Mummy’s entry – Little Ms. Smarty pants

Some of Rye Li’s countless comebacks…

When I could not answer her endless questions….”you are 33 years old, you must know!”

When we asked her to do something for us….”why you cannot do yourself? You cannot walk ah?”

When we talk to her at bed time…”can you be quiet, I am trying to sleep”

When we threatened her that she will lie in bed alone at night in her room since we need to do our work outside as she refused to fall asleep …”you go do your work-la” [this used to work when we want her to lie still in her bed].

Actually, reverse psychology doesn’t work on her most of the times. She is a bossy kid and hence, she gets into arguments with some of the kids at the daycare. I found out at one stage last year, she didn’t want to join the kids in the garden during playtime and stayed indoors. And when I asked her why, she said “because my friends don’t want to friend me” and I took the opportunity to tell her that she cannot be bossy all the time and that she needs to learn how to play with the other kids without having to win all the time too in games, if not, no one would want to be friends with her and she would be all alone.. And she responded “I don’t want to play with my friends, I want to be all by myself!”

She is very observant and has started to compare things a long time back. She loves asking us “why mei-mei can…..and I cannot?” and there was one time, her paternal grandmother was in town and when we got back home at night, we made Rye Li shower before we got her ready for bed and she went “why poh-poh didn’t shower and I must shower?”.

The most difficult part is when she noticed naughty kids got away with their wrongdoings and she started questioning on this. It is tough to come up with good reasoning when your kids ask so many questions. Now I know why my parents at times asked me to shut up and not question them when I was young. I have been told off too for being such a busybody. And as much as I’m trying not to do the same to Rye Li, I just find myself doing so especially when I do not have reasonable answers for her endless questions.

Of course I need to add that Rye Li listens to reasoning (we just need to drill it into her). She would rebel initially and only after much explanation, she will accept our answers eventually.

It's tough being a mummy! LOL

Mummy's entry - 1st day at kindy

getting ready for school - ok, was bribed with that gummy worm in her hand

I am pleased to report that there were no dramas from my drama princess this morning. She wasn’t eager to go to school either but at least she was listening to me when I woke her up and got her ready for school [I know I make it sound as if we quarrel a lot, we do actually as she loves defying me and I have turned into a really nagging mom!].

In the middle of the night just some time after midnight, she woke up from her sleep and started coughing and then she vomited twice, all her dinner and milk out. It was strange as she wasn’t coughing badly for over a week now. I was kind of worried especially since she would be starting school in the morning. She wasn’t having any fever and I also wondered whether it was an act of hers (she knows how to pretend to be sick so that she gets away] to probably not go to school but throughout the times we were calming her down and cleaning her up, I refused to mention that I would bring her to the doctors (although in my head I know that if her condition worsens in the morning, I would probably have to). But luckily after that episode, there were no more coughing.

stop taking pictures already, can we go now?!!!!

Anyhow, as I was preparing her this morning, she passed me a crystal bracelet (the cheapo ones you can get for RM5) which she has been wearing for a couple of months now. Over the weekend, I told her that she would not be able to wear it to school and that she would have to keep it at home and probably wear it over weekends. She wasn’t too pleased about it and rejected my suggestion and after explaining to her a little more on why she couldn’t wear it to school, I didn’t pursue it after that even though she still said “I want!”. So when she passed it to me this morning, I was surprised that she gave in to me. This girl really needs a lot of reasoning and she would accept it in the end. Only hubby has the patience (most of the time) for her which was why I didn’t want hubby to take her to school just in case she starts acting up.

on the way to school

being my cheeky self - so happened i look like the tweety bird too

Before we left the house, I told her that I would drop off her mei-mei to Aunty Ng’s first and then I would bring her to school. And she replied “I want me first” and I told her if that’s the case, she will have to wait for me at the school and she seems alright with it. In the end, I had to also drop her off first as we were running late.

I brought her into her class, looking out for the other 3 kids from the daycare that will be in the same class. Found them seated together with their mommies nearby and I brought Rye Li to them. I explained to her clearly again that I am sending her mei-mei off to Aunty Ng’s and that when she finishes class, I’ll be outside waiting for her and she is to listen to her teacher. She was cool about it. Didn’t even show any signs of feeling out of place (and didn’t even react to one of her friends crying – on the way there, I asked if she’s going to cry and she said “Cannot cry, after (wards) teacher will scold!”

When I got back to the kindy after dropping the little one to the daycare, I waited outside the school’s compound and chatted with the moms of the other kids at the same daycare. I couldn’t see Rye Li as her class was upstairs and they have already locked the front door but the other moms told me she was fine after I left.

When school ended, the kids were reunited with their parents/caretakers. Rye Li was happy to see me and she was more interested in playing at the playground at the school’s compound. At first when I asked her if she likes school, she said “don’t like!” but later on she said “I like!”

I am very proud of my baby as I was really expecting her to be a cry baby on the first day of her school. Guess she loves surprising me!

Mummy’s entry – Rye Li’s going to kindy soon

I have to say, my kids being at the daycare sure has made it easier for me in terms of finding a school for them. I didn’t even have to scout for one, I just asked Aunty Ng (the daycare owner) for recommendations which she has mentioned a few and also knowing this mom at the daycare (who happened to be a blogger too), I made up my mind to send Rye Li to the same kindergarten as her kids. I didn’t even know where this kindy is located until a few weeks back. I only know that it’s near the daycare and hence, I don’t have to worry about transporting Rye Li as Aunty Ng can arrange that.

I initially wanted to start Rye Li in kindy this year but Aunty Ng said that it is not necessary since they do teach her the basic stuff at the daycare. In fact, I didn’t realize that Rye Li has homework done at the daycare until towards the end of last year when I was given a thick file of all Rye Li’s work for the year! LOL!

Rye Li learnt her ABCs, 123s, some basic reading through flashcards, writing, maths, drawing, colouring, painting, etc all at the daycare. This mom of hers is plain too lazy to teach her this. Earlier this year, out of the blue, I just tested her with “1+1?” and not expecting much from her, she immediately replied “2”. Surprised, I continued with “1+2?” and she replied “3”….so I thought she remembers them in sequence so I randomly pick any number and went “1+8?” and she replied “9” and so on.

Anyway, Rye Li will be starting kindy next month and she will be at kindy for 2 years before she starts wearing the dark blue pinafore. Since her birthday falls on 31st December, the moment she turns 6 years old, she would start standard 1. And she will definitely be the baby of the class.

And this is also a new chapter for me…can’t believe my baby has grown so big (I don’t even want to think of the day when she leaves my nest for good!) [also, I cannot believe how expensive schooling can be! sigh!]

Being rude

Recently, I have been told off quite often by mummy and papa for being very rude especially when we’re out of the house.

Just last weekend when we were having lunch at a restaurant, I saw this really fat person walking past the restaurant and I went “Haha, that uncle so fat!” and I laughed away. Immediately, papa and mummy said that was rude and I should not say such things.

And yesterday morning when we were in the lift of our place to go to Aunty Ng’s, there was this uncle in the lift when we entered and I went “Eeeya, this uncle (looks) so scary!”. Immediately, I was told off again by papa and mummy.

Mummy said I need to build up my social etiquette if I want to go out often.

Camerons - October 2009

We went to Camerons in October to celebrate my mei-mei's 1st birthday.

This what I did to entertain myself

We stopped by this hot spring at Kuala Woh, Tapah, which is on the way to Camerons and I had some fun in the waters.

I wish that I could go swimming or build stuff with the sand but we didn't bring any gear for this so papa said next time, we will have a picnic here.

After lunch, we went up to Camerons and I really wanted to stop by the waterfall at Latar Iskandar but it was raining so we headed straight to my grandpa's apartment.

When we have settled down, the rain stopped and so papa took me to the playground.

We had steamboat for dinner at Brinchang which the food was only so-so.

No, I'm not talking to anyone but listening to my favourite song, Love Story by Taylor Swift on papa's phone.

After dinner, we went back to the apartment and celebrated mei-mei's 1st birthday with a cake.

The next day, after breakfast, we went to the playground again and this time, with my mei-mei. I love this playground, every time we are in Camerons, this is must-visit place for me or else I will be showing you my blackest face ever.

After that we went back to take our showers and papa had his nap so while waiting for him, mummy took some shots of my mei-mei and I.

Finally we got to get out of the apartment and headed towards Boh tea farm at Ringlet. But I fell asleep on the way and so when I woke up, it was about to rain and hence, we hung out at the cafe for over an hour or so. So, no tea leaves pictures this time round.

I love eating mei-mei's leftovers when she doesn't finish her baby jar food, only the fruity ones that is.

Because the weather was so depressing as it was raining still, we hung out at the apartment and I got to enjoy some strawberries which I love so much. The sour, the better! This is also another must-have when I'm at Camerons.

My black-face pics - I didn't want mummy taking my pics but she kept going at it at my face

After trying many attempts to smile for her (since she didn't give up), we had a successful one.

Why’s & other observations

Rye Li: Mummy, your husband is papa. Why you marry papa and not somebody else ah?

Mummy: If I marry somebody else, you and mei-mei not here already!

Rye Li: Oh, alright. Alright!

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Rye Li: Mummy, why you wear glasses ah?

Mummy: Because if I don’t wear them, I cannot see.

Rye Li: Oh, alright. Alright!

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I saw mummy putting on her make up the other day before leaving the house for work.

Rye Li: When I big that time, can I put that thing on my eye?

Mummy: Can!

Rye Li: Can I put lipstick also?

Mummy: Can!

Rye Li: Can I drink ice water also?

Mummy: Can!

Rye Li: Can I drink…er…what is that drink ah mummy?

Mummy: Baileys!

[I happened to chance across one night when mummy was drinking this with ice and after smelling it – a habit of mine smelling things – I really love the smell but was not allowed to drink it as it is an adult’s drink]

Rye Li: Yes, can I drink Baileys also? I like that drink.

Mummy: Can!

Rye Li: Yeah!