melbourne getaway & home

It was a nice short getaway, managed to meet up with friends and family. Most importantly though, we achieved what we set out to do. It's amazing how a short weekend trip like this can be so productive - although we only spent 3 full days in Melbourne, I must say it felt longer than that.

Food was so good in Melbourne. Weather was not too bad - except that you'd think it'd be warmer since it's summer but we still needed our jackets. Flight was bad though, the seats on Air Asia X sucked real bad! I remembered it to be ok but this time round, it was just extremely uncomfortable! And we couldn't really sleep on the plane. On the way there, we were seated in front of a group of Cambodians who couldn't stopped yakking on the top of their voices despite it being a late night flight. On the way back, we were seated behind a couple of Australian teenage backpackers who couldn't stop talking and laughing non-stop despite it being an early morning (i.e. 1 am) flight. Hubs was really irritated. Now I can understand how others feel when our kids were on the plane cos they must be just as noisy.

Missed the kids so much. When we got back, L was clingier than ever. She wouldn't let me out of her sight. As soon as I stepped away, within split seconds, she'll be crying "mommy mommy where are you? I want mommy...". And she wouldn't nap for fear that we'd go out and leave her at home. Her brother on the other hand was perfectly fine. I guess he's old enough to understand that mommy and daddy will always come home to them, and probably also used to us going away without taking them along. Are we such bad parents? We know of many parents, in fact most of our friends with family, they would and have never left their kids behind - everywhere they go, they'd lug their kids along. We always get 2 very distinct of responses whenever we tell our friends that we went on holiday without the kids - one is of disbelief and disapproval (how can you do that?!!), one is of envy (how we wish we can do that too!).

Would you do that, i.e. leave your kids at home while you go out or go holidaying? We used to sneak out without informing the kids, but as soon as they realise you're gone, they would start screaming and yelling. I guess it also builds 'distrust'. These days we find it better to just tell them that we'll be going out. Prep them beforehand. Tell them exactly where you'll be going and what you'll be doing (i.e. something boring that only adults would want to do and that they're better off staying at home) and bribe them (i.e. tell mommy what you want mommy will get it for you). It's easy to bribe kids this age, or at least mine aren't that demanding. It's usually the food they are crazy over at that point in time. E.g. when we went to London last year, H asked for donuts. This time round, L asked for yoghurt :-)

mummy & daddy's weekend away

We made a last minute decision to go to Melbourne over the coming long weekend. Feeling a tinge of guilt for having to leave the kids at home. We initially had plans to take take kids out and spend some quality time with them but something cropped up and we had to take the trip.

I can't believe all the full service airlines are fully booked for the next 2 weeks. Initially I thought it was only MAS and that perhaps they didn't have enough flights to Melbourne, but I checked all othe major airlines like SQ, Emirates, etc. and they're all fully booked! Darn, and we thought we could redeem free flights from MAS using our Enrich points. Oh well, so it's Air Asia X then. We took Air Asia X to Perth last November, it wasn't that bad - but then we had seats with the extra leg room. This time round, all the hot seats were fully booked, and we weren't exactly keen to spend more to upgrade to Premium class. As it is, we're already paying RM6k+ for the 2 return tickets.

So, to make up for our absence, we'll have to think of something to indulge the kids tomorrow... hmmm...

swimming lessons

Despite my early 'training', H is still crying during his weekly swimming lessons. So far he's had 3 lessons. The first 2 lessons, he said he cried but he still went into the pool. I told him it's ok to cry but he has to be brave. In no time he will be able to swim like a fish and we can challenge daddy in the pool. He said ok he will.

After his third lesson, I asked him how was his swimming class.

H: I cried.
Me: Did you go into the pool?
H: No.
Me: Why not?
H: I told the teacher what you said.
Me: That it's ok to cry but you will be brave?
H: No, I said you said I cannot go into the pool cos I have running nose.

What?!!!

Me: I didn't say that! I said you have to be brave...
H: I forgot what you said... <with a cheeky grin on his face>

Man! How did my little boy learn how to twist his words? Must give him a lesson about honesty!

screen time ruling

I often get questioned when I tell people that I limit my kids' screen time, i.e. time spent in front of the tv, computer or ipad.

Why so strict? They're kids mah, just let them enjoy!

It's sometimes hard to explain why I'm being so anal about this. I normally am quite relaxed when it comes to governing my kids, but when it comes to screen time, there's really no compromising. It's not that I don't allow them to watch tv or play video games, they do, but I try to limit their screen time. The problem with kids these days is that they get bored easily. Why? Cos they don't know how to entertain themselves. They're so used to being entertained by tv programmes, video games, etc. No doubt there are good educational programmes and games out there but I'm a traditionist. I still believe in the old fashion way of learning, i.e. through hands on exploration.

Less screen time = more active and creative play!

A case example. On our journey back to Johor last weekend, hubs decided to bring along the ipad in case the kids make noise, then we can hand them the ipad to keep them quiet. Bad move. Since we only have one ipad, they started quarrelling over it. When they aren't quarrelling, they aren't talking to each other since one of them was completely engrossed in the game. After I took away the ipad, H started complaining he was bored. He has never complained of being bored on road trips (we've never given them the ipad). He would always come up with games to play in the car. So I said "think of a game then, you're very good in thinking up games". H then came up with a game. We played for a bit then both of them started another game of silly joke making which made them giggled and laughed non-stop. Wasn't that more enjoyable? Since we hardly have time to spend with the kids, we should use such moments for family bonding by sharing laughters, etc!

There are so many things kids can do away from the screen, like playing outdoors, engaging in pretend play, reading or in my kids' case, being read to, etc. These are what H and L do everyday after school. They just love engaging in pretend play.

Less screen time = less social, mental and health problems!

H's previous preschool teacher told me once that after every school holiday, the kids would come back zombified. She said you can tell from their eyes that they've spent the entire holiday in front of the screen. TV, game console, ipad, etc are great babysitters, but use them with caution. A growing body of research links excessive television viewing to attention and learning difficulties. The reason? Most television programming, even some of the educational variety, features quick edits, flashing images and rapid sequences, as opposed to the slower pace of "real life". After prolonged exposure to tv, which conditions the mind to expect rapid-fire stimulation, kids may have difficulty staying focused  when they turn their attention to something slower, like reading a book.

Then of course there are the gadget inflicted health problems such as "ipad elbow", stiff neck, eye strain, etc. Adults may be able to take preventive measures to avoid any painful experience but the same can't be said for kids. I just can't count the number of times I have to tell the kids to lean back, don't put your face so close to the ipad, etc.

I'm not saying don't let your kids watch tv or play video games, just use your common sense and practice moderation!

Balik kampung

We went back to Johor over the weekend to visit the kids' grandparents. It's been a long overdue trip. We've been so busy towards the end of last year that we've been postponing our trip back . H adores going back as it means he can play with his cousins. Despite them only meeting a couple of times a year, there is this closeness about them, which begs us to think "How is it that H sticks to his cousins like bees to honey and not to any of his school friends despite them spending the whole year together, everyday?" It's true! H never once mentioned or asked about his teachers or friends from his preschool, ever since the day he left.

Now that H is older, he knows how to complain. On our journey there...
"Why is ah mah's house so far?"
"Why aren't we there yet?"
"I don't want to stay 1 night, I want to stay 2 nights."

On the way back, it was L's turn...
"I don't want to go this way, I want to turn around that way!" <so that we can head back to Johor>
"I don't want to go home I want to go to ah mah's house!"

So we promised the kids they can go again during the school holidays. "I want to stay for one week!" Sure, then daddy and mommy can go on a holiday :-)