Ah! Kids! (6)

I find myself worrying about my kids - about everything! When they were less than a year old, I worried about every little cough, or sniffle they had. I also worried about them not hitting the milestones, like other "normal" kids.

My older boy just started Kindergarten. Of course, that opened up a whole new part of worry-land for me! Does the teacher like him? Does he have any friends? Is he doing well academically? Why does he still write D's when he is supposed to write B's? Why are his 5's the wrong way round? The list goes on.

I've also been wondering about my 5-year-old's athletic abilities. He does not seem too crazy about playing sports, or display any special abilities at any one sport. He was still riding his bike with training wheels a few days ago! This morning, my husband decided to take the training wheels off my son's bike. He held on to the bike for just a few minutes and then let go! The little guy began riding the bike without the training wheels! Just like that!

Sometimes, I really have to strip off my worry-wart outer skin, and appreciate things that seem to fall from the sky! My son is a typical 5-year-old! He's loud, and irritating at times. However, he's also growing, in so many ways, and without much aid from me! I need to count my blessings, and strive to enjoy my 5-year-old more, before he turns into a stinking teenager! Ha!

A Tribute to Rigley

I did not know you as well as the other two dogs in the family, because I was not around when you came into the family. However, I visited home enough to get to know you more. You were the most playful of the three. You were the youngest! You were fierce sometimes, towards Polo, and drew blood on a couple of occasions. You had funny teeth, and my now 5-year-old always loved doing the "Rigley teeth" to draw some laughs from others. We used a Chinese idiom to describe your relationship with Polo as "lao fu shao qi" (old husband, young wife)! We were teasing!

Did you know why I got Kiri? Before you, there was Chairo! He was the cutest puppy ever! He was so tiny, and lovable! He did have a mean streak, but most of the time, he was lovable! I could not get enough of him! Your owners were very nice, and kind to share him with me. However, I wanted one in my own house. So, I got Kiri, despite disapproval from the boss of the house - Mommy! Guess who is reigning the household now?

Anyway, I remember an incident (think it might have happened before you came) when we took Polo and Kiri to the vet for something. A man who looked kind of rough, and burly, walked out from behind the counter (where they kept sick dogs overnight), with a leash in his hand, while we were waiting outside. Leash, but no dog! He sat on the bench glumly, and started to wipe tears off his face. I wanted to cry too, and held Kiri more tightly. When your owners lost Chairo, it was very sad for us! We knew what that man was going through!

Now you are gone too - so suddenly! We are all in different places, not able to say our goodbyes to you in one place, and to weep shamelessly over you together! I thought about the man we saw outside the vet many years ago again. I did not expect it to be you Rigley, to make me revisit those sad feelings again. You might have joined the family the latest, and had not been in the family for as a long a period of time as the others, but you were loved as much as the others! You will be missed very much!

Ah! Kids! (5)

Older brother is just 4, but he thinks he knows a lot more than Mom, Dad, or other adults. The other day, Mom took him and Little brother to a tennis tournament Dad was running. It was a very important tournament, for up, and coming young tennis players with the hope of turning professional one day! Mom warned Older brother that Dad was working, and he was not supposed to bounce tennis balls against the fence surrounding the courts, or make too much noise. Older brother did not bounce tennis balls against the fence, but he did play with a tennis ball, and bounced it on the ground.

An "overly-concerned" dad was accompanying his son to the tennis tournament. He saw Older brother bouncing the ball on the ground, and told him to be quiet. Older brother was very offended. He came to Mom, and complained about the dad who told him to be quiet. The dad who "shushed" Older brother was sitting opposite Mom, and heard Older brother's complaint. Mom could not help smiling, as she explained to Older brother again about the importance of the tournament to the players, and that we should respect the players' (or their attached parties') wishes. Older brother was still upset, and asked Mom again, "But why did that man ask me to be quiet when I was not making noise?" The "man" of course, was also amused as he heard Older brother's question. Perhaps he thought he went overboard, or for whatever reasons, he tried to make Older brother feel better. He asked, "Young man! Which grade are you in?" Older brother did not understand his question, because he was not in any grade yet. He went to pre-school! The man was a little surprised when he heard Older brother was not even in kindergarten yet. He said, "You speak very well. You don't speak like a 4-year-old!"

Anyway, Older brother was still not happy with the man for asking him to be quiet, when he WAS quiet. Mom finally took Older brother away from the courts, to a place nearby where he could bounce his tennis ball as high as he wished, without upsetting any parents.

Dog Lover?

I do love dogs - some! Really, especially little cute ones! I know, I'm a selective dog-lover! Well, I did not grow up with dogs. I did finally get my own puppy, when I was a very "mature" adult. Even then, my mom would not speak to me for a few days, because I did not respect her wish not to get a dog. I was, after all, still living with her. For the first few weeks (or months), I had to bring her over to my sister's apartment when I went to work, so that my mom would not have to take care of her in my absence.

I got a really cute Pomeranian! My mom finally broke down and started paying my puppy some attention. Who could resist a puppy - especially a Pomeranian that was cute as could be? She stole my mom's heart! After I moved away, she became my mom's dog. It broke my heart not to be able to bring her with me. She was not in the most perfect health, so I was afraid she might not survive the long plane ride. My mom had also grown so attached to her, I did not have the heart to take her away from her. The night before I left, my puppy could not sleep. She kept barking at my packed suit cases!

I was very sad to say good bye to her. However, I get to see her now, every summer when I go home for a visit. She still answers to my call, but my mom is the apple of her eye. She loves my mom, and gets jealous when my mom holds her grand kids!

Anyway, we have some new neighbors. They own a dog, which does not seem very "friendly", in my opinion. One day, I was going to my car, in my own drive way, when this dog came dashing towards me, and barked at me! His, or her owner, was standing across the street. She just stood there, and let her dog bark at me, in my own drive way! I might not know too much about dogs, especially big ones, but I definitely did not sense any friendliness in it! I just stood still - with fear, wondering what I should do. The owner saw what was happening. I was wondering when she would call the dog away. It took her a few lazy minutes, to drag her body over, and say in a nonchalant tone, "She's (or he) friendly!" In my heart, I was saying to myself, "Yah right! Just get her off my drive way!" The dog apparently did not mind her owner very much. It took her a while to "obey" the girl's command. Well, I did not want to make a big deal of the matter, and put it away from my mind.

Another day came when I was driving my kids home. I vaguely heard some barking when I drove into my drive way. I was not paying much attention to the barking because I was focused on getting my car into the garage, without breaking any side-view mirrors (er mirror - one was already broken). Anyway, I got out of the car, and my neighbor's dog came barking and dashing onto my drive way again! I did not want it to bite my kids, so I closed the garage door, just in time to keep it out! It stood outside my garage door, and barked at us for a good 5 minutes!

Call me a selective dog-lover, but I definitely do not like my neighbor's dog! I do not like to be intimidated by a neighbor's dog in my own drive way! I am sorry for the dog because her owner does not care enough to train her, and keep her from causing annoyance to others - on their property .

Ah! Kids! (4)

Older brother just started attending Chinese lessons about 3 weeks ago. He loves going to class for different reasons. He likes skipping his nap, and he loves being with people (even though they speak a language he does not quite understand yet). A week before Chinese New Year, I started playing Chinese New Year songs in my car. Older brother can sing some of the songs now, not getting most of the lyrics right, but it amuses me to no end!

I'm doing a better job of speaking Chinese to Little brother, maybe because he has almond, single-lid-eyes like me! He has acquired the talent of clapping his hands lately. However, he will only respond to the "command" in Chinese. It's really funny when Dad asks him to clap in English, and he just stares at him blankly. Dad asks Mom to say the "command" in Chinese, and his little hands will come together in a clap! Mom hopes Little brother will soon be able to obey the command in both English and Mandarin though!

Ah! Kids! (3)

Older brother likes to play with his cars on a rug with road designs on it. He sets up his cars in lines, and in make-believe parking lots. Little brother just turned one, and has not mastered the great art of walking yet. He crawls about, mostly on his belly, and cars on rugs do not mean "detour" to him. He crawls over the nicely lined-up cars, and sends them flying in different directions!

Older brother does not understand Little brother's inability to play "nice". Older brother gets very upset, and yells at his Little brother, and Little brother, of course picks up on his brother's angry tone, feels hurt, and screams in his baby language, something rude in return. Mom steps in and tries to calm both down, and tries to persuade Older brother to tolerate Little brother's interference in his playing. The alternative, Mom says, is for Older brother to move all his toys to his room upstairs, and play without interference from Little Brother. Older brother, the social being that he is, of course, does not want to play "alone". Mom then tells him he has to put up with the "Giant Baby" destroying his city of cars then (for at least 1 more year). Older brother stops his complaining, and seems to like the idea of treating Little brother as the "Giant Baby" out to destroy his city!

Ah! Kids! (2)

Mom took Little brother to the Pediatrician's office when his 10-month check-up was due. The Pediatrician was a little worried because Little brother was not crawling "right". He slid on his belly, and rolled around to get places. He could not sit up from a crawling position either. The Pediatrician pronounced his actions "delayed". A frown began to appear on Mom's face! She knew Little Brother was not as eager to hit the different milestones than Older brother, but Mom was not worried, until then! The Pediatrician recommended some therapy sessions! Oh dear! Mom left the Pediatrician's office with a somewhat heavy heart.

Little brother turned 1! Mom and Dad still did not take him to any therapy sessions. It was not intentional though, they just could not "find" the time to do so! Of course, Little brother did not start walking when he turned 1! He started sitting up from a crawling position though! He still did not crawl "right", even though his speed had increased tremendously! One time, Little brother dived from his godmother's lap when he saw Mom take out the lap-top! He practically swam towards the lap-top! He loved the keyboard and the screen, especially if he could see himself on the screen!

One new thing Little brother learned to do recently, despite his other "delayed" movements, was doing flips! He loved to be upside down! One day, Dad held him upside down, and pushed Little brother's little legs over, till he reached a standing position. He broke into the sweetest laughter! He turned himself backwards again, wanting Dad to turn him upside down again. Dad did, and he flipped his own legs over! He did a flip! He just broke into laughter after every flip! It was precious watching those short legs at work, and the delight on Little brother's face, when he completed a flip!

Mom wondered if she could talk about the flips at their next visit to the Pediatrician's office, and avoid talking about Little brother's crawling or walking (or rather , his inability to crawl or walk)!

Ah! Kids! (1)

Older brother was very excited! Today might just be planting day! Mom and Dad had a few more errands to run, and then it would be a trip to the Garden Center - to pick out some orange trees! "Maybe!" reminded Mom. To this 4-year-old, planting was a very exciting activity! Mom and Dad had to remind him constantly that the seeds, or trees would not start bearing fruits overnight. "How come?" the ever-expected question, and one parents have to answer constantly since their toddlers learn to say the word 'why'!

Anyway, the Garden Center had many fruit trees. Mom too, got very excited! The lovely thought of harvesting their very own berries and oranges nearly pushed Mom towards making some impulsive choices. Dad was more cautious, and read the instructions and information attached to the plants. Mom finally narrowed down the choices to just orange trees. Older brother was delighted anyway. Oranges! His favorite fruits! However, Mom changed her mind suddenly when she considered the price of the orange trees! With the economy being as bad as it was, she did not think they could spend that kind of money just at the moment. Dad was going to respect Mom's decision. Older brother was about to cry when Dad put the orange trees back! Mom and Dad told him the orange trees were too expensive. They would go home and plant some peas instead. Older brother had to get over his disappointment quickly, because whining would cause him the privilege of any planting activity!

Mom said if the pea planting was a success, they might consider planting oranges in the future! It was hard to watch Older brother's face, when Dad put the orange trees back!

Missing Chinese New Year

Fire crackers, red packets, new clothes... These are often part of the lyrics found in Chinese New Year songs. Regretfully, I was tired of hearing these songs for a time in my life, thinking they were too backward, too "Chinese". It was not "cool" to be too Chinese back then (when I was growing up). I was even too shy to mention I spoke a Chinese dialect - Hakka - at home! What? Not even Mandarin, but a dialect? I was afraid people would know my parents did not have much of a formal education.

Anyway, back to Chinese New Year! Now that I have not been able to travel home for Chinese New Year for years, because I have chosen to live in the so-un-Chinese United States, the uncool Chinese New Year songs are all I listen to, in the car, when this festive season approaches. They bring back such warm (not always good) memories of Chinese New Year I celebrated in Singapore. Now, I tell my 4-year-old how cool Chinese New Year is. He is a chatter-box, and feels it his duty to pass on any information learned from me. I heard him telling his father the other day, "Daddy, I want to go to Singapore for Chinese New Year! Then we can eat tidbits with friends all day, and talk nonsense all day!"

Yes, I do miss eating tidbits and talking nonsense all day, which I remember I thought boring one point during my foolish youth! I remember with some sadness certain years when we did not have enough money to buy new clothes. I remember feeling ashamed to put on the only new dress my mom bought me, from the market in the neighborhood (nobody bought clothes there - they were cheap, and mass-produced). I was hiding at home, looking out the window occasionally to see if any kid got on the same dress as me! I was big on being "original" then! I did not want to be caught wearing something someone else had on!

When we got older, and life got better, the dishes on the reunion dinner table got more, and "meatier". We would have fish, chicken, duck, and shrimp dishes all at the same time! My mom's jumbo shrimp dish was my favorite! We used to only be able to afford sodas during Chinese New Year! The orange soda was the popular drink during this festive season. Now, when I drink an orange soda, it reminds me of Chinese New Year. Sometimes, I even seem to be able to savour the taste of peanuts, or melon seeds (瓜子） mingled with orange soda in my mouth!

My mom and dad are getting old. I dare not ask for much, but I long to spend just one more Chinese New Year with them! I want to absorb as much of the Chinese tradition I left behind, and pass it on to my kids! I want them to learn how cool it is, to be Chinese (and American^.^)!