When it's more fun there

 

Even before we landed in Sydney, the kids started saying we should move there. “Why?” I asked picking the carryon baggage from the overhead bin.

“Because it’s like Seattle, and they talk a lot with me.” DS said.

“And they have a similar social justice system like the US” said DD, my diversity advocate.

“OK, lets just get a cab and go meet papa.”

“Can you check where we get taxis?” I asked DS, as soon as we left the arrivals gate.

He ran behind an airport employee and I lost sight of him for a bit. DD and I were busy trying to maneuver the luggage to the pick up spot.

Soon DS came running pointing at the opposite direction.

“Mamma, I think that guy has lost some teeth.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked. “Did you see in his mouth?”

“No, but he said ‘Aiver they’, when I asked him where the taxis were. Just like air come out when i talk through my lost teeth, i think air os coming out for him too.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“I think it means ‘over there’" he said. “Because he pointed in that direction.”

“Naar” DD said.

“What?”

“That’s another word in the Australian accent.”

“What does that mean?” I asked.

“No” she smiled. “See, we should move here. It’s so fun.”

And that’s how our trip to Sydney began.

The next day was already too late, coz DS wanted to be at the beach everyday, every hour, and DD wanted to shop till she dropped.

So Manly beach separated the ladies from the gentlemen. DS had his first brush with body boarding and DD had her first brush with not finding anything her size.

“Why is everyone so gigantic?” she asked.

“You’re tiny” I smiled.

“Maybe I’ll get a scarf.”

“Oh yeah, that’ll be your perfect size.”

Clearly the shopping wasn’t really what she anticipated, so we settled for a mani-pedi, and lets just say, her pink nails are not really hers.

With all the body boarding, came the sun-burn. Not for the kid, the dad. So finally somebody agreed that Mom was right in advising to wear sunblock.

But with all things said, Sydney was an amazing place to visit. The Blue Mountains were breath taking, the Sydney Opera house checked off my bucket list, and the beach mania is something that’s not leaving this household anytime soon.

“Mamma, why do we have to be home?” DS complains everyday. “The fun isn’t here, it’s Aiver they.”

Too Many Girls!!

DD had a Saturday practice at school. DS had a long day too, with a lot of playtime at home, Amma is here, so he'd been playing with her and Lina Aunty. 

"Ma, can we have dinner outside?" DD messaged me. 

That seemed like a good idea. Amma, DS and I decided to meet DD half way in her favorite restaurant. 

It was a good meal, good ambiance, good company. 

There were a bunch of men behind us, laughing and joking boisterously. 

Suddenly, DS declares to us, "There are too many girls. I am done. I want to be around some boys!"

"What?" All of us were shocked.

"Papa is traveling, and there are no boys. It's only girls, girls, girls"

One of the guys behind us heard and looked over. Clearly he wanted to talk to DS. 

"I don't really want to be around girls anymore. I am going." DS continued, standing up, and trying to walk away from us. 

"Hey, babe", I called after him. "There's a bunch of boys right here, you can talk to."

"Hey, yeah" said the guy who was following our conversation. "You know, I have 2 boys myself."

That seemed to calm DS down, who at this point was struggling to set himself free from his sisters' grasps, to - walk away. 

"Why aren't your sons here?" He asked. 

"They're at home." He said, showing some pics of his kids. 

"Do you play any sports?" He asked DS. 

DS couldn't understand his Kiwi accent. "He's asking if you play any sports, babe" I said. 

"Basketball."

"Ooh, I love playing basketball. My kids play too!"

"Mamma, can you take his number, and we can have a play date with his sons?"

And after a good conversation, there was no need to walk away from the girls in the house anymore, or so I thought. 

I also set a 

Ady returned last morning. DS woke up as soon as he heard his dad's voice. 

"Papa, I am glad there's a boy in the house," he ran to hug his dad. 

"What?... I..." and am still finishing that sentence. 

Image Source: https://www.needpix.com/photo/1299933/flower-girl-power-woman-power-florist-female-woman-girl-sign-female-sign

Rules of turning 7

This was possibly the first birthday for DS that he knew and was aware, that it was organized just for him, outside the home.

He wanted to have a laser tag event, and made his own list of friends he wanted to invite.

This was actually a birthday of mixed feelings for the little guy. He was turning 7.

Turning 7 in Singapore meant that you need to sleep by yourself, and you cannot sleep with your parents anymore. (That’s the rule, don’t look it up. You’ll just have to take my word for it.)

So while he was excited that there’s a day dedicated for him and all his wishes, a big part of him was also worried that he no longer gets to sleep with Mamma. (Mamma was equally unhappy by the way, it was Papa’s idea to enforce the rule, so he doesn’t get kicked in the shins every night.)

He woke up in the morning excited to turn 7, but he wanted to cuddle some more, because technically, he turned 7, and should not be sleeping with the parents.

“Today is my birthday” he declared coming down the stairs, to all of us – “so whatever I want gets done.”

He said he wanted to eat donuts for breakfast, and we readily obliged.

Everything about the day was great.

After an exhausting but wonderful birthday, DS was ready to retire.

“I am not going to send him to his room” I remarked to Ady. “It’s your idea, you deal with it.”

“Alright. I will.”

Ady was out of DS’s room in 10 minutes.

“What happened?” I asked.

“What? He’s fine. He’s following the rules.” He chuckled.

“My baby…”

“He’s a big boy”

It’s now been almost a week, and my rule-following baby boy came up to me to snuggle in the morning – “Mamma, can you write to the government that I can sleep with you?”

“Stay strong!” Ady urged me.

We shall see how this night goes.