It was a warm and humid afternoon and I was preparing Jolie to take her nap when my mobile phone rang. I wonder who it could be as, sad it it sounds, I seldom receive calls. The caller asked for "Jolene", and I hesitated. Usually I would just slam the phone down on wrong numbers, but I just have a hunch on this one. So I gave her a few seconds to correct herself, and as expected, she was looking for me.
It was the lady from the playgroup, happily informing me that they have "worked things out" and was then able to take in Jolie as their student. Without even asking me if I was still interested, she went on about what documents do bring, how much money to pay and when she starts school. So I wrote all the information down, said my thanks, hung up the phone and got back to the task of patting Jolie to sleep again. As we lie on our sofa in the quiet house, with her sleepy head on my chest, I can’t help but burst into tears.
It sounds quite cliché, but I do see flashbacks of Jolie in my arms, a delicate little infant, so fragile and so dependent on me. How she has grown bigger and more beautiful day by day, running and laughing. I know, I probably watch too much movies, but the thought was enough to make me weep uncontrollably. My baby’s grown up and going to school! My rational brain gave me a disgusted grunt and wanted to slap some senses into me. “It’s only 2 hours! Get a grip on it!” she says, but my emotional brain wouldn’t hear it. “My baby’s leaving me!” she wailed.
It has been quite a journey, this preschool hunt. I started looking into it since Jolie has turned 18 months, but decided that she was just not ready! Who’s going to pat her to sleep? Feed her milk and food? Change her diaper? So we shelved the idea until she turned two. In a blink of an eye, we celebrated her 2nd birthday! Even though I know that I could teach her just as well, I know that she could really benefit from socializing with other children. Even with that excellent rational, I couldn’t help but procrastinate a little. Everyday I was coming up with stupid excuses not to go playgroup hunting. “I need to do more research, it’s too hot, it’s raining, we had to go to my Mom’s place, etc.” It really made me realise that it was ME who wasn't ready, not Jolie.
Finally I ran out of excuses. Even as I was all prepared to go, a little voice whispered in my mind, “Maybe we could go another day?” But I can’t find a reason why, so we went out and found a suitable school for Jolie that day. Damn.
So here I am, weeping. Jolie looked at me all puzzled, and then started to give me hugs and kisses, hoping to make me feel better. I hugged her even tighter; will she be just as sweet to her silly Mama when she’s all grown up? So now we’ll just have to wait for the dreaded day to come. Perhaps I could look at this in a different light, after all, I have been granted 2 free hours everyday. It’s not a lot, but it’s free time nonetheless. A change is coming. Time to embrace it. :)
Monday, March 7, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Henderson Wave and DNA Bridge
On Friday morning, Cobby was on leave, so we chio parents for breakfast. After breakfast, we decided to have an impromptu trip to Henderson Wave!
Even though it was only 10am plus in the morning, there wasn't a single cloud in the sky! Freaking hot and sunny! But the bridge was as beautiful as I remembered it to be, and it was less crowded as it was, afterall, a weekday morning.
I can understand why so many people would love to take their wedding photos here. The surrounding was so scenic and the bridge was so beautiful and rustic and romantic all at the same time! You know, on a cooler day, if you lie down on the sides, the wind would blow through the gaps, and it would be like an air-conditioned lounge chair!
Thankfully my Mom was always equipped with her trusty umbrella. Kept Jolie from having a heat stroke.
Took a great photo with my phone, unfortunately I put on the wrong shooting mode and ended up with an over-exposed shot. :(
The bridge was taller on one side, so it was sloped downwards. Poor Cobby had to spend most of his time stopping Jolie from running full-speed down the bridge! That girl was out of control!!! But she was having too much fun to care about her life and death.
Another day, my parents and I were reminiscing about good steak dinners we had in the past, so I suggested that on Saturday night, we all go out for a good steak dinner. So on Saturday, after Cobby and I had finished our movie in the afternoon, we headed back to Mom's place, picked them up and headed out again to CHIJMES for dinner at Hog's Breadth Cafe. After a stuffing dinner, we drove to Marina Square, parked the car there and walked to the DNA bridge.
We have been there during the day, but the visiting the bridge at night really feels very different. There were lights everywhere, the reflections on the metal frame, the beautiful night view of the cityscape, the lighted Singapore flyer, even the Marina Bay Sands looked so beautiful at night!
Sometimes I wonder what tourist find so attractive of our little island. It's nights like these, where you leave the comforts of your couch and TV, and you go out there and see what the tourists see, then you can be reminded how beautiful our Singapore has become within these few years. I felt like a little like a tourist that night, looking around with "Oooo and Aaahhh...", and I can't help but feel a little proud to be part of this country that all those people around were complimenting.
Of course, I think the person who had the most fun that night has to be our little Jolie. We think it must be the ice cream that was giving her the sugar rush, because she was running, screaming and talking (in her baby language) at full speed!
As usual, poor Cobby had to be the one who had to chase after her. Thank you my dear! 辛苦了! When we finally decided to go back, ALL of us were totally beat, if I had known we were going to walk this much, I wouldn't have worn my stupid heels! Jolie was way past her bedtime, so as tired as I was, I had to keep her awake until we get home. Which was close to an hour of games, making funny faces and tickling her. EXHAUSTED...!
I admit that this was all very fun, but seriously, I think we can limit outings like this to just once or twice a month. I think I'm getting old. :)
Even though it was only 10am plus in the morning, there wasn't a single cloud in the sky! Freaking hot and sunny! But the bridge was as beautiful as I remembered it to be, and it was less crowded as it was, afterall, a weekday morning.
I can understand why so many people would love to take their wedding photos here. The surrounding was so scenic and the bridge was so beautiful and rustic and romantic all at the same time! You know, on a cooler day, if you lie down on the sides, the wind would blow through the gaps, and it would be like an air-conditioned lounge chair!
Thankfully my Mom was always equipped with her trusty umbrella. Kept Jolie from having a heat stroke.
Took a great photo with my phone, unfortunately I put on the wrong shooting mode and ended up with an over-exposed shot. :(
The bridge was taller on one side, so it was sloped downwards. Poor Cobby had to spend most of his time stopping Jolie from running full-speed down the bridge! That girl was out of control!!! But she was having too much fun to care about her life and death.
Another day, my parents and I were reminiscing about good steak dinners we had in the past, so I suggested that on Saturday night, we all go out for a good steak dinner. So on Saturday, after Cobby and I had finished our movie in the afternoon, we headed back to Mom's place, picked them up and headed out again to CHIJMES for dinner at Hog's Breadth Cafe. After a stuffing dinner, we drove to Marina Square, parked the car there and walked to the DNA bridge.
We have been there during the day, but the visiting the bridge at night really feels very different. There were lights everywhere, the reflections on the metal frame, the beautiful night view of the cityscape, the lighted Singapore flyer, even the Marina Bay Sands looked so beautiful at night!
Sometimes I wonder what tourist find so attractive of our little island. It's nights like these, where you leave the comforts of your couch and TV, and you go out there and see what the tourists see, then you can be reminded how beautiful our Singapore has become within these few years. I felt like a little like a tourist that night, looking around with "Oooo and Aaahhh...", and I can't help but feel a little proud to be part of this country that all those people around were complimenting.
Of course, I think the person who had the most fun that night has to be our little Jolie. We think it must be the ice cream that was giving her the sugar rush, because she was running, screaming and talking (in her baby language) at full speed!
As usual, poor Cobby had to be the one who had to chase after her. Thank you my dear! 辛苦了! When we finally decided to go back, ALL of us were totally beat, if I had known we were going to walk this much, I wouldn't have worn my stupid heels! Jolie was way past her bedtime, so as tired as I was, I had to keep her awake until we get home. Which was close to an hour of games, making funny faces and tickling her. EXHAUSTED...!
I admit that this was all very fun, but seriously, I think we can limit outings like this to just once or twice a month. I think I'm getting old. :)
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