Category Archives: baby’s stuff

life with a kindergartener: Kirakira Precure Ala Mode

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You’ve been egging us to set up our Christmas Tree for a couple of weeks now. But you’ve been egging us to watch the Precure movie for a month now. Hence, when I asked you to choose between Christmas tree setup + pancake or Precure movie, the latter was an easy choice for you. Daddy definitely didn’t want to torture himself to watch the movie and I was convincing you to change your mind as I wasn’t too keen to watch it either. But your mind was set on what you want in that you even said, “I’ll watch by myself!”; as if we will allow that.

I was a SailorMoon fanatic but Precure was too much for me. I don’t feel tortured though whenever I see you happily waving your “Miracle Light” (the Staff gave this on the cinema entrance) every time the heroines in the movie ask the audience to help in combatting the evil force by raising your Miracle Lights up.

You were very excited to attach your light on your bag and I have no doubt you’ll brag about your light tomorrow at daycare and how you now have the same light as some of the other girls.

It was a challenge to watch the movie but seeing you happy and excited makes the challenging 1.5 hours totally worth it.

PS: Where usually it was a challenge to wake you up and make you eat in the mornings, this morning (the morning after) you woke up by yourself and was animatedly eating; excited to show off your miracle light to your friends.

PPS: for our future reference – this movie we saw was how the Kira Kira Precure group (six uberly cute and styled-up, anime style, girls of varying ages) saved the city of Paris-turned-dessert-city from a ghost patisserie.

life with a kindergartener: water balloons 

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The day we got back from our Golden week vacation, you asked us to buy the water balloons on our trip to the grocery. And so for more than a week, we pumped water into your balloon, one per bath time until they couldn’t fit the basin anymore. Thankfully, you then stopped requesting to create new ones. 

Ever since a week after the first ballon was made, I’ve been egging you to try to burst the balloon by throwing them on the bathroom wall. Anything, just to burst them. I was already starting to cringe as I think of the warm water stored in the balloon that’s getting “older” by the day. Molds. Mildew. Fiends. However you would cry just with the mere mention of “burst”. 

A month passed by and I already was on the verge of begging you. Six weeks after and I was already begging you. But you always say no and even asked me to make a promise that I wouldn’t burst them. I asked why? Then you said something magical. 

You and Daddy made it. I don’t want it to burst. 

And that was it. I didn’t egg you from then on. Second month passed by. Nine weeks. And then early this week when you had your bonding day with Daddy as I took the Japanese exam, Daddy bought you a water gun. The balloons stayed on the bath corner as you got passionate with your gun. 

This evening though, you were playing with the balloons and were stretching them. Until one reached its bursting pressure. You cried and then said we could refill it again. Told you it’s impossible as it was already torn. I was already cringing with how the old water inside the balloon went to the water in the tub. And I told you so, about how dirty the water must be inside. And so then, while holding your water gun, you gave your go signal to burst the balloons albeit in a lacklustre manner. You did say bye to the balloons though. 

Pretty soon I’d probably be fixating next on the molds on your water gun. And I know what you’d say then – “Daddy bought it for me!”

Keep that lovely character you have, my sweet. 

life with a kindergartener: the T-Rex and its digits 

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We’ve been arguing for weeks now about this particular issue. You against me & your Dad. But you just won’t relent. In fact, you’ve grown more vehement in your belief that you were right. That it is an indisputable fact that the T-Rex has only two digits on its fore limbs. Your Dad and I insist it had three. 

At one point, Gon the dinosaur was even involved in our discussion as we (Me and your Dad), suggested Gon is a T-Rex. And with this, you passionately told us this is not correct because Gon has three fingers. 

It went on for weeks. But it was only tonight that I thought of checking it out so that once and for all, the matter will be settled. And I was shocked to see you were right! You were jumping gayly on your bed, saying “desu yo?! Desu yo?!! I won!” while Dad hid under the covers because well, we lost. 


Yes I’m very proud that you were able to notice such detail. 

But I’m even more proud on how relentless you were on your stand; how confident you were even when your views were very different from Mom and Dad. You didn’t even go and look for proof (as I would do at the office); you just say it in a very confident manner that  has a tone of a “full stop” on it; no room for discussion. 

By even as you rejoiced, you also felt the need to comfort Mom and Dad because we lost in our big debate. And so you went really really generous. You shared with us your two most favourite toys that you almost couldn’t go to bed without. You gave Pinkie Pie to Daddy for the night, and to me, Arlo. 

I pray the world, us including, doesn’t change you anak. May you continue to be firm yet gentle; determined yet generous. 

baby diaries: forever young

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I have two mentors who told me to be “forever young” albeit they said it differently. The message is nevertheless the same; to always be willing and open to learn something new, to go where you’ve never been. 

We were at your paediatrician earlier, for our tummy bug. We had a looong wait but you didn’t mind at all because the doctor’s place was a very interesting one with decorations done in good taste, obviously expensive toys that promotes critical thinking, tons of books. I can almost forget we’re in a clinic. 

Today, I noticed this new picture book, by Bob Dylan, Forever Young. I read it out to you, both in Japanese and English. But a lump was forming on my throat as I was reading the lines. It fully captured my wish for you my dear little one. I said so to you, after I read the last line, that it was a song of my wish for you; and even when you were tinkering over a toy, you solemnly replied, “arigatou”. 

The lump stayed for quite some time. It’s even returning now. 

Love you, dear Yui. 

Forever Young by Bob Dylan

May God’s bless and keep you always

May your wishes all come true

May you always do for others

And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars

And climb on every rung

May you stay

Forever young
May you grow up to be righteous

May you grow up to be true

May you always know the truth

And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous

Stand upright and be strong

And may you stay

Forever young
May your hands always be busy

May your feet always be swift

May you have a strong foundation

When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful

May your song always be sung

And may you stay

Forever young