A new season, a new change.

It's autumn now for us. The weather has started to get colder, the sun rises a bit later and the days are shorter. We've had bizarre weather for the whole of summer. Lots of rain (boo!) and then suddenly, autumn's here. Aussie mums look forward to summer so badly cuz when the cold season hits us, poor kids are bored at home. When I first had T, I didn't dare go out at all when it was cold. I guess when I was in Singapore, I was so used to the heat and humidity. Whenever T would get a cold, we'd hibernate. But I guess now it's hard to keep staying at home cuz the cold season is really long - for at least 9months?! We can't hibernate that long!!!!! So regardless, if there is going to be rain or no matter how cold, I'll try to bring T out. He needs it. I NEED IT! :)

So, here's what we've planned for autumn/winter:
Morning morning - Sportzbuzz.
- It's a play session of different sports that we do weekly. HE LOVES IT! He gets to run around, play with different sport equipments and yes, did I mention running around?! He has too much testosterone!!!! He needs to release his energy!

Tues morning - playgroup
I'm going to try a new playgroup. It looks fun with an art area, outdoor area with slides and whats not, a reading corner with books and toys. Hopefully, the mothers and kids are nice. We'll see.

Wed morning - Suzuki music
Friends have told me how their kids love music at Suzuki. Ok, we'll see how we go.

Thurs morning - Shichida
He loves Shichida. I go there cuz he loves the teacher. She always manages to bring out the biggest grin on him!!! Too cute.

Fri morning - library
We go to the library for storytelling session and to borrow books. Both of us will sit there for at least an hour. Sometimes, I read to him and then he'll run off to get another book for me.

Phew! that sounds like a packed week!!!!! I know, it sounds like I'm a kiasu mum but more so, just to bring him out to do things. It's hard to do outdoor activities with the perpetual rain. This week, the weather's been kind to us. We even managed to go the park daily after his afternoon nap. Whenever it is sunny, we dash out cuz I know when winter comes, it'll be harder to go out to the park. And I have to say that the parks here in Melbourne are just so beautiful. He loves the park. We walk for at least an hour, sometimes two. We'd skip, hop, squat, walk, run and look at the flowers, sometimes touching them, spider webs, leaves. We'd sit down for a rest and we'd have a snack together and sing a song. I talk to him about the season change and how the leaves are all falling cuz it's autumn now. Just a week ago, we saw the leaves falling off and today, we saw 3 trees with no leaves at all. Ah, yes, winter will be here soon. *sobs*

With regards to homeschooling, we've started again a bit after my miscarriage. I usually do it in the afternoons after his nap. But lately cuz the weather has been kind to us, I've been bringing him out.

Here are 3 pictures of him taken recently. One during summer at the beach and one at the park in autumn. And oh, we started with counting and I tried this method, using his cars! it kindda worked i think! he put his cars from 1 to 5 by himself and ran off! :)

post-note: gah, don't know why they're not uploaded in sequence! anyway, it's 1am..so going to sleep..zzzz

on a break

When I found out that I was pg last month, I was filled with excitement and trepidation. And then morning sickness took over and our home schooling stopped. I was very tired with the activites that we have every morning that I couldn't do anything in the afternoon. I have to bring T out to drain off his energy otherwise he will refuse to nap! And now that there is a possible miscarriage on the way, I have been fraught with worry and can't seem to focus on homeschooling just yet. I feel bad for T. I hope to snap out of it soon.

But one that I haven't stopped is reading to him since he loves reading so much now.

Yes, I hope by next week, with news of whether this will be a missed miscarriage or not, I can move on with life.

I just don't know where I belong.

It's 12.30am now.

T is sleeping and I am here with my thoughts.

Lately, I've been feeling lonely of some sort. I'm a Singaporean stay-at-home mum living in Melbourne. I love the life here, but feel a bit lonely with none of my friends from back home around with me. Then again, what friends? Most have drifted apart since we migrated about 5 years ago. Some, well, somehow, just faded away cuz I was going through my dark days with infertility. They couldn't deal with my rollercoaster emotions. I have made friends here. I meet them weekly for playdates. But somehow, sometimes, I'd like to speak a bit of Singlish or joke something that only Singaporeans will understand.

I am also an infertile mum. I think the way I teach, love, and mother my child is rooted from the experiences that I have gone through with my life. He is so precious in my life. It took us 3.5 years of sex, me opening my legs to strangers to have me tested, operated on to get the damned endometriosis, fibroids, ovarian cysts, polyps removed, husband getting his sperm tested 3 times and the anguish and tears,, frustration to have him. He is my gift, my miracle from God. I know I'm not holy as much as my Catholic grandmother would have wanted me to, but I believe that he is here for a reason.

And somehow, it's hard for me to understand some fertile mums. Especially those who say that their kids are annoying, or when they say, I can't stand them!. Sure, granted, I've had my bad days with T. But he will never be annoying to me. He can be difficult, challenging. But when he runs to give me a hug, gives me his precious kisses, nose cuddles, my heart goes boom boom boom.

I am also currently (just started) homeschooling T. I've realised how challenging, rewarding, fun, exhausting it can be..and sometimes frustrating. I bring T out for his morning activities every day so that he gets to run around and most importantly, socialise with other kids. He comes home for a nap, wakes up to have lunch and we do a bit of Montessori stuff and we head to the park for a run, or a kick with the ball. It's summer now for us so it's easier to go out.

And somehow, it's hard for me to find someone here who shares a passion about homeschooling a child. The only way I find out what other mums are doing is through reading blogs.

Maybe i'm just broody today.

But yes, today, am feeling lonely.

Tomorrow, it will be better.

And Sunday, it will be even better.

We're headed off to the beach. :)

Sun + sand + hunky husband + adorable son + loads of laughter = a good day.

headache

i can't seem to do anything with T for the past 2 months. headache!

he has suddenly hated everything that I've been wanting to teach him. I've looked through everywhere on the internet and followed different ways to teach him things but all he keeps saying is, BYE BYE when I show him something to learn.

He just wants to run. run. run.

Is that normal for a 22month old toddler boy?

ps the only good note is that he now wants to read books with me again.

T sits and feeds himself *gasp*!!!!!

Unlike my other friends' kids(yes, don't you hate it when we start comparing?!), T does not feed himself nor does he like to sit down to eat with us. He would scream murder to get down from the highchair or an adult's chair!!!! I had changed so many spoons, forks, etc, thinking it must be the cutlery, bowl!!!!! Why doesn't this child want to sit down and feed himself??!!!!

He just wanted to run.

And I had to run with him to feed him.

Many many many mothers have frowned on what I've been doing since he started solids. But what choice did I have? I'd rather know he'd eat something than to know he'd be starving the day with the level of energy he has.

On Sat, came a breakthrough.

At 22months, he sat down on his highchair with us during dinner, and fed himself the ENTIRE TIME.

All because of a Thomas the Tank spoon that babes had bought for him.

Or maybe because he just suddenly *woke up* and realised that he could feed himself.

Or maybe I realised that I have to just trust my son that he can do things in his own way, his own time. Thanks, Ms Chocolate, aka Homeschool mummy, for making me realise this. *wink wink*

reflecting.

It's 11.27pm, New Year's Eve.

Am sitting by the computer, checking out the sales online and now writing this post.

2010 has been a great year. I hope 2011 will be a good year for everybody too.

To my precious son, Happy New Year's.

We will love you, forever and ever and ever.

My Journey with T

Yay! My first post here!!!

Well, I was inspired by a lovely friend, Chocolate, to write about my journey with T.

so, where i am. T is now 21months! He is such a bundle of energy and joy... and sometimes he does test my patience. He is learning a lot and growing up way too fast for my liking!

I am still new to Montessori teachings. I haven't had time to really read about her teachings just yet. Just a book that was recommended by Chocolate. I try to read when I can.

So, I thought maybe I could a summary of where T is at now and then look back next year and still how far he has progressed. (Again, am taking inspiration from Chocolate-y goodness! :)


Feeding himself
- He can feed a bit by himself. When he was younger, he used to hate sitting down on his highchair. and I mean HATE. I had (and still have to) follow him to feed him. Now, he does sit on the highchair, but only for 5mins and squirms and screams to get down.

Scooping/Pouring
I think he does it pretty well cuz we started the scooping/pouring bit when he was around 11months?

Language
- He can say A B C D E now and he beams with pride when he repeats after me. *how cute*
- His vocabulary is quite good I think. He can say - apple, bread, money(truly, my boy here! hahaha), honey, NO (yes, his favourite word), ball, broke, work, airport, clock, dog, black, bird, cheese, milk, egg, star, head, eye, mah-bok(a malay word for drunk..hahahaahhhahaha)
- He can say 2 word sentence - I KNOW (his favourite word), OH DEAR, OH NO, AH-PU (which means indian...hahahahaha..)
- He knows his shapes - star, rectangle, square, triangle, circle, oval and can match with the pictures with the solid shapes
- He can match his animal figurines - zebra, rhinocerous, tiger, turtle, elephant to pictures.
- When I ask him what sound does a cat make, he'll go miao miao. When I ask him what does a gorilla do and he'll use his fist and hit his chest gently.
- He knows his basic primary colours - red, yellow, green, blue

Kicking a ball
He loves loves to kick a ball and i think he does quite a good dribble.

Math
- We started Shichida 3 months ago and the teacher has taught him how to use his five and ten fingers. For example, she raps to, COUNT BY 5, and he'll take out his 5 fingers. When she raps to, YOU CAN COUNT BY 10, and he'll take out 10 fingers.
- He doesn't seem too interested with numbers. hmmmmm

Will write more when i have the time. Not sure what we'll focus on next year. But I'll think about it more when babes is on leave and I'll have more time to myself.

Got to go. Need to straighten my Diana Ross's mane.

To everybody, have a blessed Christmas and I look forward to sharing and knowing you wonderful mothers out there who are just so dedicated to teaching and nurturing your child with love.

xoxo.