My Life in Canada

A few weeks ago, I read online from another blogging mummy’s blog that her daughter was fibbing about something that happened in school. Of course, in an adult eyes – it was a really small matter and one cannot understand why she wouldn’t tell the truth. That actually set me thinking for a bit – but when i found a play toy in chloe’s water bag on a Saturday afternoon – after she came back from bowling – i too jumped into conclusion that my chloe might have liked the toy so much, she had forgotten to give it back to her friend at the bowling alley.

So she had just gotten back to the store.. and washing her hands to get ready for a snack, when i quickly asked her where she had gotten the mirror an comb from..?? She replied “Macdonalds” .. and I asked “Reallly..?? ” She replied ” Yes, REally..!” .. and then PB turned around and said yes.. it came with her happy meal she had. So anyways.. i said ok.. and thought nothing of it.

But come Sunday… outta the blue and nowhere – Chloe sat on my lap and asked me about the mirror again. She asked me “mummy, did you think i took the mirror and come from someone?” – I stopped for a second .. and carefully answered her – afterall, I didn’t wanna let on that I thought my daughter did something like that right..?? or that I thought badly of her. So i replied that i didn’t think she took it from someone but i didn’t want anyone lil’ girl to be missing them.. and become sad. In which she replied : “mummy, i would NEVER do something like that ! i would NEVER take someone else’s thing.” My head hanging really low .. and my heart went out to my daughter.. and at that moment.. i promised her – that i would never think something of her that way. So parents.. as much as we wanna teach honesty to our kids.. and bring them up well – remember.. be very careful how you bring across your questions. I now know when my mom asked me “ridiculous” and “belittling” questions – she was trying to bring me up proper – but it sure didn’t sit well on me either. Be careful how I bring across my message or questions to my kid.. else she is gonna not wanna tell me anything .. or share anything with me .. when she is older.

My mom used to say.. that raising a kid is like doing acne treatment often – they are a pain but I do not agree with my mom. Afterall, kids are gifts from God no..?? I was in the hospital keeping Mrs Zhu company during her delivery.. and the gal in the next room who was 17 and her boyfriend was 18 and without a job – now this is what scares me a lot about this town. I don’t want my kid to have a kid at 17 or even 18 – hell, she ain’t gonna have any kids till she is 30 .. if i have any say in it. But as you can see, even the best family and the best parents in this town do encounter this kind of problem.

You would think that at this time and age, no one should have an unwanted pregnancy .. and bring a baby into this world with such ill prepared intentions.. albeit not an evil one. But really..???!!!!?? How does one raise a great kid..?? I wanna know it too.. if you know how. Is it the parents..?? the upbringing..?? the friends.. ?? the peers..??? or the education system..?? or the water ..?? You tell me.. if you know the answer.. because this is not the first time.. i’m seeing teenager pregnancy here.. and it’s not gonna be the last.

It’s funny how as parents.. we think that by getting our kids to take the same kind of activities as their friends.. or the neighbour’s kid is the right thing to do. I for one am trying very hard not to be that “kaisu” mum – in fact, we only put chloe into dancing class, just because we know she loves dancing a lot .. and since winter is round the corner.. it would be something that would keep her active.. during the indoor months.

I had also wanted her to go for swimming lessons like her good friend, Dominic .. but since she said.. she was not ready yet.. that’s alright with me. But she still wants to go for her weekly swim.. at the YMCA .. and that’s fine with me. I know that back home.. my kid would have to be in all sorts of extra-cirracular classes to be at par with her peers.. but this is Canada.. and learning should be fun.. and since we can do this here in Canada.. i ain’t pushing it either. What about you ..?? and your kids..?? what kind of classes does your kid attends..??