down with flu

This morning Kate had a little bit of runny nose. But she insisted to go for school, so she went for rope-skipping CCA in the morning and continue for school afterwards. There was 2.5 hours between and Kate preferred to spend it at school.

Today Kate also had a class trip to supermarket. Some parents (include Mum) went along to help. The children had so much fun doing supermarket detective (they required to spot some foods that listed in their worksheets) and shopping (with shopping list). After came back to school, they had sandwich party at the canteen with the food and drink they have bought. When the party has over, they went back to their class. Kate looked fine and enjoying the trip, too.

Just about one hour after Mum left school, Mum's phone rang.

"Mum, I want to go home. I want to have a rest"

Kate's voice didn't sound good, so Mum went back to school to fetch her.

And here is Kate checking her temperature by putting the thermometer through her ompong.

independent morning

Actually Mum was a bit hesitant on doing this, but gave it a try nevertheless.

Mum had to go somewhere, so this morning was Kate's first "independent" morning. When Mum left, Kate had just finished her breakfast. After Mum has left, Kate prepared herself for school, managed some spare time to play computer, locked the doors, then went to chinese lesson by herself.

When Kate finished with her chinese lesson, Mum hasn't arrived yet to pick her up. So Kate went for lunch and waited for Mum there.

Soon Kate will be ready to be a latchkey girl :)

Actually, where did Mum go when Kate was enjoying her morning ?

Psstt ...

to get a book (see the cover on the right) for $25 only :D

name

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet."

--From Romeo and Juliet (II, ii, 1-2)


Well, it turns out that Kate's name is rather difficult to pronounce, so here's the pronounciation guide (and the meaning) of Kate's name:

Kathleen

Pronounciation	: kath-LEEN
Meaning	: pure, little darling

Kiera

Pronounciation	: KEER-a, KEE-ar-a
Meaning	: dark-haired

Ok, if you still think it's difficult, try to pronounce Hermione :)

... btw it's pronounced Her-MY-oh-knee ...

bus

Today is the second day Kate will take a bus home from school by herself. Usually Mum sends and picks her up at school. But yesterday, Kate wanted to try to take the bus by herself. She only asked Mum to wait for her at the bus stop, in case there was naughty driver who disobeyed the traffic light when she was crossing the road.

Yesterday, Kate came home safe and sound, and she was very happy with the experience. She took the bus together with another 2 girls, Jolene and Erin, who live in the building just behind the bus stop. Jolene is a P3 girl who goes to school and comes back home by herself. Erin is a P1 girl who goes to school by school bus and her maid picks her up in the evening.

Actually, Mum is not totally confidence on letting Kate take the bus by herself. There are many bad and good scenarios come to Mum's mind. Start with 'how if Kate misses the bus stop', then come so many other 'how if ...'s.

Mum used to go to school by herself since P2, though. It was about 20 minutes journey from home to school by 'angkot', and 30 minutes from school to home. That time Mum lived in a small town called Cimahi, suburb of Bandung, capital of West Java. Of course it is not the same condition as metropolitan like Singapore. That time Mum was about 7.5 years old, so Kate starts about 1 year younger than Mum.

Well ... this is one of parenting challenges. Sometimes the child is ready, but the parents are not. Sometimes the child is not ready, but the parents expect too much. It is quite complicated, isn't it?

..... everybody is different .....

..... no one else is me .....

Happy Feet

It was getting late, more and more people came for picnic cum movie. The air which has been a bit cooler became hot again. And while waiting for the darkness to come, Kate managed to have a short nap in the middle of the crowd and the noise.

And it turned out that Happy Feet will not be in Kate's favourite list, as she cried countless time during the movie, especially when the other penguins told Mumble to leave.