Time will tell

Dearest Phoebe,
last weekend was a special one as you partook in our 5th wedding anniversary celebration on Saturday, 22 November. The other coincidence is that when Mummy and Daddy got married 5 years ago, it was a Saturday too.

We had lunch at Seah Street Deli which was a one of our favourite haunts while we were dating. Nowadays, we really take pleasure in bringing you out for meals as you have exhibited enough discipline and motor skills to sit down and eat family meals together. It doesn't really matter if it's fine dining or eating at the hawker centre. I really enjoy the social bonding we experience during mealtimes.

The following day, we went for a play "The Hungry Caterpillar" by Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, a theatre troupe from Canada. The last time they visited our shores, we caught their adaptation of "Guess How Much I Love You". You had your own seat and when the show started, you quietened down and paid attention. Daddy stole many sidewards glances at you during the show, I must say you were really mesmerised by the elaborate set and the puppets. The play had enchanting narration and the props used stayed true to the illustrations of Eric Carlye. It was as though we were immersed in his books!

Phoebe, there are many a times when I would wonder aloud what sort of profession you would take up when you are all grown up. Would you pursue your dreams or would you be lull into a pragmatic life of a working professional, working to pay off your worldly possessions and hoping to save up enough for retirement?

Just yesterday, I was sharing my thoughts about you turning into a professional writer with Mummy. Writing books for a living, touring the world to speak to people about your writing; sharing your vision with like minded people from the world over.

You have exhibited strong language skills ever since you were a wee baby. It is your strength, a trait that no one can take away or deny its existence. However, this very trait would lose its lustre if you choose to suppress it or not to exercise it. Know your strengths, understand your weaknesses and most importantly, trust yourself.



Be good and smile pretty,
Daddy Dearest

Mum's little toadstool

Dearest Phoebe,

Mummy hasn't been writing again; maybe subtlely mummy has decided to leave it to Daddy to pen the entries. Not only because he can express better, but also because Daddy is more objective afterall.

Anyway, here's a quick entry from Mummy. You are now able to narrate certain incidents that happened in school. Although mummy would never know how much of it is true, it is really comical to hear from you how one of your classmates scratched her backside in class, what you ate in school, the art and craft that you did, and Ms Zarina giving you stickers while on the school van home.

However, just now, you told Cindy jie Jie that you were scolded in school by one of the teachers. You still weren't able say why and how but at that moment, the at-times over-protective mummy in me just felt very sorry for you. Although daddy and I know you have an extremely fiesty temper and uncontrollable tantrums, the thought of you being scolded by someone other than mummy herself is just unbearable.

Nonetheless, we hope through all these discipline in school and at home, you learn to manage your emotions better. For that, mummy needs to work on being more patient with you too.

Love you, my little darling, sometimes known as mummy's little toadstool :-)

Something yet to learn...

Dearest Phoebe,

Mummy and you are both sound asleep now. Last weekend was special because we had our first ever parents-teacher meeting with Teacher Bavani and 李老师. They are your English and Mandarin teachers respectively.

We brought you to this meeting because when you were just a toddler, we brought you along wherever we went. Fortunately, during the meeting, Teacher Bavani brought out some crayons and paper and you busied yourself with them while the meeting was conducted. The thing that struck Daddy was that Teacher Bavani said that she had to find ways to challenge your inquisitive mind.

She mentioned a particular incident when you noticed the branches of the shrubs just beyond the classroom window swaying in the wind. Then, she said that you two sang the song "A, B, C, D..." together according to the rhythm of the swaying branches. I found it particularly amusing!

However, she mentioned that you can be very stubborn at times as you wanted things to go your way. This is not new to us as we have seen you exhibit such behaviour before. Frankly, I believe that you get away with it easy in school as the admonishment you get from Mummy is much harsh and fierce. You do get your fair share of scolding from Daddy as well.

After the meeting with Teacher Bavani, we adjourned to the next table where 李老师 was seated; she had much kinder words for us about you. She did mention your tantrums but her comments were delivered in a euphemistic, typical "李老师" manner; very gentle and encouraging.

She said that you could actually remember which waterbottle your fellow classmates carried and would volunteer to get them when it was time to drink water. Probably that was why 李老师 said you stood out in class and that was evident even to casual observers.

As we collected your report card and pieces of artwork and were about to depart, 李老师 patted Mummy on her shoulder and said "妈妈的付出一定很多!" Then, I knew the teachers-parent meeting had truly ended because those heartfelt words were said from one selfless mother to another.

Be good and smile pretty,
Daddy Dearest

Of Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Dearest Phoebe,

Last Monday, Aunt Vasu and Uncle Rama opened their doors to us for Deepavali celebrations. We feasted on biryani and curried meats while post-lunch snacks comprised mainly goodies made by Aunt Vasu.

We had a nice chat with Mugan, their eldest son who would be leaving for overseas studies soon. One of our conversational topics naturally dwelled on parental guidance and discipline.

Aunt Vasu shared her experience with us and we listened intently as she described how naughty Mugan was when he was just a little boy, not much older than you are now.

Mugan could even recall the incidents when he exhibited anti-social behaviour which drove his parents up the wall, not to mention the embarrassment he caused to his parents. On the contrary, Mugan today is a well mannered young man who is about to embarked on an important phase in his life.

He would soon leave the familiar creature comforts of home and country to pursue his university studies that would most likely determine his future career. He is a polite young man who has a clear head. Though Uncle Rama and Aunt Vasu are worried about his impending departure, I can sense that they have this quiet confidence and trust in him to behave responsibly when he would be away.

As for you, my dear, you were so naughty during your enrichment class today that I could even hear your tantrums though I was outside the classroom. Mummy said that she was so angry that she admonished you there and then.

We are naturally worried about your misbehaviour but we take comfort in the shining example of Mugan. Their strong family bond and open channels of communications amongst family members probably played a great part in Mugan's upbringing. What he is today is an attestation of proper parenting by Aunt Vasu and Uncle Rama.

Hence, as long as we stick to the proven formula of love and open communication, you, our dearest little girl; who is sugar and spice, should turn out wholesomely nice!

Be good and smile pretty,
Daddy Dearest

Mummy loves me....Mmmmmmm...

Dearest Phoebe,

The title of this entry is actually the lyrics for one of the songs in a phonics CD. For the letter 'M', it goes something like "Mummy loves me..Mmmm (4x)... Mmmm is the sound of M". But interestingly, each time you hear this song, you will break into tears and hug mummy tight as if mummy is going to leave you. Perhaps you were touched by it?

Luv, mummy.

In my eyes

Dearest Phoebe,

Just the other day, we were having some fun tickling each other on the bed when you suddenly stared into mummy's eyes and exclaimed "Look! Phoebe is in mummy's eyes!" Haha, silly girl! That was your own reflection but yes, you will forever be in mummy's eyes.

We just wrapped up a nice weekend before it's back to school and work for mummy and daddy. Cousin Gabby came to our house for the first time and you had fun emulating her. Nai Nai was very tickled by how you tried to do some drawing on your own after seeing Cousin Gabby doing so. In Nai Nai's words, it probably shows that you are quite competitive in nature. Hmm...

Later in the afternoon, we brought you to escape theme park and you enjoyed the ferris wheel ride. Unfortunately, the weather was wet and we could not explore any of the rides there other than the ferris wheel. We ended the evening with dinner at Sakae Sushi where you ate almost two bowls of chawanmushi which is your favourite and nearly half a bowl of Udon! Lately, your appetite for solids has improved tremendously and we hope you will continue to eat well and move on to eating more greens too.

Will write again, darling.