I have decided that we/I should bring the little fella out more for outdoor play rather than to stay at home and watch telly all the time. He loves his Playhouse Disney but I reckon he should not be watching too much telly. So over the last weekend, I tried to engage him in as much outdoor / non-telly activities. As Daddy was working, I brought him to the playground on Sat morning and after that, trooped off all hot and sweaty to MM and GG’s house. At the playground, there was the usual slides and steps.But he has gotten more adventurous, now he wanted to walk across the concrete slabs by himself. It was a nice little walk because the concrete slabs were on water and laid across a little stream of sorts. It taught him focus and balance ‘cos there were gaps in between the slabs and if he was not careful, his lil feet could very well slip between the slabs. We did that till it threatened to rain and I whisked him away.

At MM and GG’s house, he could feed the fishes and prawns and there he probably had a little ecological lesson. He saw the fishes and prawns eating.Oh..he also saw a little prawn that had jumped out of the tank and was being attacked by the ants. That probably traumatised him a little. Hee..

Yesterday, we had a nice easy morning playing with his toys and watching a bit of telly. Had a nice pizza/lagsane lunch and played a little while more before it was nap time. He was good cos I told him he could play with bubbles after he woke up. So we did and after that, I brought him downstairs with his soccer ball. Had a rather nice ( and hot!) time chasing and kicking the ball all around. People who saw us probably thought of us as 2 weirdos who held hands and just ran all around with the ball. Whilst resting, he saw a man loading up boxes on a lorry and covering them with the canvas. So he asked questions like what is he doing, what is the cover for etc etc.

The after an hour plus downstairs, it was shower time. He wanted the tub and he also wanted to bathe the ball. So together with his ball (rinsed already), he went into the tub. Played with the bubbles and bathed his ball. Oh..before he showered, he helped me cook his dinner by scooping the brown rice porridge into the cup and then into the top. So told him that he was such a big boy already and could help cook his own dinner. Think that made him rather pleased.

He was really really good…after he was changed and all, i placed him on the couch ( with the telly) and told him to stay there whilst I took my shower. And when i came out some 20 mins later, he shouted from the couch ” Mummy, I am playing with your coins.” He had found my coin pouch on the table by the couch, unzipped it and was playing with all the coins. A good thing he has learnt not to put things into his mouth.

After that, had his salmon and mixed veg miso brown rice porridge..Finished all and asked for more soup! No..not the end of the day yet ..still had about 3 hours before bedtime. So I decided to bring him shopping since he wanted a new water bottle. So we went to Causeway Point and shopped. He was being really good..walked with me all the way so brought him to Kiddy Palace to choose his water bottle.As usual, he took ten thousand minutes choosing one he liked. Finally found one he liked cos he said that his classmate had it too. It was some unidentifiable bear character. Then wanted to buy him a pencil case so that he can use it when we go out. But after looking at the pencil cases there( there was Thomas the tank engine, Bob the builder, Strawberry Shortcake etc etc), he said..”I don’t like any of these.” So I told him we will go elsewhere to look and he agreed without a fuss.

After that it was off to Mothercare..I wanted to get him jeans for our NYC trip. And they were having a 30% discount for their winter wear collection so it was perfect. Tried some on for him and let him choose which one he liked. So he did after much deliberation.

After shopping and a bubble tea treat..it was off to the Library. He was really happy especially when he saw Daddy! He told Daddy who was on the 3rd floor, ” Wait..I am going to look for my books..Wait..Patience.” So off we trooped to the J section in the Library.

The day ended about 10 or so and think with all the activities, he was tired out. So slept rather quickly. All these activities in a span of 2 days…I need to find more things to do. I have been toying with the idea of creating a little garden for him in our corridor..then he can learn about plants and maybe insects. Wonder if he will like that….

Posted: January 28th, 2008 under Family, Parenting.
Comments: 2

I believe if the trip is meant as a family trip…it will happen.Just got to believe that all things will fall in place…

Posted: January 12th, 2008 under Family, work.
Comments: none

I have been wondering if perhaps we both need parenting classes. On how to be a better parent and how to communicate better. Through the past year especially,I realised that both Iz and I have very diffirent parenting styles. Of course, they are things we agree on but there are also others that we simply can’t seem to find middle ground. And of course, when that happens, we both end up being unhappy. And it bothers me a whole lot cos one of my pet peeves is being faced with someone who is really grouchy.

Who is right?Admittedly, I am the less fierce one at home and tend to give in to the little fella more. But I feel that I am firm enough when I need to be. Obviously, Iz dosen’t think so and he believes in ‘discipline’ when the need arises. Of course, I do agree but I also feel that talking to the little fella helps too in bringing the point across..instead of mere punishment and scoldings that will only result in more tantrums.

I used the ‘distraction’ tactic quite a lot and I like it because it seems to work but Iz feel that that is giving in. Just like earlier on, the little fella was throwing a tantrum because he saw Iz playing on his PSP too. So he wanted it too. This is where you can clearly see our diffrent parenting styles.

 Me: I tried coaxing him and distracting him with other things..tickling him..asking him to read etc etc. But he still continued crying so I just persisted in talking and pacifying till he quietened down. Only after he quietened down, then did i ask if he could take someone else’s toy and whether it was right. So I asked…can u take Teacher XYZ’s toy? Can u take Teacher ABC’’s toy? He shook his head and said no. So asked if he was still going to take Daddy’s toy and he said No. So, it worked for today and I am hoping that he will remember it and I will reinforce with all these ‘pep talks’ whenever i can.

 Iz:When the little fella started crying, he very firmly told him ‘No’ and just stood his ground. That, to him, is not giving in and just persisting in being firm and consistent about not giving in to demands.

So obviously, there is a difference in our styles and sometimes they clash. Is there one that is more effective/ That is where we then become unhappy with each other and the problem escalates from one of the little fella to us. Of course, it passes but then I do think it is very unhealthy..that it will have its detrimental effect in the long run.

 But how do we reach middle ground without stepping on each other’s toes?Do we need to be reminded that we are first husband and wife before we are parents?

Posted: January 9th, 2008 under Family, Marriage, Parenting.
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Little fellas can be so trying at times and so cute at others. He had us in stiches yesterday with little conversation.This took place when we were out shopping after we picked him up from school.

Little fella:Wait, Daddy Wait!

Daddy.. Stood still in his tracks and asked: Wait?

Little fella: Wait.. wait… Patience…Be a good boy…later Matthew buy ice cream for you.

Daddy:Do you have money to buy ice cream?

Little fella:Have..money is in Matthew’s bag.

That had us all in stiches because he said it so earnestly and all in good timing because we were approaching the ice cream shop. Minutes ago, he had asked for an ice cream and he probably reckoned that if he bought one for Daddy, he could eat it too.

And this was coming from someone who is all but 2 years and 4 months.

Later at the supermarket, he decided that he wanted some colour pencils and paper.So we let him browse through the racks and choose the ones he wanted. And boy is he a fussy little one!! He tooks some tens of minutes just to choose his colour pencils and sketch pads.Looked at thin pencils, fat pencils,short ones, long ones…exercise books with squares in them, lined ones, plain ones and finally he made his choice. Think even at his wee little age, you can see how he uses his decision making skills.It is interesting just that it took a long long time.

And perhaps this is the character formation stage where the little fella is no longer just one who relies on us for his basic needs but also has the capacity to think/demand his rights. Am sure it will be an interesting journey/lesson for us as we see him grow more and us, learn more so that we can teach him the correct things.

Posted: January 8th, 2008 under Parenting, Shopping.
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