Archive for the ‘Just us’ Category

Toy guns! Our little one simply loves them.  Ha!Ha! He also loves striking poses with them.

“I want to be a police” repeated Darren. So it is not difficult to guess that his liking for guns arises from a wish to be a police or is it the other way round? *hehe*.

A suggestion for parents: When a child enjoys a certain ‘healthy’ topic or item, parents can tap on his/her interests to encourage him/her to express it through :

- writing

- drawing

- a play

- story telling or ’show and tell’ (schools here are exposing children to ’show and tell’ too)

This helps a child in his/her expression and creativity. It expands his/her knowledge as well.  In addition, it aids the child to feel motivated when parents are engaged in his/her topic of interests.   With parental guidance, young children can also start finding out more about the topic or item through internet search.

Actually for us, we went a step further as our boys gave us the idea of creating a “library, museum or shop concept” to showcase or market their creations (as a playtime at home), topic of interest or even ‘researched’ topic for our older boy.  It gives our boys many opportunities for teamwork too.

[This concept is educational and fun and we will share this in another post.]

For our boys, they get interested with different topics and objects at different stages. While Brendan fancied toy cars when he was young, Darren has been keen on toy guns since a year ago. We explained to him that a “real gun” is not like a “toy gun” and that police does not use his gun without discretion.

See how we enter into Darren’s world of police and toy guns through his drawings, ’show and tell’ and role play where he plays the police while mommy is the lady villain:)

Expressing his newly gathered knowledge through drawing

Expressing the difference through ’show and tell’

Our brave policeboy on duty in pyjamas *haha*

With interests and time from parents since our children’s young age, I am sure our children find it exciting and fun to invite the parents into their world WHILE parents gain much insights and bonding moments too - through the eyes and minds of our young ones.

I always learn something new and informative from our boys.

Don’t you?

One day, I brought home a bouquet of roses given by friends. Guess what Darren did with it instinctively?

“Mommy, may I marry you please?” pleaded Darren in a kneeling position.

Sweet!

I am sure some of you might have encountered moments when your young son has proposed to you to marry him.  It sound ticklish but these young children are simply sweetest and innocent.

At first, I had Brendan proposing to me when he was younger and said that he would not want to marry other woman besides his mother.

Then, I have Darren also proposing for mommy to be his wife.

Marriage. What do our young children understand about it?

TV programmes have such an impact on children. Even Darren knows that he could kneel down to make a marriage proposal to score points:)

The photo was taken hastily (not well-taken) but it is definitely a photo that we can look back in future and talk about it with a smile:)

I know our boys will outgrow this stage of idolising their mommy soon.

But at least I have experienced in a lifetime a guy (err…a young boy in this case) kneeling before me to ask for my hands in marriage *haha*. Guess I let hubby off too easily previously *hehe*.

I am sure I do not have to teach our Darren how to charm a woman when he grows up since he is already SOooooo romatic *lol*.

As mothers, we might not get the open appreciation from our children for everything that we have done for them.

Many times, we wish we have children who will just obey us readily or even volunteer some help without being told and we will be thankful if they do not build a mess.

Sometimes when we get so tired of simply planning every detail for the family and having to repeat kind-intended messages so many times on deaf ears, we yearn for our children to be more sensible soon and we wish we could SCREAM our constraints away.

Motherhood is definitely no easy process and there is no model answer guide for every mother.  As our children develop, we get accustomed to their changes, adapt, make mistakes and even blame ourselves but then we still move on - aiming to be a better parent as we grow with our children.

Despite the amount of commitment, responsbilities and difficulties that I might have as a parent, NO…. we don’t count our losses and sacrifices or get calculative with our children. Everything we give to our children, it comes so naturally from our hearts and we do not expect a return.

True. No matter how much frustrations I sometimes have shouldering the ever growing demands, handling our boys who at times show behavioural changes - motherhood is still a fulfilling journey for me.  It has taught me many lessons in life like unconditional love, the joy of giving and the fruits of patience.

Yes. Mothers need lots of PATIENCE.

No. I do not go around expecting our boys to return favour or express their gratitudes for me or their father.

Hence, I am exceptionally thankful that our boys do show their LOVE for me by showering me with gesture that money cannot buy. Eg. Darren hiding a paper fan that he has made for me in my drawer. Both boys giving me secret notes. Darren offering a gentle massage. Both boys planning those birthday celebrations for me. 

[Haha...I have received many more love notes from our boys than from hubby *lol*. Oh yeah...Our boys are given the space to display their artwork on bedroom walls and beds as long as they don't destroy the paint:)]

This was what I discovered on my wall when I came home from grocery shopping yesterday…by Darren.

By Brendan for my birthday celebration. I like how he conceptualises his parents as an older tree which is sheltering the smaller tree (our boys) from bad weather and how he has not forgotten to include his father and brother in his kind thoughts. Hmm…even more the “We are Always beside you” and hwo he connects the family members like kind of “bonding”.

There is no need for recognition of efforts in motherhood. I am heartened to know that our boys continue to hold me so dearly in their hearts and that’s enough motivation for me:)

My greatest wish is for our boys is for them to always get along with each other and to also hold each other dearly in their hearts. Got it, boys?