I am a big girl already.....

Mommy and I were "trained" by parents who had easy access to the tiny rattan cane (0.3cm) diameter in case the children were found to be an absolute nuisance. My sister and I were lucky as we did not have it tough like my elder brother. All we did most of the time was run and hide, and at times we left my brother to deal with the discpline session with my parents. We got away quite a few times and only we knew.

Now that I have my own children, I thought it would be similar. The older child, Clarissa (4 yrs) has had a bigger share of scolding, spanking and caning (if it get's out of hand). My parents look at us in disbelief when we discipline our children. It seemed to have worked out well eventually.

Mommy had a chat with Clarissa last week and struck a deal with her. She would not be caned or spanked if she would behave herself. Clarissa gestured to the cane and said, "I am a big girl already and I don't want the cane". I suppose it was a deal that we could not reject ourselves as she promised to be good. I knew that there would be times that she would stretch our patience a wee bit more than she should but we needed to be better at dealing with them.

Now that Clarissa behaves much better she has taken our role to discipline her little sister, Christa. I suppose she just imitates what she sees. Mommy and I need to revamp our strategy with our children. I could hear them say,"...Mommy, Daddy, reason with me ... and we will do what is best for everyone".

As children, they would always have fun. Sometimes to the extent that we do not understand. But it's all part of growing up and learning to live with the adults like Mommy and I.

A piece of Kraft Cheese to start the day!

Since Mommy had to wake up earlier to go to work nowadays, I was helping out to prepare Christa's morning Growing-up milk just before she to woke up. Soon after drinking the milk, she assisted me (by lifting her buttocks off the mattress) when I changed her ScoobeDry diapers. She previously found it difficult to get up until I asked her the magic question. "Christa, do you want some Cheese?". She immediately opened her eyes, rolled off her bottom and pushed herself up and says, "I want Cheese! I want!".

I suppose giving her her daily dose of Calcium and milk through the cheese is a good idea. Better still if it also gets the children out of bed in a cheerful mood! We have avoided giving her sweat and other fatty foods and have been encouraging her to take more fruits and vegetables(see Daily Estimated Calories and Recommended Servings for Grains, Fruits, Vegetables, and Milk/Dairy by Age and Gender)

Off she went with me to the refrigerator and she patiently watched me peel off the plastic wrapper. Within 30 seconds, the whole slice was gone! She reached out to take my hand as we proceeded to the baby-sitter's home.

I accidentally ..... pushed Christa!

Clarissa (3+yrs) and Christa (1+yrs)came back after a visit to Grandad and Grandma's place while I was having shower. They were happily laughing away when I heard Clarissa saying, "Don't!". Soon after that, Christa came out rushing from the bedroom wailing with her whole face as red as a beetroot. Upon seeing that I was busy changing she rushed to the kitchen looking for Mommy.

I picked up the pace and asked Clarissa what had happened. "I accidentally...!", she exclaimed. "Tell me the truth, Clarissa!", I added. "Christa pulled my hair! Then I pushed her and she fell down!". She didn't mention that her sister fell off the bed onto the floor.


I was pleased that she told the truth and did not use the excuse, "accidentally". Clarissa got off with a reprimand but Christa found solace in the arms of Mommy. I rewarded both with raspberry jelly marshmallow.

Going Grapes to get to school?

Clarissa (3+yrs) and Christa (1+yrs) were both rather lethargic this morning as the weather was rather pleasant at 25 degrees C. Neither wanted to lift their heads of the bed and mommy had only 10 minutes to get them ready. "Christa! Clarissa!", I called out to them. Christa rolled on her tummy and held her bolster tighter. Clarissa was in her own world and stretched a little.

"Who wants grapes?", mommy asked. Christa quickly rolled off the bed towards the kitchen. Clarissa clamoured to be taken out of the cot. Within 10 seconds both were in the kitchen. Within the next 30 seconds they were at the gate of our condominium unit with their shoes on (see picture)

I can't remember what my parents did to get me out of bed. Must have been the fear of the cane which got into our heads or the joys of attending kindergarden.