Exploring Our Children’s Potentials

Before I had Vai, I told myself that I don’t want to be stuck at home everyday, simply because I’ve had TWO kids. In other words, I’d love to still be out and about WITH the kids although Wilson’s off to work.

And now I’m happy to see that I’m doing what I’ve planned to do.

But hey. It doesn’t mean it’s been easy though.

When Anya was a baby, bringing her out, anywhere, was relatively easy for us. Most of the time, she’s happy to play with her toys and when she’s sleepy, she’d just doze off to sleep all by herself. Without much fuss.

But this second kid of mine is way different.

Vai can hardly sleep when we’re out and about. If the pram is on the move, he’d usually be happy to look around. But if we stop for a meal or something, he’d soon ask to be carried. If we don’t, he’ll let out a cranky cry so loud, it is impossible for anyone not to give us the ‘look’.

If he’s sleepy while he’s outside, he’ll most likely be grumpy. And even if in the end he does manage to go to sleep by himself while on the pram, it’ll be after he lets everyone around us know how cranky and sleepy he is (read: by making super loud noises)

(Thanks to my sling, I can breastfeed Vai discreetly, anytime, anywhere! He’s happy when carried over my hip too!)

Frankly, I do often feel that it IS more convenient to just stay at home with the kids (or wait till Wilson’s free to come along with us). Especially since Vai’s quite fine if we’re at home.

I’ve given this a thought quite some time ago. And I know it actually is all up to me.

And I choose to still go out WITH the kids. I think it’s good for all three of us to go out, refresh our mind (and eyes), meet people and see the outside world.

And the ‘consequence’ … well, … less convenience for me. The bag. The pram. The two kids (read: one is easily grumpy, the other … hmm, right now she’s a very slow eater and asks questions A LOT). Feeding the two kids (and me!) at meal times too.

Oh well.

I know having more than one kid is not meant to be easy. But somehow I know I won’t regret doing what I do. You know. Taking the kids out and all that.

It’s just part of the adventure and challenge I’d one day look back on and treasure, I think.

I woke up today with a strong urge to bring the two kids out. Just want to take them to somewhere interesting. Zoo. Park. Anywhere.

And so, we went to Singapore Science Centre today!

It was (obviously) the kids’ first trip there. And the last time I went to Science Centre was about 7 years ago. Quite a lot of things have been nicely upgraded actually!

The three of us took the bus, the train and walked under the scorching sun for a while. When we finally entered the building … ah, the gentle breeze from the air-conditioner was just sooo nice!

Anyway. Anya had a blast there.

She pressed on the buttons. Checked out the exhibits. Saw live sea animals (there’s an aquarium section!). And hmm, she got shocked quite a few times at the sudden rather-loud sound of metal exhibits. Hehe. She went and pressed on the buttons again and again afterwards though!

Right now Anya may not really understand the scientific concepts the exhibits are trying to show (and teach). BUT I still think it’s great that Anya went there today because I’d like to simply … introduce her to the fun and cool aspects of science.

The actual scientific explanation written on the panels obviously is a bit too ‘advanced’ for toddlers, and so I just simplify things and explain some of them to her.

Like when we saw an exhibit showing two metal rods and how electricity travels up and down the rods, I explained to her that electricity can pass through metals and that she must remember to always be careful with stuff like power points, electrical sockets, etc. You know. The basic safety tips kids need to know.

Anyway.

Our day out was great!

I guess I’m just a bit sentimental today.

I looked at this photo and thought … my kids are ageing in front of my very eyes.

These little ones (who used to be even tinier) grow up SO fast!

Ah. I’m glad I’m very much a part of their growing up years, though.

The three of us went to the library yesterday. Anya as usual was very excited and she talked about it a LOT even before we left home.

Once we’re there, she’d go straight to the toddlers’ section, pick up some books, sit on the carpet and start flipping through the pages, occasionally asking me to read and explain to her what the pictures are all about.

Although Vai is still too young to understand the content of a book right now (the books usually end up in his mouth!), I’ve started introducing him to books anyway, … baby books with big, colourful pictures.

I’d explain to him what the book is about and read the stories to him. Anya, always wanting to be a part of what I do with Vai, usually would listen in and share the book with him too.

Here are some great articles on why it’s recommended to start reading to your babies since they’re very young:

>> Reading to your baby (babycenter.com)

>> Reading and Languange (PBS Parents)

>> Reading books to babies (kidshealth.org)

Other than bonding with our kids through reading sessions with them, I believe it’s always good to instill habits, any good habits, when they’re still little.

And reading is one of them.

Being a 5.5-month-old baby, Vai obviously can’t crawl yet… but I do notice that he practices his moves very often lately.

Hmm.

Anya loves the idea of making cards for other people … especially after we took part in Kidscraftweekly‘s Christmas Card Swap last December.

Now that Chinese New Year is coming soon (on February 18th), she has a reason to make MORE. And by now we’ve made two cards. One for her greatgrandparents and the other is for my parents (ps. my family still follows the chinese tradition very closely).

The thing is, when it comes to chinese characters and writing, I honestly am VERY clueless (hmm, okay. I know A FEW characters, but since I can count them all with my two hands, I really am not that proud of it).

Anyway. We chose the easiest way out.

For the card, I used nice red cartons. And for the front of the card, I cut out the patterns found on some of my unused hongbaos (Anya did the glueing and sticking). AND just to make the card a bit more ‘interesting’, Anya added some glitters here and there. Hehe.

Oh also, we’re sticking our family photo on the inside left page of the card.

Ah. It’s always nice to send out something that we make ourselves to our loved ones.

In the past 3 days, Vai’s been busy learning how to hold himself steady while sitting up unsupported and … getting himself into a crawling position!

For the crawling bit, I think it’s somehow affected his sleeps though.

He’s more cranky at night just before he ‘totally’ falls asleep. His nap time is much much shorter too. AND, whenever we’re outside, he’d be awake most of the time. He’d ‘crash’ only when he’s REALLY tired … and when he’s in my sling! (Urrgh … my back, shoulders and arms need a good rub at night)

And so lately I often see Vai pushing himself forward army-style. He’d then get into a crawling position, freeze for a few seconds (sometimes he’d then rock back and forth), then return to his original ‘posture’.

Hmm.

I just feel so much better when he’s on the ground nowadays.

…and hmm, mommy just gave me a haircut!