Awwww...

Kyra: I like you everyday Mama. Do you like me?

Me: Of course, I like you forever and ever.

Kyra: Wahhhh...thank you mama!

So innocent and pure :)

Games They Play

The games my kids play today are way more advanced than those during my time. We played simple games such as four stones, catching, hide and seek etc.

My kids, on the other hand play computer games, phone games, arcades! Very advanced, considering that they are only 5 plus and 3 plus years of age. Kyle, actually knows how to switch on the computer, locate the games website on My Favourites (www.y3games.com) and start navigating and controlling the games using the mouse and the keyboard. All this just by observing his parents. Its good that kids get exposed to the computer early these days as computer lessons are normal for those PI kids, and I would not want my kids to have a IT culture shock or something when they enter PI.

Even our handphones are not spared. Especially hubby's. The kids are always arguing on who gets to play the games on his handphone. Hmm...maybe I really should get an I-phone. The games application I heard is really good.

Other then all those high-tech games, of course the kids indulge in other form of playtime, such as play-pretend. I always get amused, seeing them play with their cousins, Rae and Ris. Kyra will pretend to be the mummy, and she will get all bossy, with her hands on her hips and Kyle will be the baby, pretending to cry and ask for milk. They have all sorts of role-playing, and they even have performances, when Kyle will be the emcee, and introduce each of them, who will come up to sing or dance. The four of them laugh, scream and even fight during all the games they come up with.

Their imagination are boundless, and anything around the house can be incorporated into their playtime. My bed has been transformed into a camping site, or a boat and even the tables have been transformed into dog houses. Don't ask me how they get their ideas, but I am always pleased that they are active in their imagination.

We normally bring them to arcades at JB, esp the one at Tebrau City, which is more for pre-schoolers. They have racing car rides, sand painting, huge playgrounds and bouncy castles and even miniature bowling. The kids love it whenever we go there.

The ones in Singapore are more for teenagers and adults and of course much more expensive.

Spare The Rod and Spoil The Child??

Disciplining your own child is tough. In fact, I hate it. But somebody has got to do it, right? So what am I driving at?

Well, you see, my son Kyle is at a stage where he is very outspoken and also very responsive to situations around him. Kids nowadays are so different from my time, where whenever my daddy scolds me, we tremble in fear and dare not protest or move an inch.

When I scold my son, he reacts by pouting and frowning and of course protesting. Quick to blame others, such as his sister for an act so obviously done by him. He will eventually break down and cry after I shout at him, but his reaction after calming down is worse. He says things like I don’t like mama, you always scold and beat me, you are not pretty, I don’t want you anymore, I only like ayah etc.

It breaks my heart to a million pieces hearing that, but still such things need to be set straight. Kyle can be very rough and pushy to the point of injuring the other kids…the signs of a bully. Thus I have to constantly remind him to stop until I lose my limit and I shout and out comes the rotan. The other adults, even my husband does not do anything and I feel that it is my duty as a mother to correct his behavior.

I hate it when other adults scold him. Just feeling like tearing their faces when they scold my child. Would they like it if I scold their babies? Thus the need for me to discipline my kid before others take the opportunity to do so.

But at the age of 5, he does not see my point of view and when I scold him, I turn into this big bad wolf whom he does not want to get near to. After he says all those stuff to me, I just kept quiet and hug his sister, who hugs me back and says that mama is her favourite. I tell her that I love her and start discussing on where should our next family holiday be and the fun things we could do while we are there.

Kyle, eavesdropping on our conversation while watching TV, starts to move nearer and nearer to me till he sits on my lap. I teased him, saying I thought you do not love me? He starts crying…and I start to cry. We hugged each other and I kissed him all over his face, wiping his tears away.

That’s the end of one ugly episode, and I believe there will be more as he grows older and nearer to the angst teenage years…sigh…