I am happy to report that you've - perhaps, temporarily - stopped slapping Mama when you're unhappy or don't get your way. The Time-Out Corner seems to have worked. The first time Mama put you there, you cried and cried even as you tried to walk out. After carrying you bodily back there a few times, you got the idea and learnt to stay put.
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| They ain't easy |
You may not believe this. But no mother wants to raise her voice or her hand at her child, or basically watch their child distressed. No parent usually does and Mama isn't special in this department either. But the image I always have when I consider being more friend than parent at this age is this: a loud, back-talking, irresponsible and selfish adult that cannot take criticism or orders in any form. This followed by the one where Mama denies vehemently in front of the police (who has caught you assaulting an old lady) that you're my son.
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| Don't want the Time-Out Corner. |
Now, no way am I going to doom you to a life of lonely misery by playing Missus Nice Lady 24/7. Because that's going to happen if I decide to be nice all the time and keep using the "Oh you're still a baby, anyway." excuse. You're not going to have many or any friends. You're not going to be able to hold down a job anywhere. And you're not going enjoy the precious life you've been given. Instead, you'll probably screw it up some.
Basically, there are boundaries in life. So there are just some things you can't do even if it's fun. Like, well, slapping Mama!
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| Like my new trick? The well-timed smile? |
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| Yes, this one's a keeper |
This month, you're eating really nicely and Papa and Mama are enjoying watching you nick strands of our pastas and slurp some of our soups. There's this pumpkin and pea soup Mama makes at home which you gobble up every time, too. Fruit-wise, you're loving mango a lot but watermelons and papayas are still in the Icky Yucky files.
These days, on our walks, we're chasing McDonald's and Pizza Hut delivery boys around the condo compound, and staring at public buses that go on the 3-lane road behind the condo block. You're also very keen on getting us either scolded or caught for 'testing the seat comfort' of the parked motorbikes strewn around the underground car-park. Luckily the condo gardeners who own them know who you are (from all those walkabouts) and don't mind.
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| Get me away from that thing! |
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| This the key that unlocks my freedom? |
You're now singing the ABC song and counting from 1-20 during bath-time. Getting you into the bathtub isn't getting any easier though. Still, once you're in the water, you usually don't want to come out. Nowadays, what you want to get out of is the changing table and the safety strap! No chance of that, Mr. Wriggles!
Did I tell you that the other day, Mama caught you pretending to fly by 'flapping your arms'? I think it must have been after one of our walks when we talked about birds. You're also learning to smile on demand, i.e pose for the camera. And it's kind of a hilariously taut, put-on one at the moment. And we're not even sure this is going to last. But let us just say for the record, it's 9.5 on the Cheeky Scale.
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| There you go again, my rehearsed smile... |
This month we celebrated Kakak's birthday. She's been with us for almost a year now but although she doesn't look after you, she does help Mama a lot with housework. For dinner, we took her to Bangkok Jam, a Thai restaurant in 1 Utama Shopping Complex. We also accompanied her to a watch shop where she bought a simple watch for her 17-year-old son back in Solo, Jakarta.
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| 1...2...3...good night! |
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| It's too verbose, Papa |
Do you know Mama's favourite time of the day is bedtime? Not because you go to bed and Mama gets time to herself. No. Bedtime is usually when you're tender and calm. When we read a book together - you on Mama's lap - cuddle up and kiss a lot. It's when Mama says a prayer for you, blesses you and switches off the light, then settles back to listen to your soft 'Goodnight Mama' before it slips into the gentle breathing of a baby sound asleep.
