Ingrid

The daily grind.

Every weekday morning at 8.45am, I drop Ellis off at school.

Other than a brief period in Toddler class (she's now in Playgroup) where she would happily let me go - off and running to play with nary a backward glance! - she's started acting clingy again. It started when we returned from a short trip to Malaysia in November last year, and hasn't really improved since.

I don't think she doesn't like school. Why?

She always tells me in the car on the way home from school (& even on the weekends). Mummy, I want to go to school. I don't want to go home.

And she's always cheery when I pick her up in the afternoon. And, she doesn't complain when Kisu drops her. I think she just wants me to stay with her in the mornings.

There's no bawling or screaming, but she's definitely unhappy and complains when I try to leave. At best, she'll get distracted by a teacher and I'll stealthily make my way out. (I do make sure to say goodbye & give her a hug before I go) At worst, she'll start crying as I start to leave, which she did this morning.

Today, as usual we climb the stairs and reach her classroom on the 2nd floor.

Miss E comes over to welcome Ellis.

Ellis hides behind me and grabs my leg.

Me: Ellie, look at what your friends are doing - do you want to join them?

Ellis (whining) : I don't WANNA see Ingrid!

Ingrid is not a classmate, but MISS Ingrid, who's supervising the kids painting at the back of the room.

I instinctively start to laugh because it's just SOOO funny, but stifle it when:

Miss E: What's that you said, Ellis?

I try to cover up -

Me to Miss E: I can't believe she said that! (feeling like I should chide her instead of finding it amusing)

But I can't help it.

I laugh in the car on the way out and call Kisu to tell him what his daughter did in school today.

Birthday Celebration Part 1

My conclusion: She has no idea what the heck is going on.

The Thinking Chair *

Ms L, Ellis' class teacher at school usually gives me an update on the day's activities when I pick her up in the afternoons. Typically, this consists of, Oh Ellis really enjoyed art and craft today! Or, she had a great time in the playground!

But one day:

Ms L: Today, Ellis and N were playing with the toy blocks, and N took her toy block. And Ellis did this (hand grabbing at face motion) to him.

Me: Oh dear.

Ms L: But when we told her to say "Sorry", she did.

And one week later:

Ms L: Oh, today, Ellis walked past A and she pulled his hair.

Me: Oh no!

Ms L: Yes, she walked past A (who was seated) and suddenly reached out and grabbed his hair. A was so startled, he screamed.

Me: (speechless)

Ms L (trying to soften the blow): You know how A's hair is really curly? I think maybe she was curious about it so she pulled it.

Me: Oh dear, that's no good. But it's happened before, right? The other kids do such things too, right?

Ms L: Errrrm....actually no, not really.....

Me: ......(oops)

* The Thinking Chair refers to the little red wooden chair at one corner of the classroom where the kids are sent to after something like the above happens. Ellis is obviously familiar with the piece of furniture. I'm so not prepared for this. Have ordered a bunch of parenting books off Amazon.

Ellis Makes a Mooncake

Oh yes, she did. School had the kids making snowskin mooncakes on 1st October, Children's Day. Which is one day before they celebrated the Mid Autumn Festival. Ms Lou told me that Ellis enthusiastically rolled the dough with a rolling pin, pummeled and shaped it into...this:

The mooncake was place in front of her purely for phototaking purposes - she kept trying to eat it and I had to pull it away from her mouth while still trying to get a shot of them together. Naturally, she got upset at having her tasty creation repeatedly snatched from her.

And to finish off, here is Ellis going "Cheers!" and clinking her milk mug against the jug.

School Update

After her initial bout of bronchalitis following the start of school (she attended 12 out of 20 days in the month of July) and a month away in August, Ellis resumed daycare in September.

I was this close to pulling her out because of her extended absence, but decided to stick it out one more month. I am glad to report save for 1 day where she had the sniffles, she is well, attending and enjoying school. To the extent that she's off and running when I drop her off, and in no particular rush to leave when I pick her up in the afternoon.

I'm thankful that she's doing well there and even picking up some Chinese - she will enthusiastically say "Zai Jian (goodbye)!" and "Xie Xie (thank you)". As she's the only toddler in her age group that stays in school beyond noon, she spends the afternoons hanging out with the older kids which I think is good exposure for her. They're really sweet too, yelling "Bye Ellis!" when she leaves for the day, or making sure that she has her teddy with her at all times.

And of course for me, I have the luxury of time off - I am free to go to the office, have lunch with friends or go for a spot of retail therapy during the time she's at school.

Bronchalitis

Five days of school and the girl got sick.

It started with a slight cough (which began on day 3 of school) which turned into wet, chesty sounding hacking and a low grade fever. I thought it was a regular flu but it turned out to be bronchalitis.

Thankfully Kisu convinced me to bring her to the paed, otherwise I wouldn't have known how serious it was. We were told to keep her at home for at least a week as she was contagious.

She was prescribed an arsenal of medication - I didn't like the idea of medicating her so much but her coughs sounded pretty bad and were affecting her sleep.

So, 5 days of school and 7 days at home (childcare is good business, man)

Thus begins the going to school-falling sick cycle.

She's back at school today - and I'm bracing myself for the next episode.

End of Term Party at Julia Gabriel

Selina & Sebastian

She wanted a balloon so I blew one up for her. Took me a few tries.

That's all I'm gonna get?

That can't be right. Service please!!!

Outdoor playarea with George

Playground. It was hot.

Back inside for music time and "graduation". Each child gets a "certificate" and portfolio of all the art & craft he/she did over the term.

Hanging around after class

With teaching assistants Siti & Shoba and teacher Lin (L-R) and Sebastian

With Selina & Sebastian. Pity Jolynn was sick or we would have had Jolynn and Joey in the photo as well.

Photo of the Day 23.01.09

The kids were asked to dress up in their CNY finery for school today. I pulled out a gift from my ex-colleague Dora - it's a cheongsam and "fur" trimmed vest set that she bought in China on one of her frequent business trips there. 

I think kiddy brocade cheongsams can be found here, but the vest is pretty unique and the mums and teachers at class were so tickled seeing Ellis in it.  I'll probably put the girl in it again for actual CNY since it went down so well today!

school

Figure i'll just keep blogging and figure out the post dated entries later. I'll stop blogging for good otherwise!

The latest development for ellis is that she's now attending "school"!

Ever since she turned one and started walking actively, she's been a bundle of energy and I felt she was getting quite bored at home. I'm not the type of mum who will actively structure learning activities so I felt kinda guilty that she wasn't exposed to more when she's absorbing everything like a sponge.

I was thinking of trying Growing Up Gifted or Julia Gabriel and decided on the latter based on word of mouth recommendation. I brought her for her first class yesterday. I thought I was setting myself up for disappointment because I had pretty high expectations given all the good reviews from friends, but it was really quite impressive, and a lot of fun - even for me!

I particularly enjoyed the story telling session - teacher Lin read a book called "Titch" and had lots of fun sounds and actions to accompany the story. All the kids paid rapt attention - something which I thought was very commendable given the distracted kids I've seen at other classes I've been to.

Ellis not unexpectedly, ate 3 cookies versus the other kids' 1 or 2 during snack time and wanted more. Ignoring the half eaten cookie on her plate, she kept pointing at the container full of cookies that the teacher's assistant was holding. Since I'm told that what I'm paying for in fees goes mainly to the organic food served, this cannot be a bad thing.

For a hour and a half, the kids did sponge stamping, ran around in the playground, played with bubbles, sang songs. She's still not of the age where I can just leave her at class and take a break while she's there, but I was still glad for a proper structured programme and for the interaction with other kids.

She conked out in the car on the way home. And finally I was able to put her down for a nap in the afternoon - something which has barely happened since she turned one. I'm looking forward to the next class :)