All About Your Child

It seemed like an obvious question.
However, I noticed that many parents cannot handle the truth said by their children.
Parent’s ego gets in the way and started defending themselves when their children could point out their flaws.
Parents start apologising to strangers when their kids point at them and said something unpleasant BUT TRUE!
“Don’t say that!” snapped the parent.

Let me give you a real life incident:
The four of us were waiting for the lift together with another family of four. We had two boys each. The mother and I started giggling and exchanging friendly glances when we noticed that her two boys and my two boys were playing the same ‘chopsticks’ game.

[Lift came]

In the lift, we started a conversation:
The mother: “Are they twins?”
Me: “No. (pointing at Keatkeat) He is in Primary 3 and the other, Primary 1.”

Immediately her elder child, who was in Primary 4 asked, “Why is the elder brother not taller than the younger brother?”
The mother: “Hey boy, don’t say that. Very rude.”
I looked at her and said: “Kids always tell the truth and there’s nothing wrong with that. No worries. Anyway, he (aka Keatkeat) is used to such comments already.”

The parents looked at me with _______ expression. I do not know how to describe that look. A mixture of disbelief, resentment and disapproval. Followed by awkward silence. When they reached their level, a small grin between the mother and I was exchanged before they walked out of the lift.

To me, it confuses the child. You want them to tell you the truth, yet when they say the truth, you reprimanded them and say they are rude and should not say it.

Why is truth = rude?

Regardless if its children or adults, truth = truth. If you do not like to hear the truth, just because it is not pleasing to your ears, it still does NOT = rude.

Children live in a very simple world. Yes means yes and no means no.

Very often, a young child’s complicated behaviour is due to the parents’ conflicting parenting styles, rules and belief system.

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Today, my niece commented on one of my photo posted on Facebook. It was a photo of me and my friend, whom she does NOT know.
She remarked: “y u all two so ugly.”
I laughed it off by replying: “because you so pretty lor! *laugh*”

She is in the stage of finding a voice for herself.
At the same time, it is also a stage whereby she would purposely say things that are alarming enough to get attention.
I was NOT offended by her remark, however this short comment of hers sparked a lot of questions from my Facebook contacts.

“Who is this girl?”
“Why is she so rude?”
“Does she know your friend?”
“If she does not know your friend, how can she say such rude remarks?”
“Must educate her cannot say other people ah.”

My respond was the same to these 5 caring people.
“I LOVE kids, becos they are what they are.
no fake, no act.
say what’s in their heart/mind.
which is why I laughed it off in my reply comment to her.
I do not want to educate her, becos it will backfire. she is NOT in that age yet to understand what is streetsmart.

i want the truth to continue to flow.
which is why i am feeling ok about it.
just shocked and worried that she might mess with the wrong person the next time (if there IS a next time though).
she has to learn that way….especially knowing her character…
*wink*”

To me, everyone has the right to comment anything they want. If you like to hear nice things only, then the ‘cruel’ social media may not be a place for you.

Terrible comments had been received in my blog before too.
Did I remove them? No!
Did I scold them? No!
Is it even worth to start an argument? No!

Everyone has their own opinions.
When yours is not inline with mine, does that make you right and make me wrong, and vice versa?
No.
It is just a difference in opinion.

I understand the 5 caring people are worried that she may mess with the wrong person in future. Indeed, my niece is very lucky to say those words to me and THIS friend of mine, who has one of the BIGGEST HEART I have ever seen in my life so far. So she is NOT offended either.

I can foresee that if my niece had said that comment to ladies who are sensitive to their outlooks, nasty words might had flew at my niece already.

I do not like to be an overly protective parent, neither will I be an overly protective aunt.

Some things just need to be learned the hard way, before it can go INTO THE CHILD’S HEAD.
*smile*

Keatkeat was very disappointed yesterday, 26th May, when he found out that he had missed the boat rides, the tank rides, the flying fox, the mountain climbing, etc. With all his might, he persuaded us to bring him to the Army Open House @ Our City again today.

With all eagerness, he relentlessly asked for our consent and waited for our heads to nod from last night till this morning! The last time I saw him with such enthusiasm was when he tried his best to make my MIL and BIL agree to let my nieces have their first sleepover at my place.

To reward his amazing effort, we agreed. However, as on all Sundays, it is in-laws’ day for us. So we went for an early lunch at my in-law’s place and wanted to set off right after the meal.

In the end, all three kids over there wanted to go along too! My car could not fit in so many butts, so my SIL suggested a car swop with my BIL’s 7 seater. *thumb up*

3 adults (Allan, SIL and I) and 5 kids went. We did not wait for my eldest niece to arrive with my 2nd SIL and 2nd BIL because we did not want Keatkeat to miss anything again, we wanted to be there early.

***Too many photos to post, all are great memories. So I decided put majority of the photos on slides.

I was just as eager to do all of that which Keatkeat and Binbin was looking forward to, but was GREATLY upset when I could not meet the basic requirement : wear covered shoes!!!

*scream* So sad!!!

So SIL brought the 5 kids for tanker ride while I looked at them with my envy eyes….

Other than wearing covered shoes, it is also a must to be at least 10 years old for anyone who wants to try the flying fox and the rock climbing. *humph*
So the only ones who could enjoy these activities were my SIL and my elder niece, but none of them want to try!!! Aaawww….what a waste~!

Hence we moved on to the boat ride, something less adventurous. And once again, Allan, my nephew and I could not participate because we did not meet their basic requirement (see picture below).

Thank goodness SIL was there with her track shoes on, otherwise Keatkeat and Binbin would be so disappointed again.

***Thank you SIL for taking photos of the kids in the tanker and the boat ride.

While they were cruising, Allan and I became the ‘parent‘ of one young child once again, who is easily satisfied with simple activities. *wink*

We brought the Kindergarten 1, who is obsessed with guns, to the demo show. It was great for me to watch it again because I missed the Red Lions during yesterday’s show, due to bad weather. Read yesterday’s post: “Army Open House @ Our City 2012”

Next stop: the bouncy-basketball-game….

and since he is so obsessed with guns, we thought it would be a PERFECT opportunity for him to get his hands on REAL GUNS!

After Keatkeat and Binbin had done what they came back (to Army Open House @ Our City 2012) for, the 5 kids were finally reunited again for more fun.

Other things they did on Day 2 at the Army Open House, include wearing a gas mask, sitting on a police bike, holding a real bomb, doing CPR, playing with ‘electricity‘ and playing at bouncy castle too.

What a day!
Keatkeat and Binbin thinks that BOTH days were just as fun!
This 2nd trip to the Army Open House 2012 was definitely worth it!
*clap clap clap*

Army Open House @ Our City 2012 Day 2