It’s About Time

Last Friday, Amanda wrote this to me, which i thought it was sweet.

Amanda's handwritten note

Then yesterday, after her phonics class, while at the supermarket, she told her mother that she wanted to give me a “treat.”  When asked why Papa deserves a treat, Amanda answered it’s because Papa takes care of her, and bought her books (I did last week).  My wife took opportunity to commend her on her sense of appreciation and thoughtfulness.  Told her that “you want to show Papa your appreciation” rather than “treat.”

It was heartwarming to hear this when my wife related it to me.  We’ve been trying to inculcate in her a sense of “gratitude-attitude” so it’s heartening to note of such things.

Last night, I came back late from Church because I had to speak with a couple who visited with us.  Amanda didn’t go to Church because she hasn’t yet fully recovered from recent flu.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a note with drawings on my laptop keyboard in the office.  It makes the heart warmed alright.

Amanda's Love Note to Papa

my wife told me that Amanda explained to her that the lines indicate her love for papa.  Her love goes through her to mine, so she said. How cute.   Makes my day, for sure.

Never thought it would come so soon but not surprised that it might; that my little girl needs glasses at the age of 4 1/2.  Recent MOH eye screening done at her Kindergarten resulted in a medical referral slip to Geylang polyclinic. After further test, the optometrist says Amanda has astigmatism though not myopia (which is great).

We brought her then to TTSH’s eye alignment center (for children) to see an ophthalmologist, where she explained possible causes for our girl’s condition.  It was educational for us, but it does mean she has to start putting on glasses and make it habitual.  Though it wasn’t a big deal yet there is somewhat tinge of sadness cum disappointment in our hearts — I guess from both bespectacled parents’ point of view, we both hope it would not come so soon (at least not during childhood!).  Not that we were unrealistic, it’s just that we would like her to enjoy playing carefree– without least form of hindrance. At least for a while.  Yet we’re thankful it didn’t bother her to wear one and she quickly took to it. Personally I’m glad she heeded our instruction most of the time regarding placement of the glasses.

Last Friday during the Children’s Camp, Amanda wanted to have a ride on my shoulder.  I consented and while i was holding to her forearms with both hands, she slipped while trying to climb up.  In the process her left elbow joint was slightly dislocated and caused her great pain.

Thankfully Thuan Wee and Daniel were both around to attend to her and helped to pop it both in position again.  Learned that it is fairly easy for little kids’ joints to be dislocated so caution must be exercised in such activities, innocent though they might be. 

I’m glad we didn’t have to go down to KKH at the end of the day to ascertain the pain or type of damagers inccurred.

Today, marks the end of Amanda’s first year in school (well, nursery actually). Overall, it has been a profitable and wonderful year though we learned that she has difficulty keeping still in class due to her active and curious nature. Besides, it is her first year in class or group setting. Though she attends our Church Sunday School, it is still different somewhat.

Midway through the school year, we had a good chat with her teacher and soon after we had a good talk with Amanda. Though barely 4 years of age, we are often amazed at her ability to comprehend things and in this case, realize our expectation for her when it comes to learning to sit and listen in class. For this we are grateful to God for that.  Since then the second half of school year saw an impressive improvement in behavior.  Of course, occasional reminder from teacher quickly helps her readjust back to the norm.

Besides nursery school, Amanda was enrolled in children’s gym at JWT Gym. The main purpose was to expend her energy! Of course the benefit is that she develops her psycho motor skill besides social skills too. Later in August she was enrolled in Berries’ World for Chinese as well as Montessori Kids World (?) for phonics. We didn’t expect her to excel except to learn and thus no strong pressure on her to do well. Thankfully she is much better now in Chinese as well as phonics though I am anticipating her being able to read on her own. That will be the day, wouldn’t it?

In the interim, I was the chauffeur for all her classes except phonics because it was across the road from our house. My wife brings her there each Saturday. She loves to read and I am glad we both get to read some before rushing her off to shower as well as brunch.

We’ll see how things turn out come K2. . .

While putting Amanda to bed tonight, she suddenly got up and hugged me. Thinking it was her usual good night hugs, I said, “I love you.”  She held me tightly for a while (longer than usual) and then said in soft sobs that God didn’t answer her prayer for a pink motorbike (real bike, not toy).

Backtracking a little, about a week ago, she told her mother while walking past the row of motorbikes parked at the multistorey car park, that she wants a pink motorbike and she’ll pray to God about it. On the spot, she prayed in her simple heartfelt manner, for a bike!  When I heard it I thought since when did she have a wild streak in her to want to ride a motorbike? She was afraid to sit on Vincent’s hybrid Honda bike a year ago.  Anyway, we both thought it was just a frivolous chatter by a child.

This morning during Sunday school, YanHoon asked her what she’d like for her birthday and Amanda replied a pink motorbike without hesitation.  Jismyl and I didn’t think too much about it in our hearts and left it at that.

Back to present.  She asked “why did God not give her a pink motorbike?”  I told her that’s probably because God don’t think she needs it. “But I need one.”  Amused by her response but not belittling it, I told her God will give her what she needs, but not necessarily what she wants.  “If you ask mom and dad for some thing, and if it is good and needful for you to have it, we will give to you,” I said. “Likewise, if you pray for some thing and if it is good for you, God will give it to you.”  I am not sure how much of it she comprehended, but perhaps given time it will sink in.

I’m thankful for this teachable moment, and it reminds that when it comes to praying for tangible, material things, as parents we must emphasize to our children the rationale and the spiritual purpose for that prayer request.  That prayer is not seen as a spiritual ATM but a means to pray to God knowing that He gives us what we need and what is good.

The past couple of weeks have been challenging, not to mention tiring. This was mainly due to Amanda being ill with sinus infection, followed by unknown viral fever that broke out of nowhere it seems.  God was good to see us through that patch. 

This weekend was interesting.  On Friday, our family went to Fish & Co. at Velocity – where Novena MRT station is situated – for dinner (it wasn’t our first choice) so we ordered something from their menu.  My wife chose Swordfish Shoulder meal that was large enough for both of us.  Indeed it was.  But then again, my wife commented that the fish was not fresh. I didn’t say anything simply because I don’t really have that acute taste bud but I know she is not being picky but observant.  It wasn’t worth the money paid anyway. 

Barely an hour later, I broke out in hives that really itches and my abdomen ached.  It occurred just as we were about to leave Funan IT Mall.  B the time we got home. My upper body was so red that it seems like I had gone to the beach and had bad sunburn.  Took two zyrtec and charcoal tablets.  After a couple of hours both subsided. It was only the following morning that the itch and hives were gone; the abdomen much better though not out of the woods yet.  I realized I had mile fever of 37:3 in the morning.  The morning was miserable and the day went by rather lethargically for me. Thankfully nothing significant needed to be done so that helps.

 Amanda said to me on Wednesday, “dad, I have hand, foot, mouth but no disease.”   Kids say the darneddest thing, don’t they?  

Amanda started nursery yesterday.  The first time she attends a school or class setting apart from Sunday school.  She got bored really quickly!  It reveals her independent spirit which in certain ways needs curbing in order for her function well along with others while other hand, the necessary ingredient I think to be her own person.  I’m not sure if it’s due to her being year-end child, she seems to lagging behind in concentration when it comes to group setting. She seems off-focus at times.  So whether it’s due to the boredom that she experiences or the cognitive level.  Will have to see. Too bad our system doesn’t allow parents to hold their kids back for a year if deemed necessary.  Again, it is premature to conclude this is so for she might just attune accordingly in a couple of weeks’ time.

I supposed this is a learning process or eye-opener for us regarding our little girl. Oh how much wisdom is needed to properly steer her in the right direction.

 Last Thursday we had a scare when Amanda tripped and fell head-on to the floor. Her forehead bumped against the marble wall and she wailed loudly as never before. Almost immediately her left forehead had a bluish bump swelling up right before our eyes.

We were so concerned that we forgot to give her ice-pack so as to bring down the swell but drove to Daniel’s clinic to see him. Thankfully “the doctor is in.”  He gave us some warning signs to be mindful of in case she might need to go to the A&E later in the night.   Thankful we are that she never did have any serious injury apart from the bruised forehead of hers.  

I supposed hindsight is almost always 20/20.  it would have been wiser not to let her run on her when she is tired from an outing.  That’s for sure. Amanda tends to be “out of sync” after she had been playing for an extended time. 

Thank the Lord the bruise is going away and she is well.

  We spent a night at the Oriental Hotel that’s along Raffles Ave. the main reason is to watch the NDP fireworks at the bay front.  A special package was made available and my wife was keen to sign up for it.

She has always liked watching fireworks.  The one that serves as best we’ve seen was in a small town in IA. Can’t remember if that special fireworks show was in Union, or what.  That was way back in the summer of 1996 when I was doing internship at Fellowship Baptist Church in Marshalltown, IA.  Bro Katzer brought us there for that 4^th July fireworks.  A unique small town where the folks would drive a small parade through main street with town folks of all ages participating. It wasn’t anything fancy compared to any major cities’ standard but it was no less fun. The Catholic church of the town hosted the special meals where folks paid a reasonable amount. It was a festive occasion no doubt. 

The firework was held at night, and being summer, you can imagine what time it got started!  Nobody complained.   From the vantage point that we had, we could see many cars where folks from other towns drove in to watch the fireworks display. 

It appears that this town has a tradition (no idea when it started) where it puts up a show of this magnitude.  The whole fireworks lasted 45 minutes.  Before the show started, an announcer stated over the PA that they have collected few thousand dollars for the following year’s fire work display. So it appears that this fireworks is the desire of town folks (and those from out of town), and they gave generously towards it. I am sure the various fund raising acts contributed towards it too.  My wife and I felt so much a part of the fanfare.  Thanks for the memories, folks. Sorry that I couldn’t recall the name of your town!

Back to present day. The firework here however lasted only 15 minutes though not small in terms of the amount of fireworks and intensity. I think this is a South American company that produced the show.  The fire works was excellent but what made the experience new was that we viewed from 16^th floor of the hotel so that gave us a new perspective with regards to watching fire works show.  Amanda was enthralled by the show.

How many people watched last night’s show? 27,000 were what I gathered from the MC of the show, which was a downer least to say.  Thankfully, it was a short 10 minutes’ torture before the show began. By the way, those 27,000 in attendance comprise only of those who paid for tickets to see it from the viewing gallery which of course, was the best place to watch the whole shebang. Others who prefer FOC watched from buildings or along the road, and riverwalks. We saw several boats on the river that “parked” for a good view. Of course, people on board must have paid a sum for it too. It’s the best time to capitalize on the occasion for extra pocket change!

The stay at the Oriental Hotel was enjoyable albeit expensive but my wife felt refreshed by the short getaway, so that’s great.