Archive for the ‘Just us’ Category

Brendan:”I want to be a lawyer. So that I can earn lots of money and buy you a big house.” <Oh! I am touched.>

Then on some other days…

Brendan:”I want to be a pilot. So that I can fly you to different countries. You have been saying that you cannot visit many places now because they are not suitable for us. When I am older, I will bring you to Venice, Egypt, Africa ……” <Oops! I think I have grumbled too much and he heard me.>

On his maiden helicopter ride

Brendan:”I want to be a famous blogger. I want to learn blogging from mommy.” <Yo, mommy is still waiting…it has been ages since you last blogged at iwowboy.>

I am so privileged. All his dreams involve ME! If only kids continue to honour their words:) Small boy with big dreams. I know, I know…Ambitions do change.

Then yesterday Brendan said : “I like giraffe the best. Oh yeah, I also want a porcupine and lion. I would convert a four storey house into a floor with high ceiling to accomodate the giraffe. Oh. Maybe I should move to the wild instead so that these animals can live freely.”

Taken at Singapore Zoo

Kids never fail to amuse us. If you have read my previous post on “Fear not the big but the tiniest”, he is still loving animals that much. A lawyer who earns enough money to buy a private jet and then personally flies papa, mommy and Darren to different parts of the world and finally settle down in the wild?  Ha! Now I am the one with amazing dreams:)

Wilderness and friends of animals? A veterinarian in the zoo? Hmm, not bad! As long as he doesn’t live like Tarzan…but I wouldn’t mind if he grows up being as handsome, strong and brave like Tarzan and finding a pretty Jane.

Hmm…I should let him watch Tarzan.

One of the joy I have living in Singapore is that we are blessed with wide choices of food. Even at home, when we are tired of cooking chicken the local Chinese style, we can cook it with Malay recipe, Thai recipe and many other flavourful ways. It’s hard to get sick of eating here. Err…have I ever mentioned that even if I could sacrifice any other perks now as an unemployed, I will never say NO to good food?  Yay! Good food lights up my face:)

While Papa Ed has never had a really big appetite and my eating capacity can never be compared to before, I am still on the hunt for good eating places. As long as I could savour the food even if it is in small proportions - that is what my stomach can accomodate now (maybe with age or gastritis condition).

I am really glad that I have recently found an enthusiastic companion who is as ardent in sampling good food with me.  He is always the first to sample my first experimented homecooked dishes and we will travel that distance to yum yum at different eating places. How I wish this little eating companion could start paying for the meals soon *haha*.  However, there are many brighter sides of eating with him. Well, he will have a big enough appetite to finish up all the food, he accomodates my likes and dislikes and we always have a good bonding and chatting time while feasting. I simply love the “wow! delicious” face.

It is appetite boosting eating with people who enjoy food. Agree?

*Thanks Brendan, mommy really enjoys every moment we dine together:) Don’t forget to give your old mommy great foodie treats when you have the earning power, hehe*.

 If there is one thing I name that bonds me and my son, I would gladly say that it is FOOD:)

Although we have eaten at Putien (Tampines) before as a family, last week the two of us decided to pop in at the branch at Nex to savour the heng hwa cuisines again for dinner when Papa Ed was overseas. My 12-year old definitely has a big appetite - 5 dishes, fried rice and dessert! Mommy could hardly eat more especially after we also had a heavy lunch earlier.

pork ribs

deep fried tengirri fish

fried yam duck

kailan

herbal prawn soup

fruit jelly dessert

not so spicy lala  (earlier when we dined with papa)

poached spinach (earlier when we dined with papa) - a common vege dish in most chinese restaurants

sweet and sour pork (earlier when we dined with papa)

crunchy and tasty peanuts

Somehow I prefer the dishes served at Putien (Tampines Mall) compared to those that we ordered at Nex although Brendan doesn’t find that much difference in tastes. Haha…maybe I was not in a mood to eat that day.

We enjoyed the yam duck on all visits and the peanut is a hot favourite (love it for being cruncy and those sesame seeds).   The yam duck is the dish that we will order each time we visit Putien. However, I still prefer the sweet and sour pork served at Soup restaurant (more crispy) and Paradise Inn (love that lychee with pork), the spinach served at Crystal Jade and Zhou’s kitchen suits my taste bud better and the herbal prawn soup at Carousel is unbeatable in my heart and nowhere else I go can overtake that herbal prawn soup taste even though my family will always order the herbal prawn at Putien. As for the lala, it somehow resembles the taste of those cooked by my dad and emmm….I couldn’t resist it.

Well…just my personal taste bud and I am actually quite particular with taste in food. Maybe I am spoilt by my dad who will always be the best cook in my heart…

Time has changed. The era of “Yes Mommy”, “Okay Mama”, “I will Mommy” is long over. These days, SUBMISSIVE kids are  really hard to come by.

Instead, these days my kids sometimes will exclaim “Wait! I do other things first” or “Why do I have to do this when XXX doesn’t need to” or “I don’t want!”. 

Kids nowadays are fast to question, quick to challenge, never shy to order.

[Err...so do we blame on our stubborn genes, society, peer influence? Why can't our kids be more submissive?]

Sometimes, it is a puzzle as to who is the BOSS at home now as our kids also want a role of this BOSS character. It is unbelievable how even bosses at work could be so helpless before their junior bosses at home and sometimes dumbfounded as to how to react.

Hear our very own junior boss at work, at home…..

When junior boss advocates “Practise what you preach”…

Papa was talking to mommy:”I am buying the blue ray “Transformers“.

Darren interrupted:”You told me the other day that if we have watched the movie before in cinema, you will not allow me to buy the DVD of the same movie. Why you can? If you buy the DVD, I want my SMURFS DVD.”

Papa surrendered. Must practise what we preach *haiz*.

*****

When junior boss emphasises the importance of hygiene and follow good example….

Brendan was coughing.

Darren :”Gor gor (brother), go and wear mask.”

Brendan:”Don’t want.”

Darren:”Mommy, why gor gor can don’t wear mask? I wear when I am sick and he has to wear now. Go Gor Gor.”

*Yes Boss. You are right. Gor gor has to follow the good example.*

*****

When junior boss exercises his rights “I just want you to curry my favour”….

Mommy:”Darren, finish your barley okay?”

Darren:”Huh! I don’t like.”

Mommy:”You agreed to order this drinks and you have to finish it.”

Darren:”You say “Ve—-ry Gooooood” first.”

Mommy:”Why praise you?”

Darren:”Praise first and I will finish my drinks.”

*yo boss, this is extortion*.

*****

When junior boss highlights productivity and commands respect…

Mommy was reprimanding Darren for his mistakes. 

Darren:”Okay, can don’t talk already? I am studying.”

Mommy:”I am talking half way and you ask me to keep quiet.”

Darren:”No lah. you say study must concentrate. If you talk, how I concentrate?”

*Junior boss is right. he is talking about productivity. How can I continue my lecture?*

Then when Mommy was chatting with Brendan,

Darren asserted: “I exist.”

Mommy:”Huh?”

Darren:”I exist. You both talk so loud and I cannot study”

*Junior boss wants us to show him the respect.*

On other days, we will hear him ordering “Papa, wash your legs”, “Gor Gor mop the floor”, “Gor Gor, come get up. I want to sit. Your exams is over and now I need this seat to study.”

My little 8-year-old, acting more adult like than we wanted him to be.  He sounds sensible and reasonable at times. He is so versatile. When he is tired of playing little boss, he reverted to his adorable and innocent self again *haha, being young and adorable has its advantage*.

How do I bear to fault him?