Story of EeRynn

6th September 2010

Scenario : Fetching her from Anita's house

She was playing 'masak-masak'. I tried to convince her to leave so we can have dinner. She was reluctant. She insisted to stay & continue playing. Eventually, I convinced her to leave and intent to help her clean her mess. As I put the little cutlery & plate back to where it should be, she ask 'Why mommy do that'? She was angry as I helped her packed. She took the little cutlery & plate out. She mumble, huh, dunno why mommy do that?

I was puzzle with her reaction for a while. Then, I realized she repeating what I said about her. Hahaha. At home, when she did something not right, I always asked : EeRynn, why do you do that?

Scenario : In the car after dinner.

We are on our way to bakery shop. Anita will bring EeRynn to National Museum tomorrow. I decided to buy bread to toast bread for EeRynn. Along the way, I told EeRynn to stay in the car with daddy. When we reach the bakery, she immediately took out her buckle and ask her father : Daddy, can EeRynn go down with mommy. We discussed and we allowed her to followed me to bakery. Immediately she said this : This mommy, EeRynn want to go down also cannot, huh..

Ben & myself chuckled.

Scenario : EeRynn reluctant to drink milk

EeRynn is reluctant to drink milk again. The milk is ready on the table. It has been 2 nights she struggle with her father, delaying the duration. I sat her down and ask, why don't you drink yr milk, EeRynn? She didn’t reply.

I told her I gave her 5 minutes to finish her milk and she happily tells her father to wait for 5 minutes. Her father corrected her by telling her that mommy want her to finish her milk in 5 minutes and not wait for another 5 minutes. She chooses not to drink her milk.

We learnt at parenting class to give our child choices. So I ask, do you want to drink milk or stand at corner (punishment)? I ask her again : Do you want to drink milk? She said 'no'. So I ask, do you want to stand at corner? She said 'no' too. So I told her I helped her decide: I bring her to stand at the corner. She cried.

Once again, I feel bad about myself. I make her cried again. Huh.. This is the internal struggle in me. Sometime I asked myself whether I am too controlling. Then, I look at the situation again : It’s about setting the habit of drinking milk before sleeping. So I am not wrong. Furthermore, I didn’t hurt her physically.

Eventually, in her crying voice she said, mommy, EeRynn want to drink milk. So I bring her back to sofa and pass the cup to her. She continues to cry. Then she said: Let EeRynn stop crying first before I can drink milk.

Ben & me chuckle again. She is so sweet