I'm a full-time mummy

I have previously written about our kiddos' final playgroup session for 2013. Just want to share that when we first started attending the playgroup sessions in September 2013, there are quite a number of parents and caretakers of the children there asking me which kindergarten Benjamin goes to. When I said none, they will asked why I did not send him yet or whether I will be looking for any soon and some kind-hearted ones will even start recommending me which kindergarten to ask around.

Later on, a mummy friend told me that the playgroup session we are attending is run by a church and they also run kindergarten as well. According to her, the kindy classes come in highly recommended by a lot of those playgroup mummies and told me to try asking whether there are any slots available for 2014 batch.

Why the kindy classes is highly recommended? There are only about 18 children in a class, they do 5 days a week classes of 3 hours every class, homework given during the school holidays and they instill a lot of Christian values to the children and they still have the fun element plus a bit of academic structure in their classes.

Few days later I went to inquire from the person in-charge and was told that the 2014 batch is full already and if I'm still interested, she will put us on waiting list for 2015 batch or if we don't mind, she will slot Benjamin in for the K4 class (which is for 6 years old). I felt sad seeing the gloomy outcome of having only 2015 to hope for!

When I got home with our kiddos, I told hubby what happened and he was upset that I did not register our kiddos even though we will be put on the waiting list. Hubby said, "At least by that time there is available slot, Alyson will be old enough to go to the class! And as for Benjamin, just because the lady said no more slots available until 2015, that doesn't mean you should just listen and give up. Even if there is slot for 6 years old and Ben is too young for the class, just register! At least few hours away from the house and he gets to make friends is better than nothing. Just register and leave it to God to handle this!'

And so the very next day, I brought our boy along to see the person in-charge again, and this time, registered both our kiddos' names in the waiting list. I told the person in-charge even though Ben might be too young, if there is any slots available even for the 6 years old class, just let him join. And so we waited.

2 months later, I received a call and it was from the kindy's person in-charge. She asked whether we are still keen to enrol Benjamin in the kindy class. I said YESSSSSSS!!! She said there is a boy who pulled out from next year's batch and so there is a slot available. I said thank you, we will take it and asked what age group will Ben be placed in. She said it is for K3 class which is meant for 5 years old. Perfect! Benjamin will turned 5 years old in March next year.

Oh my... God is really awesome! Truly awesome! And so I am reminded with this bible verse, Luke 18:27 (NIV) ~ “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” Just because I was told there is no more slots available until 2015 and I think there is no more possibilities for us and our boy, God turned it around and shoved it at my face that yes, everything is possible through Him! Amen to that!

Thank you God for You truly knows what is best for us: Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) ~ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

And when is the best time to reveal everything to us. Habakkuk 2:3 (NIV) ~ For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it[a] will certainly come and will not delay.

Now if you are wondering why we wanted our boy to go to classes when we have plans to teach him, well, like I mentioned above, hubby wanted our kiddos to mix around with other children, to make friends and to get away from the house for a few hours everyday so I can spend time to focus on our 2 younger kiddos. We also wanted Benjamin to be more sociable (unlike his super shy anti social mummy) and make more friends.

I plan to still teach Benjamin after he finishes his class (half day) and on the days when there are playgroup sessions, I can bring our girls along and be able to handle 2 kiddos instead of 3 which I have been worrying of earlier. So yes, God plans out everything for us nicely!!!

Looking forward for our Benjamin to start his classes in 2014! And what an awesome God we have!

**Personal notes: Apologies but due to my paranoia of privacy and security of myself, my family and my kiddos, I am not going to reveal what is the playgroup name, the kindergarten name, the area and so on. Apologies but like I said, I am really paranoid and with info like this being shown in public, I hope you can understand my reasons for doing so.

The last I wrote about our kiddos' playgroup session was on the last day of September 2013 (I actually blogged 1-2 weeks in advance) sharing my bittersweet memories that I won't be bringing our 2 kiddos to their church playgroup sessions as our 3rd baby is due then and I will be busy for some time settling down with 3 kiddos then.

First week of October, our 4.5 years old already asking me when will we be going to the playgroup session. I feel like a crappy mum for not being able to bring our kiddos there!

Second week of October, I was so tempted to bring our kiddos there when I backed out last minute after seeing quite a number of mummy friends sharing that their children and classmates are down with cough, flu and cold. It wasn't that I'm afraid our 2 kiddos will get it, I'm more worried that they got it and brought back the virus home and infect our newborn. So plan delayed.

Third week of October, again, backed out last minute due to the viral season still lingering.

Last week of October, I decided this is it. This is the final session for 2013 as the playgroup center follows the national school holidays session whereby schools will be closed from mid November until early 2014. I didn't see anymore postings from mummies about kiddos falling sick so I thought this is just right. Discussed with hubby for him to take care of baby Carolyn for an hour while I bring Benjamin and Alyson to their playgroup session for the last hour activities (we missed the storytelling session as we were late).

I still remember how excited Benjamin was the night before when I told him if he behaves and goes to bed early and wakes up early, mummy will bring him and Alyson to playgroup session. His face lit up literally and he reserved his Spiderman clothes for the playgroup session!

Like I mentioned earlier, we missed the storytelling session since we were a bit late. When we arrived, it was time to queue up to wash hands for snacks. Some mums were surprised to see me bringing our kiddos (for Chinese, I should still be couped up at home for confinement period) and they were surprised to see me being out and about so fast.

After the snack session, the kiddos had a short freeplay session where they get to play with some bricks (refer picture #1) while the parents and caretakers have a short tea break. I didn't join in the tea break as usual as I prefer to be near my kiddos and watched out after them (yeah, I know, I'm like a mama hen!)

The final activity for the day is costume play where all of us went upstairs into this room, all prepped up with jewelleries and costumes for parents to choose for their kiddos to try and wear and take pictures and simply just have fun!

Alyson went straight to the makeup table in the center and sat right into one of the chairs and got busy decorating herself! (refer picture #2)

Wow! I honestly didn't know where she learned all this from since I'm never the type of person to do any make up at all! (*Note: Probably she got it from my mother-in-law as our kiddos are used to seeing her getting ready with makeup and stuff in front of her makeup table)

I managed to take some pictures of our kiddos trying out the costumes and jewelleries they liked. (refer picture #3) I also snapped a picture
(refer picture #4) which surprised me and brought a smile to my face, I finally saw my 4.5 years old boy approaching a little girl in the playgroup center and heard him saying 'Hey, can I be your friend?' Wow! Social milestone!

You see, like his mummy, our boy is very shy and reserved with strangers but to see him ditching this shyness and approaching a girl asking whether he can be her friend, and mind you, I also snapped a picture of the little girl looking surprised hearing his question and then she went on to flipped her skirt sideways blushing at the same time, so so so cute! I hope this will continue and our boy will finally be able to make some new friends!!!

Looking forward for 2014 playgroup sessions!

**Personal notes: Apologies but due to my paranoia of privacy and security of myself, my family and my kiddos, I am not going to reveal what is the playgroup name, the area and so on. Apologies but like I said, I am really paranoid and with info like this being shown in public, I hope you can understand my reasons for doing so.

According to Wikipedia,

"Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, and images, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation, and instilling moral values. Crucial elements of stories and storytelling include plot, characters, and narrative point of view."

This is one of the new activities I'm trying to incorporate into our daily routines. I noticed during our kiddos' playgroup session, our 4.5 years old boy was getting more interested and intrigued during storytelling session, especially when the story is something he has heard/read before (like the 5 little monkeys and the crocodile) and stories with creative actions and tools and props (Joshua and the wall of Jericho)

So, since I'm stuck at home with 3 kiddos, what else to do but to search online for tips and ideas, right? And ta-daaaaaa... the power of online purchases! I bought this set of finger puppets for less than USD4 and was so excited when I received them!

Now according to some websites, the Three Little Piggy story end up horribly where the first 2 piggies get eaten by the wolf. I've decided to change my storyline a bit. I started off with the 3 little piggies wanting to stay in their own houses and asked permission from Mummy Piggy to leave the house and Mummy Piggy agreed with the promise that 3 little piggies must come back to visit her often. Then off the piggies go and one by one started separated after they found the materials to build their houses with - straws, wooden planks and bricks.

I also told our kiddos that the first 2 piggies laughed at the last piggy for taking so long to build his brick house but the last piggy persevered on without complaining or feeling bad at being laughed at as he believes that the brick house although takes long to build will be sturdy and strong and able to protect him.

Then I started introducing the big bad wolf into the storyline, of how he knocked the door (yes, wolf has manners too!) asking the piggy to open the door so he can eat them and how the wolf huffed and puffed and blows the house away after the piggy said 'not by chin of my chinny chin chin' in not opening the door.

The climax of the story was when the wolf followed the first 2 piggies that ran off to hide in the last piggy's brick house and after failing to blow away the brick house, the wolf decided to climb up the roof and came in through the chimney and the 3 piggies decided to put a pot of boiling water underneath the fireplace to trap the wolf and scared it away.

I end the story with the first 2 piggies apologising to the last piggy for making fun of him when he took long time to build the brick house and that the first 2 piggies also ended up building their own brick houses too. I also add in the part where the 3 little piggies still go back to visit their mummy piggy every now and then.

The first time I told this story (mind you, I had to nurse baby Carolyn as well) we did it on our bed, I put a bolster in front of me to hide my fingers and hands (while cradling baby Carolyn) and I'm so happy to see our kiddos face lit up when they saw the finger puppets appearing. Had to hold them off from grabbing the piggies away from my fingers! Our boy was so focused on the storytelling session, worth it, worth it!

Am going to see what else I can create using the same finger puppets. I also tried to incorporate some moral lessons in my storytelling as well (manners - to seek parent's permission, respect - not to laugh at others, filial piety - to still visit parents, forgiveness - saying sorry for making fun of others)

That's all the updates I can share for now, feel free to ask and share if you have feedback!