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Sunday, April 29, 2012

Zoo

Han Jin let me out, in exchange of a song of ‘Calabash Brothers', my childhood memory and one of the few good kids cartoon domestically produced when I was young. I planned to submit the paper for the new maid, but WP on-line is not available after 10pm. So I have the luxury of time now to update the blog.

The quality of the mass production does look to be as good, though. :)

A busy today:
- went to meet the new maid and current employer at Clementi mall at 8am;
- went to zoo with Max's family;
- went to Plaza Singapura for Han Jin's Yamaha, bought a watch for Ayi as the farewell gift, and went to Musee for underarm hair removal. heehee;
- went to meet the maid current employer again to get the signed form;
- went to block 18 to meet and play with our usual cliques..


HJ Level 2 升二级了!

After 3 months' weekly session with APS swimming school, Han Jin passed the level 1 for beginners.

What he can do now:

- swim about 5 meters with a board;
- blow nose bubbles for 10 times, and 10 seconds each time;

Here is his certificate! and a sumptuous home-made dinner at Max's and the pretty mum who cooks well!


DIY Soap 手制肥皂

Participated a RC event to Soap Ministry @ Orchard Central, for soap making workshop with the kids.

Children had fun and made their own soap. Procedure:

1. we cut the goat milk soap base;
2. the staff will cook the soap base to melt into thick liquid;
3. we measure the ingredients, including herbs, essential oil, color, vitamin E etc, and mix the ingredients;
4. when soap base is ready, it was poured into the cup and we have to stir quickly to mix well all the ingredients;
5. pour the semi-liquid into molds;
6. go for a lunch with friends (Renae in the picture with big eyes :);
7. get our hardened soap after lunch

和孩子们一起参加一个手工制作香皂的学习班,据说天然无害,eco-friendly.

 我们的成果,瀚月最爱的粉红色和瀚今最爱的小汽车。

Bowling + New Ayi 保龄球/新阿姨

带孩子们去打保龄球,他们不亦乐乎。重要的是儿童道的两边有护栏,怎样也不会掉到沟里。我就没那么幸运,打的超烂。。。

最近在积极准备孩子要换阿姨的心态,有点担心他们不会适应。所以会告诉他们妈妈去找新阿姨,会带看得上的阿姨再见第二次和孩子们一起,会询问孩子的意见。一段对话:

Mum: Ok, kids, we need to change a new Ayi.
HJ: Ok.
HY: Why?

Mum: Because Ayi need to go home to take care of her own children and her mum.
HJ: .....
HY: Why?

Mum: Because Ayi's mum is sick and she couldn't take care of Ayi's children any more.
HJ: .... (playing his toys)
HY: Why Ayi's mum is sick?

Mum: Ayi's mum is getting old.
HJ: ....
HY: Why?

Mum: While, when people are old, health condition is not very good, and will fall ill easily.
HJ: ....
HY: Why she is old?

Mum: everybody will turn old one day. You will grow up and mummy will grow old.
HJ: ....
HY: (ponders), when I become mummy, you will be old?

Mum: yes, that's right. Would you love mummy when I'm old?
HY: I love you, mummy. I will bring you to playground, and buy you pink camera and hello kitty toys.
HJ: Mummy, I love you. When you are old, I will take you to the zoo and buy you toys. I will buy a Ferrari, and sell it and then I will have a lot of money.

(Realising the conversation is drifting, I started to ask specific question.)

Mum: Ok. Let's talk about the new Ayi. Do you want a pretty or not so pretty Ayi?
Both: Pretty.
Mum: Do you want a tall or a short Ayi?
Both: Tall.
Mum: Do you want the new Ayi to have long hair or short hair.
HY: long hair.
HJ: Never mind la.
Mum: Do you want the new Ayi to be always happy and smiling?
Both: Yes
Mum: Do you want the new Ayi to play with you?
Both: Ok.
Mum: Do you want the new Ayi to read story book to you?
Both: Yes!
Mum: Do you want the new Ayi to cook nice food for you?
HY: Yes!
HJ: Yes, I want chicken rice!
Mum: Do you want hte new Ayi to feed you?
Both: Ok!

Kiddies are geared up right now. So I throw the big question in:
Mum: Do you want a new Ayi?
Both: YES!!
.....
HY: Can I have a new mummy also?

????!!!!!! I'm outrageous. "ARE YOU SURE?"
HY: No No NO.. I want mummy only. (good that you know you made a serious misstatement).

To felt my importance again, I throw the last question:
Mum: Do you want the new Ayi to sleep next to you at night?
HY: I want to sleep with mummy! (felt better...)
HJ: I want to sleep with mummy also! (felt even better... but it's another question on how to arrange the room after both new maid and my parents are here).

That was how I was preparing my kids for the change... what we can draw from the conversation: HY is really at the WHY stage and she can drill you to the last point. HJ has past the stage and becoming a little indifferent sometimes.

We went bowling, and I did badly. My scores are probably worse than HJ's, as there are shields on both sides of the kiddy runway.


another keyboard player 瀚月敲键盘

Look at how Han Yue plays keyboard.... No one taught her before. 没学过钢琴的丫头也弹得是模是样。。。

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Maid 保姆

She's been with us for 4 years. When she joined us, there were just Han Jin who attends full day child care. There were grandparents around to help out.

Then there came Mei Mei. Grandparents went back. She takes care both kids, fetching Han Jin from school, with Mei in tow, shine or rain.

There were times that I am not happy about her behavior, attitude or dressing style. But at this time, when she needs to leave the country for good, I just want to say thanks to her for taking care of the children, filling their days when I'm not around.

She probably has spent more time with kids than I did. She was definitely part of their growing story.

However, I wonder, how soon the kids will forgot their Ayi (a very intimate name in Chinese generally means aunt). There will be other aunties later on. It's quite sad for these group of women, coming to a foreign land, taking care of other people's kids, while leaving theirs behind.

Thank you, Imelda. I wish you all the best in the future.

在我家工作4年的保姆突然要回菲律宾,真的打乱了我的一些计划。不想说我怎样取消机票,四处找新保姆,动员我的父母来帮忙。

只想说她在过去4年里照顾孩子,对孩子也是有着相当大的影响。真的帮了我很多忙。是我的孩子童年时期很重要的人之一。以后我们还会有不同的保姆,过久了孩子可能会忘了他们最初的‘阿姨’,这是一种很亲近的叫法,估计以后的保姆不会叫阿姨了。

祝福她一路好早!

Saturday, April 14, 2012

工作的意义

西海岸公园都快成我们家后花园了,3个休息日里去了两次。不太热的天气里瀚今和瀚月有玩新的游戏。瀚今可以独自爬上绳索塔,瀚月可以玩小飞狐了。淅淅沥沥的小雨后来下着,坐在麦当劳的椅子里,爸爸去买早餐,孩子们累累蔫蔫的,空气中凉丝丝的带着爸爸刚走开时有点暖暖的呼吸,红瓦屋檐滴答着雨。那一刻,在速食俗世的麦当劳,居然有世外的感觉。

第二天去上班地铁的路上,远远看见路边二楼上一个妈妈在教孩子给过往的行人挥手,上班高峰时间,也许没有人注意,绝对没有人停下来,我就这样前五十米就看着她们,唇角上牵,那个妈妈看到我,一个灿烂的笑,孩子不停对我挥手。我就这样咧着嘴笑开了,一直笑到地铁站。

工作的意义在那里?

- 工资可以供给家人,提高生活水平;
- 工作给人独立感,有助于提升自我满意度;
- 没有人是不可或缺的,所以对大环境影响不大;
- 但总体社会还是需要人们工作,来提高总生产值的。

我一定要工作吗?不可以在家带孩子吗?。。。。。。脆弱的时候的疑问,明天还是会乖乖去上班的。。。