All About Your Child

Keatkeat’s Excitement:

This was the hat we bought specially for him for today’s trip to learn more about plants and flowers. It was one of the requirements for this excursion. The others include bringing, snacks, water bottle, raincoat and a handkerchief.

Its was really easy to wake the 4-year-old this morning at 7am. All I need to say was, “I don’t think the school bus to the Mandai Orchid Garden will wait for you, if you are late.” Immediately, he sits up like a robot, went straight to the bathroom and brushed his teeth. They should have more of such trips, then I won’t need to crack my head for new ideas to get the kid out of bed every monday to friday.

Before we left the house, Keatkeat insisted on taking photos for him when he is going up the bus, so I brought the camera down. I was the only parent who did that. So you can imagine that look from the other parents.

I forgot to check the settings on the digital camera. It was on video mode. When I finally realised my mistake, it was too late. He was already on the bus. This photo was a screen capture from the video shot that lasted for 3 seconds, because I was pressing the button so many times. Its quite blur, sorry.

Here’s the tired boy after 2 hours, coming down from the bus with the help of his English Teacher Mdm Normah.

Keatkeat’s summary of the trip:

“Mommy, there were alot of mosquitoes at the Orchid Garden. See?! I got 3 bites. Chen Lao Shi (Chinese Teacher, Miss Chen) applied lotion for me…… Didn’t do anything, just walk, walk, walk and walk…….. Kayong got lost there. He cannot find us. Mdm Normah go look for him. He didn’t cry. But Mdm Normah was very angry and scolded him…… I saw bees too. Flying in the flowers…… The floor there is very dirty, look at my shoes (the sides were covered with mud)………. Then I saw 3 blue cars at the carpark too (my car-crazy boy never forgets to notice cars wherever he goes). That’s all, nothing already.”

This was the souvenir he brought back. Seeing it in another way, this tiny pot cost S$13.00 (the cost to be on this trip)

Mommy: “What’s the name of this plant?”

Keatkeat: “Don’t know.”

Mommy: “So, what do you want to call it?”

Keatkeat: “Water plant”

Mommy: “Why?”

Keatkeat: “Because I need to water the plant.” (Hmmm….sounds logical ya?)

“Oh no, Mommy, the plant shh…shh… (pass urine)”

“Ok, that’s enough water for you today, you drank too much. That’s why you shh…shh…so much. I will give you water again tomorrow.”

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My Excitement:

Finally I get to see the SUN and NO RAIN after 9 days of dark clouds. Yeah! Yipee! Those 9 days were horrible. The clothes were still wet even after hanging up for almost 24 hours.

Look at everyone, taking this opportunity to sun their clothes.

Some even gave their birds a ‘Sun-tan’. (Picture below) 2nd column from the right, 3rd unit from the bottom. See the 2 bird cages in brown?

Too many clothes to hang after so many rainy days, people tried to do stunts with their bamboo. (See photo below) Far right, 2nd unit from the bottom.

It was so sunny and windy (see photo below, you can see my boys clothes flying high), my washing machine washed 3 full loads of clothes. Yes, that many clothes were left unwashed after so many gloomy days. Hmmm….maybe that’s why my kitchen starts to smell weird. Ewww….

I am so glad that the Sun and Wind are here today, ‘cos every Saturdays and Sundays are reserved for my sister to wash her working clothes.

“sorry washing machine, you must be exhausted! I can’t imagine life without you…”

The smell of clothes that have been sun bathed……..(inhaling) its just so assuring (that you clothes are really dry and clean)…….I am in love with that smell…….Hmmmm…..

Not very happy today after fetching Keatkeat from school. In fact, its not just myself, it was every other parents in Keatkeat’s class too. Everyone received a letter saying that the school is introducing reading as part of the cirriculum. Every child had to buy 4 English books and 4 Chinese books. We do not get to choose the books. The school has already decided on the 8 books. Total cost? S$90.00!

All the parents took a close look at the sample of the books. They are no different from the usual story books which we could easily get at S$5 from neighbouring bookshops. Please don’t tell me that there is a special teacher employed just for this reading session. ‘Cos there isn’t! So why are we paying so much for just 8 simple books?

Many parents who are having financial difficulties, went to talk to the principal, but the answer was, “I am sorry, this is compulsory. Anyway, your child get to keep the books at the end of the sessions. There is no exceptions, every student must get them.”

All the unsatisfied parents were mumbling as they leave the principal room. Why do we have to pay that much!? I would rather they follow what my secondary school used to do- give the parents the names of the books. The parents go get it themselves. There are many of us who are members of different bookshops, hence with our discount cards, we definitely can get the books at a cheaper rate.

Are we too stingy over the S$90.00 or are we really being ripped off over these 8 books?