Precious Parenting Moments

Let your fingers do the talking

2008-08-31T22:00:00.000+08:00

Hand puppets and finger puppets are some of Apples favourite toys. She often chases me around the house to ask me to put on the hand puppet and starting talking with it.

Recently, she's found a easier way to play this game. No puppets required. Just play pretend worm. She'd wriggle her little finger and make tiny voices. And being the nimble-minded mother I am (Sorry, no humility here. ;), I was quick to play along. Since then it's one of those games we can play wherever we are. No props required. Cheap and good. I like that. :)

I want to be like...

2008-07-07T23:30:00.002+08:00

Before I left for work this morning, I had a chat with Orange to remind her to be obedient and polite to her grandparents; and that when I get home in the evening, I would check with them if she did so. Then I explained to her why she needed to be obedient and kind. To increase her motivation, I said, "If you are obedient, you will grow up to be like David (one of her favourite Bible heroes). Would you like that?"

She replied, "No, I don't want to be like David."

I asked, "How about Jesus? Would you like to be like Jesus when you grow up?"

She said, "No."

I said, "So who would you like to be?"

She said, "Like you, mama."

I thought (with head swelling), "Wow! Not bad, huh. I have higher standing in her eyes than David and even Jesus!"

She added, "Then I can wear your clothes."

Poooof! There goes the bubble.

Apple and the Water Bill

2008-05-30T06:37:00.003+08:00

Our utility bill shows a chart with our monthly consumption and the national average for an apartment our size. I've always been happy that our water consumption was below average. But this month, when we received the bill, I was shocked to see that it was way above average. Strange... some of these thoughts came to my mind:

"Apple! Where are you?" I would shout from the kitchen when the house became strangely quiet. More often than not, I'd find her in the toilet brushing her teeth. This would be one of her favourite "past times" at home. It involves filling up the cup to tbe brim with water, rinsing once or twice and then refilling again...Or she could be practising her handwashing skill until someone comes and stops her. .

May was also a month when we started seriously potty training Apple. That means lots of accidents, washing up. The fun thing about using the toilet for Apple is that she gets to flush it. Every so often, she'd be found practising this new skill, whether she's used the toilet or not.

Apple certainly has the dubious honour of almost singlehandedly increasing our water bill. Sigh...I have to work hard at bringing it down again...

Do you listen to me?

2008-04-18T13:59:00.007+08:00

When Kong Kong (or Grandpa) joins us for dinner, Orange likes to sit on his lap after they are both done for a story while the rest of us continues with the meal

Here's what I heard from the dinner table one evening. Kong Kong was reading a story from the Bible, about Cain and Abel. There was a line that said Cain did not listen to God. Orange asked her series of Why questions. Kong Kong's answer was, "Because he didn't listen to God". Then Kong Kong started asking his own series of questions.

Kong Kong: Does Orange listen to Kong Kong?
Orange: Yes
Kong Kong: Does Orange listen to Ma ma?
Orange: Yes
Kong Kong: Does Orange listen to Pa pa?
Orange: Yes
Kong Kong: Does Orange listen to Por Por (Grandma)?
Orange: Yes

Then Orange decides she should ask some questions.
Orange: Does Kong Kong listen to Orange?
Kong Kong hesitates....: Yes
Orange: Does Kong Kong listen to Apple?
Kong Kong: Yes

LOL! Was Kong Kong was "trapped" for a moment?

Lesson learnt: Practice what we say.

Mama, I'll be gentle...Meditation on the Cross

2008-03-20T23:48:00.012+08:00

Orange took her toy hammer and came to me. "Mama, you'll be Jesus. I'll nail you to the cross!", she said to me one day while we were playing. She proceeded to narrate from memory (this is one of Orange's favourite bedtime Bible story in the last few weeks), the events before the crucifixion:

" 'Crucify him! Crucify him! And free Barabbas instead', said the Jewish leaders. Jesus was forced to carry a huge wooden cross through the streets to Golgotha, the place of execution.... At last, they arrived at Golgotha. There, guards nailed Jesus hands and feet to the cross."

This is a new game, I thought to myself, so I stretched out my arms and obliged. Then Orange used toy hammer and nailed me to cross. I played along in the drama and yelled out in pain, "Urrrgghh!! Urrrgghh!!"

"No, mama, it's not painful", said Orange. She went on hammering.

"Yes, it is. It was very painful for Jesus when the soldiers hammered nails into his hands.", I replied. "Urrrggggh!!", I went on.

"No, mama, I'll be gentle. Look, I'm gentle." she said, "It's not painful."

I tried explaining to O that it is painful but she kept protesting. Finally, I let it be. This is where her understanding is at this point of time.

This incident has stuck in my head for a while. It had me thinking about my own understanding of all that Christ had gone through for my own sin. How limited it must be, just like how limited O's was.

I'll never know how much it cost
to see my sin upon that cross...
so here I am to worship
so here I am to bow down
here I am to say that you are God

That's the least I can do. He is too good to me.

Baking day

2008-03-10T21:40:00.004+08:00

"Mama, can be bake please?"

A typical question when Apple is taking a nap and when I'm not out at work. Good thing I have some baking ingredients stocked up in my cupboards. I obliged that one time when she asked me and we made some muffins.

She asked me again the next time I was home. Since she has been learning about days and months of the week, I decided to ride on that. I wrote "Baking day" on one Saturday in the calendar which she uses to mark off the days. It worked. I escaped a few days of nagging from her. Whew!

This is the product of last Saturday's baking, which we shared with her sunday school friends.

Just today, she told her papa: Saturday is baking day... Hmmm... I'm not sure using the calendar what that great an idea after all.... ;)

Bedtime stories

2008-02-08T22:00:00.000+08:00

Apple doesn't like to sleep alone and she makes sure that we take care of her bedfellows. Everyone must be kept warm...

Orange doesn't like all these unnecessary "interference" on her bed. She likes to keep it neat and simple. This is what her bed looks like before she comes to our room to say "good morning".

She's been making her bed everyday the last few weeks without us asking her to. We're amazed and so proud of her.

New Medium for Creative Expression

2008-01-22T23:12:00.000+08:00

A few days ago, I got a little annoyed by Jambu who commented that the mirrors on the wardrobe was very dirty and should be cleaned because they'd just been cleaned a day ago.

I went to check the mirrors and true enough, they were yucky. :( Not long later, I found out how they became this way...

Apple's been having a runny nose. She has also learnt to blow her nose. Here's how she does her art:
1. Blow nose
2. Rub face/nose against the mirror
3. Use fingers to create her picasso masterpiece.

Viola!!

How about that?

True blue mickey fans

2007-12-03T22:10:00.000+08:00

"Mickey! Mickey!" shouted Orange and Apple, jumping up and down, and hands held up to their cheeks in adoration. It's like they've met their long lost loved one. We were amazed to see the reactions of our two and four year olds. They were exhibiting traits of teeny bopper star fans! And at so young an age. What would it look like when they reach their teen years! Horrors!

That was one of the most interesting discoveries we found about our girls while the Fruit family was away in USA for a 5 week trip in Oct.

This photo was taken after a 1.5 hour queue (done unwittingly). It was a memorable trip alright.

A birthday cake only a 4 year old would appreciate

2007-08-23T22:40:00.000+08:00

Today we celebrate Orange's 4th birthday. Having been inspired by Pilgrim Parent's entry on homemake cakes in which the kids can participate in decorating, I'm re-embarked on my journey of cake-baking. The last time I baked a cake was almost five years ago.

18 Aug (Sat) - Practice run on baking basic choc cake.

Last minute change of recipe. No baking power. Decided to use self-raising floor. Halved the recommended sugar.

RESULT: Cake rose & cracked. Seems way too high. Taste: None (almost)

22 Aug (Tue)

10am - baked two chocolate cakes.

Followed recipe to the T (as far as possible)

RESULT: not that nice looking but taste of choc cake is discernable (whew!)

3pm - Icing Preparation

Step 1 - Dark Choc + Butter over boiling water (looking good)

Step 2 - added icing sugar (with O's help)

RESULT: bottom layer of clumped up choc mass + top layer of oil = disaster!!!

5.30pm - Icing Attempt 2

Did basic white icing (cannot go wrong type, I thought) + Cocoa

RESULT: Looks decent at first.... but final result: please see picture. Notice the gaps at the side.

6.30pm

Orange & Jambu were invited to decorate the cake.

Jambu's response:

Darling, it was a great effort. (with the most encouraging tone he could muster)

As Orange decorated the cake, she said:

So pretty! I love it! Thank you, mama.

She was so happy that she grinned almost the entire time we decorated the cake together.

FINAL RESULT:

A happy 4 year old, absolutely thrilled by her birthday cake.

....... nevermind the adults

You made my day, Orange. :0)

Orange and Opera

2007-08-12T23:42:00.000+08:00

It all started with Andrea Bocelli appearing on Sesame Street singing "Time to say Good Night" to Elmo.

A few weeks later, at dinner, the girls were restless and a tad uncooperative. I decided to distract them with my opera voice which I used to imitate Pavorotti when I was much younger for sheer fun. Interestingly, it got their attention. I would like to say that it was due to my superb singing voice but it is not to be. Maybe it was the words.

Time to say good nite,
my Orange (or Apple)
Time to sleep,
It's time to go to bed
Time to go to sleep

The girls liked it so much that O would request me to sing it during meals. I can even use it as a bargain chip. "Eat your vegetables first then mama will sing opera". Sometimes the request would be "Mama sing Auntie Opera" or "Mama sing Uncle Opera", depending on whether they want to hear Bocelli or Sarah Brightman. But Auntie Opera's more hiliarious because there was no way mama could hit those high notes.

On National Day, it suddenly dawn on me that we have a VCD on Bocelli's "Night in Tuscany". For the last few days, we been watching and listening to Andrea Bocelli's Con te partiro. Orange even calls him "Uncle Bocelli".

Hiding place

2007-07-22T13:18:00.000+08:00

Children love small hiding places. Here's Apple's favourite place - the dryer. She even closes the door. Thankfully, she cannot shut it from the inside.

No morning nap please = 110 wet wipes

2007-06-30T20:35:00.000+08:00

One hundred and ten pieces of wet wipes strewn all over her cot. That' how Apple communicated to me that she doesn't want her morning nap anymore.

It's a Saturday morning. The ritual is that Apple will take a morning nap, while Orange & I will spend some time together doing art or craft. But this morning, she protested: yelled and screamed. She does that some times so I left her alone. A few minutes later she stopped. I thought: Yes! It worked. Sometimes, toddlers need to release some energy before they sleep.

Not too long later, more shouting and screaming. This time, I decided to investigate. That's when I discovered her message. One hundred and ten pieces of the new box of wet wipes I placed on top of the chest of drawers next to her cot.

Yes, darling Apple. I got your message... No more morning naps for you.

Phrase Generator

2007-06-14T20:20:00.001+08:00

Here are some phrases that Orange Fruit has generated on her own accord:

Poo Poo Meat - this is what she pointed to after she has a big one
Uncle Paper - the man who walks around the corridor sounding the horn and shouting "newspaper" or something
Auntie School Bus - No guesses where she often appears

And she expects the same creativity from me! I'm often asked "What's his name?", "What's her name?" when we're reading her books together. I try to "smoke" some names for kids (and hope I remember them the next time we read the same book). For adults, at least I can follow the pattern she set: Auntie Baker, Mr Lifeguard, ..., so much for my own creativity.

I love you, mama

2007-05-22T22:17:00.000+08:00

Here's a really heartwarming moment for me...happened while I was hanging up the laundry.

I drew Orange an typical house picture and got her to do some colouring in the kitchen (to keep her away from Apple, who was taking her morning nap). She's really into colouring now.

While I was hanging up the clothes, I started singing the Donut man song:

Picking up my socks

Hanging up the clothes

Helping with the dishes

Doing as I'm told

Just another way of saying

Lord, I love you...

Then out of the blue, Orange said, "I love you mama."

That was totally unexpected and is so sweet. One of those rewarding parenting moments.

I was thinking about it later and relating to my relationship with my Heavenly Father. He probably feels the same way when I tell Him that I love Him, too! I should do that more often.

Cover your mouth when you cough!

2007-05-17T11:46:00.000+08:00

Orange, our three and half year old, is a fantastic feedback giver.

Just yesterday, towards the end of dinner. I walked into the kitchen to wash some fruits for dessert. While washing, I coughed. And I hear a loud, little voice from my 3.5 year old:

Mama, cover your mouth when you cough!!

I wasn't in her view. How did she know? And it's true, I didn't cover my mouth when I coughed. And she's asking me to do exactly I have taught her. I'm getting more "feedback" these days. What a great way to learn about myself.