On Wars and Butterfly kisses

Last night.

“Mommy, has Putin stopped his attack on Ukraine yet?”

“Sad to say, Baby, not yet. Not yet.”

You kept on a thoughtful face.

After lunch.

(Today was school holiday and I decided to take a day off). We were walking back home after lunch at the village cafe, you on your roller skater. Then you spotted a butterfly in the middle of the walkway that’s struggling to fly. The poor butterfly though would most likely struggle to fly for the rest of its life. Its wings have an uneven size, the other much smaller than the other. The windy day (today’s quite pleasant actually) added to its struggles. You were trying to pick it up, me shrieking (I NEVER liked insects). You explained that you had to remove it off the path of someone else, lest someone who doesn’t like insects might kill it, or someone in a hurry might accidentally trod on it and kill it. You gently brought it to a leafy shade and it was soon obvious to see the butterfly looked less distressed and was not trying to flap its wings anymore. You didn’t stop there though. You picked off a couple of wallflowers and laid it in front of the butterfly, giving it food.

Back at home, you waited while I worked on my laptop and tried to answer a colleague’s query from three projects back who needed help. You also told me how you envision my position will be six years from now. My, my. I have to work veeeery hard to meet your expectations!

You then requested me to sing “Country Road”. I wrapped up work, and dutifully sang in front of you. After my rendition, you said thank you, saying it was the first time you felt so relaxed listening to a song. My number 1 fan. 🥰

Oh, The Places You’ll Go! 小学校4年

I wanted to keep our tradition going, so I bought us a new copy of our tradition book.
The good thing this year, and especially with this new book, is that you’ve come to appreciate this yearly tradition. Plus your English reading skills has recently significantly improved (you’ve already read all our Dr Seuss books!) and you can read it now.

You’ll be starting joining clubs from this year. And you chose Theatre Club at that! I know you wanted to join Drawing Club, and Computer Club more than Theatre Club, and that you only joined it after seeing a video of what the club is about and learning what I’ve been saying is true. But I hope you’ll find a place to nurture your love for voices, singing, and performing. You’re already having extra classes for Drawing and for Programming, hence I am glad of the choice you made so that you can work on your other talents.

God bless you my baby. Spread your wings.

life with a grade schooler: iPad time limit

Dear Apple,
You need to work on improvements of your time limit function on iPad.
My 9-yr old outsmarted/hacked your current program. She learned that if she closes her iPad once the time limit-reminder pops up and then wait for a few minutes, the timer resets.
And that is why she could have longer time with her programming/minecraft while at the same time follow the rules imposed.
Please make the improvement ASAP.
Yours truly,
Out of sorts (proud or frustrated, can’t decide) Mom

life with a grade schooler: Thomas Edison

Yui: Mommy, you know, Thomas Edison was “99% perspiration and 1% inspiration”. So it’s really all about work.

Me (big smile): yes baby. That’s why, on your first hour of trying, you should not give up easily. And also that’s why you must never say you can’t do it when you never even tried at all.

Yui nods understandingly. My work here is done.

life with a grade schooler: skipping HAZOP in Istanbul

This evening, I shared with you that I said no to a business trip/meeting because it would mean being away from you for at least two weeks around the time of your birthday. That when I saw my schedule, and saw my Unit’s meetings dates, it was an instant no. You then heaved a deep breath and hugged me tightly; even without words, I could feel how grateful you are that I prioritised you.

And then your next words made me speechless.

How about your other teammates Mommy? How are their families if they’ll be away?

Empathy. A generous heart. In which you don’t think only of yourself, but also of others. God bless you, baby. And I am so proud of you.