Teaching a child

This week, I'm staying at home to look after Jon as our helper has gone back to look for her missing son. Luckily she managed to find him and will be returning this weekend. What a Mother's day week for her...

After spending time with Jon these couple of days, I feel that I have to spend more time with him before #2 comes. After that, the little one will depend on us solely whereas Jon is more capable of doing things for himself. I am prepared that Jon will be a little jealous, and even competitive as my friend Wendy said, like being the first to take a bath, first to eat/drink milk, basically the things he was never ever interested in.

Jon is beginning to throw tantrums when he doesn't get his way, and we have to be creative in handling him, being firm when we say no, and even trading things when we think he's holding something that may be dangerous to himself. Of course we try to teach him to respect things, and to educate him on what objects are meant for, rather than giving him substitutes that will frustrate him as they won't work. All these take time and effort....there's no point in teaching a child if you want to do it the in the adult way or time, right? In the end, both adult and child will be super frus!

Right now, when I or he remembers, he will pat my growing belly and say hello to his mei mei. and sometimes, he will blow a kiss. Really cute.

Yesterday as I cooked dinner, Jon looked for me. While grandma and aunty tried to keep him in the living room, I realised all he wanted was to be with me. So even though the kitchen was hot, I brought him with me, showed him the no-touch zones, and brought a chair for him to sit and watch me prepare ingredients or wash up. He was watching really intently. So a child really has the inborn tendency to learn and follow! Without us trying to teach them in the first place!

Today, we took a ride in his bike outside the house. and we tried to find the chirping birds, the dog outside. We took time to watch for ants, touched different plants to feel the different textures of the leaves. And this boy took the broom to sweep the car porch! as he had seen his grandma and uncle did over the weekend. I tell you, he walked so much, perspired so much too. But he was not tired of carrying or sweeping with the broom nor did he want me to carry the broom!

I tried to get him into the house but to no avail. MIL had told me before that when he perspires too much, all his pores will open up and he may catch a chill. I didn't want that to happen, yet I want him to discover and learn about the garden and the world outside. Finally he was a little panting and I also told him I needed to go to the toilet. He put the broom back in its place and followed me. What a morning!
Did managed to get some time in between these couple of days to scrap. Wheels for fun! I agree with the quote on Cosmo Cricket borders "If it's not fun, you're not doing it right." Teaching or playing with a kid has to be fun! Otherwise why bother?