Category Archives: life

life with a grade schooler: the pen case

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This evening, for the nth time, you cleaned your pencil case. And I got curious why you were very determined in making it clean whereas last year, there seemed to have been a competition in your class on who’s got the dirtiest pen case.

And then you dropped the bombshell. Apparently all your classmates have new pencil cases. Instead of asking me for a new one though, you cleaned your old one.

I didn’t buy you a new one in this school year because your pen case was still not broken. Just dirty. I didn’t tell you this. Baut baby, you just gave me yet another reason to be proud of you.

covid lockdown diaries: a walk in the neighbourhood

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We haven’t been anywhere other than the grocery, the schoolyard, your after-school daycare, the nearby park, for the last two months. The weather was nice, the sky ever so blue, and there weren’t people around so we decided to explore our neighbourhood and sightsee houses.

You kept on pointing which house would you like to have and kept on urging that we move out of the condo and have a stand-alone house. You said you want a garden. And I said I didn’t choose a stand alone house because I can’t take care of a garden.

Some silence. Then you said, something smells bad. I countered it’s the anti-insect bracelet that you’re wearing. Then you shouted before running off: answer is, Yui’s fart!!!!

We may be on lockdown but it has never been a boring two months.

Oh, The Places You’ll Go! 小学校2年

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You were giggling with the fact that you and your peers are not the youngest in the school, anymore. You were even more excited with the fact that your wish of being in 2年2組 came true (you were 1年1組 before).

I was actually late in picking you up; you were the remaining student in the schoolyard and two teachers were speaking with you, wondering why you’re staying put and where your mom is. I was still caught up in an online meeting and had to run out the house to meet you. But you were beaming and all excited so you easily forgave me. Good to meet your new home room teacher too.

My dear daughter, I haven’t wrote about this yet, but we are currently living in an uncertain time, one filled with fear and worry, as the world goes in lockdown and isolation, to fight the coronavirus. I have been working on remote for a week now and your Dad’s about to start remote work tomorrow. You’ve been requesting the parties we’re gonna have after this is over, planning the trips we’re gonna take. Oh, the places we’ll go. But for the mean time, I wish you well as you start your second year at grade school. Keep that lovely, beaming smile on your face.

life with a grade schooler: on time travel and Beethoven

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During dinner, I told you about the movie I watched on U-Next while you were napping: About Time (2013). Told you it was about a man who can travel back in time.

you: (eyes wide) he can travel to the future?!

me: no. But he can travel back to the past.

you: ooohhh! Did he travel back to see Beethoven play? I would want to travel back to hear Beethoven in person!

Dear young lady, when I was your age, I didn’t have any idea who Beethoven was, not have I even heard of him. You are remarkable.

life with a grade schooler: Wisdom beyond your years

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Late last night, I told you how I had a tough day and how my boss rudely scolded me in front of the whole project team because of a (minor) mistake done by one of my subordinates.

With an indignant huff, you said you cannot understand this. That I should tell my boss today that another person’s mistake is not my mistake.

My child, please do not loose that fire.