Picky Eater No More

Tiger is spoiled by my MIL.
Meals used to take up to 1 hour, at the very least.
He runs around and expect my MIL to go after him, lovingly feeding him spoon by spoon.
He is five this year. Five.
Needless to say, I cannot stand it. I just cannot.
His kindergarten teacher's first feedback was, "Tiger is a picky eater"
I KNOWWWWW.

The list of food he likes includes broccoli, green beans, peas, Ebiko and seaweed. Salmon & Chicken.
No sauce or soup please.
Every scoop that goes into his mouth must consist of one colour only.
God forbid a piece of  meat or vegetable should be buried in the rice.

Of course he loves McDs and ice creams and sweets and chocolate. I do not restrict my kids to organic, home made, super nutritious, pesticide-free, animal-cruelty free, GMO-free food.
You can, of course but it's not our choice. Everything in moderation is my motto.

So, during our last trip to Malacca, he was doing his famous "I am so full, I cannot eat routine" during breakfast. I was losing my temper faster than oil burning but since we were out in public, I had to maintain some dignity.

I whipped out my phone, tapped on Youtube and typed, "starving Africans kids" and pressed play on the first video on the list.

I asked Tiger sweetly, "You want to watch Youtube?"

He nodded gleefully.
Within seconds, he his lips quivered and tears started rolling down his face.

"Mama, I don't want to watch this..."

"No, finish watching it. I insist."

He did.

"Do you understand how lucky you are to have food whenever you are hungry?"

"Do you want to go to Africa and live with those kids?"

Wailing cries followed but he finished everything I served him.
For a week, whenever he says refused a meal, I would whisper, "Africa..."

From then onwards. No more food issues.
He tells us whenever he needs a snack.
He is willing to try new food.
You can hashtag gratitude on that.

I still remind him to appreciate food, to eat whenever he is hungry, not to be overly greedy, etc.
Stuff that used to fall on deaf ears....now he gets it!!

Last night, I asked him about school and he said,

"We ate porridge today and it was delicious. There are vegetables in it"

I nearly cried from joy.
I wanted to sing and dance.

No more lectures.

No more nagging. 

No scolding. 

No yelling.

Case closed.

I love you, Youtube.

Next time I meet a picky eater, I will prescribe:

This video, stat dose.

 

A New Rhythm

Suddenly realised I have not updated on school recently.

Honestly, it's because we no longer have a structured system with nice themes and trays.

And it's all because of this fireball.

This is how she looks like on any given school day.

How to attend a real school like this? 

Whenever I say no painting, she screams and starts painting the whole room orange/red.

 I pity her future teachers and I am expecting regular calls from them.

 

Her rhythm is paint, markers, trays, walk around the room, 

disturb Tiger and wander off.

When she is very quiet, it's because:

1. She's pooping in a corner

2. She has drawn something, somewhere (bed/wall usually)

3. She found food or some crap to eat

4. She has destroyed something and she is frantically trying to fix it.

5. She is flipping a book. Weird but true.

I personally like option number 5 only.

For Tiger, we are still doing his regular school work:

1. Workbooks (Math & English)

We use stickers, crayons, markers, magnets, dry erase, etc so that it's fun.

 Or he does whatever strikes his fancy.

2. Peter & Jane. 

We are still at book 6A because I limit it to a page per day.

It's a compromise because MIL thinks I am torturing him.

He does read more fluently now.

3. Chinese

Baobei and Odonata Flashcards (yucks)

Odonata books

Chinese Picture books

4. Lots and lots of games

Connect4

Tangrams

Checkers

Marble run

Blocks building

5. Toy Based Learning

This week: Moon & Cats

I hate to say it but he doesn't really like picture books.

Which makes me mad because they are so expensive.

Oh, except this Pete the Cat book we borrowed from the library

Here's a video on this book. I totally rock the chorus, which is why he likes it.

He prefers books about space with little tiny words

that I have to read repeatedly in an Indian accent.

We are starting some project based learning and here is what we did for moon/space:

A globe (earth), 

 Torchlight (Sun), 

Tennis ball as the moon  

(The moon is actually a quarter of Earth's size. 

Did you know that? No? That's why you must read more)

I used Nobita (from Doraemon) to represent Tiger

"Mama, I don't wear glasses. This is not me!"

"Ermmm, it's okay baby. Mama and papa also wear specs. This is you in 10 years time"

He stared at Nobita for 2 minutes while considering my words.

I waited.

"This is not me. This is kor-kor."

Okay. Whatever...We stuck Nobita on Malaysia, on the globe.

6. Art

We paint a lot more because of Dragon girl.

Sometimes we just paint the whole night.

They have a little art corner with all the materials displayed, 

except the glue gun and glitter.

He helped me with the frames for the PLAY, READ and HEART at the reading area.

We upcycled them with some poster colour from Buncho.

Msde confetti with some mini punchers from Mr DIY for rm1.80 each

7. Music

Practicing do-re-mi, mi-re-do at home.

 

8. Outdoors

We spent waaaay too much time outdoors.

Whenever I don't smell the bloody haze, we run outside and celebrate.

Dragon girl in her Jerry shoes. Tiger has a blue Tom pair.

You know, Tom & Jerry, since they are always fighting.

Running in the field.

 

 In our outdoor classroom with some green aquarium sand just for variation.

Nope, I do not have kinetic sand. Sand is sand la...

 If you cannot make a mess with sand...then, don't play with sand!

My 2 cents. I'd rather buy lots of paint with rm239.

 

Holiday

Visited another animal farm over Raya break.

Poor boy was on the brink of crying cause the little duckling is scary.

Still forced him to smile :)

Only the ears grew from 2013.

Bwahahahahaha......he is taller, hihi...but that's not so obvious in pics.

Gangster girl and the poor rabbit.

She literally force-fed the poor bunny by stuffing feed into its mouth.

You should have seen our faces.

 We were like NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

We stayed at Thistle, Port Dickson for a night.

It was a last minute thing, hence we could only get this gigantic, overpriced room

 

   

The kids really enjoyed themselves. Obviously, since they are not paying.

Tiger wants to move to a hotel for the rest of his life.

Any hotel. Preferably no ghost one.

Last year, Dragon girl had post MMRV fever and rash, so we avoided the sea.
Tiger was disgusted with the idea of swimming in murky waters.

This year.....

 

  Guess who thought she was a mermaid?

One aunty commented, "She swims in the sea all the time? First time ! She is fearless!"

Haha, we've noticed :)

 

Tiger was a scientist as usual.

He threw the coconut into the sea ....lo and behold, it floated!

He was absolutely fascinated. 

Nothing like learning naturally.

It really made me think about project based learning.

Thank you, coconut.

And finally,

One for the album, for, you know....

 me, to look back at my 22 year old self when I am 30.

What, I was 22 last year? 

No laaaaa....I am 22 years old EVERY freaking year.

 It rained the next day, so we asked for lots of bath gel and did this :)

Mama is reading up on these:

Problem-based learning

Froebel

Reggio

So, what exactly is our rhythm?

Our homeschooling style is never fixed.

It changes with the nature of the children.

It follows their interest and that has always been our rhythm.

I can't say for sure that ours is the best method,

but I believe my children are capable beings,

they think,

they feel,

they are curious, 

they want to learn.

BUT

I do not believe children are empty vessels,

they are not waiting to be filled with information.

Hence we are moving away from right brain/rapid flashing.

Dragon is not going to read anytime soon,

so, paint and play she will.

Tiger is all about space and cars,

so that we will read about space every night,

weird accent and all.

There shouldn't be a standardized version of school for the convenience of adults.

I believe my children are special in their own ways,

as do you in your precious ones.

Why stifle their natural style with school?

Learn, play, love.

What is in store for us in years to come?

I have no idea.

But I am looking forward to it.

Goodness, I sound like I am 50.

I assure you I am 22 in internet years.

Happy Birthday, Dragon girl!

The girl is 2!
I can still remember lying on the cold OT table waiting for Dr B to cut me up.
I was very calm the entire time, imagining the layers he was cutting away to bring this breeched baby into the world.
And when she finally arrived, she announced it by peeing all over her mother. Sheesh....
And from that moment, I knew she is going to be a dramatic one and I was right. They don't call it maternal instinct for nothing.

She was this scrawny, dry looking baby but I was drowning in loving maternal hormones.
So, naturally I thought she was beautiful.
Looking back, nah, quite ugly actually....hihi. Sorry, my princess, must be honest laaaa...
But now, she is so darn cute, chubby, funny, cheeky and sweet.

I made this collage when her kakak complained that I forgot to compile one for her :p

This is going to be a photo overload post.

You know, for when I am old and I want to feel young again.

For Dragon girl's wedding.

For my grandchildren...

Oh God, I am going to cry.....they grow up so fast......

*wipes tears*

For her 2nd birthday, we went on a one day trip to Amverton Cove.

This is the monkey girl who loves to pretend she's driving.

That face....I so geram, you know!

Obviously she's got my eyes. 

Have you seen my hubby's eyes?

Pfffttt...

Looks like me, a little...from the side...whatever la....still my daughter.

 

 We went to the indoor playground immediately.

There were all these slides and balls but  all she wanted to do was cook :)

"Don't help me"

 

We went swimming in the evening

Too brave for floaties.

She cried when hubs tried to put her in the float with seat.

Only took me about 20 minutes to blow it up....no biggie.

We brought a cake with us and she blew out the candles herself.

The rare smile for the camera

 

Another rare shot with a hint of smile.

Some 'model' shots hubs took :)

I look at her and I wonder what the future holds?

She is one of those kids with tons of attitude and fire.

 

 So independent and brave.

She is an artist. We paint every single day.

So, I bought this easel and created an art corner for her.

One day, while Tiger and I were reading outside, she went into the room by herself for sometime.

I expected her to be painting but to my surprise, I found her at the table.

She may look like she is reading but look closely and you will see

she is studying the picture intently.

Nope, still not reading.

She still leaves a trail of mess wherever she goes.

I guess that's how creative minds work.

Must learn to accept and embrace the mess....ohmmmmmmm

C.A.N.N.O.T

I must have frowned because she got up, grabbed the broom and started to sweep,

creating a bigger mess.

Tiger nearly cried when he saw his precious cards all over the floor.

Cognitively she is not as advanced as Tiger but socially, motor skills and 

creatively, she is way ahead.

Still not potty trained.

Still unable to recognize ABCs

Still as playful as ever.

Baby, you are so lucky you are not my firstborn.

Love you just the way you are.

Preschooler Update: Almost Four!

Almost Four!

How quickly this chubby baby became...

.....this lanky kid. 

He is still the sensitive, thinking child I've always had.

In this shot, he was pondering about which prop to add to his 'frog pond'

 

He is a little nerdy at heart. Okay, very nerdy.

Too skinny.

But handsome (haha!)

At almost 4,  he decides on what he would like to do.

Usually its some cut & glue or math.

When I suggest Ready? Go! (right brain practise)

He gives me a determined, sour face, "No. I don't like ready go"

"Why? I never scold you anymore" 

"I don't like it. I like math. You say ready go one more time, I go downstairs.

You study alone."

Sigh...

MATH

So, we do some math everyday.

Still dunno whose math genes he got. 

Must be Winnie yiyi's, cause nobody else likes math.

He is quite good for his age.

Not a genius because 3 year old geniuses would be doing quantum physics by now.

Here, he figured out skip counting by 2 without my help.

Btw, zero here represents 10 (according to him)

 I took the opportunity to introduce him to tadaaaaaa, the times table!

Sorry la, cannot resist the Asian Mom in me. 

 

More math. 

He actually enjoys tracing numbers and counting.

 

We danced to some skip counting by 2 songs from Youtube.

And then I decided to teach him odd vs even using the red counters.

He got it in 10 minutes. End of lesson.

I must be a damn good teacher la *flips hair*

PLAY

 He was down with some viral infection.

High grade fever for 5 days and lost some weight again....arghhhh.

 Still he requested for school but we just played during that time.

I love this set of building toys on loan from Winnie.

He made these that I posted on fb.

Got some money sense, this one.

 

I also posted some laughing pics of him.

Now I recall what it was that made him so happy.

I was telling him that the creature was llama

He said, "Blama? Clama? Clement??"

Hyena laugh.

 WRITING

Tiger is also keen on writing at the moment, so we focus on skills that strengthens his grip:

Coloring within lines

 

Writing in sand.

These are leftover from his sand art kid. I added some salt for volume

  

 He is always excited when I change the trays.

This set was meant to entice Dragon girl but Tiger insisted on doing it.

I replaced the red rods with marbles.

 Major tip to get their attention:

Just add water.

Now they are learning to share without whacking each other.

CHINESE

 He has completed B cards from Baobei after almost 1 year.

Not too bad for a non Chinese speaking boy.

SOCIAL SKILLS

With strangers, he still still very shy.

The sister is as much an extrovert as Tiger is introverted.

Dragon is the first on stage and Tiger would only dance after everyone's left.

 Oh, actually he didn't dance. He was just running around.

 

 With his darling Grandma

Cognitively he will have no problems.

Socially, he has improved a lot. 

He has two friends in Baobei now. 

Hahahahaha....versus one friend last year.

I love you, my darling boy.

I wish you a very Happy Birthday in advance and my only

wish for you at 4 years old is to gain some weight and to be in the pink of health.