Posted in Monchies, tagged Parenting on May 5, 2010| 2 Comments »
.
Edrick: What’s that Mom? Chilies?
Mommy: Yep, looks like chilies to me.
Edrick: What are you making with the chilies, Mom?
Mommy: Sambal tumis.
Edrick: Is it going to be spicy?
Mommy: Not overly spicy.
Edrick: I bet it’s gonna be 99 degrees spicy!
Mommy: 99 degrees?
Edrick: Yeah, 99 degrees. If it is 100 degrees you can’t even eat it. Because it’s too spicy, Mom!
Mommy: Oh really? Bring it on!
.
Posted in Monchies, tagged Parenting on May 3, 2010| 1 Comment »
Kitreena had left for school, leaving Edrick at the breakfast table chewing on the peanut butter and Nutella sandwich very very quietly, for once. I was in the kitchen, wiping the sink, enjoying the rare silence.
.
Edrick: Mommy, munchkins live on the Munchkin Land, right?
Mommy: Huh? Who? *is lost in the TakMungkin Land
Edrick: Munchkiiiinnns. Those munchkiiinnns. They live on the Munchkin Land. Correct? *sounds irritated
Mommy: I suppose. Yeah.
Edrick: Because they are munchkins, they must be from Munchkin Land.
Mommy: If you say so. Okay. Is that where you are from?
Edrick: Nope. I live in this old planet Earth now Mom.
Mommy: This old planet Earth huh?
Edrick: I mean, that’s where I came from. But I am on a different planet now.
Mommy: Oh wow! Isn’t that brilliant!
Edrick: Yeah, and I know how to go to the Munchkin Land Planet from Earth, Mom.
Mommy: You do? *is honestly amazed
Edrick: Yeah. First I need to get out of the Russian outer space. And then I need to launch my rocket to Munchkin Land Planet.
Mommy: I just lost you there, Monchy. Sorry, I am not following.
Edrick: Huh?
Mommy: Yeah, your turn to say huh! That’s right.
Edrick: But I’m still your Monchy, Mom.
Mommy: Then you’d better stick to the Russian outer space where I can see you. Drink your milk now, space man!
.
.
Posted in Monchies, tagged Parenting on April 29, 2010| 2 Comments »
Kitreena lost her lunch box on Monday. It was a breaking news in our house, as one does not lose one’s lunch box or it will be the talk of the century. Kitreena is only in Grade One and this is her second lunch box lost.
.
Edrick: How come you lost your lunch box, Kaka?
Kitreena: I didn’t lose it. I just couldn’t see it in my locker at school.
Edrick: But you didn’t bring it home. So you lost it.
Kitreena: Oh stop teasing me. Someday you will lose your lunch box too!
Edrick: No I won’t!
Kitreena: Yes you will. I just know it!
Edrick: No I won’t!
Kitreena: Yes you will. We’ll see!
Edrick: No I won’t. We’ll see!
Kitreena: Yes you will.
Mommy: Ehhhh sudahhh! Siapa yang ilang lunch box agik, kelak kubungkus lunch nya with daun pisang, understand? (Who loses the lunch box next will have his/her lunch wrapped with banana leaf, understand?) *will have to find banana seeds asap*
.
Posted in Monchies, tagged Parenting on April 29, 2010| 8 Comments »
After the morning bath…
.
Edrick: Mom, why am I getting dressed?
Mommy: Entah lah. Why?
Edrick: So I won’t look too bugil?
Mommy: Ha ha ha ha ha ha!
.
.
.
.
Entah lah = I don’t know
bugil = naked
Ha ha ha ha ha ha = can’t help feeling silly (very silly)
.
.
Posted in Monchies, Sense, tagged Parenting on April 2, 2010| 2 Comments »
Dear Sisters,
I was quick to have suspected Kitreena to begin the hitting. And when I read this email from Tia’s mom, I felt bad and relieved both at the same time! I felt bad for having the doubt that my gentle Kitreena would be the one to lose it. In fact, I grilled her to tell me what she did to Tia. Well, she did kick Tia on a leg. But that was because Tia hit Kitreena first with a swimming bag – right on the face!
.
If I were to tell a tale, so be it. And if I were to believe only the one side of the story, so what? But according to Kitreena, it all started with Tia teasing, calling her ‘a baby’. Kitreena asked Tia to stop many times, but Tia kept at it. It was either Kitreena kicked the teaser on the leg first, or said something equally hurtful that triggered Tia to whip Kitreena in the face… I wouldn’t know. But in a way, it was a relief that Kit stood up for herself to the bully.
.
Yes it has been going on for a while. As much as I was very concerned with the disturbing stories Kit came home crying about, I was just going to let these kids learn to resolve their issues. Both Kristy (Tia’s Mom) and I noticed right from day one, that the two girls are simply too similar in characters and personality to suit each other. But again, we thought all they needed was time.
.
I noticed Kitreena was growing uneasy and almost ‘malas’ when she had to walk with Tia to school. It was like she was looking forward to days when Tia was not well, or days when they had different after-school activities. Kitreena seriously was needing a break. And I… I wasn’t listening close enough.
.
And now this. It didn’t surprise me, but I take it as a sign that I need to learn to listen to Kitreena and listen for what she is not able to tell. Today, Friday, Tia is throwing a birthday party at The Pokrovsky Hall that is going to be turned into a Hawaiian Luau. Kitreena is not interested whatsoever. Point blank-cold turkey-drop dead-get lost kind of not interested. The whole hall can turn into Hawaiian Kingdom, for all she cares. She even gave me an excuse that she is definitely going to be too tired to go. She needs to go to bed early, she said. Since we’re leaving Pokrovsky at 4am for the airport Saturday. Chissss! Nampak sangat!
.
I have yet to talk to Kristy and Scott. But I have decided that the girls should not be walking to and from school together from now on. Not for quite a while, at least. They obviously need some space, and some time – away from each other.
.
I sound so lah serious tulis email ni kan?
.
Heheheheheheheeh! I love you girls!
.
Makcik Garang Rumah #9,
Me. Yes, me!
Questa è Enida.
.
Posted in Monchies, tagged Parenting on March 30, 2010| 4 Comments »
Edrick: Is it Monday yet?
Mommy: Oh it’s already Tuesday, Monchie.
Edrick: Yeah, but is it Monday yet?
Mommy: Yes, for this week. Yesterday was Monday. Today is already Tuesday.
Edrick: So do I go to school on Tuesday?
Mommy: No. Not on Tuesday.
Edrick: Do I go on Monday?
Mommy: Yes you do. You went to school yesterday.
Edrick: But you said it’s already Monday for this week.
Mommy: Yes. And that was yesterday.
Edrick: So it’s already Monday. I have to go to school, Mom.
Mommy: Not today. Your Monday school is all done. You go again next Monday okay?
Edrick: Oh, never mind!
Mommy: Huh? Well… okay. Never mind then.
Edrick: Mom, what does never mind mean?
Mommy: It means ‘fine’. Or ‘it’s okay’.
Edrick: No. That’s not correct. Never mind means you don’t want to answer anymore.
Mommy: Okay. Never mind!
Edrick: See?
.
Mommy gave Edrick her sheepish smile, walked away trying very hard not to laugh at her own bluff.
She failed.
Big time!
.
Posted in Monchies, tagged Parenting on March 26, 2010| 2 Comments »
Fresh at the breakfast table this morning.
.
Kaka: I’m going to have peanut butter, jam and Nutella sandwich.
Dedek: But why are you going to have peanut butter, jam and Nutella sandwich?
Kaka: Because that’s what I’m gonna have.
Dedek: Yeah, but I’m eating toast, cheese, sausage, cheese and toast sandwich.
Kaka: That’s what you’re eating. I’m gonna have peanut butter, jam and Nutella sandwich.
Dedek: But why?
Kaka: Because that’s what I like. And that’s what Mommy’s making for me.
Dedek: Yeah! But you have to renember, this is not a restaurant!
.
Mommy was just behind the kitchen counter, her mouth wide open, her eyes not blinking, listening to her very own words being repeated. Verbatim!
.
.
Back in 2006 when the only conversation they had was
“Peek-a-boo!” and laughter.
..
.
And then they color my world with words.
.
Posted in Monchies, tagged Parenting on February 28, 2010| 2 Comments »
Me Monchies’ rule for pyjamas or jammies is:
They wear them two nights in a row. Three nights max if they’re still clean and smell nothing like pickled herrings. And in the morning, before jumping into the shower, the jammies have to be folded and put under their pillow if they’re still clean and smell nothing like pickled herrings. If they are ready for washing, they are to jump straight into the laundry basket. The jammies, of course, not me Monchies.
.
This morning Edrick left his jammies on top of his chest of drawers while he was running bugil back and forth in the hallway. Happily!
.
.
Mommy: Edrickkk! What are these? *points at the jammies even though she knows what they are*
Edrick: They’re my jammies, Mom. *answers Mommy honestly even though he knows that Mommy knows what they are*
Mommy: Where do they belong? *asks this question on average 57 times a day at the measurement of 15, 000 decibels in the morning*
Edrick: Under my pillow.
Mommy: So? *bulges her eyes the biggest possible*
.
Edrick combined his folding with some rolling and crumpling techniques on his jammies and handed them out to me.
.
Mommy: Well! Put them under your pillow. I’m not a pillow!
.
Edrick looked at me smiling and started to chuckle as he got the joke and went on laughing even more when he heard Kitreena guffawing in the background as she too found it funny. Somewhat!
.
Edrick: Ha ha ha that’s so funny, Mommy! Ha ha ha you’re not a pillow! Ha ha ha.
Mommy: *lightens up and smiles and smirks and shakes her head the way the Indian moms always do*
Edrick: You’re not a cushion either, Mom.
Mommy: *bulges her eyes beyond control and the next thing she knows, she is rolling on the floor in her jammies and almost falls into the laundry basket*
.
What a way to start a Saturday… two bugil Monchies in their room watching their Mommy laughing her jammies off, turning herself into a floor cushion!
.
.
.
.
.
Glossary for Neil:
bugil or bogel = naked
Boy! It must be getting warmer here in Moscow, Neil! Me Monchies can now run bugil everywhere! (In the house, of course.)
.
Posted in Monchies, tagged Parenting on February 26, 2010| Leave a Comment »
To see how my voice would sound on a proper stereo, I copied my Angel on to Kitreena’s pink mp3 player and plugged it in to the stereo. Upon hearing Mommy’s konon acoustic voice, Edrick went all ears and very quiet for a good 20 seconds and…
.
Edrick: Is that your Mommy singing to you, Mom?
Mommy: *goes blank and blink* Huh? *goes blank again and blink again and* Huaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! 😦
.
.
Posted in Monchies, tagged Parenting on February 19, 2010| 2 Comments »
.
Edrick: Mom, why do you have this thingy on your bed thingy?
Mommy: What thingy? *not looking because she is in the walk-in closet*
Edrick: This red thingy on your bed.
Mommy: *pokes her head out to see what red thingy she has on her bed* Oh, that’s a bedspread, Monch.
Edrick: Yeah! The bedspread thingy. Why do you have the bedspread thingy on your bed thingy?
Mommy: *knows where this ‘thingy’ business comes from, thinks it’s very Spies Girls, and knows she has one Spy Girl in her house* Well, that’s what Daddy got me for Christmas. It makes the bed look nice, don’t you think?
Edrick: Yeah! It looks nice. But what does the beadspread thingy do, Mom?
Mommy: It makes the bed comfortable.
Edrick: Oh! If you don’t put it on, it’s not comfortable?
Mommy: It is. But it is more comfortable.
Edrick: What happens if you don’t put it on, Mom?
Mommy: Nothing happens.
Edrick: You won’t be comfortable?
Mommy: I will. It’s still comfortable even when the bedspread’s not on.
Edrick: Then, you don’t need it?
Mommy: Well… I don’t need it. You’re right. But I want it on my bed. It feels nice.
Edrick: That’s why Daddy gave it to you? You wanted it?
Mommy: No. I didn’t want it. It’s a gift. He wanted to give it to me. I didn’t ask for it.
Edrick: But why did Daddy want to give it to you if you didn’t want it?
Mommy: I didn’t say I didn’t want it. I said I didn’t ask for it. Daddy was being nice. He got me the bedspread to make me more comfortable than before.
Edrick: But I want my bed to be comfortable too.
Mommy: *thinks she knows where the conversation is going* But your bed is already comfortable.
Edrick: No, it’s not! I need a bedspread thingy to make it comfortable.
Mommy: No, you don’t.
Edrick: Yes, I do.
Mommy: No, you don’t. If it’s too comfortable, you don’t wanna get up and get out of bed then.
Edrick: *looks at Mommy and quickly reconsiders as he knows he is very much a morning person* Never mind!
Mommy: *goes ‘Huh?’ again as she is gearing up and getting ready for a tug-of-bedspread-war with her sunny-side-up son, potentially fighting for the red bedspread thingy*
.
.
https://www.w3counter.com/tracker.js?id=151113
Questa è Enida 