Ee Rynn's conversation with daddy

Friday, 29th June 2012 - 4 years 7 months old

Ee Rynn: Daddy, how was your day?
Daddy: 'sharing his day'. So how was your day?
Ee Rynn: Good.
Daddy: What did u do in school?
EeRynn: I get to play, drawing n coloring and I have morning circle time. Then teacher Cheryl teach alphabets. Then, we played again.

Ee Rynn: Daddy, daddy, do you know what's the different between humility class (her previous kindergarten) and my school now?
Daddy: I don't know.
Ee Rynn: 2 differences
One, I can wear shoes in humility class and I cannot wear shoes in the school now.
Two, I get to play a lot now but I don't get to play a lot in humility class :-)

This is the different between Montessori and conventional kindergarten.

The conversation continue..

Ee Rynn: Daddy, can I hug you to sleep?
Daddy: Don't u want to hug kitty (her hello kitty)?
Ee Rynn: But kitty is soft, cannot feel.
Daddy: How about hugging your bolster?
Ee Rynn: But I love you daddy!
She hugs her daddy for a while!

She's such an adorable girl. This conversation has melt daddy's heart!

Me from working to stay at home mom

I am a stay at home mom for a year now. Friends commented I have courage to quit a good career to be a stay at home mom. They asked how or when do I decide to stay at home.

These are the few points we have considered together before I decide.

1. Finances

We asked ourselves how it's like if we live in one income? Be truthful to yourself when both of you look into finances. Go through everything from what you are paying for childcare, your gas, your meals, your shopping, your phone bill, your commitment, your loans and so on.

Discuss and look through the numbers to see whether it's possible. Forecast your investment, savings and expenses next 5 to 10 years too.

2. Me - your 'why'

I listened to my calling. I ask why I want to be a stay at home mom. Will you be satisfied to have this title called 'full time mom' instead 'manager/director?

Think through on your role as a stay home mom. Visualize your daily activity and schedule. Do you like to be your family's full time cooks, chauffeur, your children playmate and sometimes their nap warden?

Do not feel guilty if your are not up to it. There are a lot of families out there with working moms and their children turn out fine :-)

3. Your spouse

When you and your spouse work, you split the chores and errands. When your role change, daily responsibility will be likely on your to do list. I remember I hate it so much when I knew I have to deal with house maintenance issue. But I learnt to enjoy it along the way.

Discuss with your spouse on role and responsibility. This will allow both to know what to expect. Both of your will have a new role, you as a stay at home mom and your spouse as a sole provider for the family.

4. Protection

Is your insurance coverage sufficient? How about your children's medical coverage? Compare your coverage given by your current employer and your spouse's employer. Make sure you are arm with clear information before your decide.

5. What's next

As your children grow, what's next for you? It's good to have an idea of what's next so you feel secure and confident.

There will be days when doubt creeps in. Remind yourself on your 'why', at no. 2. Don't worry as your decision is not permanent. If you can't take it as a stay at homes mom, your can always go back to work or start a business.

Live life to the fullest!

Ee Rynn's painting

23rd June 2012 : 4 years 7 months old

Ee Rynn requested to paint today. She said she wants to draw mommy. The spiky hair represent mommy's long hair. Cute :-)

Frontier Danceland at Goodman Arts Centre

Saturday, 2nd June 2012

In conjunction with school holiday and Arts Festival, Frontier Danceland, a non-profit contemporary dance company, provide a free session for children in music and movement. I registered both Huai Shiung and Ee Rynn as I knew daddy and Ee Rynn like to dance.

The dance teacher is Kareen. Nursery rhyme like Eensy Weensy Spider, Hockey Pockey, Wheel on the Bus and so on was played in the class for body movement.

Singapore Art Festival 2012

This is our first time participating in Singapore Art Festival. The country is so friendly that they have Kids Arts Village for kids to have fun.

On 1st June 2012, we visited Kids Arts Village.

The first booth we visited was Tangle. Tangle is the inspiration of Polyglot Theatre, an internationally renowed creator of interactive and experiential theatre for children up to 12 years old. Polyglot has been recognised as one of the Australia's leading children theatre companies.

Children was given one soft ribbon and start to tie the ribbons from one pillar to another. Ee Rynn choose green ribbon.

Ee Rynn had fun as all the ribbon tangled up together. Some children cried because stuck in between these ribbons.

Next we went to Splash Art and Crafts at Artspace. Ee Rynn gets to splash different colours on a big board. She gets fill her world with exuberant colours.

Ee Rynn participated in mural painting. This is her first exposure on mural painting. She had fun.

At the end of the 2 hours journey, Ee Rynn was exhausted and happy! It was a fun exposure for us.

Ee Wern's milestone : Lifting her head (1)

20th June 2012 - 4 months 8 days

Ee Wern can lift her head steadily now. It's great to see her progress.

God Bless :-)

Ee Rynn learns to handle her emotions.

Ee Rynn at 4 years and 7 months.

Today, Ee Rynn has a playmate name Charlotte. She's 4 months older than Ee Rynn. She comes to her grandmother's house who's a neighbour to us.

They played together well. They have disagreement but they don't fight. Ee Rynn is more gentle and she will say apologies if she is at fault.

They play water together today. They both want to mop the floor but only one mop. So they come to me for solution and I suggested paper scissors stone. Charlotte won and Ee Rynn cried. I was upset and asking myself how to handle this.

I hugged her. She felt better. Both of them were wet and I have to send Charlotte back to her grandma's place to change. When Charlotte leaves, Ee Rynn breakdown again.

She wants her friend to shower with her. So I explained to her. Ee Rynn, Chatlotte's mommy wants her to go back and have dinner. This is something we can't control, right? She nodded, still crying.

Deep in my heart, I know she wants friend. I continued, let's take shower and have dinner. When Charlotte finish her dinner, she might come back again. She continue to cry.

I know she's sad. I hugged her for a while. When she feels better, she continue with cleaning up.

I guess what I did right was I am there for her when she is sad. I waited her to handle her emotion and allow her to let out her emotions until she feels better. She feels safe to be a real her to me.

By not giving my point of view (she didn't ask anyway), I guess I have allowed her to learn to handle her emotions. One of the important skills to learn.