Book 4 - Last Concert

This was AN's last lesson with this bunch of friends.

Alec will be going with his family to Amsterdam, Kieran (on holiday in USA when photo was taken) will be joining another class. The rest (Aaron, Travis, Ashley and Nicodemus) will stay on in Thomson Plaza with another teacher.

AN will follow Miss Lim to Plaza Singapura starting from this week. She has to start making friends again.

She was Ok after the concert. I was the emotional one. I'm going to miss those kids....I remember them all from the first day we met. It's been 2 years together. How time flies!

For the first 2 months in the new JXC class, Miss Lim said she will need parents to sit in. After that, AN will be on her own.

Time flies....

Btw, AN got her results back. She did well (big stars for her performance of chosen pieces and sight reading and singing, medium star for her listening).

I'm satisfied. Being able to recognise chords and notes accurately is a gift. The rest are hardwork. I never excelled in this area myself so I don't want to pressure her. The only thing I can help her with is to keep training with her.

I hope her interest will not dwindle once school starts next year.

River Safari

Finally a weekend good for an outing! 

It's a pity the rain came as we were about to visit the monkeys as our last stop.  It's been widely advised that the rain during this period is best avoided and the kids were tired by then. We left for late lunch instead of monkey visiting.

It's okay. We'll see the monkeys next time.

Us Human

The reptiles

The fishies

The furries (That was Kai Kai the panda by the way. Jia Jia was feeling shy that day)

ER'S Timetable

That's what he does in school.

The teachers put him in playgroup for orientation and he will formally join his peers in the next 1-2 months.

I see lots of boys in N1. He won't be the only boy by then.

Phew.....

3D Puzzles

AN loves craft work and because of the Haze last week, she got to do 1 after another. 

It was challenging with the curious 3 year meddling with the half done puzzles and him destroying what she put together because of his clumsiness. 

One part of me would love to let ER explore; touch, feel and try.

The other part of me feels bad for AN who got frustrated each time ER messes up what she had completed.

Anyway, she had all 3 pieced together. 

She completed other craft work.  Pictures another day.

The big ship was too complicated so Mr Liow and I helped with most of it.

 

She did this pink house by herself.

The "3 Little Pig" cottage is her favorite. She did most of it and just last night, we did a puppet story telling together. I told the story and she acted the scenes out with the characters (the pigs and big  bad wolf).

School Day 3

ER adjusted even better today. He didn't cry when AN left him. She didn't have to sneak back to her class.

The only time he cried today was when it was lights out for the full day kids for nap while the half-day kids wait for their parents. I don't know what made him snap because he was alright with lights out for the last 2 afternoons. He was happily chatting with his "girlfriends" when I went to pick him yesterday. They were seated in a circle. So adorable! I wondered what they were talking about.

Miss Cindy said ER got scratched on his cheeks today because he tried to snatch a toy from a little girl. He pouted when he heard Miss Cindy telling me that and extorted a kiss.  Hee.

Can't blame kids this age. They snatch, scratch, pinch and bite. Exactly like what a book wrote about toddlers.

But I do recall AN was never this wild except for tantrums. Neither was she ever attacked by classmates.

Maybe it will improve when they all progress to N2.

No More Coughing!

Yeah!

They have not been coughing for 2 days. That makes me very sure it had been the Haze affecting them earlier!

ER didn't pant at all. I gave him ventolin puff whenever he sounded like he was choking besides the cough relief.

Phew. Thank God for protecting the little ones.

Day 2

ER woke up grouchy. Was worried he wouldn't want to go to school but thank God after he freshened up and was more awake, he was back to his cheery self.

Like yesterday, they went in without saying bye. I managed to get a picture of them already at breakfast table.

Miss Sue says it's ER having breakfast because AN NEVER had breakfast in school. AN was feeding him although he's capable of feeding himself.

She just enjoys mothering him. Before this, I had feedback that she would be playing with and helping the PG and N1 kids during this period. A good shepherd (who makes me angry at home sometimes. Hehe.)

Miss Sue said too that ER cried when it was time for AN to go back to her classroom according to schedule. She allowed AN to stay with him a little bit more since official curriculum hasn't started yet. He was Ok after that when she finally had to go.

I can almost picture AN telling him: "Ethan, jie jie has to go back to class now. You cannot cry Ok? Jie jie will come back and find you after school."

She's like his angel (when they are not rubbing each other the wrong way) I'm more than relieved with her around him. Hehe.

Day 1 of School

A little girl in line before them,  to be checked for HFMD and fever,  started crying and that got Mr Liow worried.  Crying can be contagious!

Surprisingly, ER wasn't affected by her. He was constantly distracted by AN who kept playing with him.

She brought him in and he didn't even look back at us.

We saw her showing him where to place what and Mr Liow said he saw our cheeky one waving to everyone in sight.

When I went to fetch him, Miss Cindy said she washed him. He wanted to shower because the rest of the kids showered. She was apologetic because she didn't know I said no shower needed.

I actually meant that he didn't have to be showered if he did't want to. AN never showered in school. She was uncomfortable with anyone else touching her body except Mr Liow, my mum and I.

I'm surprised ER wanted to shower.  Hehe.

AN later feedback that ER cried when she had to leave him and go back to her own classroom. But Miss Cindy said he calmed down soon after.

He was only a little lost and uncomfortable because he was the only boy in class, the thorn among the roses. She said more boys will be joining him in the next few weeks.

SHEKINAH does seem to attract more girls than boys. AN has more girl classmates than boys too.

Got to know that he's in the Discoverer Class, which is effectively PG with the toddlers. It's like an induction program for the next couple of months because N1 may be too overwhelming for a new preschooler. He's having montessori lessons in a different classroom from the older N1 kids for now.

No wonder I sAw Miss Cindy carrying a toddler when I went to fetch him from school.

When little children pray

Psi was at 400s on our way back from Sentosa on Friday and I panicked coz it was firstly hazardous, and haze is not child-friendly.

I worry that ER will fall to bronchitis again.

I asked AN to pray. Because when she does, the Lord answers. (Partly also coz I'm..... not good at chatting with God these days)

It's amazing because everytime we encounter bad weather and she cannot swim, I'll get her to pray and weather turns in her favour.

Friday's haze remained bad. But there was improvement from Saturday when there was a period of non-haze  in the cloud of fumes hovering across Singapore. That was temporary improvement according to NEA. The thick cloud of haze will return after that transient clear.

But Sunday was clear as well.

Got this from NEA again today. Wind direction changed!

And both my little ones slept well last night without much choking.

PTL!

The Lord hears the little children when they ask!

Another one going to school

It's time! The last of our offspring is ready for education.

From tomorrow on, his childlikeness will soon disappear like it happened to AN.

He started asking to join AN in school since he was capable of asking for anything. But when we finally enrolled him and I reminded him that mummy is not allowed in school, he changed his mind.

For the past month or so, everytime we talked about school, he would go "Ethan don't want to go to school."

AN is more excited than he is. She's been longing for the day she can bring him into the classroom instead of saying goodbye at the door.

Finally tonight, we made him try the uniform.

That got him excited!

He refused to take them off and when he finally did, he started talking about school. His bag is packed and he kept carrying it, giving his signature cheeky smile.

I hope he'll really enjoy school.

AN had an easy first few weeks because she had LONGED to attend one since we returned from Tucson, till she realized school and Gymboree is not the same.

Him? I don't know. He's more a mummy's boy than AN was mummy's girl.

Keeping fingers crossed.

Btw, he's coughing, dripping mucus and had a low grade fever this morning. The fever is gone but the cough is still there. Hope he recovers soon.

His jie jie is so super excited and promised she'll take care of him. ER knew his bag has to go into what he describes as "box-holes". AN said those are cubby holes and told him "jie jie will help you put your bag and water in the right places tomorrow. "

She's so going to spoil him.

Hehe.

Mask for Shekinah Kids

We went out in search of air cleaners and masks, in vain.

And then we went to collect AN's camping bag because her long awaited field trip-camp combo had been postponed due to the sickening Haze. ER's uniform was ready for collection so we had that collected too.

AN missed school for 3 days and they gave out masks for the kids during this period. Miss Cecilia bought them on her last trip to Vietnam.

Miss Sue asked me to pick one each for AN and ER. None was exactly gender specific, so I switched the ears on the dogs so they look more easy on them.

Pink ears on a blue dog will make ER nag.  Brown ears on a coral pink dog may not look girly enough.

They liked my modification although my workmanship was not at all impressive.
I pricked my finger in the process. No one dared to complain.

Hehe.

Bad PSI

Wednesday (19 June)
We reached in the late morning and Haze was already bad.  Before checking in,  we visited the S.E.A Aquarium.  Each time we looked outside, we believed the PSI would be higher than 152 (that of Tuesday).

By the time we checked in, we had received enough sms reminders to stay indoors. Soon, my brother called to strongly advise us to return home. PSI reached 321 by then. The SCDF had been put on standby and it worried him to know we may be blissfully unaware and breathing in toxic air outside when it's already high alert in the eyes of our leaders.

We had another day of stay and he felt better only after I promised him we'll stay in the room till check out. It was supposed to be USS day tomorrow and the kids, especially AN, were disappointed.

Thursday (20 June)
We went to Vivocity for lunch and to catch a movie: Monster University.

Not surprisingly, Food Republic was not at all crowded. There were so many empty tables that we had problems deciding where to sit. Hehe. We've never seen those tables empty! For once I think the Haze is cool.

After lunch was the movie! Monster University is not as good as the first (Monster Inc.). It wasn't just us, adults who think so. ER started loitering at the last 15 minutes. He loves watching movies and stays seated through every single movie we brought him for. Not for this one. Even AN started fidgeting in her seat by then.

It was back to hotel after that and nap time.

We made full use of the hotel this time, thanks to the Haze that reached hazardous level. By then, it was above 350.

Spent the evening eating in the hotel and ER nagging constantly that he wanted to go out.

Friday (21 June)
Checked out and went home immediately after brunch.

ER is definitely coughing worse than few days ago.

He's been well for 3 months till last week when he started coughing. He's been off Flixotide for almost 3 weeks now and despite the cough and runny nose, he hasn't started panting.

Thank God.

He had been recovering before this sickening Haze. Now he's coughing and dripping mucus.  Constantly coughing in fact.

Am just praying that he won't start panting.

We're praying that this Haze will pass soon. It's terrible at above 400 at some point today.

And Indonesia days we are childish? Our people are choking as their people burn down their forests. Fine or punish those culprits regardless of who those sickening people are!

Why does this have to keep happening?

I hate you.

I hate you for teaching me to be so comfortable in anger.

I hate it that there are some days my heart constantly boils over with anger over nothing in particular.

I died. Long ago. I missed being gentle and kind with my kids. I missed persevering in bringing my kids up to be nice people. Why be nice when the rest of the world only wait to take full advantage of kind people?

I can no longer do that. I'm not going to be a good person anymore.  The fittes5 survive.  Works even in a family, what more outside?

I hate you.  I hate you.  I hate you.

I HATE YOU!

War

I had been complaining to Mr Liow many issues with her, mainly HYGIENE.

When she came, she said that I should let her know if ever conflict arise because there's bound to be disagreement living together. 

I did. 

From dropping clothes onto the bottom of the drying ledge, to finding mouldy dried food stufff, to separating raw and cooked food. To a point I hate to even tell her anything.  Because her answer is mostly either "I didn't do that. I don't know." or "I've done this for decades and nothing bad happened."

Today, the vegetable compartment in the fridge started leaking black liquid out onto the ledge inside out fridge. 

What was it? From rotten vegetables? Or spilled juice? Mr Liow spoke to her on my behalf.  She said it's no big deal, she would wash it. She found rotten vegetables but said she didn't buy that. 

Great. Not her fault again. Who else besides her, buys vegetables these days?

We could sense she was offended. She pressed him on why he went to check the compartment all of a sudden because it had nothing to do with him. He said he went to get a drink and saw the liquid dripping out.  That was when I saw during the day too.

She probed further but when she realized Mr Liow wasn't going to say I was the one who found the disgusting liquid dripping out, she replied "不用经。我知道了。"

I'm sensitive maybe.  I hear that as she knew I told him to speak to her.

Then an hour ago, I spoke to her about the unwashed pan. She didn't wash it again today.  After I spent a long time yesterday washing away OLD OIL COOKED OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

She got defensive and said she's didn't wash because I may not want her to wash it.

Wtf?

All along, I'm a kiasi mum.  I emphasized hygiene repeatedly.  She said she didn't want to wash the pan and then have me tell her that it shouldn't have been washed.

She then brought up the stuff we spoke to her about during this period and said she really doesn't know what I want.

I replied in defense that I would never have asked her not to wash.  It's hygiene for goodness sake!

She repeated that I asked her not to wash certain things.

Like what? Clothes? Floor? Those are not food!

For the 3rd and last time I repeated that hygiene is the key and used utensils and crockerys are to be washed except that I do not use rough and scratchy sponges on them, if that was what she meant.

She stood her grounds and insisted that she didn't want to spoil the pan by washing it and be blamed for it.

That's it. 

I said okay. The conversation is getting nowhere.

In case you wonder, I replied her calmly and she too didn't raise her voice.  It was the most well mannered confrontation I ever had.

Immediately after I left her room, she came out and told Mr Liow she was sorry for moving in with us and that she would move out in August once she gets her flat back. 

Win. I'm the bad guy now. She win already. This is the first time I confronted her. The other times I would inform her and back off right away.

So much for "let me know if you are uncomfortable with anything I say or do."

Go and show yourself as a victim for all I care.

I don't care anymore.  Good guys are stupid people. I have enough of being taken advantage of just because I never dared to fight back.

Go and complain to the whole world that you have a terrible daughter in law.
Really. I'm done being nice!

Growing Up

Took the little boy out for a long walk this morning before a bubble bath after we return. He spent half hour using the funnels to create volcanoes with the bubbles. He watches AN do these when they gets bubble baths together and only gets to hands on when she's not around. Bossy jie jie likes to show him but hardly allows him to explore.

While he soaks in the tub, I took my own shower. I prepared him mentally before I showered that he would have to end the bubble bath session once I'm done showering. He agreed.

True enough, he kept his promise. I was applying moisturizer on myself when he announced "mummy!  Ethan's done! "

He poured the bath water over his head and told me he's washing himself.  I had to wash him with water from the tap coz the water in the tub was soapy. He bravely swept water from his face. 

My baby is growing up. Months ago, he hated water running down his face.

He then let the bath water go before I did.  And he put all the toys back into the container without me having to say a word about it.

I'm impressed.  :)

On most other occasions, he would stop the water from draining because he couldn't bear to end the bath.

Recently I see more independence and initiative.

Children are really adorable. How nice if I don't have the responsibility as a mum.  Then I can fully spoil them while I enjoy their child likeness to the max. Heck the tantrums and bad behaviors.

I'm going to spoil my future nieces/nephews.  Lol!

Kidding.

I'll spoil them up to the limit set by their parents. I know what it's like to have our parental authority overridden.

They grow up too fast.

ER is no longer a baby.

Gang Fight?

ER looks like he got injured in a fight.

He fell yesterday from running with AN on a walkway.  It wasn't a bad fall at all: just a slight trip and he lost his balance.  He broke the fall with his hands so his knees were safe.  Where he placed his hands to break the fall caused him to lose balance when he landed and his face went down as his legs went up, like a seesaw.

I didn't expect it to be so bad till I see his face.  The walkway was extremely rough and that explains all the cuts even though he fell gently.

Poor boy.

He didn't cry a much as he did when he fell on his face a few weeks ago and chipped a tooth (lots of bleeding then).

He even plucked out the dried blood from the corner of his lips and proudly announced "Ethan plucked out the bumps! I'm strong like super man! "

This one is unstoppable. Hope the injury doesn't leave scars.

Dead

The garden lives and dies with the gardener.

Hygiene

This is the Happy Call Diamond Pan my mum gave me.

But MIL cooks with it these days.  And I wonder if she EVER washes it!

I saw oil stains and tried wiping it with paper towel but it wasn't just oil. It was thick black oil that couldn't be cleaned by wiping.

I washed the pan with soap, left it to dry overnight and this morning when I cleaned it with baking soda again, the thick black oil is still there.

She NEVER EVER WASHED THE PAN?

I haven't posted that I found mouldy dried food stuff in the cabinet twice have I? I checked with her and she defiantly countered that she will be careful and not cook those if she sees that they have turned mouldy. The problem is, she hardly notices things in detail.

Not once but twice I found those mouldy food.  If she was that careful as she thinks she is, she wouldn't have continued to leave them in there.  Would you see mouldy food and continue to leave them inside?

Moreover, these yucky stuff weren't hidden. They were right before my eyes when I opened the cabinet to get pasta to prepare for ER. She opens that cabinet almost daily because she cooks and SHE NEVER NOTICES?

And still she defends herself by insisting she's careful.

Win.

I have to inspect every corner busy to maintain basic hygiene.

So fun.

Pillow

I'm their bed, pillow and security scent.  All in one.

Fuming Mad

Mr Liow is feverish.  She offered to make green bean soup because she thinks he's heaty. He didn't want to drink and she sarcastically replied "我还是煮。我也要喝 免的又给你们传染"

When I was weak from fever, I was still struggling with ER in the middle of the night because he wasn't weaned yet.  Already since the first few nights, I was on my own.

Let's not mention night.

Even during the day, I would hide in the room. And ER would be with me. Because she declared "he doesn't want me anyway. "

She either went out as usual.  Or simply does her own stuff without even trying to get his attention.  The only time I get to rest is when my mum specially comes over to bring him to her place.

AN had been coughing for a long time till Friday. She has finally recovered.  But I'm now coughing.  Again,  who cleans up after her when she threw up or makes honey water when she coughs?

I don't expect her to help. My kids are my duty.

But that sickening,  hateful remark about us making her fall sick SIMPLY SUCKS at helping to make things better.  Does she have to make that sacarstic remark?

Again, all she thinks is about herself!

She gave no help when I was sick.  And here she is, upset that SHE may possibly fall sick because of us.

Have you all met anyone more self centered? I'm living with one. How fortunate.

It's my house but I had to hide in the room. Chickenpox is contagious but my son has to hide in the room with me (because he didn't like her, the stranger).

But that wasn't enough. She is still upset that I may make her sick??????????!!!!!!

She still wants to behave like a Queen? Just because her son can take her nonsense, she can get away with everything.

The only thing I get for her behavior is "she has low eq".

Oh.  So I have to tolerate.

I'm not going to anymore.

Never hated anyone more than this.  Ever.

All the goodness in me, GONE. 

DIED.