When I was in Primary school that is approximately 25 years ago, my dad gave my siblings and me 50cents each person every alternate days as pocket money. Which means on the first day we spent 20cents and the next day 30cents or vice versa. We brought our lunch box to school so the pocket money given was basically spent on junk food. Gradually, dad increased our pocket money to 50 cents each person on daily basis. By that time, the school authority had banned junk food sales in the canteen (cafeteria). I think that is a good move 😉 as the old wives tales says – You are what you eat. Good thing I did not grow up as a junk person. Muahaaahaaa….. now you know why I did not use the word ‘titbits’.

When we enter Secondary school that is approximately 19 years ago, once again, dad increased our pocket money to a one ringgit a day. Boy oh boy! That is a lot of money to spent. I remembered back then, I was already a cheapskates. I’m the only one that took heavy breakfast at home and still bring a lunch box to school but spent the dollar after school hour buying junk. That is how I became a junk person again. *sigh…

Fifteen years later, today I took over my dad’s role as a parent to spoilt nurture and provide my child with education.

After a survey on their menu (wah! So canggih hor) prices has not change much.

During my schooling days, a bowl of noodle is 30 cents. The price on the menu is 60 cents. Hey, that better be a correct one. A bowl of noodle in the coffee shop is 3 dollars, ok? Ah, well. Let’s just assume it is 60 cents. So, this morning I gave Princess one dollar and a lunch box. Told her to buy something from the canteen if she really cannot tahan. You know, some kids just love to spent money and peer pressure.

In the evening, I ask if she bought anything from the canteen.

Kharsyn: Teacher say who had lunch already cannot go to the canteen.

Mummy: You can always eat the food that mummy pack for you in the classroom.

Kharsyn: Cannot. Teacher say later the classroom got ants.

Mummy: Then you eat in the canteen la.

Kharsyn: But teacher don’t allow us to go to the canteen.

Mummy: Can eat at the balcony or not.

Kharsyn: Nevermind la. I think first day cannot go to the canteen.

Wah liao. If some children hungry, then how?

Do you think one ringgit is enough since she brings 750ml of h2o to school. How much did you gave to your child?

During Princess orientation day, her teacher did ask us at which gate we are picking her up as we are not allow to enter the school compound. There are 3 gates in the school. Side gate (a bit far from her classroom), main gate (traffic congested, too many buses and no shelter in case of rain – so not suitable) and small gate (met all my criteria – checked). Told the teacher my choice and she jotted down on her paper.

On the first day of school, while I was driving to pick her up in the evening, I just let my imagination wonder a bit far and wild. What should I do if I don’t see her there. How about… if she just dissapear or was kidnapped and I can’t locate her anywhere. Neh, I have confidence in Princess. She’s a matured girl. She don’t wander away and i don’t think I’m that sui (unlucky) to have my daughter kidnapped on her first day of school (TOUCHWOOD!!!!)

As I was already 15minutes late, I park illegally, hurried to the small gate leaving son in the car with the engine still running (don’t you dare start lecturing on safety *sticking out tongue*). There’s a teacher and a guard there with lots of little children waiting patiently. My eyes was searching for that little girl with short hair with a rosy chubby cheek. Or at least I’m waiting for a girl to called out at me, “Mummyyyyyyyyyy.” My eyes scanned thru all the little faces. Second scan, third scan. Where’s my girl? I can’t see her anywhere not even at the nearby corridor. Boy oh boy! You can see my panicky face now. The teacher in charge ask me to check at the other gate just in case of any misunderstanding. It’s quite impossible but just to make things sure.

Right after walking 8 paces, a friend of mine stop me by grabbing on my shoulder as I was walking with my head looking down at my foot.

“You are looking for your daughter issit.”

“Ya! Ya!”

“She’s in my car”

“Yaaaaaaa ka!”

“She was waiting at the main gate nervously look left and right for you. We have been calling your mobile. Why no pick up wan?”

“Huh? I’m holding on my mobile the whole day. No ringing also.”

To cut the long story short, the teacher (ahem! Very polite liao hor cos I thought of putting the word idoitic there) bring her to the main gate. Haloooo! I did told her side gate and she even jot that down on her paper. What happen?

And the story about my friend. When I reach her car to look for Princess, I saw her holding on to my friend’s mobile phone. It just snapped me as why my phone is not ringing. MY DAUGHTER DOESN’T KNOW HOW TO USE A MOBILE PHONE. DUHHHHH!!!! She only know how to punch in the numbers but obviously she didn’t notice the send button. Dunno should laugh or cry. But when I told hubby the story, I was laughing at the mobile phone incident. Kids will still be a kids. My friend definitely underestimate my daughter’s ability.

And… and…. the whole road was so freaking congested with cars, I was stuck in the traffic for another 30mins all thanks to the traffic light. By the time I reach home it’s 7.20pm. Boohoo. So I paid that friend another whooping RM100 for chaffering her to and fro!!! Another arm and leg have to be amputated liao.

One the day of orientation, hubby drop us at the school main gate cos he have to park a little further. Being a first timer in the school, I was lost in direction. Luck thing they have some signboard around guiding parents. Since this is a chinese school, even their signboard is in chinese. Me being a banana almost throw that signboard into the nearest dustbin. I have to stop a passerby to read them for me. So embarrassing.

Found Princess classroom. We were ask to filled up lots of forms. Thanks God all the forms is in Bahasa. The dental checkup, the immunization card and insurance form. The insurance is optional so I told the teacher I’m not interested.

(The below conversation is in Mandarin)

“You just sign the form and write the word “you-don’t-want”

I wrote the “t” and was about to write “tidak mau” and the teacher say just write a simple word – 不要. This time I know kena embarrased again. So I told the teacher – 我不会写中文 (I can’t write chinese). And she also very paiseh and took over the forms.

Good thing hubby came and I ask him to stick around just incase the teacher need me to write more chinese. wakaakaaa….

After months and weeks of proscrastinating, finally one hour before school orientation start, Princess is at the salon to get her hair snip! It’s all gone now 🙁 . GONE!!! 😥

RIP to her hair 🙁

You know how a low class salon will put a piece of plank on the chair’s arm rest so that the child will prop up higher. Yeah! And she said she feels like a buddha 😐 I know she don’t look good in short hair 🙁 .

This is her on the orientation day. Newly hair cut, new pinafore, new Tupperware, new shoes, new school bags. Wah, sounds like Chinese New Year! My mom even gave her an angpow (red packet) to symbolize luck. Gee…..

Being in a gahment school, I paid RM5 for Princess whole year school fees and that same morning, I went to Prince kindie to pay his school fees too and it was a whooping RM1,000!!! See the difference? It cost me an arm and leg just to put them in a Montessori school. Now I can’t wait for Prince to enter Primary school.

is my two front teeth,
my two front teeth,
see my two front teeth!

Gee, if I could only
have my two front teeth,
then I could wish you
“Merry Christmas!”

ahem!

Day in, day out, Princess has been talking about this boy called Terrance. Our conversation would go like this at time:

“Mummy, next time my birthday I want to invite Terrance. Then he must sing High School Musical song to me.”

or…

“Mummy, you know next time I want to marry who?”

“Troy?”

“Yes! And one more person.”

“Terrance?”

“Yes!!!”

or… she will be teasing her brother and they will start arguing…

“Carlgene is not a basketball gamer. Terrance is a basketball gamer.”

“No, Carlgene is a basketball gamer.”

“No, Terrance is a basketball gamer because Terrance can sing High School Musical song.”

Did you notice Terrance is associates with High School Musical? According to Princess, Terrance can sing and dance very well. Hmm…. this is for Mummy to find out. Finally during her Kindie Concert, I get to see his boy called Terrance! And again our conversation….

“Mummy, I want to take photo with Terrance.”

“I don’t see him around. I think he went home already”

“No la. He’s in the toilet.”

“How you know?”

“There! That is his kor-kor (big brother) waiting for him.”

“Oh!”

When Terrance is out from the Gent, I teased him…

“You better pose something like High School Musical because Kharsyn say you very cleaver!”

See this? See this? I HEART TERRANCE also!!! No wonder Princess has been talking about him day and night. He’s such a poser! Oh, before I go on, I must tell you this. Both my children (6 and 4y/o) is crazy over High School Musical. They will listen to their song everyday!!! Yes, that is everyday whenever they are in the car. If Channel 61 air their MTV during time-slot, omg, you can hear them screaming so loud. Sometime our conversation will go like this again…

“Mummy, next time my birthday, can Gabrella and Troy come and sing at my party?”

“Wah, you think Mummy is Spice Girl or Michael Jackson ah? Very expensive la.”

“Please! Please! Only Gabrella and Troy. Sharpay no need to come. She is bad girl.”

If you watch the movie, you will understand my conversation. I was wondering kids nowadays is exposed to adult world at a very early age. When I was 6, gosh…. I think I’m out in the garden playing with pebbles! These kids even know how to enjoy adult teenager movie and oogling over them. Gosh! But I can say High School Musical is a very good movie especially the Dance along version.

Can’t help to be cheeky 😀 .

This will be the final kindie concert for Princess (6y/o) and the first for Prince (4y/o). The show kick off with a drama by the final year students (*Jessie passing pop corn around the audience* 😀 ).

The Ugly Duckling

Princess play the role of mother duck. Seen here, she is keeping her eggs warm. lol.

Four out of the five eggs hatched.

… fast forward….

Mother duck protecting Ugly Duckling from some swans who came and tease…. her?

Can someone please tell me the gender of Ugly Duckling? And so the drama was pretty boring and the tape was snipped by the Director which is ahem, Me! *The End*

Prince was in a dance called Batty Bat.

Batty (left hand up), batty (right hand up), one two three open (both hands open and let out a leg punching).

Look at his punch. Full of umph!

Another pic of him with the Bat’s thriller soundtrack.

The Batty, Batty, Batty thriller soundtrack has been playing in my head the whole day. lol

This is Princess again with the dance called Chicken Little.

Check out that awsome gigantic green spectacle almost similar to Chicken Little.

… and the dance end with John Travolta trademark.

This is the graduation girl with her principles.

The one in blue shirt is a Sitiawanese too. What a small world huh.

Fellow comrades!

Can’t fit all of them in the picture 🙁 . Vowed to myself must learn the art of photo stitching.

Three Stooges!!!

They have been attending the same kindie since 3 years old and a very very very closed buddy too. Sad to say, the three of them will be in a different school next year. Hope their friendship will last forever with the new technology advancement called mobile phone and internet!

Now, this is the final pic and the end of the concert and graduation night. The prize giving!

BEST STUDENT IN MATHEMATICS!!!!

On your left is 3rd runner-up. On your right is 2nd runner-up and also one of Princess best friend and also the overall best student. It is such a relieve to me knowing that all my hardwork (nagging), time spent (chauffeuring), strength and sweat ($$$ RM90 p/m!!!) has paid off. Of course it’s her hardwork too. She deserved all the praise and credit. Like the saying goes – Behind every successful child, there is a kiasu mother 😳 .

Prince: Me leh, me leh. What did I get?

Mummy: You ah? …..if there is a prize for “The Naughties Student”, I think you will be the winner.

Short Talk: Before planning a vacation, you will need to do quite a lot of homework on cheap hotels as well as the existing vacation deals being offered at places. Don’t forget to have a look at the cruise deals too.

After attending my Fifth Aunt and Sixth Aunt graduation, now is my turn to graduate. This is me in my graduation robe…

Sorry for the reflection on the picture cos Mummy took this pic from the actual photograph.

This is my class photo…

Close-up…

That sui jar boh is me. Me!!!!

Finally we received confirmation from Princess school on the enrollment to Standard One next year. Among all the forms that hubby bring home, this one makes me wanna cry like a baby.

It says, the boys must have a crew-cut (which is fine with me) and for the girls, the length mustn’t touch the collar. By looking at the form, it is awfully shorttttttt don’t ya think?

You see, Princess has got beautiful healthy dark, long and wavy hair. She even inheritage hubby’s natural curl. Nothing too curly. Just a little at the end. Let me show you.

Isn’t that beautiful? At other times, it will look straight. Don’t ask me why.

Not only she had beautiful healthy hair, aitelyou her mama has got all the good genes in producing beautiful babies too *duck from rotten eggs*

Half of the time, she don’t look like a chinese.

People used to mistaken her as a Korean that is including her Kindie teachers.

Enough cheap advertising cum camwhoring here. Bet you guys are bored with multiple images of Princess. lol.

Back to her hair, rules are rules. We have to adhere to it. Infact, most chinese schools are practising this policy for ages. The reason? It says here, “… so that children will be more DISCIPLINE and neat”. What does short hair gotta do with being discipline? Hair is just a form of beauty. I do agree one will look neat in short hair but if nicely bunned, it will looks neater. At least hairs that was bunned doesn’t drop in your food!!!

I’m going to missed those morning we spent together in front of the full length mirror pleating, buning, combing and smelling her hair. At times I used to yell at her, “When is the last you shampoo your hair? Dem smelly!” hehe…. and since she love to play princessy, she used take me as comparison as who’s hair is the longest. I always have to let her win. I can’t bear to see that pitiful look she gave me. Guess this coming December, she won’t be asking or even make the comparison anymore. 😥 🙁

Short Talk – People who frequently undertake travel usually know all about cheap airline tickets and other ways of conducting successfully a cheap travel. The packages stating all inclusive resorts are meant to lure this genre.

Read the speculation of Zidane butthead in BBC news. I think Materazzi should be equally given a RED CARD if this is true.

*gulp* …. and it’s time for us as a parents to be called in the principal’s office. I know what to expect for Princess’s report book but little Prince…. *sigh…. he’s a bit playful. I’ll presume that boys mature later than girls thus he still can’t communicate like a boy his age.

And last weekend when we got his report book….

… fingers was a bit shaky and forehead is perspiring non stop.

We flipped the first page. Yeah, we still remember his first year in school.

LOTS OF “C’s!!!!!

Keeping my finger crossed for the next page…

Wah, not bad wor! A’s and B’s only. Of course he get lots of praises from his teacher. Compared to last year, he has improved tremendously academically and verbally.

Now, for my Princess report book, it is just a snap of fingers. She’s a brilliant girl. I can’t deny that. I would be surprise if she get a ‘C’ (and I will skinned her alive for that!!!).

Instead of flipping thru, I just turn the book to the last page. Yeah, my girl is in her final kindie year. Next year she will be in Standard one. *sob, sob* she is big girl now and how time flies.

See this! All A’s!

As for her mandarin…

… couldn’t careless actually. I’m a banana myself. I blame myself for not able to guide her in her mandarin. But she can read and write better than me. I am more than happy for her.