I'm a full-time mummy

Oh well, it was traumatising for me... not that the host is not gracious or we were ill treated during our short playdate visit. More like I was being traumatised by Ben's behaviour!

Let me rewind a bit and explain how we got to this playdate. Well, I've met Catheryn, a fellow SAHM and mummy blogger before and she has been inviting me to visit her and her daughter Isabelle since then. Busy-ness caught up, pregnancy, bla bla bla, and mostly, due to my shyness in socialising with people, so when she MSN-ed me few days ago for a playdate outing, I thought 'Oh well, there's only 1 more month before Spicy Baby is due, if not now, when?!'

So here we are, playdate all arranged. Hubby was to drop Ben and myself off at Catheryn's condo and pick us up when he finished his appointment some 2 hours later. I had earlier prepared Ben mentally by showing him pictures of Belle and Catheryn (from Facebook), telling him we are going to meet this mei-mei (aka little sister) and aunty in a short while and for him to behave and not cry (like how he did when I brought him along to have lunch with my ex-boss few days ago)

We reached Catheryn's place few minutes after 11am and took a short tour around the pool and squash court area - for Ben to wind down a bit. It was getting hot so we decided to return back to her house. We chatted and watched our kids play. Initially Ben was shy and had both his hands to his back, not daring to touch anything in the house. I explained to Catheryn this is something I don't know where Ben picks up from.

Everything was fine and dandy at the beginning. Ben playing with Belle's ride-on car and Bell having her lunch while watching TV.

But boy oh boy, after Ben relax and let down his guard... that's when I started getting traumatised. Belle had graciously shared her toys and Ben, getting to play new toys decided to hang onto the toys longer and started getting territorial. He even started hitting Belle when she gets close to his vicinity. Poor girl!

I was so embarrassed with Ben's behaviour! Arghhhh... what am I to do? I don't even dare to think of going back to Catheryn's place for the next playdate (not that I can with Spicy Baby along)

At some point they played together like close friends, and then one second later, there goes Ben hitting and pushing Belle away, telling her to go away (and not stepped into his territory). Yikes!

Ben looking at Belle while she sat on the ride-on

And they switched roles after that...

Of course there are times when I am happy with what Ben did, like him picking up the toys and putting it back into the case where they belong, or the times he held few pieces of the oat crackers he's having for his lunch and gave to Belle (but not before pushing her away few minutes before that sigh...) and he even danced along to the bible action songs (the same ones we had) which he had not done for a while now, maybe now there is Belle dancing along that's why Ben participated as well.. and sorry to say, he influenced Belle to dance like him... yikes again... dancing in a big circle, spinning round and round... I hope Belle doesn't pick it up from Ben permanently!

All in all, it was a fun playdate (aside from me being traumatised and extremely embarrassed seeing Belle getting whacked by Ben), I'm glad Ben did not cry at seeing strangers (maybe cos I showed him their pictures on FB before leaving the house), I was a bit worried he might cling to me and not approach anyone (which he normally does during 1st encounter)

Next playdate? Not till I get over this trauma first... sigh... I hope Belle and Catheryn is OK and not traumatised like me...

** Just want to update: I was traumatised because Ben was usually quiet and timid at home and when he's with strangers (in fact, Ben was normally the one being bullied and end up clinging to me crying), so to be seeing him behaving like this was an eye opener for me. But my hubby said to take this as a lesson and not be discouraged or phobic as these are the times we should be correcting him the right way. Agree to that!

I was really tired yesterday entertaining my cheeky boy the whole day and by the time it was 5.30pm, Ben was still wide awake and refused to take his afternoon nap (normally he naps around 2-3pm for 2-3 hours).

At one point, he mischievously managed to pull out this leather tie string from our window railings (which originated from a handbag given by my SIL) that I used as a curtain tie.

So what does a really tired 8 months+ preggy mum gotta do?

She used the curtain tie to teach her toddler a lesson...

Now, now, before you go on thinking I used the curtain tie to punish him, please clear that thought off your mind. I may be tired (VERY!) and stressed out (mild) but I will not resort to things like this. What I meant by teaching him a lesson is...

You see, there are 8 little cute flower petals strung on the tie and since Ben refused to let me put it back onto our window railings, I decided to use it to teach him things like:

* Counting from 1 to 8 - as I pulled each petal across the curtain tie, I repeated the numbers 1 to 8, making sure he follows  and repeat my counting

* The concept of up and down - I pulled each petal up and down and repeated the directions up and down to him, and he followed what I showed him

* The concept of left and right - I pulled each petal across both ends and repeated the directions left and right to him, and he followed what I showed him

Ben concentrating as he pulled the petal downwards...

And saying the word 'Two' as he pulled the 2nd petal...

Who would've thought such a simple thing like a curtain tie could be educational as well huh? (and the extent to how weird a very tired preggy mum could come up with this idea! Hahahaha...)

And not to forget, it kept him busy and entertained for quite a while! Wooohoooo!

What other things have you used to teach your child a lesson?

On the same date 1 year ago, I was just dedicating a post for my hubby's 30th birthday and now, here we are, celebrating his 31st birthday!

I've gotta be honest here, I don't really have much time and resources to get him a memorable (I don't even dare to say good) birthday present. I mean, back in the days when I don't have children yet, I could just go to a shopping mall and scout for some nice present for him. But with Ben in tow now, everywhere I plan (or think) to go, have to be thought carefully. I mean, I don't want to raise any suspicions that I'm going out to get a birthday present and at 8 months+ pregnant now, I'd really rather stay home and rest (no offense to my dearest hubby).

So, the only chance I get to look out for his birthday present was when we were out during our family outing, at which most likely Ben will be tagging along with me anyway.

Anyhoo, long story short, I managed to get something (again, I don't even dare to say it's good) but I think it'll have to do. I know I've told my hubby before that his best birthday present is his children (and now he's getting another one in 1 month time!), so I hope he'll like the present I got him. I chose it and Ben chose the color. He's got good taste! Hehehe...

I've already wrapped it up (had to sneak downstair with some wrapping paper, scissors and loytape) and had just printed out  and made this very cute birthday card template from Disney website (which I think Ben will absolutely go berserk at when he sees it)

Birthday present with the cute looking birthday card in front...

Buzz Lightyear popping out as you flipped open the birthday card! Cute eh?

We also have a simple family dinner planned out to celebrate his birthday and I've also arranged with my ever helpful SIL to get this very awesome birthday cake for my hubby (pictures later if I remember to take it hehehe...) So, I hope he'll have a memorable birthday this year!

Happy 31st birthday dear!

Read: Numbers 6:24-26 (NIV), 1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NIV), Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 (NIV)