do well. We will give ourselves time to make the adjustments.

I already find whatever she is doing as a K2 kid very stressful yet she is asking for more! She besides her usual curriculum, she already has Chinese, abacus and dancing classes in school. Additionally, she is asking for piano, arts classes. On top of these, she has swimming lessons every Sunday. I just hope my sweetie is able to handle so many activities.

Poor girl…

What Have We Been Doing?

Year 2009 had bided farewell and Year 2010 has greeted us. This is also the usual busy time of the year for me. I have been busy panning out the New Year’s activities for the kids, settling the new school, busied with the research of the various enrichments that my enthusiastic kindy-going daughter.

Besides these, we also tried to keep ourselves busy with some activities and maximize our time spent with the kids.

ECP

We went to ECP with my Anna’s family for Korean food and brought the kids around. We both enjoyed the food, except our man. They really don’t know how to appreciate Korean food! What a waste! Sigh…

Ethyl did clay painting.



She really enjoyed her virgin try on clay painting. The paint brush is a little too much for her to handle when she tried to paint the whiskers of Doraemon, however, she didn’t succumb to the challenge.

Jiejie did painting; the little guys took a ride on the carousel.





Ethyl got to take a ride on the carousel after her painting.



Hollywood Dino

A dramatic visit to the world of dino! I expected Ethyl to be so afraid of the dino and would wail and plead with us to leave the exhibition even before we finish half the journey!

She was still not sure what to expect while we were having lunch at Hawk Café.





Worried and fear crept on after seeing the first dino.


Her worst fear…



We spent minutes standing outside the “cave” persuading her…



While Jiejie was petrified by the robots, the 2 little guys enjoyed seeing the humongous rubber robots and watched with much curiosity.

I had to carry the little girl and run through the cave, however, there was a walking dino coming towards the direction that I am moving towards, I had to make a U-turn and run out of the cave and got the usher to open the gate and let me go out through the other way.





Ethyl only dared to take pictures with the poster.



Fear crept back when she saw 2 dinosaurs in the cages ahead…



She was reluctant to move an inch.



She was all smiles when we got of the exhibition area.



Day 1 in new school

It is really a shame that I missed her start in the new school. Due to some reasons, I need to be at work, and thus left Hubby the chore of taking photos so that I can see how little girl looks like in her new uniform.



Hubby told me our little guy was just as excited. Though he was running a fever, he still insisted carrying his new bag I bought for him, wear jigjig’s cap and walked together with them to school.

So lovely right? How I love the kids!

I am also in the midst of settling a school for Brayden. As I have seen how Ethyl benefitted from Montessori approach, I wish to enroll him in a Montessori environment for a start, as Ethyl’s new school is very academic focused and it is too heavy for the little boy at such tender age.

I prefer to let him bloom at his pace for a start. I am sure he is ready, though he still can’t speak many words. I hope I can start him when term 2 starts.

Here is my vain little boy.