All About Your Child

There is something that Allan and I feel very proud of as parents. We never had a pram. When Keatkeat was born, many of my friends wanted to buy a pram for him. We said no. Reasons?

– We realised that many prams turned out to be trolleys for the parents.

– Kids like to be close to their parents’ body. We knew that having strong arms is a must to be a parent. So complaining of being tired? Then go out less often.

– Its troublesome in many ways. Getting it folded and unfolded. Pushing it around in crowded areas. Finding lifts, to prevent carrying up the stairs. Taking up a big space in the boot where the space can be used for other things.

– We don’t want our kids to become lazy. (When other kids are in the pram, my kids at 1 years old, is already holding my hands, walking around the shopping centre with me.)

– To get a real good one – light and foldable using one hand for convenience, is really a big investment. Yet this investment do not give returns. After a few years, you had to throw away if no one wants to accept your 2nd-hand pram as a gift.

– Some prams are harder to clean than others. When the baby vomits some milk (which is soooooooo common and frequent), that smell can stay in that pram for days!

So instead of prams, we had baby slings. Mine was Navy Gingham Blue in colour (note: I am not getting any commission for this) Why?

– They are safe and secure.

– They keep the baby close to the mother’s body for comfort and security.

– Easy for breastfeeding. You can even breastfeed while walking.

– You can be totally hands free.

– The cloth is not too thick. So baby stays cool in it all day.

– Its machine washable.

– The cushion padding helps to lessen the weight pressed on your shoulders.

– The designs makes stains less visible.

– Its adjustable. To suit the baby or up the age of a 18 month old toddler.

– Its super affordable.

– After using it for 2 kids, its still look as good as new.

Seriously, for all first time parents, this is truly a wiser choice. In my view, that is.

One week of rainy-school holiday is gone. My neighbour staying upstairs was yelling away, “Wake up now! Mommy woke up late, so you don’t have much time left. The school door is going to close already. Wake up. Quick. Faster. Wake up.”

The cries of her 2 children, 4 years old and 5 years old can be heard loud and clear. Both are studying in the same school as Keatkeat, younger one being his classmate. I was thinking, “Poor kids, your Mommy woke up late, but in the end the 2 of you got to be screamed at early in the morning. Being punished for someone’s mistake. That’s not a good way to start the day.”

Its not easy to get kids to wake up, especially for something that they don’t exactly look forward to, like school. Unlike that day, when I wake him up for his school excursion, that was soooooo easy. So YOU as parents need to come up with lots of tricks. So I am back to the usual, “Keatkeat, wake up, its time for school.”

Keatkeat: “Don’t want. My eyes are very tired. I sleep late yesterday, so I have to wake up late today.”

Logically yes. Dear boy but that excuse reason is not going to help you to skip school.

5 minutes have passed.

Trick Number 1.

Me: “If you can wake up fast, we will be early and you can have a ride on the motorcycle (those 3 minutes kiddy rides which moves forward and back after you put in a 20cents coin in the slot and this trick usually works.)”

Keatkeat: “……” (But Not today) Eyes remain shut.

Another 5 minutes have passed.

Trick Number 2

Me: “If you wake up now, we don’t need to run. We can take our own sweet time and dilly-dally….and say good morning to all the flowers and cars in the carpark.”

Keatkeat: “don’t need to run, you can carry me…..?”

Me: “Keatkeat, you are 16kg already, big boy now, it won’t be nice if your friends see you in my arms right?”

Keatkeat: “Then you wake me up earlier lah.” Eyes are still closed.

Me: (Huh? Isn’t that what I am doing right now?)

Another 3 mins have passed.

Trick Number 3

In case his fear of defeat is eating his little soul….

Me: “Ah Yee (my younger and only sister) wake up already, you can still be faster than her if you wake up now. She is still bathing. If you wake up now, you will leave the house faster than Ah Yee and you will be the winner for today.”

Keatkeat: “Okie” Sat up with his bolster still in his arms.

Ok, I am getting some progress.

Another 3 minutes have passed.

Me: “Hold my hand now. Let’s go to the toliet and brush your teeth.”

Keatkeat: “….” Didn’t move an inch. In less than 3 seconds, his head was lying on his pillow again.

Damn! I am back to square one!

Another 3 minutes have passed.

Trick Number 4

Me: “Keatkeat, I have packed the Honey Stars in your breakfast box for you to eat in school today.”

Keatkeat: “Did you give me alot?”

Me: “Yes. I poured everything into your breakfast box.”

Keatkeat: “Okie.” Back to sitting position. In less than 5 seconds, up on his feet. “Hold my hand. I need to brush my teeth so that I can eat the Honey Stars.”

Yeah! Yippee! Succeeded in waking him up without causing him to cry. Its terrible to wake up in the morning crying. Wake up the wrong way, that whole day will be affected be it for the child or the adult.

*Sigh* Still late for 10 minutes. School starts at 8am. We left the house at 8.05am. Luckily his school is just 2 blocks away.