Life Goes On

Well, days are a bit more predictable now.
My boss agreed that I work from home on Monday and Wednesday. So, I can send and pickup the kids on both days. On other days, Dominic and my neighbours whom I car pool take turns to fill the gap. I have less stress on Sunday night as I know I don't have to battle the traffic on early Monday morning.

Chloe finally stopped crying when I leave her at school.......after almost 2 months!! She has finally settled down and overcome the separation anxiety. Doing quite well in school too. I received feedback from her teacher that she participated in all activities and very happy in class. She is very girlie....when she saw me applying lotions or makeup on the face, she will ask what am I putting on my face. Then she will ask to see the lotion or makeup and asked if it is hers or mine. When I put on earring or necklace, she will ask if she can wears them. I'm just waiting for the day she ask for her ears to be pierced.

Lucas on the other hand, has a very interesting story. I've just received a mid year report from the teacher. No surprises at all....same comments as last year teacher. Areas where he is strong, he is still very good at them. Areas where he is weak, he is still weak at them. The weakest link is his drawing and colouring - the teacher said 'Lucas needs to take more pride in the presentation of his work particularly colouring, which at times can be rushed. He now should try to contribute to more imaginative ideas for writing.' When I read him what his teacher thought about him on his weaknesses, he refused to listen and changed the topic. Later, Dominic asked if he thinks his teacher is right or wrong on her observation, Lucas answered 'wrong'. I have a stubborn son to handle. Then Dominic came out with this idea that maybe he should join speech and drama classes to build his creativity and confidence. Ah...I suppose we need to try something. All the comments from the teacher sounded awfully familiar as his last year teacher.

Getting both kids to eat and sleep is a darn big challenge. They are so picky on what they want to eat. Chloe enjoys noodles, rice, chicken, cucumber and grapes. Lucas likes pizzas, sandwiches, cucumber, strawberries and apples. They don't eat any green vegetables except cucumber. Chloe at least eats fish and chicken. Lucas hardly eats meat, except for minced pork and chicken. Dominic is a meat lover. Cooking for them is a big challenge. Twice a week, I will cook soup, Chinese style, along with steam/pan fried/sweet sour fish. Once or twice a week will be spaghetti tomato based or cabonara. One day will be meat heavy day, roast chicken/pork/beef/lamb. Others will be anything the kids and the adults fancy like Domino's pizza.
Sleeping is a big headache. The kids are all ready in pyjamas before 8.30pm but we are lucky if they go to sleep before 10pm. Between 8.30 to 10pm, there will be all those act of jumping up and down the bed, walking around asking for more water, need to poo, need to get books etc. To make matter worse, they won't go to sleep on their bed. They will sleep on our bed. We will they carry them back to their own bed. In the middle of the night, they will walk back to our bed without failed. Recently, we managed to convince Lucas to sleep with diaper since his diaper is dry every morning. There were a few accidents until the last 2 days. I have to wake him up to go to toilet in the middle of the night. Hope his bladder will be able to hold up to morning very soon. Then it will be diaper free for Lucas.

Things We Talked About

Our family can be weird at times, based on things we talked about. Some instances:

Me: You both better be asleep before 10am. Or else I will take the iPad and TV away.
Chloe: Mom, it would be too difficult to take the TV away.
Me: I will take the remote away.

Me: Chloe, go eat your fruits.
Chloe: That seems bo-ring.

Me: Lucas, there is another Chloe in her class. The name you gave her is so common.
Lucas: Maybe we can call Chloe 'Double Ace'.
Dom to Lucas: Then we can call you 'Black Jack'

Me: What do you think we will be doing if we don't have kids?
Dom: Travel the world!
Me: How do you know?
Dom: Don't you have friends with no kids?
Me: Yes.
Dom: What do they do?
Me: Go for holidays.

Lucas: Mom, you know why there is no rockets in North Pole and South Pole?
Me: Why?
Lucas: North Pole and South Pole don't like rockets. The fire will melt the snow.

Are we a weird family?

Ms Answer Back

I thought Lucas is already so advance in answering back but apparently Chloe is better. At her age, she talks like a teenager at times.

Me: Chloe, it's way passed your bed time. Go to sleep now.
Chloe: I'm not sleepy.
Me: It's late or else you won't wake up on time to go to school.
Chloe: But I'm not tired.
Me: Go now before I punish you.
Dominic walks into the room.
Chloe: Dad, I want to sleep with you.
Dom: Ok...you go sleep first and I'll come in 5 mins.
Chloe: Mummy, you don't sleep here. I'm sleeping with Dad!

Chloe: I don't want to eat.
Me: You have to eat your dinner.
Chloe: But I don't want to eat.
Me: Better go eat before I embarrass you by smacking you in front of everyone.
Chloe: You always smack me anyway!

Big Dilemma

Can someone give me some enlightenment?? I'm in a big dilemma now. Since I started working last December, transporting my kids to schools have been a big headache. During my job interview, I was told the job is a virtual role a.k.a. work from home. When I started, I am expected to show up in the office everyday. Now, I am stuck for the next 5 months to 11 months, at least until my contract expires. So, I asked my boss if I could do 2 days a week from home, and he asked me to give him a schedule. So, Dominic said I should just scheduled 2 days from home a week and let him reject the plan if he doesn't agree.
Meanwhile, I was looking high and low for a transporter for the kids. I survived by sharing the load between Dominic and myself and my neighbour whom we car pool. It gets harder when I have more meeting in office and Dominic travels occasionally. So, I finally found a transporter who is willing to try out. I was delighted at first. Then after thinking it through and talking to Dominic, my family, I have my hesitation. Dominic never think it is a great idea. He always said it is easier to try to juggle it ourselves. My family disagreed big time. They are saying cannot trust the transporter. They may just kidnap the kids. I am concern about sexual abuse - read so much of those stories kids were sexually molest or abuse in kindergarten, or daycare. My in-laws does not know about this, but I know I will get an earful if they find out. Sigh...................

So, what now?? I'll tell my boss I'll work 2 days from home, and cancel the transporter. And wait and see how's things go. Sigh again.....

Similar Kids

Chinese New Year comes and goes so quickly.
This Monday is already the 15th day.
The kids had a week off for Chinese New Year. Chloe of course cried on her first day after returning to school. She was ok on the second day. Third day is a holiday. Let's see if she is ok tomorrow.
Lucas did not shown much enthusiasm about returning to school. In fact, he is more excited about his Mandarin classes at home. He can recognize quite a few words now, but his pronunciation is off - he speaks like how a western would speak.

Chloe's teacher wrote a comment on parent's communication book - 'She is shy and takes quite some time to warm up. She can be very chatty when she is in her right mood.' When I read this, I had this deja vu feeling. I had read the same comment from Lucas's teacher! Yes, my kids are so similar and yet so different. Wonder it is the nature (the genes) or the nurture (how they are being raised). If it is nature, there's nothing much we can do. If it is nurture, I wonder what can I do differently. It is not good to be so shy when they grow older. Hard to survive this competitive world. Or just hope this is a phase thingy and it will go away...