Random Thoughts on our Daughter

Last Monday was NN’s first day in pre-school. We were worried if she’ll be ok as she is quite “sticky” to SL, so we let the babysitter take her to school on the first day and we observed her from a distance. On the 2nd day, she cried a little but was ok when a teacher escorted her into the classroom. To our surprise, she was completely ok on the 3rd day when the babysitter dropped her off at school.

NN is really picking up on her speaking so much so that it amazes, surprises, and catches us at times. We begin to see that she’ll be a great sister to her yet-to-be-born brother/sister, though she always says that she wants baby sister whenever we asked her. Whenever SL is having her sickness, NN would come and ask SL, “Mummy, are you ok? You want drink water?” or “Mummy, are you ok? You want to take medicine?”. Actually, we realized that she picking up and repeating every word we’ve said to her before. That cautioned us to be very careful with our speech when she’s around us.

In LG, she would be distracting everyone to laughter with what she says. At the dinner table, with her eyes partially closed, we would be guiding her in giving thanks for the food. And she’s able to pray some parts of the prayer without guidance now.

Recalling back to a phrase mentioned by Mr. Tan Soo Inn in one of his sermons in BLC, he said, “It’s not quality time spent with your children but adequate time spent…”. I believe it makes a lot of difference when parents spend enough time nurturing their children rather than passing on the responsibility to others (school, church, grand-parents, babysitters, etc). Sadly to say, this is too often the norm. I’ve mentioned SL’s intention to be a homemaker to some people I know, and their first reactions give me the impression as if that’s something abnormal or something sad to do. That is how much society has made us to believe that it’s ok for us to spend minimal time with our kids. Go make lots of bucks so that we can provide the best for them. But, in my humble opinion, the best we can provide for them is enough time spent. SL will testify that during her childhood she had very little in terms of materialism because her family was not well off. But, she never feels deprived in any way because her parents spent lots of time with her.