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Family life as we know it Reviews

Clutter Shifting FTW (ft. Storefriendly Clementi)

January 5, 2021

We’ve moved two months ago and will move again in another two months. Moving is hard for a neurotic mom like me who cannot live with clutter. For the weeks leading to our shift from Holland to our temporary place at West Coast, I hyperventilate on a daily basis seeing boxes packed and piled. Soon those boxes blocked our ways around the flat so much, I had to imagine levitating across the house.

And when we finally moved, it didn’t make sense to open up all the packed boxes (cos’ we will be moving again) so they stacked up over two meters high in every corner of our temporary place and again, I felt the neurotic urge to scream at all 80 boxes of clutter.

I cannot. Help.

Need. help. immediately.

So we looked around to look for a storage unit nearby that would fulfil these criterion, more or less:

(1) I can stop hyperventilating every time I enter the house

(2) I don’t need to pretend things are not there

(3) Anyone in our family can have access to our stuff 24/7, rain or shine

(4) We don’t have to worry about things turning mouldy ( I had vacuum sealed many of my dresses, bags and shoes and need them to be in good condition when I finally see them again in March!)

(5) We don’t have to break the bank paying for it

We found the perfect spot at Storefriendly Clementi, a quick 8-minute drive from our place. When we arrived there and was introduced to two potential spaces, we were won. The location and the storage space (we picked the 36 sqft one) checked all the boxes — easy but secure access, 24/7 availability, free parking, fully sheltered facility PLUS they provided a free move-in service upon signing up.

Storefriendly Clementi is located at 1 Clementi Loop, #03-06, Singapore 129808
This unit was our choice: an elongated 36 sqft one

I needed those boxes moved in since yesterday, and I couldn’t wait to confirm taking it up. So we arranged for the boxes that didn’t make sense to unpack — from fragile glassware and our pots and pans to clothes, books and stationery — to all go PRONTO to our storage unit. All it took was a phone-call to liaise with the Storefriendly’s team of movers, and wa la, our stuff magically reappeared nicely stacked at our Storefriendly Clementi unit.

They came…
They loaded…
And my clutter shifted, from one place to another!

After the movers moved our clutter, we made a few more trips — which were fast and easy, anyway — to put what we didn’t need and take what we needed as and when we needed. The storage is a lifesaver for space-starved peeps like us who stock up a fair bit to squeeze out a little more savings (penny-wise) for our big family. Think buying our supplies in bulk and keeping our kids toys and games and books so that the one that outgrows them can pass them on. I also like the fact that beyond the various sizes of storage units, Storefriendly also has 4×4 locker options which would be great once we settle into a permanent place, and perhaps each child can have one locker each for their keepsakes.

Until our next move, we are glad to have found a facility that meets our needs and have been shuttling in and out now, even more. Because with this additional storage space, we’ve been happily ordering fixtures and furnishings from Taobao (someone at home is expert already) in preparation for renovation, taking advantage of all the 11.11 and 12.12 sale *cue contorted happy dance*

Disclosure: Motherkao received a happy, fair discount for sharing this post, cos good things must share, and many moms are triggered neurotically by clutter, like me.

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Family life as we know it Reviews

First BBQ success [ft. Shepherd’s Pies from shepherdspie.sg]

September 21, 2019

We’ve never done a BBQ ever with the kids and every time we walked down East Coast and smell the waft of food coming from the pits, we always said, let’s do it someday.

And life went on and how busy we got and how quickly my kids have grown. And we decided to plan a family BBQ just for the fun of it.

And so we did.

Probably won’t do again. Hurhurhur, because the husband started the fire, the husband (and later on, the sister) did the cooking and I only could manage occasionally fanning and it was EXHAUSTING.

We didn’t really even plan the menu except some marinated wings, frozen squid and prawns. My MIL had to walk to the supermarket because the realisation that there were no corn cobs nor sweet potato was too unbearable.

But thankfully, Rachel from shepherdspie.sg came to the rescue and sent us her medium chicken pie and two mini beef and chicken pies which we could warm up over the fire very conveniently.

And those were the carbs for the night. The smoothness and creaminess of the mashed potatoes warmed us all, alongside the cheesy top and the slighty spicy filling.

Our hearts were full at our first family BBQ. But will have think hard if we want to barbeque again.

~~~

If you’d like to order some of these lovely homemade pies, the code to use “ELIZABETH10” for a 10% discount from now till 15 October 2019.

Shop your pies here: https://shepherdspie.sg/shop/

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Family life as we know it Invites & Tryouts Milestones and growing up The Kao Kids

Family Life As It Is [Outdoor fam photography with Bespoke Photography]

April 8, 2019

We got our family photos updated recently, and in view of how posing in a studio would be challenging (HAVE YOU SEEN MY KIDS LATELY? They make all sorts of funny faces!), we grabbed at an opportunity to have our family photographed outdoors instead with Bespoke Photography.

I liked that I had no idea what to do for our one hour photo shoot BUT the Bespoke Photography’s photographer had many ideas and still gave me full autonomy to decide. He supplied suggestions, colour schemes, outfits, and even asked me to send him shots and styles that I would like to recreate.

I had initially wanted to head to Gardens by the Bay, but truth be told, I would be too tempted to run into the Cloud Forest if the heat got unbearable, so I went with the photographer’s suggestion of going to a lesser known place in Canterbury Road for a picnic, some frisbee and football with my kids, and lots of running around.

And we got more than shots of us playing frisbee and football that lovely Saturday morning.  I love it so much that the photographer captured the little moments of us doing things together – observing, talking and piggyback-riding.

These are very precious moments to me.

It’s not every day that someone comes along and captures the kids at play, but it is every day that the kids play this way. Surely then, I need to remember my kids playing in their wildest, and happiest.

The days are long but the years are short, and soon, childhood is but a memory. We certainly had the opportunity to freeze some moments in time that Saturday morning.

Just one hour, about 70 photographs captured, and I got naturally edited photographs within 2 weeks!

There’s a lot of sentiments just browsing the photographs again and again and I must say Bespoke Photography offered a much-needed service in my busy-ness to allow me to slow down and give thanks for my active, healthy and happy family. Definitely something to budget in at various milestones of our family life, and I am glad we now have pictures accurately depicting what family life is like, with the kids being 10, 9 and 7.

Check out their very reasonable rates here.

Disclosure: We were invited to a one-hour photo shoot with Bespoke Photography. All the running and sweating and exercise was done by the Kao family and not stunt doubles. No monetary compensation was received. 

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(Self) Examination Ben Kao Family life as we know it Getting all sentimental now Nat Kao

Being mama to my fabulous Feb boys

March 8, 2019

I always find it hard this time of the year not to go all crumbly and soft and shed tears of nostalgia and reminisce.

My boys are Feb boys and this time of the year each one of the boys adds one more candle to the cake and I’m always an emotional wreck.

I have penned many such entries every February as a mother because there’s just too much emotional flooding not to write and get it out.

Nat turned SEVEN on 20th and Ben turned TEN on 26th. I cannot believe that it is double digits now for my firstborn. Has it really been a decade already since I’ve mothered this child?

Both the boys are sassy and smart (and sometimes smart-mouthed) and they are growing up so fine, I find it hard to believe so many years have gone by. Nat is learning to navigate the forays of formal schooling, making new friends and discovering his interests.

Along the way we’ve found out he’s got a nasty temper when pushed and can really immerse in name-calling so much so you don’t want to piss him off and rub him the wrong way. He gets especially annoyed when his clean and neat and organised private spaces have been compromised by his siblings, or if I gave instructions to make everyone pack that included him because that to him is grossly unfair – he is the most organised child of the lot, so he thinks!

We’ve grown to learn that this boy does have fangs. Hurhurhur.

The other one, my beloved firstborn, is 10 this year and I would never have imagined him being almost as tall as me now and weighing so much that I can’t, for all the strength in me, lift him even a quarter inch off the floor. I know someday he will stand taller than me, which I need to prepare myself mentally for. This boy frustrates me to no end with his quirks (think farts and burps and the ‘floss’) but at the same time lets me in to his world with all that’s trending including fortnite dances, lame jokes, unfiltered language and everything he loves as a boy. I am just afraid I will not have him as a boy very soon and the thought of seeing him as a croaking, pimply teen is making me cry a little every morning when fb invites me to revisit my memories. I see all those cute little chubby Ben faces and I’m not joking, I really lay in bed to cry.


Boys, if you are reading this some day, know that mama has had a hard hard time adjusting to you guys growing up so fast and maybe that’s why sometimes she’s a little lunatic and emo on days you just don’t get her.

Those times you got frustrated not knowing why your mama was like that? Yea. Cos she also has got bad, bad separation anxiety she basically couldn’t function.

She too, has to grow, little by little, to accept that you boys will someday grow up to be fine young men and that she no longer can hold you both like the babies she used to squish.

 

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Ben Kao Family life as we know it Milestones and growing up

My son, my parent

April 16, 2018

Overheard these days with my nine-year-old…

I will stay up to wait

Ben: Where are you going?

Me: Oh, I am going out with my best friend.

Ben: Who?

Me: Aunty J.

Ben: Where?

Me: Dinner at somewhere nice.

Ben: What are you eating?

Me: Good food.

Ben: Yes, what kind of food?

Me: Western maybe?

Ben: What time are you coming back?

Me: About 9ish or 10?

Ben: Ok, I will wait for you.

~~~

Manage your money, please

Ben: What time did you come home last night?

Me: About 11pm.

Ben: Why so late? Thought you said 9ish or 10?

Me: Sorry, we got carried away chatting.

Ben: I tried to wait for you but I fell asleep.

Me: It’s ok. You should sleep.

Ben: So how much was dinner?

Me: About few hundred dollars.

Ben: Who paid?

Me: Erm, we wanted to split but in the end I gave the treat.

Ben: WHAT!?!? You got money meh?

Me: -_-

~~~

Why do you have so many bffs?

Ben: Where are you going again?

Me: Dinner

Ben: With who?

Me: With my best friends.

Ben: Thought you just went?!

Me: Yea, but I also want to meet other girlfriends.

Ben: Why you so many girlfriends one!

Me: -_-

~~~

While at work

Ben (calling): What time will you be back, Mom?

Me: Soon.

Ben: Thought you said you are coming back by 4pm.

Me: I got held up.

Ben: If you say you’d be back, you should, ok?

Me: -_-

~~~

Phone vs. presence

Ben: Look, see – you’re always on your phone.

Me: I am working.

Ben: You are always working. At work you are working, and at home you’re working.

Me: I’m sorry.

Ben: Don’t be sorry. Just put down your phone.

Me: -_-

~~~

Dear Papa, I am in good hands. Your grandson is doing a great job being my dad.

I love you, Ben. For the way you fuss over me, keep my phone habits in check and wait up for me!

 

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Family life as we know it Food, glorious food! Happy days Invites & Tryouts Motherkao loves... The Kao Kids

Cold spell spelled W-A-R-M-T-H for the family (ft. IKEA serveware)

January 26, 2018

[Sponsored – this post is IKEA-inspired]

The five-day cold spell where temperatures dipped to 20-22 ºC as a result of the monsoon surge earlier this month not just inspired us to take out our winter wear and thicker blankies, but also prompted us to go shopping at IKEA.

Because steamboating* time draws nigh!

Inspired by the never ending stream of Insta-stories and steamboat feasts on my newsfeed, I decided to gather the extended family to ride the cold spell together at a place where having steamboat is never exactly comfortable (read: no airconditioning) but will now be because the weather would, for sure, bring the chills.

My parents’ place would finally be perfect for that steamboat feast which we would otherwise be eating while perspiring endlessly.

And the opportunity shall be seized.

So off to the Gramps’ we go, but not before going to IKEA for some inspiration. This dinner was also in part all about welcoming the new year, and spending it with people we love, and I thought it’d be brilliant to dress up the dining area a little more to accommodate our party of 9. The extended family consists of Grandpa, Grandma, Yiyi, Jiujiu and all of us from the Kaos.

Most of the time it was usually hard to fit in everyone with all the food laid out for steamboat occupying most of the table, and so we usually take turns to eat if it was a steamboat affair.

This year, I was determined to seat everyone at the table to 打邊爐 in the cosiest fashion and so the first thing I purchased for the occasion was this beauty:

The SUNNERSTA Trolley IKEA

For a steal at $39.90, this beauty quickly transformed into a handy cart for our fresh food. Couldn’t been more pleased with having thought of using this like how the restaurants do it.

Next, I took the liberty to get the FULLKOMLIG table cloth (at a steal for $9.90!) and really also because the description says “The table cloth is made from a material that is always smooth directly after washing, so that you don’t need to iron it.”.  I figured a table cloth will always set the mood for a cosy time together, as well as invite the diners to stay longer at the table. I know my mom would probably scream at the impracticality of a white cloth on a round table while having steamboat, but at that price, it was worth taking the risk.

She didn’t scream at me by the way.

Because I had gone over and set it up like this:

While shopping at IKEA, I had also grabbed some new dinnerware like the VARDAGEN sauce bowls for our sambal chilli, the VARDAGEN bowls in 2 different sizes for soup and rice as well as a few sets of TREBENT chopsticks to symbolise happiness for the year. As a gift “筷子 (kuàizi)” represent “快乐 (kuàilè)” which means happiness in Chinese culture.

Always glad to bring more kuàizi to the house!

And so with the table set, the reunion of the family began; first with taking our first 2018 family picture, followed by filling our tummies with food for the soul.

This is a first on two counts: you see me in a cardi seated at my parents’ and we fit in 9 people round the table

Time to tuck in to get some warmth on so many levels.

My wish this year is for more cold spells and more monsoon surges so we can always take refuge in the warmth of family whenever it’s cold.

~~~

Disclosure: This is the third of three in a series of collaborative work with IKEA. IKEA sponsored all the dinnerware and serveware we’ve used in this post. All ideas here are our own. #IKEASG#ad#sponsored#incollaborationwith #IKEA

See the previous IKEA posts here and here.

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Family life as we know it Invites & Tryouts The Kao Kids

Getting ’em organised and all ready for a new school year (ft. #ikeahacks)

December 25, 2017

[Sponsored – this post is IKEA-inspired]

When you have three kids and a really small living space, you got to make the space work very hard for you.

So when we moved into our new flat a few years ago, the bulk of the renovation cost went to carpentry. We fixed up a platform and bunker bed with six huge compartments under for the Kao kids’ toys, and then custom made their wardrobes and study desks.

The kids share one room in our current living space. At least from now till our next move.

With all custom-made things, it has been very difficult to get proper storage solutions to get organised. We can only admire but not buy organisers or beautiful trays like these:

From IKEA: SKUBB Box with compartments

RAGGISAR stackable tray from IKEA

So we very much end up with internal chaos like this…

Ben’s personal drawer – obviously he keeps photos he treasures safe in here, and Kidzos, pouches and knick knacks

this…

Becks’ drawer: of mozzie patches, card collections, hairbands and wigs and all sorts of bags and hair-ties

and this…

Nat’s drawer: the most chaotic of all. Clearly he loves his masks (Spidey & Bumblebee), inflatable globe,s tickers, sketch book, pencil case and toy spider too much as to keep them away from his siblings

 

My kids have an amazing to hoard, stuff and shove. I don’t know what’s in all their personal drawers but I don’t think the things stuffed all the way in there get any attention at all.

Drawers transformation

I can’t readily find a quick fix to get these drawers organised neatly because they are custom made to fit an existing wall space, but I am so glad I found these from IKEA such that I can put them in good use:

VARIERA Box: 24x17cm

VARIERA Box: 10x12cm

GESSAN Box: 10x10x10cm

GODMORGON Box with led: Set of 5

GLIS Box with lid: 34x21cm

I got a couple of these VARIERA boxes in the above two sizes in colours red, black and green, as well as a couple of GESSAN boxes plus 1 set of GODMORGON.

I also got one GLIS box to see if anyone would opt to use this to try to work their drawer space around.

The instructions for the kids were simple: empty your drawers, take as many of these boxes as they can fit into your drawers and fit them all in as neatly as you can. Then fill the boxes by deciding what you can fit in and what you wish to keep or throw.

This drawer-organisation project took half a day. And this was what the kids came up with:

I like it that these boxes from IKEA lets the kids still keep their drawer personalised but gives them a clear idea about how much space they have to keep their things organised.

Ben’s drawer transformed

Becks’ drawer transformed (love it that now her photoframe that has a picture of me & her plus Cinderella is now in sight!)

Nat’s drawer transformed

~~~

Study desk area transformation

On our last shopping trip at IKEA, Fatherkao was fascinated by this metallic knife rack:

GRUNDTAL Magnetic Knife Rack

I love my husband for the fact that he sees what I cannot see, does what I cannot do, and makes magic happen. This man singlehandedly removed all the random hooks and decals the kids pasted on their study area wall, wall-puttied and painted it to a smooth finish, then installed two of these magnetic racks (who says you can only use it for knives, LOL) – and at eye level somemore! – for the kids so that they could magnetically stick their notes and notices (every so often the school gives us notices which our fridge has no more space for) more systematically and neatly.

He even got the RIMFORSA tablet stands so the kids can use them for their iPads, spelling lists and reference books whenever they sit down at the desk.

I can’t believe this was all conceptualised and done within half a day by their very competent father. I love that their study space has gotten neater as compared to using blutack to stick on notes in the past.

Love it even more that the first reminder that Ben stuck on this new metallic rack was a reality check: school starts soon and it’s time to pack his bag. LOL.

Speaking of bags, they have also been organised neatly, thanks to these which we found at IKEA:

These FIRRA Boxes (we used them without the lids) are great for keeping the kids’ school bags and can be rolled out with their wheels. The plan is to have the kids put the bags in these boxes after school, and roll them out when it’s homework time, tuition time or pack-your-bag-for-the-next-day time.

 

~~~

In the spirit of getting organised, the kids also helped to think of ways for room improvement, and this was what they came up with, with their LEGO DUPLO blocks:

Love it that they have been inspired to look for solutions all around!

Truly, small things can make a big difference when it comes to getting organised, and I think the Kao kids are ready to start the year right, now that the mess they had once lived with is now put completely away.

~~~

Disclosure: This is the second of three in a series of collaborative work with IKEA. IKEA sponsored all the hacks we’ve used in this post. All ideas here are our own. #IKEASG#ad#sponsored#incollaborationwith #IKEA

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Family life as we know it Milestones and growing up The Kao Kids

Parenting at 8, 7 and 5 – Year-end reflections of a mother

December 24, 2017

The last time I reflected on a milestone of parenting was when the Kao kids were at age 5, 3-half and 2. I wrote about the exasperation and the growing pains and that new season of mothering where I had to be attuned to needs like potty training, mealtime routines, sleep training and weaning and the fact that I became conscious that I was the role model and chief influencer for three very young minds who needed to be taught values and guided in every way.

Well, all those are over, and yet again a new season of mothering is here.

These days, there is no baby nursing, no potty training to do, and no bums to clean. My kids can feed themselves, help with household chores, write me love notes and paint me beautiful pictures. They can also sing, dance and clown around for me – very much the reverse about three years ago where I was the one singing and dancing and clowning around to make them laugh and tickle them silly.

These days too, the eight-year-old dishes out advice on more occasions than not, telling me to sit up straight, eat my meals on time and come back early before bedtime.

These days, my seven-year-old can very much hold in her emotions, resist a tantrum and be taken in by reason and logic. She has a reservoir of emotions but unlike what she was like at 3-half with the crazy tantrums and hair-tearing, she draws, writes notes and paints them out.

These days, the baby in the family is baby no more. He is tall, dashing, super cheeky and full of humor. He can buddy up with bro anytime, and become best friends with his sister the next minute, and is an awesome team player who binds the siblings together. He helps Mama when her hands are full, he holds lift doors and orders his own food.

Oh gosh, how much they have grown.

Kao kids at Snow City, November 2017

What I hear these days isn’t the sound of whining, crying or babbling. What I hear these days at home are long conversations, silly banters and lots and lots of opinions and feelings flowing freely.

As I look back on these years my kids have grown and have become so close and dependent on one another, I am often glad for those years of “hardship” and the frazzled-ness I suffered doing these kids back to back without taking a break. My break is happening now, and while there are still needs to fulfill, I can now do a host of so many things, from pursuing entrepreneurship and taking nights out to learning a new language and getting couple- and me-time for my sanity.

And as I move forward to this new season where the needs are vastly different from a couple of years ago, I must remember to do well in these two things:

Find time to get to know each child one-to-one

Every pocket of time spent with each child has become so precious in having one-to-one conversations with each of them. The drive home with Ben on Wednesday night for English class, the bus ride with Nat every morning to school, the pedicure sessions with Becks once a month, running errands with whichever kid that wants to join me… — those times let me chit chat with them and get to know them better. They tell me what’s on their mind and things that are for my ears only.

More pockets of one-to-one time next year, we must find.

Find time to just watch and listen to them

I really sometimes have a lot to do. I’ll be honest: I can’t say no to screen time all the time myself. But I’d always make it a point to watch them for a while. Or listen in to some parts of their conversations. Just today, the three of them lay on my bed and sang Uptown Funk three times. It’s amazing how they have memorised the lyrics just by listening and I never knew that they loved this song to bits. I did whip out the phone to take a photo and some vids. But I watched them. And laughed at them. It was funny. I also love listening in to their squabbles and wait out how they would negotiate their way around each other’s demands and expectations.

And I need to do more watching and listening. Much much more in the days to come.

Bring it on 2018, I can’t get to know these kids more, and I can’t wait to relish this motherhood season.

 

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(Self) Examination Family life as we know it Getting all sentimental now Milestones and growing up The Kao Kids

New challenges, new resolutions, new year!

January 20, 2017

Twentyseventeen.

It’s a new year – and we’ve made it here. I am grateful.

I’m grateful that this year, I have – in my brood – bigger, older, more sensible children. Children that I can reason with, confide in, talk to.

Children whom I’ve never imagine to be growing this tall and talking this much, and coming this far with me in this motherhood journey.

Children who love me as I am, whom I know can watch me grow old and still hold on to me.

Children whom I love, as they are; and whom I know that I can watch grow up and hold on dear to.

KaoKids_Dec2016

Tis‘ so true the saying; that in parenthood the days are long but the years are short, and I now have a 8-year-old, a 7-year-old and a 5-year-old this year. Instead of diapers to change and tiny hands to hold, I find myself having to do so different things.

Like sitting on the swing at night with my firstborn, talking about his hopes and dreams.

Like reading the little notes my little girl leaves on my desk, filled with hearts and words spelling out, “I love you, Mama.”

Like having my littlest call me over the phone, asking me, “How was your day, Mom?”

These littles have grown up, and this year, I resolve to do three things.

I resolve to disconnect to connect.

I resolve to eat right and live life a little more balanced, so I can be a healthier, mindful mom for them.

I resolve to work a little harder at making their dreams come true – if that would mean being more efficient, more effective and more excellent.

What have you resolved to do this year? How is this year looking like for you?

I hope twentyseventeen would be a great one!

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Ben Kao Family life as we know it Milestones and growing up

Too naughty to handle – soundbites from a p-one child

November 2, 2016

It’s been a full ten months going eleven of being a Primary One kid’s mom. And while I am conscious of the fact that my firstborn is growing up fast and would soon take issue with his school life shared on a public domain, I can’t resist the thought of penning some of the darndest things he’s said and done.

It’s ok, son. It’s ok to be naughty. Mama’s got your back covered for now.

 

Losing his spelling list

Ben: I can’t learn my spelling. I lost my spelling list.

Me: Then go ask your teacher for another one.

Ben: I can’t! She’ll scold me!

Me: Why can’t you? Just tell her you lost it!

Ben: I can’t lah. Nevermind I have a plan.

Having a plan

Me: (walking him to the bus stop to wait for school bus) So, tomorrow’s your spelling. Have you learned it?

Ben: No. I don’t have the list.

Me: So what is your plan?

Ben: I’m going to borrow from a girl. A girl will sure have her spelling list. I’ll copy the words down.

Me: Great idea.

At the 1st Parent-Teacher Conference

Ben’s teacher: I wanted you to know something. Ben cheated for his spelling test last week.

Me: ???

Teacher: Last week, during spelling he was looking down under his table and I found him copying the words from his partner’s spelling list.

Me: Is his partner a girl?

Teacher: Yes.

Me: -_-

Why did you copy?

Me: (back at home) Why did you cheat?

Ben: I didn’t.

Me: Your teacher said you did. You copied from your friend’s spelling list.

Ben: Huh. That was my plan!

Me: You are not supposed to copy! Spelling test means you learn the words by heart and spell them without looking at them. What did you think a test is?

Ben: Huh. I thought I lost my list so my plan is to borrow from a girl to copy!

Me: -_-

~~~

No handphone, public phone can?

Ben: Mom, can I have a handphone?

Me: No.

Ben: If I have one, then I can play Mine Craft and Pokemon like my friends.

Me: I want you to be immersed in the world of books and wonderful stories.

Ben: Huh. But I want a handphone. I want to call you.

Me: Come here. I give you ten cents. If you want to call me, call me on a public phone. It does the same thing.

Ben: -_-

~~~

Canteen Fun, I

Me: Did you do anything naughty today? I’ll be asking you that every day since your teacher has been telling me you and your friends are quite naughty. Talking during National Anthem and running around the canteen during silent reading.

Ben: Hmm. Uhmm. I did.

Me: What?

Ben: You know right, today, we all did an experiment in the canteen. My friend bought a fizzy drink, and I added ice cream, and someone else poured something in – I don’t know what lah, maybe his soup – and we dared one another to drink it.

Me: -_-

Canteen Fun, II

Me: Did you do anything naughty today?

Ben: Uhm, yes!

Me: What is it?

Ben: You know right, today, we all did another experiment in the canteen. A friend bought a fizzy drink and someone else added mentos and we shook the bottle until it exploded and it spilled all over the floor.

Me: Oh my.

Ben: And the best part was I told everyone to run away and we all did and we hid in the library!

Me: -_-

~~~

Girls are our buddies, I

Ben: Mom, today our teacher gave us a buddy.

Me: Who’s your buddy?

Ben: I forgot her name.

Me: Ten months into school and you don’t know your classmate’s name?

Ben: She’s a girl lah, and I can’t be bothered to remember girls’ names!

Me: -_-

Girls are our buddies, II

Me: So why do you have a girl as a buddy?

Ben: ALL the boys in class now have girls as their buddies. My teacher punished us with that.

Me: ?

Ben: We were being violent during recess. We played an “attack” game and H pushed me so I pushed him back and he fell and my teacher found out and she banned us from playing during recess. The girls are our buddies to watch us so we don’t play during recess.

Me: You’re banned from playing?

Ben: Yea, we’re not supposed to play. Only can eat.

Me: -_-

Girls are our buddies, III

Ben: But we quickly found the solution to our girl problems.

Me: Tell me.

Ben: We trick the girls!

Me: How?

Ben: We all run to the toilet and hide from them, and then run out to play!

Me: -_-

~~~

Postscript: Fatherkao believes boys would be boys and I shouldn’t be controlling too much or hovering around him and nagging him like a typical helicopter parent. “He’s a boy; let him do what boys do.”

Oh well, for now I’ll just laugh it off.

 

 

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