Self Centered

She dropped our house phone and spoilt it.

Since she shifted in, she's been hoarding the phone.

One day, she informed me that the phone wasn't working well, that it didn't last through a 10mins call.

I've never had problems using it. Not even after she informed me. Made me wonder if it was just because she didn't dock it properly to charge after use.

On Sunday, she apologised for dropping the phone. And it broke down after that.

Ok. Accidents happen. With kids, things, break all the time. Baileys and Maen broke things too. I'm immuned.

But she added: "But the phone was going to spoil anyway. I'll buy you a new one."

Did she mean I should be grateful?

People APOLOGISE for spoiling other's things. Not condemn the spoilt stuff and make it seem like it deserved to not be properly taken care of.

We're going to Taiwan tomorrow.

Before we left the house last evening, she reminded Mr Liow to get a new one. She said she'll get one if he doesn't.

She'll die because she has no house phone to use, I think.

Spoilt our phone and still has the cheeks to request for a new replacement.

She's so unique. Really one of her own kind.

Loved

Mr Liow got me a cake and arranged for me to spend the evening with my family.

Thanks dear. Thanks for the cake and thoughtful arrangement.

Thanks for standing by me when I struggle.

Setting Trap

She gave the kids food. The prata was served in only 1 bowl, for both kids, and left on the table before she went off to make calls.

She should be aware by now AFTER LIVING WITH US FOR 4 MONTHS, that AN doesn't like to share food passed around from mouth to mouth. She doesn't like tasting saliva of other's. Guess most people don't, too.

In fact, that same grandma of hers wont even eat food off a hardly touched bowl of food the kids won't eat. Same.

Today: 2 kids, 1 bowl. No supervision.

ER took a bite of the prata, AN screamed in disgust. I cut the prata into 2 and gave them separate bowls but AN was still bothered by something (which I just clarified with AN that she continued fussing because she could still see ER's teethmarks on her portion.)

But Mr Liow and I reacted in anger.

She got smacked by both of us.

The grandma went hiding in the room because she couldn't hear the other party on the phone.

I was fuming. Angry that we smacked AN for something that we all knew wasn't her fault.

It was a trap her grandma set! How I hate her....

I stomped away, knowing that my anger wouldn't leave if I stayed around. I was angry that AN wasn't smart enough to not fall into grandma's evily ignorant trap.

Then I heard the grandma scolding AN after she was done with her call. AN, whom Mr Liow was already insisting she eats what was in her bowl despite having no appetite for the 'disgusting' prata by then.

I stomped back in, washed AN up and brought her into the room to nap. My heart softened by then. I saw how unfair it all had been to AN.

The sickening grandma wouldn't share food because she finds saliva disgusting too. BUT HERE SHE IS, JUDGING MY DAUGHTER for the same thing, labelling yet "naughty"?!

AN got into trouble with us, all thanks to her. And she has the cheek to rub it in!

Even baileys and maen have their own bowls.

Yet she feeds my kids like she was feeding pigs or chickens?

Even if AN didn't have problems with saliva, having kids these ages share food from a bowl is cooking up a fight!

If she can be there to referee and guide them to share, great. But she went off, barging in during the fight only to condemn my daughter.

I really hate her presence. She's just turning our lives, our parenting style, our relationship with each other UPSIDE DOWN!

Really. I want to earn a lot of money. With money comes power and freedom to flee. I just want to get out. I'll take my kids with me.

I hate every second breathing from the same airspace as her...

Just like daddy

ER had his first haircut this year. The last many times we brought him for haircuts, he would not sit still.

Not even with Barney dancing on the ipad right before his eyes!

Maturity probably played a part this time. He didn't struggle a single bit and sat still throughout the whole process.

He was so still and we were extremely impressed, even AN who kept cooing "awww...good boy Ethan.." while watching him from the side.

We took lots of pictures but he looked pissed. lol! He glared at me when I did a close-up. Lol!

And then I took him to the library on Monday. No lesson on that day.

When daddy's not around to help me carry bags, this mini-daddy does.

Good News

Miss Lim informed me this morning that she will be teaching JXC in Plaza Singapura at 12pm on Saturdays after this class graduates from JMC.

This is exciting for me!

This matter had been on hold for a while, pending replies from parents of the other students. From casual chats, I realised most of them prefer to remain at Thomson Plaza.

One mum would love to follow Miss Lim but her Saturdays are filled with enrichment classes for her 2 older kids.

Miss Lim mentioned she had students on wait list for new JMC class, so if there aren't enough students to form JXC, she'll take the JMC students.

I thought we will have to change teachers for sure, whether we stay in Thomson or change venue :(

After Miss Lim's update, I felt excited. :) we will be having lessons on Saturdays in town from July onwards.

Miss Lim is a really good teacher. AN is not gifted in music but she has interest. Miss Lim taps on her interest, pushes her but doesn't force her.

Another important thing is, it's easier to follow up with practice at home since we're familiar with her teaching style.

JXC no longer allow parents participation, so I can't tell AN "Teacher wants you to do this" if I don't even know how that teacher's expectation.

Thank God!

And we'll get back the time on Sundays for worshipping from July.

Heartstrings

Written some days back....can't rmb when:

I have been awake since 5am and couldn't wait to get out of the house. I seriously hate being anywhere near her. She enjoys making comments that cuts me a certain way, every time.

Yesterday, in a short minute, here's my encounter:

Scenario 1
There was NO water in the flask again. It was Sunday and I specifically ensured the big flask was full before sleep. By morning, not even enough water to prepare their milk.

I asked if she poured the water away.

She said she did because she found a bug inside. Inside the covered flask?

Then guess what? The electric kettle's lid was opened. She boiled more water which was still hot. The lid was opened to allow cooling. And to allow bugs to fall in.

I hate that I find it dumb to still keep lids open when one previously found a bug in the water.

She has the habit of boiling water only when she realises there's NONE left. Water doesn't immediately cool. Why had it never occurred to her that she needs to boil the next batch BEFORE water runs out? Instead of leaving lids opened.

I think I knew where that bug came from.

Scenerio 2:
Washed cups were near the sink. I don't know who put them there to dry and I wasn't pursuing that.Drying rack was empty. That would have been a more hygienic place to dry cleaned utensils.

So....

Frozen fish was right beside those washed cups. She left the fish there to thaw.

All I suggested was not to place raw meat with washed utensils, unless we wash them again with soap before use.

Her reply: "I didn't leave those cups there."

As if that disclaimer ensures none of us will face the risk of cross contamination.

Scenerio 3
To AN, she suggested: "Go have some haw (xian zha, some chinese snacks"

AN was coughing terribly, non stop. Day and night. Even Mr Liow prefers that she watches what she eats for the time being.

I said no to AN right before the grandma. AN didn't fight my interception. She was coughing so badly she didn't even feel like eating chocolates...

She, the grandma, then corrected me: "Haws don't cause coughs."

See that? A further step into dominating my territory.

But I'm thankful Mr Liow firmly insisted on the "No" when I walked away, fuming internally.

Scenerio 4
We have already informed her when I'll be out for lessons, when my mum will care for the kids and when else ER will stay home with her.

She was the one who said she won't be home every Thursday. So we decided we'll leave ER with my mum on that day, and Friday.

But she went ahead to get grocery for both Thursday and Friday.

What she does takes no issue with me.

What bothered me was, she cooked on Sunday. Without informing us, or asking if we had plans.

She simply told me when I went into the kitchen before AN's lessons: "You guys went to your mum's place on Friday for dinner SUDDENLY. If I don't cook today, all the food will spoil. Come back for lunch. Dine out tonight if you want."

Just these instructions.

Dinner on Friday at my mum's pace was sudden?? And once again, acting without consulting. AN had enough of eating rice whenever she cooked. She was actually craving for noodles.

When I told her AN asked for noodles, she brushed me off with: "I already cook. Tell her noodles only tonight."

I so hate home now.

What can I do after course ends?

Immunization

Reached breaking point.

Time to adapt accordingly.

Whatever happens in future, I'm not liable.

Just don't want to care so much anymore.

yeah, my kids. So what? I come empty, I leave empty.

Nothing was ever mine.

I can ignore their need for attention and love. I can stop listening to them.

SO THE WHOEVER-THINKS-SHE'S-WISEST, let's see how capable you are.

Interfere. Interfere. INTERFERE! THEN START JUDGING.

It will not be forever. I promise.

That's what you get when people are taken for granted. They die. Emotionally, they die.

Looking Forward

I'll be attending a property course with Kris on 6th March.  The course ends 20th March.

It's been so long since I attended classes. The last was my MU course some moons backs and that was lots of hands-on.

This time, I don't know what to expect.

Still, I look forward to it. For the next 2 weeks, I'll not be home.

Havent had a proper arrangement for the kids yet. Rely on his mum to take care of them? I prefer not. Be it one or both kids, they'll just be staring blankly at the tv, every waking hour. Anyway, it's at HER convenience. I'm not desperate for her help in any way.

For logistic ease, AN most likely will be at my parents' place during this period. I'm considering going over to my parents' place to earlier, to drop ER. And leave the house with Kris.

Problem is, mum may not be about to cook in peace because their home is not childproof. Mum always has to run in and out to check in them.

My dad is only good at raising the alarm from afar, over the slightest thing like ER running from one end of the house to the other. That only makes my mum's heart best faster as she cooks.

Daddy may have to take leave, but obviously not throughout my whole course.

We'll see how it goes.

I'll miss the kids for sure. But life goes on. I'm moving on. What other choices do I have, right? Not until I have an earning power.

I rushed home

My brother has been picking AN up for school everyday this week and she should know. Everyday, at 8am. She asked and I told her.

But since I'm fully aware that I do not need her, I didn't bother if she was home when I needed to bring AN down. If ER was sleeping, I'll carry him with me. He doesn't want to follow her even if he's awake. So there, it didn't matter.

Tis morning, while AN was putting on shoes before we leave, she came home (from her daily coffee at the coffeeshop that she cannot miss).

She saw me carrying a limp ER and asked: "he woke up so early?"

Without looking at her: "no. He's still sleeping but I can't bring AN down and leave him at home."

She then replied: "I rushed home."

She merely met us at the door but has the cheeks to defend herself saying she rushed home. The coffeeshop is within walking distance. All within human control. No late coming buses or stalled MRT to blame this time.

Expecting me to thank you for "rushing back"?

She asked me to leave ER with her since she's back.

Obviously, ER in his barely awaken state will not appreciate watching me leave without him.

Don't need her hypocritical type of help.

She doesn't need to "rush back". Because frankly, none of us need her.