Meeting Up with the 3Fs

Just not too long ago, they spent almost every weekdays with my brother's girls. Lil Shauna said that Felicia is her best friend and Lil Isaac is best friend with Feline. Lol. Not just any best friends but best friends forever hor.

Then they shift to Clementi and the meet-up frequency was reduced to about a few times a week. Nevertheless, the kids love playing together. Lil Shauna even had a few stayovers and she loves them!

Then, primary one starts and Lil Shauna is in the dreadful afternoon session. Now, only Lil Isaac gets to go over on Wednesday - if Popo has the energy to bring him. Poor Lil Shauna.

We have dated the girls during the weekends a few times since school started. It isn't easy given that the kids are all so busy with enrichment classes during the weekends. Today, we met up and Lil Shauna was so thrilled when she heard about it. We went swimming and then dinner. Such simple things but such great joy. Yeah, best friends forever!

Just in case you are wondering, we had dinner at this place with strange animals decoration.  Lol.

Mummy Lim

NTUC Club

There was so much rave when NTUC Club was opened at Joon Koon last year. The building the housed NTUC Club was conveniently right next to Joon Koon MRT, which is only 1 station away from us. Prices of the commodities at the NTUC Club are supposed to be lower by up to 20% but the items come in bulk. To shop at NTUC Club, one needs to be a member and the membership cost $50 per year. Popo bugged me to get the membership some months back but I didn't see it necessary.

The same building where the NTUC Club is located also housed many decently priced eateries and fast food joints. Last Wednesday, Popo and I brought Lil Isaac to have our dinner there. Not only was it spacious, there weren’t many patrons. I hope it is crowded during lunch or the eateries might start closing down soon. Zzzz. We also took a quick walk in NTUC Club and I was surprised to see some really cheap Manuka honey, shampoo and stuff. I was tempted.

NTUC Club is also on our route home. On Monday, Daddy Lim and I popped by the building for coffee and enjoyed some peace before we went home to fetch Lil Shauna from the school bus. I gave in to temptations and paid $50 for the membership. I pictured myself grocery shopping in a spacious and fairly empty NTUC Club and get great savings. Hehe.

Well, the reality didn't really match up. We went grocery shopping on Tuesday after picking Lil Shauna up and dinner. The Club was fairly empty, which is great but not all household items are available. Some are brands that you do not find in a normal NTUC and they are not exactly cheap. Maybe their normal price would have cost more. I cant tell. And almost everything comes in bulk. You cannot find a 6-pack coke; they all come in 24-can carton. You get my drift. We did end up with a good amount of frozen pork and a huge pack of chicken nuggets. These are really cheaper than what one could find at the normal NTUC. Popo could portion and freeze the extras. 

In the end, we spent about a $100 on groceries and didn't complete all on our usual shopping list, which means that we would still need to head down to a normal supermarket. So is the membership well spent? Hmmm.. I am not sure. Bcos it is so conveniently located, Daddy Lim and I could still pop by on our way home and buy whatever that we need (and they carry), so that we minimize the trips to the usual supermarkets. Now that my brother has shifted from Centris, we rarely visit Jurong Point and grocery shopping has been hampered. I do feel a little cheated though.

Mummy Lim   

Mummy Bluff Me

Last Friday, Popo mentioned that the little boy has homework from school to complete. I thought she was referring to the phonics class and didn't pay too much attention. We have a full week to complete his phonics homework. The little boy knew too that he had homework but I didn't quite comprehend him. I think he did raise it but I didn't give him enough attention and brushed him off. On the receiving end, he thought that mummy had helped him do his homework and there is nothing left on his part. All these time, his homework was sitting quietly in his file in one corner of our living room. 

 While getting ready to go to school yday morning, he started asking Popo about his homework and Popo told him that his homework were completed, assuming so. Popo said that he was unconvinced and was almost in tears when he boarded the school bus. He must be thinking why the homework would be completed by itself when he hasn't done anything. Lol. Popo called me to check after sending him to school and I got nagged at. ZZzzzzz. Ok, it is my fault but didn't see it as such a big deal. Lil Isaac can always bring the homework back for completion. Hahaha.

So, he did come back with his file and homework. The first thing that he said when he alighted from the bus was “Popo you bluff me”. Lol. Popo called me thereafter and Lil Isaac said the same thing to me. It was actually very adorable over the phone. Haha. In actual words, he said, “Mummy, you bluff me. You said that you already helped me do my homework.”  Hello, little man, it is your homework, why should I do it for you? But on the account that you were so cute, you win. (photos taken in other occasions)

We did get down to his homework in the night. He has to write his name and class on the front page of his English and Maths books. In each book, he had to complete 4 pages of work and write his name and date at the top of every page. Lil Isaac’s writing is atrocious. I pity the teacher who has to read his writing. There were quite some writing to do in his English book. The boy did try very hard. I could see that he used a lot of strength and effort to complete the writing but with so much whining! I almost lost my cool at one point but recognized that he was tired; we had squeezed what were to be completed over 2 days into 1 night.

We were overjoyed when he completed his homework and even proceeded to complete 1 page of his phonics homework. He asked to be rewarded with his special sticker reward book. The kids now have 11 stickers each and could use the sticker to exchange for a toy. Time to spend $$ but for a good cause and for their hard work.

Mummy Lim

Practice Ice Skating

We did go down to the rink on Saturday despite not having lessons. Lil Shauna needs to practice and we need to make the student pass worth. The other girls were there as well. 

To avoid unnecessary distractions, we escaped the house while the little tiger was still in lala land. He had been bugging to go ice skating recently despite me using his gym classes as the bargaining chip. He did agree not to tag along when I reminded him on Friday night but I think we should avoid risking it. 

No doubt Lil Shauna enjoyed the attention and we had our usual bfast. We were way too early and had time for her to do her Maths homework.

Mummy went down to the ice to practice with her. Daddy Lim specifically reminded me to take care and not fall down. Lol. 

Don't worry, I know my capabilities and did no demonstrations this time. I had to take some time to get used to the ice given that I had been slacking while Lil Shauna went down to the ice for the past few practices. Lil Shauna knew exactly what she had to do, I was just there to nag at her to practice and hold her hand to give her the support when need be. When I am not in the rink, she will mostly play chase with her friends but we practice at least ¾ of the 2-hour session this time. Lil Shauna must be really tired bcos she was constantly asking for water, put on and off jacket, the time, her friends, why this and that – whatever that can distract mummy and cut her some slack. Lol. I was quite firm though, bringing her back to focus and time passed so quickly. I did check with her after class and at least she doesn't hate me in the rink with her. Haha. 

As expected, Lil Isaac asked to go ice skating when he joined us in the afternoon. Guessed what? We did bring him to the rink on Sunday evening after his gym class. He was so excited. I had to make him promise to cooperate and behave himself before we enter the rink – go slow, listen, no tricks. This time, it was so much better than the last time we brought him.

We were in JCube at 3ish and opted to go for the later and last session at 5.15pm bcos the 3pm session was way too crowded. The kids understood that we had to come back another day if the rink was too crowded. The last session was good, although 1/3 of the rink was cornered off for a private function, the rink was fairly empty. However, there were quite some very good skaters in hockey skates, who went around very fast and the ice was rough very quickly. Lil Isaac took a little time to get used to the ice. With nobody to compete against, he went in his own pace and didn't fall as much. Either Daddy Lim or I had to constantly tail him and tried to catch him if he falls but at least there was lesser worry that somebody might bump into him or run over his fingers. 

Lil Shauna gets to practice again and I think practice really makes perfect. Her front and back crossovers look so much better. We also saw jiejie Crystal, a regular that we also see in the rink. She is probably in late teens and started ice skating only this year but is already into jumps and spins. She is really friendly and had given the mummies many good advices, from skates to apparels to private lessons. I took the opportunity to ask her to help correct Lil Shauna’s spiral posture and it helped to affirm things that I googled. I also found out from her that there are off ice lessons, where the coaches helped to correct the jumps and postures off ice! Lil Shauna could probably go for those when she is more advance and into spins and jumps. Hehe.

Overall, it was a great trip. We only stayed for an hour but Lil Shauna gets to practice and we can put off Lil Isaac’s bugging for the time being. Hehe.

Mummy Lim 

Stretch!

I have been troubled for the past few days about how to help Lil Shauna in her ice skating. We only have that much ice time in a week and I have been wondering about how I can help her off ice. Other than balance, I figured out that flexibility would be the other key to help her executes the different postures. Unfortunately, flexibility isn’t something that she has. Zzzz…

My lunch time during the last week had been spent Google-ing on Youtubes on beginner children figure skating. I hope that these videos will inspire the little girl. It will also allow her to visualize how some posture should be and how some moves (like the crossover) are actually done. There are some pretty good videos out there. We will only know the impact of these videos when we are back on the ice tomorrow.   

I also Googled on how people practice ice skating off ice and the results generally point towards stretching to increase flexibility. At one point, I pondered if I should send Lil Shauna for more classes like the ballet or gymnastic. Those will surely help but I don't think we should add on more classes to our already very hectic lives. Moreover, Lil Shauna didn't fancy them much. She picked ice skating over those when we gave her a choice last year.

I directed my search towards stretching exercises that figure skaters do off ice and there are quite some. However, most of the stretching regimes are definitely beyond Lil Shauna’s ability at this point. Then I found one 12 mins video on the different stretching exercise that leads to the split at the end of the video. I thought it was fairly good and the person in the video looks professional. One of my greatest fears is injuring the little girl by teaching her the wrong stretching techniques. I tried the regime myself and went ouch and ooooo.. as I followed the video. I did feel my flexibility increases as I do those stretching exercises. Of course I didn't manage a split by the end of the video but I wasn't too bad. I actually surprised myself! And the instructor mentioned that it would take time and practice makes perfect. Woohoo! The stretches were really powerful and my legs were sore by the end of the regime.

Lil Shauna joined me when I repeated the 12 mins regime. This time, she went ouch, ouch, ouch as the stretching proceeded. Lol. The split at the end of the video again didn't happen with Lil Shauna. She didn't seem to do some of the stretching properly too but I guess practice will make perfect. Moving on, we would try to keep to these stretching exercises every day on top of the 2 postures that we are supposed to practice. It doesn't take a lot of time and I hope that we can proceed with more difficult stretches as time goes on. 

Figure skating is definitely not an easy sport and it requires a lot of hard work. I hope Lil Shauna will persevere. I am really excited about the journey that Lil Shauna is embarking on but worried that I am overexcited. Daddy Lim reminded me this morning to go slow and that our kids aren’t talented in any specific fields.  Yes, I needed that reality call. I think my excitement voiced down to the fact that she has finally stuck to something and I had hopes that she would be good at it one day. But I think I need to be prepared that the little girl might one day decide that figure skating isn’t for her.

Oh, by the way, my legs are still sore today. Power!

Mummy Lim

Ice Skating Homework

I have been working hard to make Lil Shauna do her ice skating “homework”. For the past 3 nights, we have been practicing the postures at home before bed. She couldn't manage the basic Spiral posture. I suspect that she didn't quite understand how the posture is supposed to work. Not only could she not balance, she looks awkward as well. I also cant help but wonder how she is going to balance on the ice when she cant even do that on dry land. I am not exactly sure how the posture is really supposed to look like and couldn't really correct her. I am just hoping that her posture and balance will eventually work out by itself after more nights of practice. Otherwise, we will just try our best and see how her lesson goes next week. 

This is how she looks as compared to the picture from the internet. 

2

There are many other more advance spiral postures to conquer and I wonder how our dear stiff little girl could achieve those when she could barely execute the most basic one. 

This is the other posture that she had to practice.

The posture itself isn’t difficult and Lil Shauna manages it fairly well too. But I think the difficulty comes from having to move from a standing position to this position and back to a standing position and continue skating. Seriously, I cant fathom how this can be execute on ice. The body weight should be where?  

We will find out whether the homework helps when we go back for practice this Saturday. Mummy will have to go into the rink to help her practice. Zzzzzz… I am lazy.

Mummy Lim

Pampering Day

I was on pm leave yday. I needed to do something for my poor hair and had also decided to head for my facial appointment – the last one was almost 5 months back. 

The last time I went to color and treat my hair, my consultant hard sell $10k worth of products to me. I was left super pissed and dread going back to listen to the same sales pitch. I had to go back nevertheless, given that I still have 7 (inclusive of yday’s) paid visits left. I guessed I just have to close my ears and turn into a monster customer to shut the consultant up if need be. Then, I heard the good news when I called to make my appointment – my consultant was on leave. Yeah!

My hair appointment was at 12.30pm. Colour and treatment would usually take about 3 hours. I have resigned to fate and opted for a much darker brown this time. The previous times, I had bright reddish brown. I love lighter hair colours as grey hair looks less obvious when they reappear. Unfortunately, these colour chemicals used by the salon are supposed to be less harsh and I ended up with a much obvious shade on the top part of my hair and a much darker shade at the lower half. I was told that the colour was unable to cover the lower part of the hair that had been previously dyed black. As time passes and my hair grows, I ended up with 3 different shades – my original hair colour, the reddish brown that has now turned into light brown and the lower darker brown. Though I am not exactly concern about my hair color, I was often left awkward when questioned by others. Enough! Especially with CNY around the corner. Hehe. 

This is the end result after almost flattening my already flat butt in the salon. The appointment took 3.5hr. It is dark brown with a tiny hint of red.

As compared to the hair color before. Well, at least I have uniform hair color now. What is the best is that there was no selling at all!

Right after my hair appointment, I hopped over to the facial salon. It was another 2 hours cooped up but it was a heavenly 2-hour pampering session. Ahh… I even drifted in and out of lala land. Hehe. 

It was an afternoon well-spent. In the past, I have to take 2 separate half day of leave to do hair and facial. Moving on, I think I should better utilize time and squeeze everything into 1 half day. I love pampering sessions. Hehe.

Mummy Lim

The Boy Hearts the Little Gym

There was a time where I struggled about whether I should continue Lil Isaac’s gym class. I meant, he doesn't seem to pick up an identifiable skill and the classes are freaking expensive. I am not sure if the classes are anywhere pointing near to gymnastic in the future though I really don't think so. But the little boy loves his gym class. He wanted so much to continue with them and so we did for another term. And like I mentioned in my earlier post, it is my perfect bargaining chip for not bringing him along to jiejie’s ice skating class. And each time I bring him to his gym class, I just feel that I have made the right choice. Oh, did I mention that he totally adores his teachers too. That is like another big plus.

Just like any Sundays, I would bring him to his gym class after church while Popo sends Lil Shauna to her Chinese class. And like usual, he would run to the center, takes off his shoes by himself, have his temperature checks and dashes into his class. There is no clingy boy, a totally different boy from Sunday school that took place just an hour ago. It also didn't matter whether mummy is near the class waiting for him. He would wave and give me a huge grin if he spots me by the window. If he doesn't or even if he sees me leaves the center (to walk around the mall or get a cuppa), he is totally fine. That is like so rare for me. I mean, he is fine and goes to school/ class good when mummy is not in the picture. The nonsense starts only when I am around. Yes, I am the problem. Lol.

He takes instructions well in class and totally has a blast jumping and climbing and rolling. He tumbles and falls and knocks and sometimes I choose to look away but at least it is in a safe environment.

After class, if we have time, he sits and builds structures with blocks. 

Then, we walk around while waiting for Daddy Lim to pick us. He may fuss at times but is well-behaved generally and I think it is bcos he totally enjoys the attention that I showered on him solely. We are also starting to wean him off his stroller. He is way too big for his stroller and the stroller is also starting to disintegrate from the years of wear and tear. He walks and doesn't complained. Oooo-hoo!

Ahhh, I love his gym class as much as him. 

Mummy Lim

Private Lesson 2

We went for our 2nd ice skating class on Saturday. There was no class last week and I was too lazy to bring Lil Shauna to the rink to practice.  But I think we have to step up moving on. She definitely needs more practice outside of class. However, it is a chore to try to escape the house without having to bring the little boy. I am so glad for his gym lessons, which he loves. The gym classes are my perfect excuse for not bringing him (to the rink), bcos jiejie doesn't go for his gym lessons and therefore mummy is being totally fair. 

We met Xee Yue and Janelle (a new 9 YO friend, which is also taking private lessons) at the rink. Lil Shauna warmed up a little before switching over to the portion of the rink for private classes to practice more before class with Janelle, who was having class at 11.30am. Lil Shauna has definitely improved a little on the backward crossover that was taught in the 1st private lesson but far from the real move.

At the stroke of 12noon, the student-changing dance happened and Lil Shauna started her class. Teacher Raymond spent quite some time mulling over her front crossovers. These were learnt during core 4 but I do agree that Lil Shauna still has a lot to work on for her crossovers. Then she practiced her backward crossovers, her T-stops, the dips. These are all the basic moves that she would need for her to learn and execute the more difficult jumps and spins in the future. These took up a large part of the lesson.

She learnt 2 new moves. I don't know what they are called. One of them is probably the spiral.

It was hard work and more hard work to come. The 30 mins lessons ended very quickly, Throughout, I was by the rink, busy taking videos. I think the videos will come in useful when I try to explain to her what she needed to do. We were given homework too. She has to practice the 2 new postures at home, to be able to balance on ground so that it will make it slightly easier for her to execute on ice. We tried last night and she was more playing a fool than actual trying to practice. Zzzzzz. And I realized that she is so stiff! I think I am more flexible than she is, can stretch better and can definitely do those postures better than her. We were at WCP rollerblading as well yday evening and I was urging her to try those postures on her rollerblades, which she flatly refused. I read online and there are very different views about whether rollerblading will help improve their ice skating. I do agree that they are actually very different but if there are chances for her to practice balancing off ice, it is always good. 

Next week, we will be going back to the rink and this time, I think I will be hopping down to the ice with her to practice the basic moves. Otherwise, each private lesson is like a practice session for her and I can feel my money burning away. Zzzzz. I have just purchased a student pass for her that gives her daily entrance but I have to figure out how to bring her to the rick without Lil Isaac tagging along on weekends. I am also thinking to bring her down at a timing that is less crowded. So tough.

Mummy Lim

  

Better

I would like to think that it is bcos I am starting to ease into the routine and thus things feel much better this week. Or maybe bcos Daddy Lim and I left the office earlier yday – we were in time to pick Lil Shauna from the school bus and had dinner together at home. It was only 8pm by the time we all settled down and there was plenty of time to work on homework. Lil Isaac fussed a little though. He was grumpy and tired and threw some tantrums. He hasn't been the easiest recently and I am guessing that he is seeking attention as Lil Shauna has loads recently given the big milestone of starting Primary One.

This morning, I was on leave to babysit the kids while Popo went for her medical appointment. Lil Shauna woke up at about 8am and the moment she knows that Popo was going for her medical, she asked me, “can we make cupcakes?”. There isn’t enuff ice cream at home and I am trying minimize Lil Isaac’s exposure to ice cream. His dreadful cough and running nose have like plagued him for weeks! 

Lil Isaac woke up soon after. Popo was out of the house by then and he asked, “can we make ice cream cupcakes?”. Haha. This must be some kind of a new Popo-not-at-home routine. We didn't make ice cream cupcakes eventually but had chocolate fondue for tea instead. The kids were thrilled. I couldn't tell which if the chocolate fondue is less sinful but comforted myself that it is a once in a blue moon treat.

The kids were easy this morning. However, Lil Isaac started fussing that he doesn't want to go to school when I started to change the kids into their school uniform. He was of course plenty of whining but Mummy is well trained. He was tearing by the time he went up the school bus. My heart did ache a little but too bad little boy. It was so much easier with Lil Shauna. She was excited about school and was happily chatting with the other kids waiting for school bus. 

The night ends fine. You can tell, right?

Mummy Lim 

1st Private Ice Skating Class

Lil Shauna finally had her very 1st private class with Teacher Raymond last Saturday. Lil Shauna had been so looking forward and I have been too. This is our first step to flying on ice! Lil Shauna looks so skinny in this attire. Hehe.

We arrived at the rink for the 1st skating session at 10.30am. We have also dated Phoebe and Xee Yue and the girls had fun skating. Companionship is so important. However, Lil Shauna got bored fairly quickly. Maybe she was just so looking forward to her lesson. 

Her lesson was to start at 12 noon. She saw Teacher Raymond at 11am and actually went over to say "Hi" when I encouraged her too. She is always so shy but does things to surprise me sometimes. Teacher Raymond was aware that he was taking Lil Shauna for private class and asked her to warm up at the portion of the rink that was barricaded up for private figure skating classes. I could see that she was actually proud to "join the figure skaters' side". She didn't mind to have to leave her friends and actually started practising the moves that she had previously learnt in her core lessons.  Teacher Raymond would be checking on her core during the 1st lesson. I was standing by the rink the whole time and the little girl kept coming back, asking me how many more minutes before class would start.

Before class started, Teacher Raymond also told us that the coaches' schedule is opened to the coaches' regular students now. In the middle of the month, it would be opened to the public for booking. We told Teacher Raymond that we would trial the 1st lesson before deciding if we would continue on a regular basis. I already suspected that we would since Lil Shauna handpicked Teacher Raymond but just in case.

The lesson finally started and it started right on the dot. The minute it turns 12 noon, the coaches all seemed to do a syncronised changing-partner dance, the current student left and the new one appeared. As expected, Teacher Raymond went through the core steps with Lil Shauna and helped her with some of the ones that she is struggling in. He demonstrated and she followed. This basically went on for the entire lesson. 

Lil Shauna got to learn some new moves too. Daddy Lim said that they are basic moves but they look so difficult to me. She still has a long way to go.

Time passed really quickly and soon her lesson ended. Teacher Raymond said that Lil Shauna is alright but needed to learn to push harder. She is so gentle and he cannot tell if she is too shy or scared. Lil Shauna seemed to enjoy the class and agreed that she would want to continue classes with Teacher Raymond. The next class would be the week after given Teacher Raymond's availability. We have also started to book his February schedule and it seemed that we would have class once every fortnight. This sounds good for my pocket. I haven't figured out if we would go back to the rink to practice on the weeks that there is no class. That would be ideal but unfortunately we have 2 kids and timing gets a little tough. Maybe I should also put Lil Isaac through ice skating lesson so that he is less of a hazard... The thought of him on the ice makes me shivers. Let me think harder about it.

Mummy Lim

New Chinese Class

Lil Isaac started his Chinese enrichment with Tien Hsia yday afternoon. He took the trial class a while back and I heard that he enjoyed the class then. I had reminded him on Wednesday night about the Chinese enrichment on Thursday but I think it did little to calm his nerves.

Popo called me at almost 4pm yday to complain that the boy refused to go for his class. The next few calls were of similar content, followed by having the boy cried into the phone and then the call got hung up abruptly. I don't think I did anything to comfort the boy. He was crying and probably didn't take in a single word that I said. I did tell Popo to just shove him into the class. I don't know what tricks Popo used eventually but he did go to class and the crying ceased shortly. I heard that the teacher also helped to entice him. In one of the calls, I promised to fetch him from class and left the office on time to do so.

At the center, I peeped into the classroom and saw Lil Isaac participating in the class with the rest of the students. He didn't look like he had a crying fit just an hour back. He looked happy when he came out from the class and was even happier to receive his reward – a huge chocolate chip cookie. We had dinner and headed home to pick Lil Shauna. 

While jiejie had her dinner, Lil Isaac completed his phonics homework and even willingly practices his writing. I bought exercise books, wanting Lil Isaac to start practicing his writing. Not only is his writing atrocious, he can’t really write all the alphabets (upper and lower case) independently. Maybe bcos it was early and he wasn't too tired, he was so cooperative and I was so amazed at how cooperative he was. My aim is to set some time aside very evening/ night for such work. I don't remember having to worry the same for Lil Shauna.

I had less success with Lil Shauna. She was tired and bargained and whined when I made her do her Maths enrichment homework. While she was at the homework, I helped her to pack her bag and realized that she is to bring to school some magazine that she brought back from school a couple of days back. The bad news is that I thought it was some junk mail and threw that away! I hope the teacher doesn't come too hard on her for that. Sob. Lesson learnt – keep whatever she brings back from school. 

It is the new routine that we all have to slowly ease into. I hope I will have success with the plan to set aside some time for homework every evening, especially with Lil Isaac. I am just so glad that we finally come to the end of the 1st week and are all still alive.  

Mummy Lim

Mad Rush Wednesday

It was bad. I felt truly exhausted at the end of the day and I hope that getting used to will make the schedule feels less punishing.

Daddy Lim was able to leave yard at 5pm yday and he picked me up at 5.30pm. We braved the Tuas’ everybody-is- going-home traffic to go to Pioneer Mall to buy Mac dinner for Lil Shauna. Meanwhile, we cursed and swear at every driver who cut into our lanes or drive too slow. We were so glad to be 15 mins early yet spent the whole 15 mins worrying that Lil Shauna couldn't find her way to gate 3. She made it safe and sound to gate 3 but I got a call from the school bus auntie, who gave me a thrashing bcos I didn't tell her that we are picking the girl and she couldn't find her at the designated waiting area. 

The drive to Clementi wasn't any easier. The traffic was horrible even on a Wednesday evening. Clementi must be over-populated. Lil Shauna was so hungry. She said that she only snacked on biscuits during recess bcos there wasn't enuff time. She was so happy to smell food the moment she got into the car and gobbled down a fish burger and half a pack of fries.

We arrived in class about 10 mins late and concluded that Daddy Lim must try his best to fetch Lil Shauna on Wednesdays. In the worse case, I will take the company transport to pick her up from the gate and then wait for Daddy Lim at the school to send us down to Clementi. In this way, he could stay a little later in the yard (if need be) and save time from having to pick me up.

We rushed off for dinner and all the rushing probably robbed my appetite. I found myself gobbling my dinner not bcos I was starved but I had been rushing so much that I couldn't slow my pace down. Dinner wasn't enjoyable. We then split ways. I had to go off to Popular to buy the Chinese textbooks for Lil Shauna – I have managed to buy one of them at JP on Sunday and 2 more yday. We are still short of 2 and we will have to try JP again this week. It is so frustrating. The books are probably available in the school bookshop but the opening hours don't suit our work schedule. Daddy Lim went off to buy new strings for his loaned guitar while I checked out Popular. It was almost 8pm when we were done.

Popo and Lil Isaac were at my brother’s place. Popo told me in the morning that we had ran out of almost everything in the house and we must do grocery shopping yday. Popo insisted that she had so much to buy and must partake in the grocery shopping. Errr… I can read a shopping list, you know? Anyway, she offered to walk to Clementi Mall to meet us. Thinking that it is a long walk and she would have to lug the boy along, I offered for Daddy Lim to fetch them instead, which was a grossly wrong choice. We ended up so super short of time and had to split ways again. I started grocery shopping after leaving Popular and Daddy Lim had to go pick them. As a result, Popo was upset with me for not waiting for her to do grocery shopping and Daddy Lim was upset with me for making him go fetch Popo and the boy. He later told me that it wasn't a long walk from my brother’s place to Clementi Mall but he had to make several detours to drive to my brother’s place and back. Oopsy.

I loaded the shopping cart while waiting for the rest to join us. I bought so much, more than our usual grocery shopping trip and the cart was so full. They joined me at about 8.30pm and Popo picked up the last remaining few items (mainly food). It was already 8.50pm and we rushed to pick Lil Shauna from class and finally headed home.

 Back home, we quickly showered the kids and packed Lil Shauna’s school bag. Luckily there was no homework bcos there wasn't any time left to do anything! Lil Isaac was fussing after a long day. It was already 10pm when we were done and kids were sent off to the bedroom. 

I was so exhausted myself by the end of the day. If next Wednesday is still so bad, something must be done. Maybe Lil Isaac should stay at home. Maybe we shouldn't squeeze in grocery shopping. Maybe we will pick Popo and Lil Isaac after picking Lil Shauna if they must go to my brother’s place. I am so glad that Wednesday is over and in the very least, we didn't lose Lil Shauna in school.

Mummy Lim

No Time and 3rd Day Drama

Daddy Lim had to work late last night. It was almost 8pm when he picked me from work and we headed home for a simple dinner that Popo made. Lil Shauna was taking her shower when we reached home. By the time that we all settled down and finished with school bag packing, it was already 9pm. 

While I was packing school bag, Lil Shauna was floating around. She has finally brought home the timetable. Unlike when we were in primary school and had to painstakingly copy the timetable off the chalkboard, hers was a nicely printed sheet of paper. I was worried about missing out on books and files that she was supposed to bring and was even more worried when Popo kept nagging and asked me to pack extras bcos she cannot help if I really missed out. How to pack extras?! Some of the books that Lil Shauna brought to school on the 1st and 2nd day were already kept in school. So I took a while to figure out if the books that she needed for lessons today are already in school or still at home. To add on to the confusion, English textbooks are called Grammar and there are other kind of Stellar and don't-know what workbooks and I cannot figure out if she needed to bring them. Well, I did my best.

Bedtime wasn't very far off after we have settled down. The kids were tired too and didn't take too long to drift off to lala land. It makes me wonder where we would find time to do homework either from school or enrichment classes in the future. Then again, I think it wouldn't be too often for us to work so late… I hope. At times like that, I am affirmed that I made a good job switch. 

This morning at 11am, Popo called me. I heard Lil Shauna yelling in the background about her Chinese homework. It wasn't really homework but a form that she brought home on Friday from Chinese class. We completed the form and I remember putting it in her bag together with 2 other forms. When I checked last night, I did see some forms still in her bag but didn't check what exactly they were. Since the little girl insisted that the form is no longer in her bag, I told her that her teacher has probably collected it. She was fearful and refused to go to school despite my assurance.

Popo called back again a short while bcos our dear girl has escalated into a crying fit, insisting that she hasn't handed up the form and refusing to go to school. I have to resort to lying that I would call the teacher to explain when I don't actually have the teacher’s hp number. I also explained to Popo what happened. 

My phone rang for the 3rd time. This time, there was good news. Popo said that she checked Lil Shauna’s bag and found the form together with the other 2 forms in her bag. Apparently, our big girl hadn’t looked carefully. Zzzzzzz. Popo said that she was crying one moment and broke into a big smile the next when she saw the form. Aiyo. And of course, she headed off happily to school.

Ok, drama already on the 3rd day of school. I think our lives will be very exciting henceforth. Now, did Lil Isaac cry in school today?

Mummy Lim  

New School Year, New Time Schedule

Today is the 1st day of school for the tiger. I had reminded and reminded him that he would have to take the school bus alone. I have also told him many times that he cannot cry in school bcos he is a big gorgor now and the babies will laugh at him. Popo said that he did really well initially and boarded the school bus cheerfully. Popo sneaked to school in attempt to buy new school uniform for the boy but was spotted. She didnt even see him but he called out for Popo and the next moment started crying. Shame, shame. He hushed shortly though. I must encourage him to do better tomorrow. I am quite sure that Lil Shauna did well. She’s our big girl.

Over the weekend, I was talking to Popo on the new schedule now that Lil Shauna is in full afternoon class. Being in the afternoon session is really not time productive; almost all her enrichment classes have to be pushed to the weekends, burning our weekends. We are also shifting her maths class from Friday to Wednesday evening since the traffic towards Clementi is impossible on Friday evening – everybody heads down town. On Wednesdays, we will pick her direct from school instead. We haven’t figure out how to tell her to meet us at the gate that we will be picking her. Stress. I will also have to be on standby mood on Wednesday and takes the company transport in the event that Daddy Lim cannot leave on time. We have decided that shelving my Wednesday Zumba class for the time being (1 year) will be the best option for now.

So Lil Shauna will have Maths class on Wednesday night, ice skating on Saturday mornings, phonic on Saturday afternoons, Sunday school on Sunday mornings, followed by Chinese class in the afternoon. Yes, we are tiger parents. Actually no, I think we are just like any other Singaporean parents.

Lil Isaac had it easier. He will have jiejie’s companionship in the morning and heads to the usual 3 hour school. Popo has asked me to sign him up for as many school enrichment classes as possible so that he can stay in school for longer hours. The classes will start this week and he will take Music and Movement on Tuesdays and Chinese enrichment on Wednesdays.  This will keep him in school until about 4.30pm. On Thursday afternoon, he will attend Tien Hsien at JP for Chinese and phonics on Friday evening. His gym classes on Sunday afternoons have ended and I have not decided if we should continue. This will largely be dependent on how much he really wants them. It is quite hard to ascertain his real interest at this age. Given that Popo will have to send him for phonics class on Fridays, I will again have to be on standby mode on Friday evenings to pick up Lil Shauna after she alights from the school bus in the event that Daddy Lim cannot make it.

We will have to see how the new time schedule works out and whether we need to make adjustments. Things will change again next year when Lil Shauna is in morning classes. I really do hope to shift some of her enrichment classes to weekdays and also put her in an after school care on other days. Let’s see. 

On a different note, Daddy Lim and I have both set the resolution to lose some weight! As I have to give up my zumba classes, we have decided to start exercising together once a week, in the night after the kids have turned in. We headed to the Jurong central park to rollerblade last night. It was tough. The temptation to just sleep or watch iPad was so great. We didn't skate that much, the intensity is definitely lesser than my regular zumba classes. Moreover, it is really quite boring to skate in that small park. It was also very dark and I was stress about tripping over branches and stones. We ended the session with a latte at MacDonalds and suspected that we consumed more calories than what we had burnt. Lol. Well, at least it is a good start. I think it is time to loan Auntie H’s bicycle and try some night cycling. Daddy Lim said that cycling burns good calories. We are also hoping to squeeze in some longer rollerblading sessions and routes after work on rare days that we can knock off early, while there is still day light. The next time that we do rollerblade in the night at the same Jurong park, we will at least attempt to ditch the after-exercising latte. Lol.

Mummy Lim

1st day of School - Part 2

We headed back home after recess to rest. We eventually decided to head back to school despite knowing that we might not see Lil Shauna at dismissal as she's taking the school bus. Lil Isaac agreed to stay at home bcos an interesting cartoon was on TV. Daddy Lim and I escaped the house in lightning speed. Lol. It was really fortunate that he agreed to stay at home bcos we spent the next hour waiting and waiting doesnt go well with our tiger.

The P1s were released at 6pm instead of the usual 6.25pm.  The parents were allowed to pick up their kids from the canteen on the 1st day and had already crowded the gate when we arrived. We joined in and took we-fie without the photo bomber this time. Hehe.

At almost 6pm, we decided that we would split ways. Daddy Lim will proceed to the canteen while I would go to the back of the school, where the school buses were parked, hoping to catch a glimpse of Lil Shauna boarding the bus.

We waited for a long while, way past 6pm before we suspected that the P2s were dismissed at the normal time and the P1s had to wait for the seniors. Daddy Lim also managed to locate Lil Shauna, who was made to wait with the other P1s and told her that we would wait for her back home. Despite so, we continued waiting at the back of the school, still hoping go catch a glimpse of her. I quite felt like a thieve. Haha.

Our efforts were paid off and we saw her boarded the bus and even waved goodbye.  We headed back home and anxiously waited for her school bus to come. The bus finally arrived at 7.15pm and a tired Lil Shauna finally came home. Yeah!

I was so excited to find out how her day went. However, her reply made it sounded like they didn't do much the entire day.  Lol. She did share that things went well. At least she didnt make school sound like a monster... or maybe not yet. Haha. The books that she brought to school were also mostly collected and she came home with an almost empty bag. I think it would be fantastic if the school helps to keep most of the heavy books in school and not overload the little ones. I did check her handbook on the things that she had copied and had to bring on Monday. One of them said, "peon Monday, Wednesday and Friday". I was scratching my head and wondering what book that is until our neighbour (whose daughter is Lil Shauna's classmate) told me that it is "PE on Monday, Wednesday and Friday"! Lol.

I realised at the end of the day that i had been too excited about Lil Shauna's 1st day of school that I have forgotten to buy the Chinese textbooks from the bookshop. The books were out of stock then. Haha. Still, it is a happy 1st day!

Mummy Lim

1st Day of School - Part 1

The FB is filled with kids' 1st day of school. Our Lil Shauna had her fair share of experience today as well. I had been telling her days ago, giving her a rough idea of what would probably happen on the 1st day of school (I am not exactly sure myself). I think it did help to prepare her. She said that she was a little excited this morning. Hehe.

Lil Shauna woke up bright and early. Daddy Lim and I took leave having not wanting to miss this significant milestone. Her school bus fetches her at 11.10am and thus Popo had to give her brunch. She was ready by 10.30am but spent quite some time trying to tie shoelaces.

We sent her to the pick up point and was glad to find 4 other WG kids taking the same school bus. Her school bus is a 40 seater and the bus driver is definitely less caring as compared to their kindergarten bus uncle. He didn't seem to bother how many kids he is supposed to fetch and whether he got everybody. The bus pulls out within like 30 sec.

We drove to school only to find out that we were not allowed in the school. We were asked to come back at 3pm to see how the kids were during recess. Parents are only allowed to enter the school today, which suits me fine bcos I didn't intend to take so many days of leave. Haha.

Since we were denied entry, we headed to JP for coffee and cake and more food! Lil Isaac enjoyed his soup and bread very much.

With 2 hours to burn, we visited Ikea and there is always things to buy in Ikea. Haha.

We were on time, back at the school at 3 pm and joined hoards of parents waiting at the gate. Did you see the photo bomber? Lol.

The gate finally opened at 3ish and we followed the others blindly to the canteen. The canteen was barricaded and the parents can only stand outside the canteen to see their kids. Luckily, Lil Shauna's class was allocated to sit right next to the barricade.

After like forever, I finally saw the princess. Lil Isaac was super excited to see her and yelled very loudly for her, helping me to inform Lil Shauna of my presence. Good job, Zaky boy.

The school has arranged for an upper primary jiejie to buddy her and help her to buy food. I saw the group of them discussing for a while on what to buy for lunch before joining the long q for noodles. Can you spot Lil Shauna?

Her buddy was super nice, maybe way too nice and helped her to carry her noodles to the table after the purchase. The rest of the kids had to do so themselves. I even saw her buddy advising Lil Shauna on how to use the fork and spoon. What??!! And helped to bring her empty bowl back to the stall while our princess sat at the table as if she's really a princess. Win already. Lil Shauna took a while to finish her noodles and I saw her buddy peered over her head a few times, as if to suggest that she should eat faster. She left the canteen after she was done and so did we.

By the way, I found out that our neighbour 2 floors below us had her daughter in the same class! My mummy network instinct went into action immediately and I have gotten her contact and started whatsapping her. Woohoo!

I bet Lil Shauna will do fine for the rest of the day.

Mummy Lim