Getting lost is time wasted

Barney and i visited the grand aunts on monday. Aunty Lucy had called several times during the week asking to see the boy. So we went to Ang Mo Kio, taking the SLE missing the Yio Chu Kang turn and going all the way to Yishun, got lost in the estate and then found a road to Sembawang and thompson. We finally get there and aunt Lucy says we ought to visit Aunt Annie cos she was warded in the hospital the day before for food poisoning. So we troop down to breakfast, bought some grapes for the aunt and got some more T-shirts for Barney who was also treated to chocolates, biscuits and 3 times on the car ride machine.

We get to Aunt Annie's and she's so happy to see us, she lets go of her 'lum-jum' and gets washed up. I also catch up with Lorainne who has the tummy flu and has to stay home, and get a glimpse of Jan. I scrurry Barney downstairs to play with toys and wait for my mum as she chats with Aunt Annie.

Barney has the tummy flu today. We were up since 2am as he slept, tummy churned and threw up 8 times. We brought him to the doctor after washing up wet poo. The doctor was surprized that he was still so energetic after the long night. The whinning and lying on the carpet, and wanting to be carried only appeared after we got home. I switched on you tube and played all his favourite nursery rhymes and he falls asleep in my arms.

I'm learning to not bring baby to visit the sick, and learning that i need to learn the SLE route before driving on it again, otherwise i realise getting lost is a lot of time wasted.

Projecting a happy future

The science centre [ke qi guan as i'm taught by Barney's chinese teacher] is a great place for kids of any age. Barney had a great time yesterday, imitating the T-rex at the door, then he watched the Bear movie, made a bear puppet, was given a chipmunk tatoo, and then treated to a science experiment with a polar bear coming out intermittently. Of course, Barney had the most fun calling for the bear to come out on stage, and the rest of the kids cheered as the kor kor and cheah cheah showed them how to freeze a banana and make it into a hammer etc..There were lots of kids from different schools celebrating children's day at the centre.

I went to the SAM museum myself last friday, as Barney fell asleep on the car ride there. Good to know there was a $50 000 grant given to the winning artist in a competition called Singapore Buffet. Mostly Nafa student entries but i'm sure if there were more publicity more people would have got involved.

Glad Barney's growing up in a place that encourages curiosity and fun, thinking and innovation.

Staying in the pink

Woke up yesterday with a churning tummy, head spinning, loss of appetite. Thought it was due to the fact that i didn't have my usual quota of rice the day before. Looks like it's time to get back to an exercise programme so i can eat my rice and not feel guilty. Anyway there was a spew of health articles in the papers, which i thought was alright but was bent on self medication. So after forcing down a piece of bread and some milo, i also downed a panadol and multivitamins, rested the day and wala! all better.

The thing that gets my tummy churning still is barney still crying as he steps into school. Bells go ringing and i have to swallow hard to wave bye see you later. Maybe i'll take him to the museum after lunch today, that should make him happy.

A society that lacks social skills

The sunday sermon was insightful as it was a challenge to be a KPO or a Busibody in the light of care and concern for people in our social circles, neighbourhood, work place and home. Strangely most people keep to themselves, thinking it is better not to be nosey about things. But to have any impact on others, one of the best ways is to get involved, especially through a personal relationship. We need more leaders to initiate activities that strenghten and encourages people, activities that show people we care; radicals who can ignore the stereotype and reach out and share abundant life, peace and joy that has been given.[1 Tess 3]

The next sunday, another pastor preaches Don't be a busibody, Work with your hands or have nothing to eat, Srive to live a quiet life, most of all LOVE your brother more.[1 Tess 4] Looks like the love is most important.

City Harvest Children's Day Concert

The teacher tells me the day before, the kids will go to church tomorrow. Being curious, i decide to attend. It was a long bus ride to jurong, and the kids were treated to a cheering contest, then a high energy concert, then a "magic" entertainment and a large man who amuses them with balloons and even gets into one himself, it continues with a puppet show and kids learning the concept that a friend loves at all times. 2 boys go on stage and are asked to choose which present he will give his friend. He is rewarded with a bigger present when he gives his friend the best present. Then the hippo story is told but Barney is hungry and starts to cry. I bring him outside and feed him the squashed bread talk bun i have in my pocket, then we go back to join the group who are getting ready to go home. I'm told on the bus, this is an annual treat and the church provides the whold experience for free. Wow, the extent of outreach!

Some of the kids sleep on the bus ride home and Barney naps in my arms.

The trouble with words

The more words we learn, the more we extend our experience. It's like music; the more nuances you find, the more feelings and meaning is released into our experience; but too much and it becomes crude, jarring. Then it can encourage, dishearten, enlighten, sicken, it can come alive when you enunciate, give different meaning depending on the accent or tone, it can cut, or sow peace..
So we are asked to love our neighbour. (being faithful in little things) and not love the whole world (only God can do this, it is His burden) but words will preserve the experience..

I am glad Barney's learnt "eat", "please", "no" and "good".
Not as happy when he spits, pinches, when he's "bad."
But no words required when he gives me a hug.

How do you love your fellow man?

I remember asking the question about 2 and half years ago:) and i remember when i got pregnant it was part of the answer to the question. God's sense of humour gets you at gut level. Loving a little man was a strange and new phenomena. You had to feed him, see if he had enough to eat, drink, see if he had enough brain stimulation, play with enough toys, read enough books, learn enough ABCs, revised enough old books, toys, ideas, develop some etc, then have enough to take a nap. whew.

So it is with people i guess. The choir has been energised by a kind friend who has helped to inspire, cajole, teach with the most wonderful sense of humour and i can only sit and sing with wonder and awe as she whips, polishes, extends, opens the gut, throat, then anchors the the butt and hones the sound in samurai slashes and swoops. Such that i feel humbled to even try to imitate. Still i have promised to try.

Breathe. Start with little steps.
Today's sermon be gentle, encouraging...
Thank God He loves me, just pray i can transmit His love to my fellow man.

Planning a holiday

Holidays have changed in their nature. Before it was on any spur of the moment and anywhere and do anything. Now it's how fun will it be for this little boy. And after pouring over the brochures, the answer is as long as we can enjoy it together, it's the right one.

The best is a hands-on interactive type vacation, with activities that keep the little one occupied. Similar to the zoo experience, i think a day out to the underwater world and petting some sea creatures sounds good. (sounds like sentosa or seaworld in queensland), a wet cruise on a float, some disneyworld rides, a farmstay hmm... sounds like more aussieland. Though i think a trip out to a water park in singapore or science centre or farm will be just as enjoyable.

Anyway rolling down east coast on a segway sounds like fun too.
A holiday, is to do something different every now and then.;)

yes is yes and no is no

Barney stayed home all yesterday to nurse a cold that he picked up when he had a bath instead of going to sleep. The boy has boundless energy even with a cold, running, then reading, climbing, then building, playing with his many trucks; and he demands company all the time. For a mother who needs time for herself to recover, it was exhausting. The good that did come out was Barney's ability to repeat the alphabet from A to Z and count from 1 to 10 and the new word "chop" goes with the new chop that prints good with a smiling teddy. So i sent him to school today, starving off his cries by singing his favourite nursery songs. With a betrayed frown, he insisted on bringing his 2 chinese books to school.

So often we have to bite the bullet, make a decision and take steps to follow through to grow. Yes Barney needs other people to interact with, yes he needs to let go of his Mammy, yes i need some time to do my own reflection to make sense of things, yes school is the answer but why does it make my tummy knot up and i sigh..i guess the truth is i wish i could be all things for this little tike, but i have to admit i can't, and i just have to trust that others will help me care for him.

The learning process seems to take forever.

I do get encouraged when i see people grow. This morning my friend has reported she has learnt to swim:)
I see another doing well with her young ones:) Time for me to learn to be a leader; according to a freind you have to learn to be all things at all times. It must be the hardest thing to do but i will try.

why are we stuck?

Reminds me of a U2 song...and i remember to refocus on brighter things...a beautiful day.
sigh..the renewing of your mind is a discipline in itself; and i remember it takes little steps to get the river flowing.

So i ask myself what would make family life better? organising the next birthday celebration.
What would make the hubby smile? a box of chocolates, a surprise box/list/basket
What would make baby laugh? playing catching, dancing, playing with cousins.

What would make choir better? more responsibility of leaders over welfare of members
What would make social life better? organise the next wellingtonian gathering
What would make my relationship with the maid better? Setting clear objectives and affirmation
What would make my relationship with the neighbours better? inviting them for a meal or to the next bbq.phew.

wah. ah..tim will be on hol in oct.
pray God will help me again:)

Leading

Looks like it is the time to spur one another on, to aim for the goal. The trouble is pushing one's self to take on the responsibdility, to let go of the fear of making a mess.

This morning, my hubby tells me "You need to discipline the boy yourself and not use others to hide behind. Don't tell him daddy says so when you mean mummy says so. Don't tell him kong kong will scold him, when you need to scold him, and mean it." So Barney went to school today after a long break fri to tue, tears, screaming grabbing my blouse at the school doorway as the principal takes him from my arms. But when i went to fetch him it was a whole different picture. He saw me, called out "Mammy!" and ran into my arms, having had a good day dancing, playing in the gym and i'm told having a long chat with the auntie in the kitchen. With all smiles he tells me school was "good" and at lunch he says "pasta nice" and rattles words like "table" "longan" "grapes".

Again i'm reminded to take on the mantle as a leader for the choir. It was easier staying quiet and letting others lead. But apparently the time has come for me to spur the choir on, take charge of the discipline, and push them toward the goal. The vision for choir is to be the light of the world. That's why we've been singing "Give me oil for my lamp", "carry the light","the mind of christ" "the servant song" and "you(Jesus) are the light".
I just hope God gives me to boldness to tell them.