闹失踪

对不起，不是失踪了，只是妈妈我最近很忙。每天上课、下课、改作业、会议、报告…… 哪来的时间和闲情写博客。所以各位观众，不好意思，好久没有我们的消息。

我会尽量抽时间上载些照片的。

昨晚，难得和老公抽空一起去看了场演出。

《老九》是实践郭宝崑节的其中一部演出。2005年，《老九》首度改编为音乐剧，但实践这一次是推翻了首版《老九》音乐剧的版本，以全新的创作和阵容重新演绎郭宝崑最通俗易懂的作品之一。

老九，家中排行第九的独子。被家人寄以厚望的他，有机会问鼎一项极具声望的奖学金。就在即将迈向光辉前途的重要关头，他犹豫了。原来他想继续学习自己热爱而又濒临失传的传统木偶表演艺术。究竟老九会追求自己的理想，还是步上领取奖学金的光明大道？游走于理想与现实、传统与现代之间，他该作何抉择？

这部剧让我有共鸣。我曾经也背负着家人寄以厚望重重的担子，压在双肩的重担让我变得胆小、没有主见。现为人母，我才发觉到原来父母是无意让孩子背上承重的负担的。但是爱往往让人变得盲目、让你在有意无意间为孩子铺路，不管那是否是孩子所选择要走的路。

时时得警惕自己：不要因为爱、因为寄以厚望，而抹杀了孩子心里的老九。让孩子有足够的空间、勇气和决心去追逐梦想、实现愿望。让孩子有作选择的自由！

Learning the art of persuasion, negotiation and coercion

Every morning, Dylan will kick up a fuss when Granny wants to clean him up and dress him for school.

He simply hates to be sponge-bathed. You will find him and Granny engaging in a tug of war or worse a cat and mouse chase around the house.

This morning was no exception. He refused to be cleaned and was screaming and crying on top of his voice. To pacify him, I gave him a candy and he in turn agreed to be cleaned up for school.

Just before we are all dressed and ready to head out of the door, he pointed to my bag (where I kept my box of candies) and said, "Mommy, another candy then no more, OK?"

The Rock School

Thanks to Siao Mommy, Mommy and I had a great rock-climbing session today!

It was Mommy's birthday present actually, but I get to enjoy the privilege with Mommy =)!

Little Dylan also wants to try his hands on the rocks

Tessa: I want to reach to the blue caterpillar!

Mommy reaching all the way to the top!

Mommy had wanted me to do this because she believes it will teach me to focus and develop stronger character. She said that I should learn to persevere and not give up easily. I just would have to hang in there, move on and I will find myself going higher.

Well, but I was scared. I wanted to come down! I cried! I didn't understand that I would not fall if I let go of my hands until much later. I realized that the harness will help to ensure that I will get to the ground safely.

It was a tough sports - I still prefer scootering, cycling and the playground.

In any case, for those who would like to try their hands at rock-climbing, you can check out http://therockschool.sg/. This is a centre specially for kids and the trainers are all so friendly! They gave Dylan and me lollipop and chocolates.

Scuba diving!

Dylan's class did something very interesting today at Shichida.

They were given goggles to put on to pretend going scuba diving (though the wrong kind of mask).

The little boy did not dare to open his eyes after I put on his goggles. He was hilarious. But we had fun going round the room to touch and look at the various paper sea creatures teacher put up on the walls.

Camping

Daddy has been planning to do "camping" with the kids over the weekend, but did not have the opportunity to do so.

Finally today, they managed to "pitch" a "tent" and camp inside.

The kids had a lot of fun switching off the room lights to get into the mood of camping and used Daddy's iphone as a torch. They played, they read, they laughed.

They hijacked my mattresses and blanket for their tent

Swimming fun!

Dylan really loves swimming.

But unfortunately, he has been having bouts of running nose (sometimes bleeding nose), so he has not been joining Tessa in the pool regularly.

When he gets to go into the pool, you can see his face lit up. The little boy seems to be a natural swimmer.