'Stick Together' Holiday - Prelude & 1st Day

I actually toyed with this idea for many days.

Can I do it ? Will I be able to handle them myself for a few days? Will they listen to me & behave themselves ?

I ran the idea by my mom. 'Why not' my mom darn sporting. Encouraged, I ran my intentions over with Daddy & my MIL. Daddy was very skeptical that I would go through with it. My MIL was the funniest - her eyes almost popped out (mata terbeliak!!!).

With confidence wavering & still not fully decided, I soldiered on, though more like testing waters than anything else. By then, it was kinda 'last minute' already. Called my auntie - away for 10-day retreat wor. Called my brother - sucks! he was away on business. Called one of my girlfriends working there - aiya, her parents were visiting & staying with her.

Really wrong timing le. But what was the alternative - being housemaid & cook at home? Quick, quick, think. Stay in a hotel ? Mmmm...I still got one more try - an ex-colleague/friend whom had extended his invitation long, long, long time ago...

Luck was finally with us. He warmly welcomed us to his home. Good, as I was not too keen with staying at some 3-star hotel with the 2 lil monsters. Anything higher rated than that would be too expensive. Moreover, I didn't want the lil monsters to equate 'going somewhere' with nice hotel with swimming pools & Disney channels!

So I happily went and buy the bus tickets. And start psycho-ing the boys about the possible 'hardship' ahead, haha!

Boy, was I right ? Kor-Kor complained & complained about not taking the plane & staying at hotel!

'Aiyo, you complain so much you don't follow me la!' That normally does the trick. Ya, like for 10 minutes!!!!

The bus ride went better than expected. They were on their best behavior. Didn't kick the seats in front. Didn't disturb other passengers. Phew!

When we reached our destination, we still needed to kill time. My ex-colleague, Uncle S, and wifey, were still stuck in office. I already warned Uncle S that my 2 boys could be his worst nightmare. He was a sport - he said he'll just have to glue everything in place!

I thought that was funny....until we walked into his condo...

OH!MY!GOD!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!OMG!

It was 2nd week of school hols. I was in Singapore. Me alone with my 2 lil monsters. Supposedly staying 3 nights at an ex-colleague's place... whom I now realised I hardly know.

And his place is FULL. Antiques. Expensive travel mementos. Expensive furnishing. Italian Murano glassware for godsake!

At every kooks and corners! (cos if he's to glue everything in, he'll need a lot, a lot of glue!)

OMG!OMG! It can't be happening. MY worst nightmare...

I wanna stay hotel. NOW!

(to be continued...)

Two Toilet Rolls A Day

Grrrrr!!! Geram!!! 'Kek Sei Ngoh'!!! Pissed!!!

When they shot water at and disintegrated one toilet roll during their daytime bath, I already told them off. Sternly.

Then comes night time bath, when I was cleaning up after dinner (no more 'tai tai' mah), they had the cheek to do that again. This time up until making paper mache out of the toilet, or is it toilet mache out of paper @#$%^&!!!!!!

The disintegrated toilet paper were plastered everywhere - walls, window, toothbrushes, toilet brushes, floor, clogging the drain like this:

Hello boys, you messed up, mommy have to clean up le...now no auntie or kakak to pick up after you le. Just so you two know when you are older - mommy is giving up a trip to Hong Kong/China & not shipping you to your ex-babysitter or any relative that will have you - just so mommy can cook for you & clean your shits le. So no more this kind of stunt please. Otherwise, please don't blame me for going berserk. Again. OK??????@#$%^&!!!!

Report Card Day

Yesterday was Kor-Kor's school report card day.

It was stated in the notice sheet that he brought back that the parent-teacher session would start at 3.50, after the school recess. I was thinking, no need so 'kan cheong' (anxious) -can go in the evening - to avoid the 'crowd' what.

But one of the mothers I bumped into a few days ago informed that the students could actually go off already after the parents collected the report card. Aisehman! Really? So it's true what Kor-Kor has been trying to tell me ? I thot my son blur-blur!

This meant that I need to make effort to go earlier so that he wouldn't be 'stuck' in class. But, how to be there at that time? Di-Di usually take his nap that time wor. So I told Kor-Kor if his lil bro wakes up early, we'll be there early, otherwise, he'll have to wait. And I told Di-Di he'll have to start his nap earlier - without me nagging - otherwise, I'll ship him to his mah-mah yeh-yeh (my MIL/FIL).

Di-Di was really cooperative wor. We were out of the house by 3.25. But what was supposed to be 5 minutes door-to-door, turned into 15 minutes! No parking @#$%^&*!!!! It looks like parents had been flocking to the school since god knows how early. And by kiasu standard, I'm actually darn late!

By the time we arrived, I was no. 10 in line. Sucks, I noted 2 parents in front were parents to top students of the class. And they were there plus-1 ie with spouse - meaning they got lots & lots & lots to ask/discuss. Sucks!

Surprisingly, the teacher kept it short & simple with everyone - Chinese school efficiency. When came my turn, my son's dear Ms Tan immediately launched - before I can sit down (so efficient rite?) - Kor-Kor has been very talkative & has difficulty concentrating on the lessons since after the school hols!

She was smiling when she said that, so I laughed (cos dunno how to respond le). Anyway, she said he probably needed time adjusting to school regiment after the hols and anyway, he is not very disruptive. Thus, she had not called to inform me on all this. I tried to tell her back in broken Mandarin 'no news is good news!'

Which is true. As long as she doesn't tell me he's a hooligan in class, I'm satisfied already. (Once in kindie, his teacher told me that he purposely play-play sprayed his pee on his friend. Now THAT was embarrassing to face...)

After having that out of the way, I tried to ask one or two things, to help me maneuver the Chinese school system, like:-
1. What constitute the other 50% of Moral marks (as I checked that only 50% was from the subject test paper)? She bla-bla-bla-ed in Mandarin. I didn't really understand those non-day-to-day Chinese bits, but caught words like 'practical', 'class exercise' & 'class behavior'...Can piece together the rest, I should think...
2. Is it true that Moral, Maths in English & Science in English are not counted in the overall marks standing? YES, was the reply wor...But why, why, why, especially on not counting Maths & Science in English ??? I thot these subjects were introduced to improve the command of English of the younger generations??? (Sometimes it is very difficult for a national school raised student - ME - to understand Chinese school curricular. And not that Kor-Kor did particularly well in his Maths & Science in English!)

Anyway, my son's dear Ms Tan did not have any major complaint. She said that comparatively, he is quite well behaved & would listen to instructions. I was smiling broadly.

The only thing I was not smiling about was his results. Not that his results stink - in fact he did pretty good by his parents' standard, with a 90.5% average. It's just that I didn't really realise that Chinese school students were so competitive. And so GOOD academically! Cos with a 90.5% average, Kor-Kor was only 24th, out of 41 students in his class! And in overall Primary 1, he was 370, out of 614!

Stress!!!!

Even more stress - in Primary 2, their test results will determine the best 150-odd to 'ching leng pang'* (intelligent class). One mother told me that to cement a place in the top 150, the students would need an average of (at the very least) 97%!!!! That's close to perfect!!! Now I can understand why some ex-colleagues take leave from work to coach their kids pre-exam!

*not practised in all chinese schools, only certain schools, so no fret!

Not that I want to feel the pressure. I mean, I know academic results is not the be-all and end-all. But still...

You see, like some parents who send their children to international schools, it's not only for the academic experience, but the crowd their children get to mix with.

So am I wrong to want Kor-Kor to mix & be influenzed by the better students?

But I have to be realistic too, I guess. 370 is a long, long way from 150. And I also don't want to scare & pressure my kids too much till they don't feel the joy in learning. And take away all the fun of being a kid!

Anyway, (sour grape a bit here) some parents have a head start. They know about the 'Chinese school system' way ahead, whereas this mommy just got to know recently. They have started coaching their kids since they were 4!

Just so you guys know:P

Camp 5 Free Trial Climb

During the recent school holiday, 1 Utama had held quite an assortment of activities for kids. One of them was a free trial climb session at Camp 5. I quickly signed Kor-Kor up. The minimum age was 6, so Di-Di would not be able to join in, but the coordinators informed that he can play at the big rock in front of the reception area. Well, that should be good enough to amuse him for one hour!

Both of them have taken to mimicking Spiderman recently (on top of other superheroes *roll eyes*), so I thought this would be SO amusing to watch.

The session started out quite sedately. The kids were geared in first. Then the instructors a.k.a. marshals (as written at the back of their tees) gave them some pointers on the dos & don'ts.

I took to running back & forth between Kor-Kor at the back of the camp & Di-Di at the front of the camp. As seen here, Di-Di got potential to be the next Tom Cruise (as in MI:2?).
Kor-Kor's first attempt - what looks to me like 2nd easiest. I was holding my breath. Unfortunately, this was the highest he was willing to go - no matter how the instructor coaxed him to continue.o_O

However, he gave it another go. So he got back in line to the... easiest! I was holding my breath again.

There was no need as he did good this time & managed to go over the ledge. But before I can say, "That's my boy!", he was holding up the line...

Kor-Kor was too afraid to jump down to the big-big springy cushion on the ground!

After a few other mommies, beside his own, came to give him 'instructions' on how to jump, he managed to gather enough courage to make the leap. Phew!

Next was the climb up the big wall with harness. The kids were instructed to just lean back & go into sitting position (when they have enough of climbing - no pressure, no need to go to the top)so that the safety ropes will take their weight & bring them down.

Do you know how well my boy did? Well, I think he did manage 3-4 FEET!

MY SON SUCKS! BIG TIME! (HaHaHa!!!)

When the session was over, I whispered to Kor-Kor "Looks like you can't be Spiderman hor..."

He growled! Laughing.

But I tried to mollify "May be with a little more practice then..."

This would go down to being one of the classic 'i-know-my-sons-can't-be-good-at-everything-but-i-still-secretly-would-like-them-to' kind of moments. *Shake head* -at myself, tsk! tsk!

Monsters Vs Aliens

I did it! Yeah! Brought 2 lil monsters to watch a movie all by myself. Phew!

It was no small feat I tell you. When the billboards were up, I already had to start 'brain-washing' Di-Di (cos his eyes go all watery if I teased that I would only bring Kor-Kor).

Things like...cannot jump on the seat, run up & down the aisle, walk around, kick the seat in front, climb to the seat in front or at the back, talk loudly...Basically, to sit still like a statue. I also told him that he cannot ask me to take him pee mid of movie & must hold it in till after the movie. Haha...so mean rite ?

Di-di was probably thinking what's the fun of going to the movies like that. But he was determined to follow his Kor-Kor. He said he almost 6 yrs old already wor...(though he's only almost 4 - cos afraid we leave him behind!)

Pre-movie went without a hitch (cos mommy chose working day, instead of weekend - not so crowded). Besides them chasing each other around, making kung-fu moves when I was getting the tickets & me having to juggle their popcorn & drinks & not losing sight of them, I managed to get them into the cinema safely.

Di-di was so exited. First time mah. But quarter in...he asked to go home already. Alamak!

I was thinking, how to entertain him for the rest of the show. Stress!

But thank god, Di-di kept to his word. Well...almost. How cud he stand not fidgeting, not talking, not climbing up/down the arm rest rite? But at least he didn't run wild at the aisle. Or do kung fu moves on the seats...

Was the movie good then? Ok only...not as good as...Toy Story, Monsters, Inc. or even... Kung Fu Panda!

Did we see it in 3-D ? Hell, no! Must movie-train my lil monsters first, else waste money only.

Here they are trying to kill each other while I was getting the tics.

Safety Lessons

Lately, after my maid ran off, I've been reminding the boys more often on a few safety issues.

Example 1: Can you go off with Auntie G or Auntie M (previous 2 maids) if they come and pick you up from class/school?
Kor-Kor: NO!
Di-Di: NO!
Mommy: Correct! Good!

Example 2: If strangers or people you don't know give you sweets or something to eat, can you take without asking mommy's permission?
Kor-Kor: NO!
Di-Di: YES!
Mommy: *My eyes opened wide-wide!*
Di-Di: No??? (Looking at his brother. Kor-Kor shaking his head.)
Di-Di (again with more conviction this time): NO!
I cannot help smiling at his indecision, cos he NEVER turns down sweets. At least it was not like the first time I asked him this & told him he cannot accept. He answered pathetically "But I want wor..."

Example 3: "What are u supposed to do before you cross a road?"
Kor-Kor: Go Alien & transform to XLR8! (Translation to non-Ben 10 fans: A Ben 10 alien that can run at the speed of light!)
Di-Di: *Making transformation sounds!*
Mommy: *Choking at her own saliva!*

Adventure Zone @ Golden Sands Penang

We took the boys back to my parents' place last weekend. And for a spot of R&R for Daddy (from work) and Mommy (from cooking & cleaning & ta-pau-ing).

The first thing granny said when saw the boys was "Why both of the boys looks skinner ah?" (Oops! Hey, I can't help it if I can barely cook, rite? And that I let the boys get away with eating less because I got no patience with their antics?)

After some heavy binge eating & conversations, Daddy whisked us to Golden Sands @ Batu Feringgi. It was Daddy's very own initiative for this short break (he very, very rarely does this) - so mommy will keep her mouth shut about the cost & about not wanting to get any more darker (yes, i get dark..not tan!)

But the boys enjoyed themselves at the pools & beach. There was a children slide at one of the pools. Initially Di-Di was afraid & wanted me to 'catch' him. My arms really ache, man. After a while, he tested the water & found the water up to his chin only if he tiptoed. Thereafter, he didn't need me to 'catch' him anymore. If I'm not so worried, its actually quite hilarious.

Here is some beach action, with mommy cringing at the blazing sun.

Ain't this cute?
But their highlight of this trip is their discovery of THIS. The slides are quite high (18-20ft) & steep. No way mommy was going to try. But Di-Di went down the blue one (double drop slide with ball pit) with no trouble at all, though Kor-Kor needed some persuasion.

There are quite a number other things at both sides and at the front of these slides as well to keep them occupied, but the slides are the coolest.

After 2 hours of running about with other kids & going down the slides, both of them were exhausted. No problem sleeping early at night. So mommy & daddy got to curl up comfy - to read their books!!!