School

As a Mom, I'm feeling a little stressed up just keeping up with the Prince's school syllabus, and this is just in Kindergarten!

I make it a point to check his communications book everyday. Naturally, the communication doesn't come that often but when it comes, it's usually 'FYA: for your action" - like signing a consent form, or some event/ play or helping your child pack something for class discussion.

Last week, the Chinese teacher put in a note, requesting for parents to prepare:

(i) 5 types of leaves - on 21st Apr

(ii) a story book related to 'snails' - due 28th Apr

(iii) a flower - due 29th Apr

When I finished the note, I announced to the kids that we are going to take a walk in the garden! Not wanting to forget my task, I decided to start 'leaf collection' on the spot. The kids were excited, they started picking up leaves and we actually discovered we could easily pick up more than 7 types of leaves from Gong-gong's garden. So, that bag of leaves went into Aidan's bag immediately and that's 1 'to-do' down.

The 'Snail' book became a little challenging. At first I smiled with glee when I thought Aidan could bring his English snail book to school. Then Chinese teacher told me it's better if it's in Chinese. So on my day off, I went to Popular bookstore and found 1 for him!

Came 27th April, the book went into his bag. I was tempted to pack a flower into his bag too, but I guessed that wouldn't have last even more than half a day.

Came the night before 29th April, I had made a mental note to go to the market earlier to grab a stalk of flower from the market for the boy. As usual, the morning rush came and I forgot all about it. The mental reminder struck me right before we left the house. "Quick, children. Let's go to 1st floor and pick a flower for Kor-kor before we go to his school!"

I was already beating myself inside, for failing to visit the market. In our hurry to board the car, instead of asking Aidan: "Would you like to bring a Japanese Rose, or a Bouganveilla or an Ixora?"; I asked: "So, which colour? Want yellow one, pink one or orange one? Tell Mummy and I'll pluck for you."

Japanese Rose, by Pokoroto (Flickr)Bouganveilla, by Mulangwishi Mission (Flickr)
Ixora, by Rana Pipiens

The boy didn't answer. He was more thrilled that he gets to roam outdoors before being shipped to school. So I squatted and pulled the nearest (and in most abundance) which were the yellow Japanese Roses. The teeny-weeny flower with stalk measured only two-thirds of my pinky... shucks, far from my planned stalk of Tulip or a Spider-lily.

That evening, he told me that his English teacher told them to bring fruits to school the next day. I checked his book - no new messages. I asked him what does Miss C want to do with the fruits? He said: "To see and then eat lah!", which sounded totally rational.

Since we don't cook at home, I told him we will buy that morning before we go to school. After all, lightning doesn't strike twice right? But ah-ha! I totally forgot about that the next morning and only recalled when I had lunch with the boy, after he returned from school.

"Gasp! Aidan! I am so sorry! Mummy forgot to buy fruits for you to bring to school!" I grabbed his arm. He looked at me calmly, and if you know me, I cannot stop my mouth when I am agitated. "Tell me please, are you the only one who didn't bring fruits to school? I am sorry, o.k? Did Teacher say anything?"

His reply: "I tell you, only 1 person remembered to bring fruits to school. Enya. The rest all forgot, you know! Enya brought grapes, so we all ate grapes!"

Whew, I heaved a sign of relief, although weighed with guilt as heavy as a bunch of bananas - I am talking about this size:

Banana Bunch, by Emblatame (Flickr)

Ammi starts school next week. Let's see how the power of 2 'to-do' lists from the school kills me, if not physically, it'll be mentally... from all those guilt I harboured for each 'failed' task.