Living Serenely

Between an Ending and a Beginning

2026-02-02T22:49:00.002+08:00

Today marks the first day of the school year.

These two champs were up early, all ready and raring to go.

Grace begins her first year of high school - Year 7.

Nathan starts his first year of upper high school - Year 10.

After breakfast, we piled into the car and headed to the train station so I could drop everyone off, with hubby choosing to catch the train into the office to accompany Grace on her maiden commute to school.

At the station drop off, I watched three backpack-laden figures walk away toward the station entrance.

And I was filled with an unexplained wistfulness.

It was a moment that held both an ending and a beginning

The turning of another page of childhood. The beginning of a new chapter.

Viva La Vibing

2026-01-31T21:43:00.001+08:00

I have a few special rituals I share with my babies.

Some of them have been set aside over the years as they change and grow.

This ritual, for lack of a better name, I will call school holiday Fridays.

During the school term, I aim to spend my Fridays off on doing things for myself, such as lunch dates with hubby, coffee catch ups with friends, reading, watching classic films or just lazing around. Sometimes household d chores, paperwork and errands creep in. But I try my best to keep those Fridays off sacred for myself.

During the school holidays though, when my babies are home, I try to do something with just the two of them when hubby is in a work meeting or at the office.

I can't remember exactly how this ritual started, but it would usually always start with stopping by Asian bakery Breadtop (probably because hubby is not a fan of bread but we three love any kind of bread). We enjoyed taking our time to choose an item or two from the display of Asian baked items with so many topping choices. After paying, we would drive to the 'big playground' and sit at one of the picnic benches to enjoy our sweet or savoury buns.

As we munched our bread, we would chat about this or that. Sometimes we'd read aloud a chapter or two from one of the books we were currently reading together. Then they would dash off for a play on the playground equipment.

Toward the end of last year, we carved out some time on one of my Fridays off to revisit this little ritual.

On the surface, things looked so different as I sat sandwiched between my two 'big' children, listening to them share their maturing views and perspectives on different topics of conversation. And this time after finishing their snacks, instead of dashing off to the playground, they brought a volleyball to practice their spikes and jumps.

Underneath, much of it felt the same. The sweetness of their presence, the inside jokes and affectionate jabs, and the talk, talk, talking about everything under the sun... what Nathan would refer to as 'vibing'.

So here we are... then and now... still vibing.

Lucky one

2025-12-05T11:03:00.006+08:00

Yesterday was a momentous occasion.

My second and last baby officially graduated from primary school.

It was yet another threshold to cross over in the journey leaving childhood behind.

During the ceremony, I naturally became emotional at certain moments. But the most unexpected moment was not just at the bit with Grace (which of course I did very much so... she was still my baby girl after all).

There was a part of the ceremony when the Year 6 special needs students went up on stage, and there was one boy in particular with baby face features that somehow reminded me a little of Nathan's chubby cheeks as a baby.

I watched this boy's mother accompany him up onto the stage, patiently guiding his wobbly steps up the steps and gently nudging his attention to make eye contact with the principal handing him his certificate.

They read out his reflections and aspirations on the big screen above the stage.

"I will miss being with my teachers and friends at school... my proudest moment is going on the Big Day Out with my class... one day I hope to become a train or bus driver..."

And I thought to myself: in another reality, that mother could be me and that child mine.

No divine intervention here.

I was simply dealt the hand I have in this life.

We simply work with what we've got and do the best we can with what we've been given or entrusted with.

I was not a better mother than her in any way.

She worked just as hard as I have, perhaps even more so, to help her child get to this point.

Her child and mine now standing on the same stage in two very different places.

The contrast a revelation.

I could not say who between us is the lucky one.

Because I can see in her face she knows she is the lucky one to be the mother of her child.

I am the lucky one to be the mother of mine.

Neither love is any greater or any less.

We are just both here right now.

Holding our little one's hand for as long as they need.

Time travel

2025-10-31T23:59:00.008+08:00

Yesterday I found myself sitting next to my lanky 14 year old son at the radiologist while he filled out a medical form. "Mum, what's my Medicare number? And who do I put as my next of kin?"

His right pinkie had taken a serious hit during a volleyball game yesterday at school. The joint was all swollen and bruised, so the doctor advised an X-ray to check for a possible fracture.

The radiologist called us in. She was a sweet Japanese woman slightly older than me. As she adjusted the equipment, she recognised Nathan's school uniform and remarked that her son used to attend the same school.

"He's at university now studying Electrical Engineering", she said proudly.

Afterwards as we headed out of the radiologist clinic, a little boy scurried past us on the stairwell, his mum behind calling out for him to slow down.

I felt a wave of nostalgia as I saw myself sandwiched between the images of these two mothers.

For a moment I was transported into that same scene... a little Nathan bounding up and down the stairs, with me shadowing him protectively.

And earlier I had caught a glimpse of a possible future scene... an older version of me talking proudly about my grown-up son to another younger mum.

Throughout the day, I found myself travelling backwards and forwards in time.

Young parents with their little children out and about for Halloween trick-or-treat.

An L-plater vehicle in front of me signalling and slowing down carefully at the intersection up ahead.

A glowing young couple behind me at the waiting room of the radiologist clinic, the expectant mum resting her palm on her slightly rounded belly.

I was, am, and will be every one of these women, and they me.

I came across a quote the other day that said by the time our children turn 18, we would have already spent 90% of our in-person time with them.

We get...

1 year with a baby

3 years with a toddler

5 years with an early school-aged child

3 years with a preteen

5 years with a teen

And that's it.

Each season shorter than it feels.

Each stage gone before we're ready.

Just like that

2025-10-15T21:09:00.002+08:00

For Grace...

Today is the 15th of October 2025.

It felt like it was only just days ago when you said goodnight that we shared a cuddle with your trademark "mmmn!" at the end. It was so important to get the tone just right. Sometimes you would make me repeat it several times before it would pass. Then we would finish off with a kiss and say goodnight.

I might laugh or even seem slightly exasperated at how many takes we'd need to get our goodnight ritual perfectly right. But that was you. If something is worth doing, it's worth doing right. And I know how important it was to get every goodnight exactly right.

Since that last time, I've felt a shift.

It may seem like such a small thing.

A little goodnight cuddle with the "mmmmn!" at the end.

But it feels so big to me right now.

Like the axis of my entire world has shifted.

And that small tender sweetness between us is gone.

Just like that.

Without warning.

The rug pulled from under me.

Perhaps because you are my last baby.

So it feels so much harder.

I should have known it was coming.

Perhaps I was blindsided by all the other big changes we've been preoccupied with... getting ready for high school and the various events and programs that have been happening throughout this final year of primary school leading up to graduation.

So I was completely unprepared.

Maybe I thought it was one of those things that would never happen to me.

Or maybe it's just one of those things we will never feel ready for when it does hit.

Completely brutal.

I suppose the incredible pain is simply a reflection of how beautiful that short season was while it lasted.

And I remind myself...

A thing isn't beautiful because it lasts.

It was a privilege to be a part of it for as long as it did.

(Image: the last time Grace fell asleep in my arms, April 2019)

Unbreakeable

2025-10-07T13:42:00.012+08:00

Sometime last term each of my children had some not so positive encounters with a teacher at school.

This past year, there has been a bit of a revolving door situation with math teachers at Nathan's school. And the latest math teacher (who was supposedly the head of department) seemed to be picking things up several steps back from where the previous teacher last left off. Unfortunately instead of reflecting on why her students seem bored and disengaged, this teacher interpreted certain students' disengagement (including Nathan's) as having an attitude problem. For now Nathan has requested that I not intervene. He reminded me that we don't have to 'like' every teacher (or person) that we encounter. Some people are just destined to be thorns. He will manage.

Grace had a new Indonesian teacher at school this year. One word to describe her would be 'finicky'. And that's putting it nicely. At the end of the semester, we were puzzled that Grace had a received a 'B' grade after consistently scoring a 'A' in the subject in all her school years up to this point. I requested a meeting to understand what might have changed. Her answer: It should be common knowledge that to score an 'A', students are expected to be performing two years ahead of the current year's syllabus. That really did not sit right with me and I told her so. She essentially just shrugged me off. I eventually escalated the matter to look further into this. For now the ball is in her court to share the grading and assessment 'rubric' to illustrate these expectations. It's been almost ten weeks since and I have not heard anything. For now, Grace is satisfied knowing that it had nothing to do with her falling behind her usual pace is happy to leave things where they are.

These are the situations where part of me wants to just storm in and stand up for what's right for my children. Mama bear style.

But I remind myself... and they remind me too... that they want and need to fight their own battles and walk their own paths. Figure things out on their own. Even as I watch them tripping or stumbling around as they find their way, I stood back.

Just like when they were little babies standing up and learning to walk.

And I knew the stumbles and bumps were all part of the learning.

This time, it's somehow so much more painful to stand back and let them stumble, sometimes even fall. And afterwards pick themselves up on their own.

Then I see them.

Standing tall.

Bruised, but unbroken.

When they were little, wrong and right was black and white.
It was easy to point out the boundaries where lines had been crossed,
To speak out against injustices,
And make the world right.
Now the lines are invisible.
Felt but not seen.
Cold wars
Cliques
Oppressive tactics
Eroded trust
Hollow hearts.
I see the guides who have lost their map,
Lamps dimmed in their own light,
Dimming the light of others.
But this is not my journey,
Not my battle,
It is not my story.
So I listen.
I understand.
And feel.
Powerless.
The pain feels almost unbearable.
But tell myself to remember,
They are unbreakable.

Some things shouldn’t wait to be said

2025-08-08T16:41:00.021+08:00

The clock of life keeps ticking. Quiet announcements from friends and peers appear from time to time about the passing of fathers, mothers, grandparents, uncles, aunts.

I note the passing of each member of that generation as it comes. In the wise words of Mufasa, this is simply the circle of life.

Earlier this week, I saw a post of one of a very close friend from my youth, sharing the news of her father’s passing.

And the emotions hit me like a wave.

Tears.

Sadness.

Of course, the depth of my own feelings was nothing compared to the ocean of grief my dear friend must be going through.

To be honest, I was not close to her father and did not know him well. So at first, I puzzled over why the news struck me so deeply.

I later surmised that this news hit much closer to home because of the link to my childhood I shared with this friend.

I'm aware of life's impermanence, the edges of time we are all bound to, and what it means for my own parents. But moments like this bring the inevitability into sharper focus.

As I watched the online broadcast of her father’s wake and funeral, I was touched by the wonderful stories and anecdotes shared. Their family took comfort in the belief that their father was listening from heaven.

But from where I stand now, I have no such inner reassurances.

I thought about my own parents, and the memories and stories I would share when the time comes.

And I decided to write some of them here, now, while they can still know how I will remember them.

For my dad...

I will remember our morning drives to school in his purple “ninja” Land Cruiser, stopping at the sundry shop in Foh Sang to pick up the Daily Express newspaper.

I will remember those torturous math sessions at the dining table, where my persistent blank looks triggered his dramatic, guttural “vomit blood!!!” expression. The same reaction also surfaced during our early driving lessons when he tried to teach me how to handle a car.

I love how my dad always picks up the phone whenever I call, no matter where he is or what he’s doing. Once, he even answered mid-badminton game, the echoey shouts of other uncles in the background as he asked what I needed.

Dad also goes through “song phases,” where a favourite track gets played on repeat for an hour sometimes two. UB40’s cover of Can’t Help Falling in Love with You is forever etched into my mind. It’s his way of getting the song deep into his blood and brain. I now do the same, to the equal exasperation and amusement of my kids.

I love his infectious enthusiasm for the simplest things, especially engineering structures. Every road trip involved stops to marvel at bridges or dams. He modelled lifelong learning, pointing out little design features while making mental notes for himself. Picture us, standing alongside my dad as he excitedly goes on "You see that beam? Why do you think it is placed there? Well you see..."

He made friends with everyone and could strike up a conversation with a stranger and before long, they would be sure to find a shared connection over a mutual friend, family member, colleague or shared interest.

When I left for university in Perth, dad came with me to help me settle in. We explored the campus, opened a bank account, and shopped for winter clothes and supplies. He flew home the day I started classes. When I returned to my empty room, I found a handwritten letter from him with reminders, and words telling me how proud he was, and how much he and Mum loved me.

For mum...

She is the yin to dad’s yang, the quiet strength and calm energy that holds our family together.

I remember her waking before dawn to drive an hour to work as a school principal. The daily grind must have been gruelling. But the upside is that she was home by three o'clock on most afternoons. And we could go on our afternoon adventures together.

It couldn’t have been easy to have three little monkeys tagging along everywhere, but I never remember her complaining. She must have liked our company.

Some days we’d head to Khidmat Supermarket to pick up some things, where my brothers and I would probably be mucking around with the shopping trolley. Or we might head to the Bukit Padang market where I would watch her choose fruit, vegetables and fish. The highlight would be the tau fu fah stall where she would buy fresh soya bean milk and tau fu fah for afternoon tea.

Sometimes, she’d take us to the library to borrow a big stash of books.

Sometimes we might ask to go to the museum, and she would take us there where we would wander through the displays, ducking into model caves in the Neolithic section, or bouncing on the model longhouses.

On sunny afternoons, she might take us swimming at the golf club and perhaps let us play at the beach, then afterwards we would enjoy hot pisang goreng as a snack.

These afternoon excursions with Mum form the backbone of my childhood memories.

We generally saw Mum as “the strict parent,” probably because she oversaw homework and daily routines. But she was fiercely on our side.

I remember one particularly sad high school memory... my little notebook planner was confiscated by an overzealous prefect because it contained side notes expressing my thoughts (“History was boring today,” “Looking forward to Saturday”). I cried over the injustice, and when I told Mum, she fully sympathised.

She spoke to my school principal, asking for the planner’s return, assuring her that I would keep it at home. But the request was denied. My mum persisted saying that she believed those little notes supported the development of creative expression. But that particular school principal was famously notorious for being unreasonable. Still, I was always touched by the fact that my mum steadfastly stood up for me.

♥️

One thing that means the most to me about both mum and dad is their unwavering support. I still remember the first time I shared my faith deconstruction journey with them. I was nervous, bracing for disappointment or the sense that I had “abandoned” the faith. But no such thing happened. They looked past the labels and saw me for who I truly am. A seeker of truth, willing to follow deep questions wherever they lead. In a community where I often have to hide this part of myself to avoid hurting others, it is an incredible gift to know that, with them, I am still fully seen.

Some things shouldn’t wait to be said. And this is how I will remember them.

My slice of joy today

2025-05-11T21:08:00.003+08:00

"What would you like to do for Mother's Day?" hubby asked.

Easy. Just us four. A lazy afternoon at the park. Sausages sizzling on the BBQ, kids running around, and me with a cup of tea that I might actually get to drink while it's still hot.

As the years inch by, my babies have outgrown the playground. But they still love a good romp and game, inventing new ways to nearly knock each other out with a ball.

Leaning back in my camp chair, I slowly sip my tea and watch them toss a ball back and forth... laughing loudly as they test out increasingly ridiculous ways to throw the ball. It’s part dodgeball, part interpretive dance.

This is my slice of joy I savour today.

In a few short years, I don’t know if they’ll still play like this.

But for now, just like this, they can still be my babies for a little while longer.

Noodles Philosophy

2025-03-29T18:24:00.008+08:00

In the years to come, long after my nearest and dearest are gone, I imagine I’ll still make a pilgrimage to my little hometown in the Land Below the Wind, just to indulge in a plate of one of these lovelies:

| Tuaran Mee | Beaufort Mee | Sandakan Mee |

They say noodles represent long life.

I'm quite content to live the average human lifespan, but if things are going well, I wouldn’t mind lingering a little longer before taking my final leave.

So if a plate of noodles holds the secret elixir to to an extra moment or two, I’ll gladly eat up a bowl.

Roti tisu always and forever

2025-03-24T22:39:00.008+08:00

No matter how few times we have blinked the years away, the majestic sight of crisp, paper-thin, sugar-encrusted roti tisu, drizzled with sweetened condensed milk and towering over us, never ceases to amaze.

| December 2017, 4 & 7 years old | July 2022, 8 & 11 years old | January 2025, 11 & 14 years old |

What if we fast-forward a couple more years?

Will Salim's roti tisu still stand just as tall, still taste just as perfect?

Or will we be simply reaching for the memory of what it tasted like before? Perhaps the taste is merely a vessel for a cherished moment with someone we love. Maybe that's what all comfort foods truly are.

Some things are just too good

2025-01-11T16:16:00.018+08:00

As the years go by, it seems that the number of personal or family photos I post gradually dwindles, almost to a trickle.

The everyday adventures of the early years of parenting seem at first to burst forth like an open dam. The memory of every dimple and smile, first laugh, first taste, first step, first fall, first penance, first tragedy, first friend, first day of school... feels so fleeting and precious, I want to hold on to each one for as long as possible.

The long days begin to quicken in their momentum, and soft little chubby arms encircling my neck soon extend into long lean muscled limbs resting heavily around my shoulders.

I don't have to hold their hand any more when we cross the street. But they hold mine.

Love's pain grows sweeter with each passing hour, day, and year.

A fleeting image captured of a moment, pales in comparison to the truth of everything it means.

Some things are just too good.

"...I never tell them about our lives.You know why?

It is not because I am ashamed.

It is because some things are just good,

too good to be judged."

―from 'Laurinda' by Alice Pung

For as long as it lasts

2025-01-10T15:28:00.026+08:00

Today I finished reading the book 'Laurinda' by Alice Pung, which fourteen-year old Nathan recommended to me, from his English reading list last term. Afterwards I got up to throw the bunch of scrunched up tissues into the bin. The book was an easy read, but uneasy on the heart. Good stuff doesn't always have to feel good.

Apart from the above-mentioned text, I've also enjoyed side-splitting funny, as well as deep philosophical discussions on other books on his list, including 'Animal Farm', 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy', 'The Martian' and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'.

With my eleven-year old Grace, it has been just the best fun talking over our shared delights and exasperations over classic novel heroines like Anne Shirley, Elizabeth Bennett, Emma Woodhouse, Jane Eyre and the Dashwood sisters.

...On this side of the horizon, these are truly the best days....

Early last year, I turned the page of that last chapter of 'The Hobbit' and kissed my babies goodnight.

Like all the other last times, you will never know when it is the last time.

For as long as it lasted, it was every night without fail. One book. Or two. Three. Four. Five. Ten books. Hungry Caterpillars. Gruffaloes. Bear Hunts. Green Sheep. Cats in Hats. Ferdinand.

We progressed to reading a chapter together every other day. Often two. And maybe another page more. Chocolate Factories. Magic Chairs. Wizards. Dragons. Friendly Giants. Wonderland and Neverland.

For one magic hour on those nights under the covers, we were transported to our very own private never-never land.

I knew from the beginning that nothing lasts forever.

A thing isn't beautiful because it lasts.

It is a privilege to be right here for as long as it does.

Now, please excuse me while I go belt out the latest 'Wicked' soundtrack with my girl and vibe with my son as he jams to the Eagles and AC/DC on his new electric guitar.

The Gap

2025-01-01T12:00:00.011+08:00

I acknowledge this long gap.

In the past several years, it has been becoming difficult to be completely open about about many things.

But like a mirror, the very same little people I taught to fly free, think for themselves and live fearlessly have reminded me to do the same for myself.

These past few months, so many little things like listening to inspiring songs, revisiting favourite stage characters and reading new material had been chipping away at the dam I had erected around me over the past few years.

In my fear of becoming an outcast, I silenced my voice and imprisoned myself, holding myself captive by the thoughts of others. Alone, I was most myself, most true. But the self that really mattered was the self that was visible, the self that could be shown to other people. Yet, I'd had to keep my true self apart, and there's only so much of yourself you can hide before you start to fall apart. (almagation of quotes from 'Laurinda')

So this year, I'm giving it a go to embrace my truth (despite the fear) so I can be whole.

“Fear is the original sin,” suddenly said a still, small voice away back—back—back of Valancy’s consciousness. “Almost all the evil in the world has its origin in the fact that some one is afraid of something.” Valancy stood up. She was still in the clutches of fear, but her soul was her own again. She would not be false to that inner voice.
― L.M. Montgomery, The Blue Castle

"I'm just going to miss him"

2021-04-12T23:19:00.009+08:00

During our regular bedtime chat this week, Grace and I were talking about plans for tomorrow and the rest of the week.

Then seemingly out of nowhere my little girl suddenly burst out angrily...

"Sometimes I think Nathan has more fun than me!"

She started sobbing "When he's playing something fun, I feel sad when I can't join in!"

I knew it was not true that Grace is excluded from playing with Nathan. My two kids love playing together all the time, and my little girl absolutely adores her big brother as much as he dotes on her.

"Why do you say that? Did something happen today?" I prompted, trying to figure out where this was coming from.

"Well... not today, but one time! Like playing Star Wars!"

"I thought you guys were playing Star Wars together yesterday? " I clarified.

"Okay... maybe not Star Wars... but other times... Like when he's playing Lego..."

"Can you tell me what happened?"

"I can't remember now..."

"Okay, maybe next time if it happens again, let me know and we can work it out together"

"No.... it's not... I mean... he's always the one that comes up with the ideas and I will follow him... "

There was definitely something going on here, but the conversation was going around in circles. It would be easy to simply jump in to correct her or lecture her on making wrongful accusations against her brother. But I did not want to dismiss her feelings. So instead of going into preacher-mode, I opted to listen some more...

"How does that make you feel?"

"Sometimes I feel left out if I can't join him..."

I begin to sense her opening up but I am careful not to jump ahead and assume what's really bothering her.

"So, do you want me to help work things out between you guys, or do you just want me to listen and understand how you feel?"

"I don't know! I just... I mean... Nathan comes up with the ideas on things to play and I follow his ideas... if he's not here, I don't know what to do or what to play..."

"Hmmm... and Nathan is going to be away tomorrow for a play date with his friend?"

"Yeah... and I don't have any ideas on what to play by myself" (her sobbing grows louder).

I think I'm beginning to understand what's really bothering Grace.

"Are you going to miss Nathan tomorrow?" I asked tentatively.

"Yes." (tears flowing down her cheeks)

"Of course... 'cause you two play with each other every single day"

Grace nods.

"I really love playing with him every day... and I like it when he calls me his little padawan"

Everything clicked. I see now that Grace was acting out emotionally against Nathan not because she disliked him or was angry at him for something in particular. She was just overwhelmed with her sad feelings because she was going to miss her big brother so much. The whole scenario turned around from an 'Oh dear' situation into the sweetest 'Awwwww' moment.

"Maybe you can tell Nathan how you feel?" I suggested.

"Okay"

Grace walks over to Nathan's room and knocks on his door. He calls out for her to come in and I hear her sobbing as she tells him "Nathan, I'm really going to miss you when you are away tomorrow". Nathan walks over to hug her. They hold each other silently for a couple of minutes.

When Grace comes back, she is smiling slightly as she brushes the tears off her cheeks.

"I know how much you will miss Nathan tomorrow, but you are welcome to join me and the daycare kids in our activities"

"Okay... who's coming tomorrow?"

I listed down the names of the daycare children coming in tomorrow for care.

"I can help K with her art and craft! And L really likes me and always likes to follow what I'm doing!" Grace says excitedly.

"And we'll be making a pizza for lunch tomorrow" I added.

"Yeah! I love pizza! Can we save some for Nathan?"

"Of course!"

The truth is, without going through the whole conversation, I already knew that Grace would be fine coming up with her own play ideas without Nathan. She is an equally independent, creative and resourceful kid, and contrary to what she says, Nathan is not the one always coming up with ideas. She has a very solid record on that score as well. And I already knew she would have a great time with all the activities I had planned for tomorrow. I could easily jump in to reassure her that she will be fine and list down all the fun things we can do.

But like with most people who are feeling down, it's not simply about hearing a solution to the problem... It's about feeling heard and understood... Having feelings validated. After that, the next part will likely fall into place naturally, including being open to hearing solutions or even coming up with them ourselves.

Closing photo of the sweetest big bro and lil' sis...

Double digits

2021-01-31T16:39:00.056+08:00

It's been a fantastic decade!

Ten years since the arrival of this dude... and the beginning of a new era.

Just look at the size of this guy. He keeps waking up each morning bigger and taller (why on earth do we keep sending him to bed each night?).

This boy is absolutely one of the smiliest people I ever knew (possibly barring my own dad, but this guys is definitely a serious contender for first place).

I am seriously bursting at the seams with pride over my little man.

I always have been I suppose.

But lately, the credit has been well and truly well-earned on his own merit.

It's still early days to tell if there is a Shakespeare, Einstein, Mozart or Da Vinci waiting in the wings. At this age, almost all possbilities are wide open.

What does shine through is that unpretentious spirit... sincerity... sense of honour... milk of human kindness or whatever you want to call it. That's what shines through.

Of course, I wholeheartedly recognise that every child deep inside has their own amazing spark. Maybe some whose spark actually burns brighter than most. However most of us usually maintain a veneer of jokes, clever quips, smart-aleckness, cool demeanors, shyness or small talk. Including myself.

That is why it's so refreshing, even healing, when you do meet those rare souls who come with arms wide open, heart on their sleeve.

You will know when you encounter them.

Perhaps that's the reason why Nathan gravitates to fantasy and adventure stories of chivalry and valour.

Wizards of magical kingdoms...

Knights of the Round Table...

Ninjas and Superheroes...

Pirates of the Carribbean...

We had a big bash to celebrate the momentous occasion back in December (Christmas baby, remember?) playing Laser Tag with all his friends, followed by pizza and cake. As he usually prefers to keep his birthday celebrations more low key and exclusive, we were more than happy to splurge all out on him. After all, it's not every day a boy turns ten.

As I browse through my frequent anecdotes and posts which peppered this space so frequently, especially in the early days of this era... it's definitely apparent that those jottings were mainly a reflection of my journey as a parent (though still intertwined with Nathan's own journey). But as Nathan's own individuality continues to develop, I'd have to begin drawing a veil over some of these reflections to respect his privacy. We'll see how we go, but it's something I'd continue to think about.

It's been such a blast seeing this story unfold...

And I know the story will just keep getting more amazing with each passing year.

Here's to the start of the double digit era!

No longer young, not yet old

2020-11-29T00:01:00.001+08:00

Recently I had one of those little lightbulb moments and thought of this...

When it comes to 'adulting'...

Your 20s are like the childhood stage of adulting,

Your 30s are like the adolescent phase of adulting,

And your 40s onwards are like the start of the grownup chapter of adulting.

Sometimes in my musings, I like to imagine clever quotes or advice I might give to my younger self. There are many things that if I were to do again, I would have done differently.

So much of what I did in my early years was because I was trying to 'do the right thing', or to please others or impress them. Of course I would have vehemently denied it at that time. In my mind, I was always convinced that everything I did was for myself.

But it's inevitable that a lot of what we do, especially when we are starting out in life, is outwardly focused. We are all wired that way after all. Humans are by nature social animals. We constantly try out different things to figure out how and where we fit into society. Finding a way to make our mark. To find our niche. It is probably an inherent and necessary phase everyone has to go through (even if I wish it doesn't have to be that way) because it can be such a painful and brutal path that often leaves one feeling just as lonely as ever.

Of course the truth is, every single individual in the world feels like he or she is an outsider. And some people wll fight tooth and nail to ensure they don't feel left out.

But over the last decade, I feel like my journey has been a journey to find that 'home' has been waiting inside me all along....

...Exploring new and different interests for my own enjoyment and personal discovery.

...Stepping out and away from comfort zones and familiar tribes which has been immensely liberating.

...Exploring new ideologies and dimensions of thinking, initially with some trepidation, but now with confidence and exhilaration. I opened Pandora's Box and am reveling in the learning about both the beauty and horrors of our reality.

So happy birthday me...

It took me 40 years to look this good!

"To think, when one is no longer young, when one is not yet old, that one is no longer young, that one is not yet old, that is perhaps something."

(Samuel Beckett)

Stay fabulous darling!

2020-07-31T23:59:00.001+08:00

Grace turned seven years old this month.

We decided to keep the celebrations small and exclusive with just the family (in light of the current situation happening all around).

It was a toss up between a day at the Perth Zoo or a visit to the Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm. Grace went back and forth on the options for days. Finally she chose the animal farm so she could cuddle some guinea pigs and rabbits.

It was a fantastic day for the whole family!

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Celebrating Grace's 7th birthday at Swan Valley Cuddly Animal Farm

A post shared by Serenely (@livingserenely) on Jul 11, 2020 at 10:04am PDT

Her birthday cake request was a unicorn cake

(which I pimped up myself ✌).

Her other seven year old wish was to finally get some bling!

💠

What a sophisticated young lady she's growing into.

These days she's also into Katy Perry and Taylor Swift; Lego Friends; Skipping ropes; Enid Blyton and The Bad Guys Series (by Aaron Blabey). She also loves being my little sous chef, helping with washing, peeling and cutting vegetables, pouring, stirring and mixing ingredients together.

Her mind is tuned a little bit more scientifically, honing in on more practical questions like how things work or exploring things with her senses. She is always eager to try out new experiences and activities. Her favourite questions include "What will happen if.." and "I wonder what it feels/tastes like...".

I sometimes wonder if this insatiable appetite for the new all stemmed from when 7-month old baby Grace discovered that foiled wrapped chocolate on the floor and I found her chomping the whole piece, wrapper and all. Since then, however strange and unusual that new thing looks, try it first... you'll never know!

Her daddy says she's growing a bit too fast lately (I think so too). This is the age when those long giraffe legs start streeeeetching out. Time to go easy on daddy with those piggy back rides.

But no matter how long those giraffe legs stretch...

Stay fabulous always darling!

Pandemic

2020-07-01T00:20:00.000+08:00

Blink.

And it's now four months since our family holiday in Bangkok.

I should chronicle some thoughts on this unprecedented time in history with the Covid-19 pandemic that is has brought the entire globe to it's knees.

What has life been like for us these past few months, riding through this storm?

Here's a month by month snapshot of what's been happening at our end.

February...

Coming back from our holiday, settling back into our routine for work and school. There were murmurings of the new Coronavirus in the background. But it was the start of the new academic year for the kids who were excitedly settling into their routine with their new teacher and catching up with old/new friends. A number of my daycare kids were starting kindy this year too, and I had a couple of new daycare kids I was happily getting to know. So it was all busy, busy, busy. We were on full steam ahead to take on the new year. The murmurings and news about the Coronavirus was still on the backburner.

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Here's a look at some of the Chinese New Year festivities we did together recently #familydaycare #earlychildhoodeducator #fdcideas #familydaycareperth #kidsactivities #chinesenewyearactivities

A post shared by Serenely (@livingserenely) on Feb 10, 2020 at 6:14am PST

March...

The volume on the Coronavirus/Covid-19 news was getting turned up. The numbers of infections and deaths were rising here and all around the world. It was now definitely hitting home. This was still the early stages, but it was starting to feel worrying. We followed through all the official health directives and upped our game with frequent handwashing, cleaning, and being more stringent about sniffles and coughs.

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Everybody in the wash

A post shared by Serenely (@livingserenely) on Mar 27, 2020 at 10:00pm PDT

The term 'Social Distancing' became the new catchphrase. All the children (Nathan, Grace as well as most of my daycare kids) were aware of this serious Coronavirus and we were having lots of conversations about it.

The government announced restrictions, lockdowns and shutdowns of shops, offices and public gatherings. Hubby had to start working from home full time. This was the crazy time at the shops where people were panic buying, leaving empty shelves bereft of toilet paper, hand sanitiser, wet wipes, liquid hand soap, dettol, bleach, rice, flour, pasta and canned food. The season of crazies descended upon us.

April...

Dark times. The PM dropped the bomb with the announcement of 'free childcare' for all families. Childcare providers' income was stripped by half. We were instructed to cancel fees for all parents and refund any fees paid this month. Then it was a waiting game while the government scrambled to slap together their system for us to access our 50% income. We were told to recoup the shortfall from the newly announced Jobkeeper scheme.

(The big blow for me was not so much the financial impact--although that did pinch a little, but more of the emotional blow that early childhood educators seemed to be valued so little. I understood the intention of the package to support families in staying at home while maintaining their childcare spots. However the announcement was made with no prior industry consultation or consideration on the impact on individual educators).

Schools closed two weeks ahead of the holidays and geared up for resuming Term 2 with online learning. Nathan and Grace were very sad about this as they were among the kids who loved school and thrived on learning in the classroom. But they put a good face on the situation. They were diligent with sticking to the daily routine of finishing their lessons before play, and they were always resourceful in finding ways to keep busy at home.

A number of my day care families opted to keep their kids at home, so attendance was quite patchy across the week.

No more outings to restaurants, parks, playgrounds or libraries which were now all closed.

We suffered less than some people as we were quite natural homebodies anyway. But we did feel the pinch in not being able to pop by our favourite local eats for a treat, or swing by the park for a play. We missed the library the most to feed our ravenous appetite for books. But we made adjustments, turning to eBooks and audiobooks instead to satisfy our hunger.

It felt like living with a dark cloud looming over our lives every day. Stay at home. Wash you hands and wash them again. Clean and disinfect everything. Learn how to be a germophobe. Stay positive amidst potential job security concerns.

And there are always small joys to be found all the time...

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We're all in this together ❤️

A post shared by Serenely (@livingserenely) on Mar 27, 2020 at 10:10pm PDT

The wonderful support from my day care families, dropping off little gifts, food/snacks to share and kind words of affirmation and appreciation.

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April throwback: Easter bunny's little helper

A post shared by Serenely (@livingserenely) on Apr 25, 2020 at 1:56am PDT

Spreading some Easter Bunny happiness, making up baskets of chocolate eggs and delivering them to neighbours and friends.

Enjoying favourite eats and trying out new foods from restaurants who now started offering home delivery services.

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We've been pining for books for weeks ever since the libraries had to close due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. In the meantime we've been surviving on eBooks, audiobooks and re-reading old books. So we were absolutely stoked when the library recently let us borrow a Mystery Bag of 10 hand-picked books/magazines/DVDs #cannotlivewithoutbooks

A post shared by Serenely (@livingserenely) on Apr 26, 2020 at 1:22am PDT

Discovering new books through online/eLibraries, enjoying celebrity readings of favourite classic story books and musicals/performing arts through social media (i.e. Phantom of the Opera).

May...

Getting into the swing of things and finding our way through this new normal.

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🎶 Wash your hands... Doodoodoodoodoodoo 🎵 #stayinghealthy #washyourhands #familydaycare

A post shared by Serenely (@livingserenely) on May 1, 2020 at 12:28am PDT

Sliver of sunshine peeking through with some slight easing of restrictions in WA for heading out with family. We kicked off the first weekend with a day at the beach to celebrate hubby's birthday and soak up all the sunshine we could.

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Sun, Sea and Sand

A post shared by Serenely (@livingserenely) on May 1, 2020 at 11:55pm PDT

Schools transitioned back to classroom learning again with some adjustments to the routine. Nathan and Grace were super duper happy to head back at school again. The biggest adjustment was the strict kiss and drop policy with no parents allowed to step one foot onto the school grounds. This was no biggie for us as Nathan and Grace had already started walking independently to school this year.

June...

Things continued chugging along day by day.

More restrictions gradually being lifted in for cafes and restaurants. It was lovely to start resuming our Friday lunch dates and some of my coffee/catch ups with friends. We enjoyed our first family meal out at a restaurant after almost four months.

Parks and libraries started opening up again. Hooray!

July...

So now we're looking forward to the start of the Term 2 school holidays which is already feels completely different from the last hols... appreciating the freedom of being able to head out for outings and meals, maybe catch a movie or go for a swim.

And of course Grace celebrates her 7th Birthday this month. So we have a special day planned to celebrate together as a family. More on that next time.

(I'd also like to say a few words to give some context on increasing intermittent updates in this space: I can't point a finger on one specific reason, but definitely with the kids growing there is so much more talking and reflecting happening with them that there seems to be less need for me to vent and process here compared to the baby years. Plus with the changing social media landscape, there are now so many new ways of chronicling our lives through images and microposts. Also, my work as as family day care educator involves so much writing and documenting the learning journey of nine other children, I'm often maxed out on words at the end of each day. But I'm still hanging onto this space as it's definitely an important place to hold memories and reflections for posterity. Often when Nathan or Grace ask me questions about their early years or about my life before they came on the scene, I was able to pull up old posts to read to them. They just love reading the little details and sweet anecdotes of their baby years. So I want to keep posting and chronicling here as best as I can).

The Journalist and The Story Seeker

2020-02-21T14:42:00.001+08:00

For our latest epic family adventure over the holidays, we decided to check out busy Bangkok.

These two happen to be the best travellers.

They are game to go anywhere. Try anything. And eat (*almost) anything. With wholehearted enthusiasm. (*as long as it's not durian)

The thing I Ioved the most was observing their totally different approaches and takes on all the various new experiences during our holiday.

Here's how I frame it...

The Journalist

Grace is all about the facts. Seeking tangible experiences. Getting her hands (and sometimes feet) stuck right in. At the floating markets, she persuaded us to go for a boat ride down the klong. At Chatuchak market she spotted a big garish display of barbecued baby octopus and urged daddy to buy some to try. At one of the temples she spotted a monk offering blessings and unabashedly went forward to receive one too. She was the only one in the family who tried out the feet-tickling fish spa at one of the night markets we visited. She snapped random photos of various things that caught her interest with her little camera. And she documented everything in her 'My Bangkok Holiday' journal.

(*Not that Nathan did not enjoy participating in in the same experiences, Grace just tends to be the one who initiates or takes an interest and asks to try things out first)

The Story Seeker

Nathan on the other hand is usually drawn to the stories, legends and folklore. If he spotted a poor beggar or disabled person, he would ponder over what might have happened to them. At various statues and figurines in the temples and historic sites we visited, he would ask who they were and about the story behind them. He was captivated by the legendary battle between the Wat Arun giants against their archenemy giants at Wat Pho across the Chao Phraya river which decimated the land resulting the gods cursing them to become stone statues guarding each temple for eternity. He was fascinated by the statue of the the seven-headed Naga protecting Buddha from the elements as he was meditating to seek enlightenment. He was even drawn to the somewhat disconcerting story of the beautiful Nang-Ai and her lover Pha Daeng desperately trying to escape the clutches of the devious Naga King who disguised himself as a white squirrel to be killed and eaten, then come back alive to curse everyone who ate him and kidnap Nang-Ai into his underwater kingdom. So weird yet oddly fascinating. Nathan doesn't bother to write or record any of these stories down (even though I think he should) but sometimes I see elements of such stories coming through in his Lego play or in his fictional writing assignments.

As different as chalk and cheese... mango and rice... fried chicken and milo powder... but they taste surprisingly delicious together!

Ode to the sweetest boy in the world

2020-02-21T11:00:00.000+08:00

Hello sweet nine!

This is it! This is the last year they say. After this year he won't really be yours anymore! (these are the dire warnings I've been given by well meaning mums of eight, nine and ten year old boys).

So every year I wonder.

Will this be the last time?

Every day I check to feel if the hugs are any less cuddlier. I pause to feel if the kisses are any less smoochier. I listen to every 'good morning' to see if they are any less cheerful. I take in every 'I love you' to feel if they are any less loving.

But every hug, kiss, cuddle and 'I love you' still feels just as as sweet.

"I won't change" he promises me. "I will always love you for infinity times a hundred. No, times a thousand. Times a million, billion, zillion!"

This is my ode to the sweetest boy in the world.

Here is the boy who helps pack away all the toys with the the day care kids and shows them where each toy goes.

Here is the boy who knows how much I hate bugs and volunteers to catch the spider in the bathroom with a tissue.

Here is the boy who knows how to talk to babies and marvel at their little baby cleverness.

Here is the boy who says I feel scared but I will give it a go when his music teacher asks him to perform a song at the school lunch time concert.

Here is the boy who fills his little sister with 'happynos'; Who crafts the perfect tiny Lego house for her favourite Elsa minifigure.

Here is the boy who quietly pushes the bins back in on Friday afternoons after school without saying a word.

Here is my boy.

Me and my yellow mug

2020-02-21T10:36:00.003+08:00

Happy new year!

A long overdue greeting but better late than never as they say.

This isn't really meant to be a real post but more of an update to say that further updates will follow imminently.

The end of the year and start of a new year are the worst times to pause and reflect. There is always something happening one weekend or another.

Christmas and end of year gatherings. Birthday parties and celebratory events. Gift shopping. Food shopping. Cooking. Baking. Gift wrapping. Family holidays. Travelling. New year festivities. Shopping for school supplies and uniforms (And Shoes! Why are these kids constantly outgrowing their shoes?). Organising and labelling school supplies. Spring cleaning. Meeting new teachers. Saying hello to new friends. Catching up with old friends. Organising my documentation and paperwork. Welcoming back my little ones. Managing new enrolments. Getting to know new children. The unceasing laundry pile and daily lunchbox preps. Dinner. Every. Single. Night. When will it ever end!?!?

This is the first quiet Friday I've had in a while.

I'm breathing in the silence.

Just me and my yellow mug.

Beanstalks

2019-11-17T14:21:00.000+08:00

It's November.

That end-of-year holiday feeling is back in the air once again.

The kids helping daddy put up the Christmas tree and talking over plans to celebrate Nathan's birthday in December.

I know I say this every year... but I just have to say it again...

They have grown so, so much.

Somehow I feel it especially even more so over this past year.

Their growth rate seems to have doubled, even tripled these past few months.

Like beanstalks in the night.

All arms and legs.

"It's like they shot up overnight!" I lamented wistfully to hubs one evening as I observed their elongated legs dangling down, almost touching the floor, while they scrambled up on their daddy in rambunctious bear hugs.

Nevertheless, throughout their supersonic growth rate, they both still retain the same sweet spirit and golden souls. Their smiles still shine through easily and nearly everyone they meet can still almost taste the sweetness on their lips in their cheery hellos and howdy-dos.

Their outlook and ideas have also matured and evolved so much this past year. It's impossible to pin down the precise pattern and direction of this thread of change. Their combined sense of humour has also developed distinctive unique flavour of it's own. Here are a few funny moments that made me laugh...

[Running over the car just as it was starting to rain...]

Grace: "Oh no! Meh-meh (her plush lamb) is getting wet!"

Nathan: "Looks like she has to go in the wash now."

Grace: "Haha! No way! That will make her even more wet!"

[Driving home one evening...]

Grace: "The moon is following us!"

Nathan: "Actually it only looks that way because it's so far away."

Grace: "No, I can see it following our car... I think it likes us."

[One morning while getting dressed...]
Me: "Grace, please go to your room and put on some long pants."
[Later on after a prolonged interval, I went to Grace's room to check on her and found her sprawled on the floor in tears still not fully dressed...]
Me: "Why? What's the matter, Grace?"
Grace: (Tearfully) "I looked and looked everywhere, but I can't find any BLONDE pants!"

[While we were facing off a bobtail lizard intruder in our garage...]

Nathan: "This might be the end of us."

[Splitting up with mum and dad at the shop to browse different aisles...]

Grace: (Holding out her arm dramatically) "We will never see each other agaaaaaain forEVAAAR...... (pause)...... Actually we wiiiiiiiill........"

[Me explaining that two of the snail tentacles are for smelling it's way around...]

Grace: What?!?! Snails have two noses?!?! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

[Enjoying a cotton candy treat at the shops...]

Nathan: "This is the best day of my life!"

Grace: "What about when we went to Legoland?"

Nathan: (pause) "This is another best day of my life!"

[After a tough day at school...]

Nathan: "This is the worst day of my life!"

Grace: "You said that last week."

[Tucking into a scrumptious Korean BBQ buffet...]

Nathan : "Life is good man! (pause) Actually life is ALWAYS good."

Every parent always believes they have the best kids in the world. And I concede to that truth in all honesty. But I confess that the secret corner in my heart knows for sure that I scored the the two best ones of the lot.

Growth Mindset

2019-10-20T23:28:00.000+08:00

Around one year ago, we kicked off operation 'No More Thumbs' with Nathan. We had a whole program in place with various tools and materials, charts and a prize. For all intents and purposes, the whole thing started off swimmingly well.

So where are we now one year on?

Has Nathan succeeded in kicking the habit completely?

Is he, for all intents and purposes, one hundred percent 'cured'?

Well, actually yes!

But we had our share of bumps and knocks along the way.

And I've learnt a few things as a parent while were working through this.

So as I was saying, everything was going swimmingly well at first.

We had a 30-day target of no-thumbs chart (I figured it takes 21 days to break a habit and added some extra buffer for good measure). For each zero-thumbs day, we put a stamp on the chart to track his progress. It had to be a continuous 30 days, so for any fall backs we had to reset the chart and start over.

The first week was tough going with several resets. But after that we made a few tweaks with his support tools and materials (i.e. night-time gloves and day-time fidget tools) and managed to get some good traction. We also had support from his class teacher to give him little reminders as needed throughout the day.

Finally after the 30 days, we celebrated with Nathan claiming his prize of the long coveted Tenkai Knights mini action figure set.

We did it!

We kicked the habit and were now home free!

I kept the gloves and fidget tools away since they were no longer needed.

I could finally tick that hurdle off my parenting list. Hooray!

Things went on along as usual for a couple of weeks.

Every now and then I would check in on Nathan to ask him how he was doing. Was he still feeling okay? Has he sometimes reverted to sucking his thumb again?

His answer was always a resounding No. Never. I'm all good.

Wow. What a champ! I thought to myself.

Then one day I happened to have a parent-teacher meeting with Nathan's class teacher to get an update on how he was doing in class.

He was doing wonderfully in all his subjects. Writing. Reading. Math. History. Social Sciences. He was a superstar! I thanked the profusely teacher for everything she was doing to support his learning and also for her support for helping him with his thumb-sucking.

"Oh yes, Nathan is doing very well in that too. But he still does suck his thumb sometimes, especially later in the afternoon when everyone starts to get tired."

I was completely thrown off.

Especially since I had asked Nathan this exact question several times over the past few weeks. And he had assured me every time that all was well.

Maybe it was just those few times at school when he was feeling tired.

How about in bed at night? Was that still an issue?

No. It was only at school. No other times. He told me adamantly.

Later on I chatted to hubs about it to get his thoughts. Then he told me that actually he noticed Nathan still sucking his thumb sometimes when he went to check on him at night.

All this time.

The betrayal cut me deep inside.

So I sat down with Nathan and confronted him.

The words came bursting out like a broken dam.

Why? Why did you lie? Why didn't you tell me? Why?

It didn't take long for to Nathan break down too.

And his response was a knife to my heart.

"I. Was. Afraid."

The whirlwind of anger inside me went silent.

And I realised that the blame was on me.

Somehow despite my whole cleverly orchestrated plan, I had ended up making my son think of overcoming his thumb-sucking issue as a destination rather than a journey.

After 30 days we were supposed to be home-free. That it was the end of the story. We were all suppose to live happily ever after.

But that didn't happen.
It never does.

Not for anyone.

After the prince and princess have the beautiful wedding, comes marriage and all it's challenges.

After you score that dream job, comes the toil of working to keep that job going.

After the superheroes vanquish the ultimate evil foe, another more notorious baddie will inevitably rise to take his or her place.

There is never a final 'The End'.

Because life keeps going. And we have to keep working at it.
Every. Single. Day.

And at that moment I cried. For all the misery that I had inadvertently caused my son.

He was afraid of how disappointed and angry I would be.

He was afraid he would have to give up his hard-earned Tenkai Knights set.

He was afraid of admitting he had failed.

And every day he kept vowing again that he would not fail.

Only to fall yet again. But simply too afraid to tell anyone.

I told him how sorry I was.

Sorry that he believed he had to do this on his own.

Because there is no winning or losing here.

We are here to help. However long it takes.

He doesn't need to hide or pretend.

We are on the same team.

We made a new plan together.

Nathan would take the lead on how he felt things were going and what he needed.

Gloves and bandaids were back in play.

Regular check-ins and chats.

And of course he gets to keep the Tenkai Knights set.
After all, it's important to celebrate every victory and milestone.

It's been over one year on and we're in a truly good place now. And I'm not just talking about the thumb sucking, but of more value I believe we reached another deeper level of honesty, trust and open communication.

As for the thumb sucking habit, it's essentially gone for good. We tossed out the bandaids and fidget tools ages ago. And while he doesn't need them any more, Nathan still insists on wearing the gloves every night-- just for good measure. He will tell us when he's ready to put those away for good.
As long as it takes.
We're in it for the long haul.

So there you go.

We are focusing on the journey.
Ever moving forward.
Never giving up.
Taking it one step at a time.
Celebrating small victories.

Or in two words...
having a GROWTH MINDSET.

Not just for my kids.
More importantly for myself too.
We are all learning and growing together.

image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Having a blast together

2019-08-29T19:51:00.000+08:00

With the baby years now well behind me, some have wondered if most of the super fun hands-on part of parenting are now behind me as well.

It's true that babies and toddlers are oodles of fun. Everything is so new. Even every meal time can be an adventure. Each day is a series of new experiences lived vicariously through the eyes of a brand new human being discovering the world around them for the first time.

But really. The fun times are only just beginning.

In the early years, it was primarily all about learning what it means to be Human. What can my hands do, touch, hold, feel? How fast can I crawl, walk, run, jump? What is this new taste? What is this new smell? What are all these feelings inside me that I cannot contain? What are these sounds I make that generate meaning and intentions?

Now with most of that basic stuff established, comes the fun part of learning new Ideas.

And it's been an absolute blast.

We've already had a taste of it with the all books we've been reading together. Harry Potter. Enid Blyton. Roald Dahl. C.S. Lewis. And we're all just eating everything up voraciously. Seriously. Can't. Get. Enough. Of. It.

Our current latest obsession is the Chrestomanci series by Dianna Wynne Jones. Some say it's even better than Harry Potter.

But wait. It gets better.

There's also the music. OMG. Music! So much fun!

And we're no longer stuck in the rut of listening to endless loops of 'Let it Go' or the Trolls movie soundtrack (though the latter is pretty cool I admit).

I'm talking about Michael Jackson. ABBA. Queen. The Carpenters. The Beatles. Whitney Houston. Elvis Presley. Mozart. Beethoven. The Backstreet Boys... okay it's impossible to make this list comprehensive.

Much of the interest was ignited by the fantastic soundtrack from the 'Guardians of the Galaxy' movie, which I admit rekindled my enthusiasm for some old familiar tunes. Movies like that are definitely a great segway to showcase how much fun and relevant those classic songs still are. Though I admit I am reaching my limit of the Pina Colada song (Escape).

The kids also developed an unexpected interest in Edwardian classics from the Cozy Classics series they came across at the library. These are actually baby board books with pictures featuring great classic novelists such as Jane Austen's 'Emma' and 'Pride and Prejudice', Charles Dickens' 'Great Expectations' and 'Oliver Twist' and Victor Hugo's 'Les Misérables'. I could not understand their fascination with these books. Must be something very captivating about the pictures. They begged me to give them a detailed (improvised) narration of each of the books they insisted on borrowing.

I found myself wedged between the two of them on the couch, explaining through each illustration about Elizabeth Bennett hating Mister Darcy, and how Mister Darcy fell in love with Elizabeth, but Elizabeth hating Mister Darcy more than ever, and about Elizabeth's sister, Lydia running away with bad Mister Wickham, Mister Darcy stepping in as the hero to save the day for the family, and how Elizabeth realised that she actually did love Mister Darcy after all.

They made me do the same with 'Emma'. This one was a much trickier one to do. "Emma bcame friends with poor Harriet and wanted to help her find a husband. Emma tried to make Mr Elton like Harriet, but Mr Elton actually liked Emma. Then Emma liked Frank Churchill but changed her mind. Emma thought Harriet liked Frank and tried to help them fall in love, but Frank loved someone else and Harriet actually liked Mr Knightley, who was really in love with Emma, and when Emma found that out she realised she loved Mr Knightly too, but she thought Mr Knightly loved Harriet instead......". Phew!

Their favourite one was Victor Hugo's 'Les Misérables'. I was surprised how much they enjoyed the story. I suppose great stories shine through in any form. I mentioned that the story was made into a musical (my favourite of all the musicals I've seen). They pressed me for more. So I showed them my CD soundtrack of the musical. That led to them listening to a few songs on the soundtrack. Then watching some YouTube videos of the highlights. And later on watching the 2012 musical film. I was pleased to hear them remark that the singing is way better by the original cast. At first I thought they were drawn mainly by the music and that the big humanistic themes in the story would simply go over their heads. But they asked very deep and thought provoking questions throughout the film. Why did the priest lie about Jean Valjean stealing the silver? Why is everyone so mean to Fantine? Why does Jean Valjean want to tell everyone that he is prisoner 24601? Why does Javert keep on wanting to catch Jean Valjean for so many years? Why did Jean Valjean go back to save Marius? Why did Jean Valjean not kill Javert? Why did Javert want to kill himself? Why did Jean Valjean hide away and not want to be with Cosette and Marius?

Never underestimate kids.

Hubby has been introducing Nathan to great classic film series' such as 'Back to the Future', 'The Karate Kid', 'Indiana Jones' and 'Men in Black'. And we've been working through the entire series of Marvel superhero films with the kids and having great times discussing the plot and characters together over dinner. We've also enjoyed watching various family classics such as 'The Princess Bride', 'The Neverending Story', 'The Labyrinth', 'The Wizard of Oz', 'Mary Poppins' and 'The Sound of Music' (the last one was sadly met with slightly less enthusiasm than expected but still enjoyable). The kids laughed non-stop watching 'Home Alone' and were introduced to the wonderful late Robin Williams in 'Hook'.

All in all, hubs and I been having the best times with these two.

Magical six

2019-07-26T15:48:00.003+08:00

July is the month when my baby girl moves up a notch in her years.

Ladies and gentlemen... I present to you...

Six years old.

We celebrated the occasion with a cosy little blue narwhal pyjama party theme.

I went a bit crazy with the blue butterfly pea flower serving a small array of blue hued food and drink. The pièce de résistance of the night was the awesome blanket fort complete with fairy lights for all the kids to snuggle under while they watched a movie.

It's funny how kids grow up overnight. One minute they're a tiny, diminutive little creature... all giggles, coos and silly sounds. And then the next moment, you see it happening before your very eyes.

"I almost cried, mummy... but I remembered my breathing exercises using my belly".

"Today at recess I was sad because 'M' did not let me play with her and 'A'. But you know what? I can find other new friends to play with!"

"Thank you for helping me learn this, mummy." (this last one came out right after I was impatiently explaining a piano concept through gritted teeth)

And this...

(Grace finally officially joined Nathan for Taekwondo lessons)

In contrast to her brother, Grace has a rather practical bent to her outlook. The other day while I was tucking her into bed, she popped this question out of the blue...

"Mummy, what does a dying person look like?"

I have tackled similar lines of questions from her older brother before, so I launched into my opening lines for a deep philosophical discussion.

She immediately clarified her meaning.

"No. I mean what do they LOOK like? Like, when a person is dying, they don't just go 'urk, I'm dead' and die. I want to see how it happens! Okay, who is the oldest person we know? Tai ma? Next time when she is dying can we go see her so I can see what she looks like when it happens?"

Then another time while we were having one of those funny rhetorical family conversations about what the kids would do if both mummy and daddy were dead... (why do we seem so morbid?).

Nathan then launched into a discussion about who would take care of them in the short term and long term... like which friends or neighbours they can go to for help or to stay with.

Grace's thought process however was quite different. First she established that the important question was what they were going to eat. Who was going to cook for them now? Then she established that she had some money in her piggy bank. And that it was a lot of money (for an almost six-year old)--as their grandparents had recently passed them their loot of ang-pow money from various overseas relatives. Then she said she would go to the shops, buy some bread, butter and ham to make sandwiches. And maybe some apples too. Because it was important to eat fruits.

Nathan started to point out that the money will eventually run out. But we all agreed that it was a pretty good survival plan for an almost six-year old to think of.

She might also have a bit of a journalist streak in her. After taking charge of my old Casio digital camera, she has been busily snapping photos of everyday objects and people. She would take several shots to get it just right to her liking and enjoys scrolling through all the old photos she has taken.

She's even mastered the art of vlogging and does a pretty good job of articulating herself on camera...

Not bad for a six year old!

Happy birthday, my baby!