CAUTION: Child Falling | 2012

Well, it was bound to happen (again). Jakjak is just too much of a busy body to just keep himself in one place. And being the runabout that he is, coupled with his trademark carelessness, he was an accident waiting to happen. And he did.


On a fateful Saturday evening, after a long but happy day, he woke up from a nap. And seeing that we were at his favorite spot, decided that we should have a foot race. Three, two, one, go. It was a bit dark, but it was a place we were familiar with so we weren't really worried about ghosts. And then it happened. Wham, bam, wah! Jakjak trips, falls, grinds and bangs his face on a curb. As a dad, you really have to stay calm during moments like these (even while your thoughts are racing in your head). You know it hurts, and you can see blood, and you also know that he's scared. So what now, dad?


Well, for starters, the situation had to be checked. It was dark, but aside from the curb, there were no other things that may have hurt him. Physically, there was an obvious gaping wound around his nose, but I did check for other likely places where a boo-boo may have gotten into like his knees, hands and limbs. Thankfully, aside from the nose area, he only managed a few scrapes on his knee, his elbow and his hand. With a few words of assurance, I managed to calm Jakjak down. He never stopped crying until we got home (which was still a good 5 minutes away) and his bleeding only subsided a little bit. Once home, I got him in the shower for a good scrubbing, and once clean, we finally got to see how bad the boo-boo had been. 

After a few more minutes of calming him some more, we grabbed a cab and headed to the hospital to get him checked. If it was just the knees and limbs, we wouldn't be too worried, but we don't know if there was anything we weren't able to see on his face (or his entire head). Thankfully, the hospital treated it as an emergency and we were ushered in quite fast ahead of some of the other patients. A diagnosis and an x-ray later (we spent a little more than an hour in the hospital, mind you), we were sent home with a recommendation to see an ENT specialist should we feel the need to have one look at Jakjak again. It's been a nerve-wracking night, and I guess all parents go through these things, with some more than others. It is important to note that one has to be in a good state of mind to react to any given situation. Better, if one can prevent it.

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The Observer

I'm sitting here tonight on one corner of the "Oasis", a water playground for kids. And I'm just here observing, watching over Jakjak as he makes himself, well, wet.

It wasn't that long ago when Jakjak was first let off a water feature from a mall back home. That was at Market Market. He would be running around in his diapers until it got so wet and heavy that it falls off on it's own. That was some four years ago. All through the years after that, he still loves the water. Whether swimming, wading, splashing or even just misting.

His love for water aside, I am also observing how far he has grown. He is taller, albeit still not as plump as we would want him to be. It's not a bad thing though, in fact, it's good that his metabolism is better than expected. He burns energy as quickly as he stores it. He has the efficiency of a well oiled machine.

Being a well oiled machine though, he seems to be prone to accidents. Perhaps he has excess oils that contribute to his carelessness. We are not without giving him warning every time. He is just ... forgetful and un-mindful of the things going on around him. Carelessness aside though, he is  a very active little bugger. He runs, skips, jumps, climbs, crawls and contorts every which way. He is definitely no slouch and neither is he a sloth. He may be good enough to be in a circus to be honest.

The way he thinks is not what we expected. He is quite good at remembering things. Whether it is something he saw or something he heard, he would be able to recall it and even put up an argument if we were the ones who forgot. Speaking of arguments, he is one who uses logic and reason. Coupled with his memory, it's nearly impossible to bend the "rules", let alone change it completely. At least he knows right from wrong, and even with an argument, respect and understanding always manages to keep his world in order (and ours too). Thankfully, all this looks to be the making of a lawyer or a philospher. Hopefully. Maybe.

The most important thing for us however, is the way he expresses his emotions. He's not afraid to speak out and let us know what's happening inside him. There are reservations at times, and he don't always say it out loud, but he confides a lot of things with mum, which is good. And at the end of the day, a good conversation with Jakjak over a cup of milk is sure to be insightful at the least. Of course, conversations with Jakjak usually last for hours as he never seems to run out of things to say.

Not Our First Airshow | 2012

Last year, the RSAF held its open house and allowed the public to view the RSAF's aircraft, its weapons, its anti-aircraft weapons and some knowledge thrown in for good measure.


However, we came home from that show missing the aerial display. This year, the bi-ennial Airshow returns to Singapore. So we decided to give this airshow another go.

The 2012 Singapore Airshow is bigger than the RSAF open house, on account that this airshow includes commercial aircraft as well. Even so, the Air Force (and practically the entire armed forces) still had a strong presence.

This time around, the experience was a little different. Getting to the venue was a good 20 or so minutes from T3 (it would have been ok if we were sat on a chair, but we weren't). And before you could get in, there was a very long and frustrating queue to get through security (yes, the RSAF open house proved to be more efficient). But once you are through, it's pretty much smooth with only the crowd putting you down from time to time (some people just don't know how to queue). We took to the pavillion when it got too hot, which got us through most of the displays and demos from the manufacturers. You can see that the pavillion was more intended for trade visitors than the actual public, but it was a good place to be in than the scorching heat outside. Besides, the fun came when several costumed folks started mingling with the crowd.

And then of course, there's the aerial display. The rain was actually a god-send as it cooled off the grounds and the clouds covered the sun diffusing glare and intense light. And because my lens wasn't long enough to actually get "awesome" shots of the aerial display, I just watched. And watching was really more fun than trying to get a shot or two off my cam. Jakjak and his cousin Andrae were also having a pretty good time. It was exciting to say the least. And very, very loud. I kept waiting to hear a sonic boom, but we were probably too low. The sound of those jet engines, the smoke trails left by the aerial acrobats, and the precision flying was enough to wet your pants (not that we did, but Jakjak felt the excitement down there). It's a good idea to bring hats and polarized sunglasses. We were lucky that the weather cooled us off and the sky wasn't so bright. The clouds were also quite thick and added to the drama as the aeroplanes sliced in and out of them highlighting their paths with smoke and vapour trails. It was great thrills and a great experience. It was fun and the bonding time with Jakjak, is priceless.

Time Travel, 250 Million Years Past | 2012

The Singapore Science Centre is a place of wonder (and it's not just for kids). Today, we went there for a visit to the land before time. Well, not exactly. You see, I heard that dinosaurs were at the Centre and that they were about to leave soon (something about Singapore being too warm for them, I think).

 Jakjak received a book about dinosaurs from his friend last Christmas (thanks Raine!). And aside from that, he had been watching (and reading) Harry and his bucket of dinosaurs as well. So there was interest and curiosity in his mind even before we went to meet the dinosaurs. I had a relationship with dinosaurs when I was a kid too, and even as I grew up, my fascination for these giant lizards never left me. It was going to be a good trip for both of us.


It wasn't our first time at the Science Centre, and in fact, we wanted to come here more often. But our geographic location (being at the other end of the island) was a burden. The Dinosaurs - Live! exhibition was a good excuse to be back here. While we still enjoyed the rest of the centre with what little time we had, it was the dinosaurs after all that were the star of the show.

We got our tickets, and we got our passports (an extra 2 bucks). It was dark and a bit crowded, but that may just be because of the way the path was set up. This made it a bit difficult to identify which dinosaur was which (even with name tags, as it was so dim). Still, it does not remove you from the experience as the dinosaurs growl and snap and wag their tails at you. Of course, being a couple of million years old, their movements aren't as fluid as they used to be. For someone who grew up wanting to see dinosaurs, this dad was kind of disappointed. Jakjak, on the other hand was having a blast. Having that passport had us hunting for stamps in the display area. Apart from those stamps, there were also mini-activities for kids to immerse themselves into. Again, it could have done with a little more light, but it didn't seem to matter to the kids anyway. The dinosaurs were pretty darn good looking. They may not be the real thing, but if you think like a child, it doesn't really matter, they are alive, and they are inviting you to a journey of discovery. All this without the fear of being eaten by any one of these beasts. We ended our dinosaur story with Jakjak doing something he always wanted, looking for dinosaur fossils!

This is just one of the things I love about Singapore. It's a great place to be a kid (and a dad to a kid). There is so much to do across the island and they are pretty much affordably decent. To me, it was a bonding experience that is simply priceless. This, and other activities for kids (and their parents) are always a trip worth every sweat and cent.


*The Dinosaurs - Live! ends it's run on the 26th of Feb 2012.

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Accent Circumflex | 2012

Mother Tongue.


Chinese. Malay. Tamil.


We don't speak any of these languages. But, since Jakjak is now in primary school, it is required as part of the curriculum. And since we did our homework before going head on with school, we already knew that it is MT (Mother Tongue) that usually kills the grades of foreign students in the public schools here. It's a good thing then that Judy is a stay at home mum. She had time to look at and study the alternatives for Jakjak. Enter, French classes.


Initially, we did want him to continue and take Mandarin classes through primary. But his Chinese teacher during pre-school advised us otherwise. In summary, he just wasn't being receptive in Chinese class, no matter how much the teacher tried. Yes, this was due to other factors as well, having no Mandarin-speaking persons at home was the major hurdle, all other factors happens to be secondary.


Luckily, there is something called, Second Language In Lieu of MT (or something like it). This allows the school to partially exempt Jakjak from being graded for mother tongue. This has been a big relief for us as Jakjak is simply flying during Chinese class. Literally, as one of his former classmates told us that he had his arms stretched and was "flying" in the classroom (yes, while they were having class). That was rather uncomfortable when we were talking to his teacher for assessment, but hey, I think that's why she suggested us not to take Chinese during primary.

So now, he's having French classes online. It's something that would have been unheard of back in my day. But now, he would just sit there, plug the mic and Skype to his teacher ... in Mauritius. He's also doing rather well with it. Much better than he was at Mandarin. And the class is MOE approved to boot. It's great that he has this language lessons at such an early age, a time when the brain is still receptive to such changes. His teacher has already commended him for his efforts, and he seems to be enjoying the language as well.


That would be bonjour for now. Here's hoping that France might be the next stopover. Cheers!

posted from Bloggeroid

Making A Name | 2012

Judy, my wife, had a chance to do some volunteer work in Jakjak's school. It is part of the plan in order to get in touch with the school and keep an eye on Jakjak as well. In this exercise, we found out how well the school actually knows its children. And it's surprisingly really good. Just about everyone knows Matthew (Jakjak's real name) from P1.


We were surprised to be honest. Of course, there is being famous and being infamous. At the moment, it seems that Jakjak is a mixture of both.


His homeroom teacher knows him. That is a given, considering he is probably the noisiest in his class (hopefully not). But aside from that, he has been commended for being good in English, after all, he has been speaking it like his native language. The vice principal also knows him. Apparently, he was usually found clinging on to a pole and defying going to class during the first few weeks. The principal also knows him, he had been especially mentioned for his detachment from Chinese class (which, thankfully, we have worked out partial exemption for Jakjak). And the other teachers too, especially when they saw Judy, who happens to be Jakak's major resemblance.



His first month in primary has been very rich in terms of experience. We heard about how he defended himself (and apparently others) from the naughty kids (he thinks he has super powers). Mum saw him being generous to his peers (too generous, really). And we have heard how sweet he is to teachers (this we already knew from the start, way back in pre-school). And the term has just begun. I'm pretty sure there are going to be more adventures, not just for Jakjak, but for those close to his heart as well.


(Dad 10/2/2012)

posted from Bloggeroid

The Sand Park | 2012

We had some free time last Sunday (finally). I was free from being sick (albeit only slightly). Jakjak was free from school. And mum was free from Jakjak and me. We packed up a dorky looking recycling bag, filled it up with toys, a water bottle and snacks (goodness, we packed cookies and cake!). And then we hiked to the nearby park, just Jakjak and me.

The "sand park" is really just a big sand box. It's got an activity area with steps, stairs, hangers and slides. It's also got some other weird stuff like balance platforms, tilt rollers and friend shakers. I don't really know their actual names, but when you see them, that's how you would describe them.


Among other things, the area is also meant to cater to other activities. It has a basketball court, bike lanes, jogging lanes, and even a woodball court (I have no idea what that is at the moment, but I'm guessing it has something to do with a wooden ball).


We do try to go to the park every chance we get. It's just that sometimes, Jakjak changes his mind in the blink of an eye. His bike, unfortunately at this time is flat and I broke our air pump. So we had to resort to playing in the sand. We brought shovels, rakes and a dump truck. Aside from digging up "fossils", we also mindlessly wandered about in the playground. We climbed stairs and slid down the slide and we made mudballs. We had some snacks (well, I did, Jakjak simply drank his water) and had a good time.

You can't really tell how much fun you can have with simple toys and a big open space. You also realize that you have been thinking of doing these things with your child for a long time, but have not found the time to do it. As a secondment to my previous post, you can't always find the time, but you can make time. I have lost track of things like these, the simple things, because I wanted to do so many things in so little time. It's better, in fact, to sometimes just step back and slow down a bit. Thinking slowly has made me come to better decisions lately than a planned but rushed calendar entry. If you are feeling rushed and out of time, try it for yourself. You just might find the focus you are looking for.


(Dad 7/2/2012)

posted from Bloggeroid

Bah, Homework! | 2012

I still remember those days myself. I sit down with my mum, she flips through my workbooks and my notebooks and then taps her pencil on the table telling me to get ready for homework. Of course, my mum was teacher, so I've always thought that it was just a habit of hers. It only occurred to me that we had to do all that homework because school required us to when I heard my classmates complaining about it.


Fast forward to the current day and year, Jakjak is now in school. Homework in primary is quite different from those he had in pre-school (and not as much or as often). Along with the additional stress he feels while in school, it kind of gets messy when we sit down for homework.


I guess that kids see homework for what it is at their age level. Because a college student will treat homework differently than how a secondary school student would and definitely much more different than a primary school student. In terms of priority, in terms of impact and in terms of stress, a kid will treat homework simply as a nuisance to playing. As such, parents also see homework differently. It's that sense of responsibility that really kicks. We know that our kids need that homework done, but we also know our kids don't want it. And it becomes a chore to explain it to them which takes up time better spent actually doing the homework (and getting more playtime) in the first place.


After a few rumbles and tumbles with Jakjak, my wife hit me with a club. True enough, the point she wanted to let me know was quickly conveyed and understood. First, you shouldn't even attempt to teach about homework when you are unwell. Your personal frustration will just act as a catalyst to the additional frustration that is just about to mount. Second, do make sure that your son has had ample time to rest and be in a proper state of mind before you even mention that he has to do homework. Next, do tackle homework with extreme care. Especially when you both are on the edge of being irritable. Believe me, it's difficult to get back to the calmness of a windless afternoon (Never try to do homework when both of you have just woken up from an afternoon nap).

I do not have the same amount of patience that my wife has. And I don't have the same amount of cooling down period as well. It takes me twice the amoint of time it takes her to go from boiling mad to stoich. I may have anger management problems, but surely, it's not that bad. I just need some practice is all (maybe).

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