All About Your Child

I still can’t believe how lucky I was. 3 weeks ago, my eldest sis-in-law gave me 4 tickets to Escape Theme Park. She gave it to me because eldest bro-in-law wasn’t interested in going there.

It was quite an awkward moment last weekend, when her eldest daughter, ZengYee saw the photos (not uploaded yet) in our digital camera and bugged her father to bring her there.

This happened on the 4th of May, Sunday. We reached there at about 2pm, a time that we would usually be in my in-laws house, lazing around, digesting the lunch. She was a-little-teeny-weeny upset that we made other plans on Sunday, which she has already conditioned in her mind that Sunday is Family Day at her house.

So to make her less unhappy, we promise to go there for dinner, which we did, even though we were so sticky and smelly.

The Entrance of Escape Theme Park in Pasir Ris

This was the very first time the boys are in such theme parks, they have never experience rides like these before. So when we first stepped in they were rather nervous and frightened, probably too overwhelmed by the screams heard everywhere.

So we started them off with the kiddy Ferris Wheel.

Next we tried the kiddy planes. Every ride has a height indication for kids. If the child is below the required height for that ride, they are either not allowed to ride it or they must be accompanied by an adult. So we were sitting on EVERY kiddy rides available in that fun-packed place.

Flying high in the air elevated their mood. The mini roller-coaster was just next to the planes. Binbin was too afraid to get his bum on that, so only the daring Keatkeat and Mommy went for it.

Although Keatkeat kept saying, “Wah, very scary, very scary…” at the end of the ride, he was pointing to all the other scarier rides that even Daddy and Mommy dare not even try.

Of cos’ those were rides for adults only. “Keatkeat, eat more and you’ll grow taller, when you are tall enough, you’ll be able to sit on any rides you want.”

We did rest for awhile on the bench and bought some popcorn, spicy noodles and a drink at the only food stall in the vicinity. It was the spoiler of the day.

Before Allan could even step away from the cashier, some teenagers were pushing around and one of them knocked onto his right hand causing the cup of mango drink flying out of his grip.

Allan stared at them without saying anything and walked towards us. The teenager insisted on paying for the drink, but Allan’s reply was, “Control your behavior; don’t fool around at a place like this, when there are so many people holding food and drinks in their hands. I don’t want your money. Just remember what I told you.”

Anyhow, Allan is a person who doesn’t let unhappy thoughts stay in his head for too long. Right after the short break, I went to the super clean toilet. When I came out, this was what I saw.

They were having a water battle with the people in the pool. Obviously all three of them were wet, but not as bad as those sitting on the floating tub; who were completely soaked through….*laugh* Haven’t I mentioned before? I have 3 kids, not 2.

What better way to dry my 3 boys then to put them on the Superman ride, where they fly high and fast. We couldn’t take photos for each other because we were lying on our tummy. The photo was taken after we got off.

Then we went for Go-Kart. Something that the kids were willing to wait for half an hour standing in the queue, just for the 15mins of excitement.

They were asking for more, but the queue was much longer than before, so we persuaded them to give it up. Anyone who just joined the queue for Go-Kart could easily wait up to an hour!

We knew we had to find a substitute for it. What better alternative is there than let them drive on their own!

There were only 3 mini cars available, so after their 10mins was over, other kids rushed in. We knew they wanted to get their hands on the steering wheel again. While we wait, we went for the train ride.

Now their spirits were so high, they ride on the train all by themselves.

In total, the kids sat on the Ferries Wheel 3 times, the plane 2 times, the train 2 times, the kiddy car 3 times and the rest once each.

Seriously, if it wasn’t for the free tickets, I would not have gone there, because it would cost $42.80 for the 4 of us though it’s unlimited rides.

There was one thing we were very pleased with-The Service. As the sign says, ‘Ring The Bell To Show We Have Served You Well’
and Keatkeat was more than happy to ring the bell.

Here’s a link to Escape Theme Park, if you are interested to find out what are the other rides which the kids were not allowed to ride.

The rates of the taxi fares have risen tremendously especially since 17 December last year. Rates have been adjusted mainly because of the complaints from the taxi drivers, ever since more companies were allowed to share the pie. As usual there are still some black sheep among the flock. Last Saturday, my in-laws took a cab from Clementi to Hougang. The taxi driver went by a longer route, to earn more, obviously. Even when my MIL told him that he should have made a turn so that the journey is shorter, he refused and continued to drive the longer way. Both my in-laws were very angry and kept reprimanding him for (purposely) missing a few turns, then he vent his anger by driving recklessly.

The 2 old folks were with my niece, 7, and nephew, 1. When they finally reached Hougang, the meter read $22.40!!! My MIL continued to lecture him even after the taxi has arrived at the destination, for cheating on them and driving dangerously when there were 2 young kids in his cab. Humph! He deserved the lecture. 3 years ago, I used to sling Binbin over my shoulder and held the tiny hand of my 2 year old Keatkeat to my in-law house, back then it only cost $9-$10!

The rates are really getting way too high. Ever since the increase, I have completely stopped taking cabs, COMPLETELY STOPPED! Even though it takes 1 hour now for the three of us to take a bus, then a MRT, then a bus before we reach my in-laws’ house, I would rather spend this time then to pay that much! Today, my husband’s friend took a cab from Telok Blangah to Toa Payoh during peak hours, $18!!! Ridiculous! That’s the cost of a decent meal for 5 people and it’s gone in less than 20mins!

If you are a reader from another country, you made be interested to know more about this country from my previous 2 posts ‘Tough Questions’ and ‘Singapore’.

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A friend of mine, Aric, who used to sell hair accessories, has decided to stop his retail business totally and give me ALL his stocks for FREE! He knows that I have stopped my handmade accessories retail business too, but is still consigning my leftovers to others, so he thought it would be better to give his remaining stocks to me than throw them into the dustbin.

The rich man son need not worry about survivor because he is the operating manager of his father’s metal manufacturing company and he is only 25 years old. Thank you Aric!

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If you read My Profile, you know I love to sing. Every now and then, my kids and I will have a theme song, not that we do it on purpose, but a certain song would just keep singing in our head so much, we can’t help but sing or hum that particular tune for a couple of days or even weeks.

These days, this Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate commercial has been our song. It’s funny, especially the last verse.

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Many of you know that Binbin is a vegetable lover. Recently he added a new vegetable to his long list – ONION!!!

It was so amazing and funny to watch him eat slice after slice of onion that were fried together with the main dish for presentation purposes, not so much for taste. So the slices of onions were big and hardly-cooked.

He would squint his eyes as he chew it in his mouth with a big frown on his face after he swallowed it, and you think that he regretted his decision; but no, he asked for another piece! This continues till there aren’t any onions left on that plate. *jaw-dropped*

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Keatkeat’s memory power is getting more and more incredible. We could drive him to a place only ONCE and he could direct us to that place! At a cross road junction, he could tell us where it would lead us, if we turned left, turned right or went straight.

I play all sorts of memory games with him. One of my favourite game was to show him 8 cards first, then put them face down, asked him to find the 4 matching pairs and he could do it in one go. Seriously, is that amazing? I’m not sure, because I have taught many kids of this age before and I can’t remember anyone as good as this, especially the way he recognizes the direction to different places. Anyone have kids like these when they were 4 years old?

If yes, tell me, and then I will know it’s just a norm for kids of this age.

If not, could you suggest what kind of lesson should I send him to, to let this talent of him soar? If a child is musically inclined, you send him to music schools to learn singing and play musical instruments. So what about mega-memory power packed kids? Any idea?