I DON'T WANT TO...

...GO TO SCHOOL!!!! That has been Jon's mantra for the last one plus week.

Before that, Jon had been home for three weeks, two being quarantine for hand, Foot Mouth Disease (coz Jill had it too) and one week being the Sep school hols. Maybe he enjoyed being at home too much, waking up late, playing with me and his cousin, and playing in the garden. There was the Hari Raya hols during that period, which meant that daddy was home for two whole days to play with him too.

It didn't help that last Thu was another public hol (Malaysia Day). Another day away from school where we spent the morning going out for brekkie, then to the market, and then the rest of the morning was spent putting up lanterns at the patio (a good way to occupy Hon while Jill can take her morning nap in peace).
Every morning for these last two weeks, Jon threw tantrums or kicked up a big fuss about:
- washing up: "wo bu yao chong liang" translated "I don't want to bathe". Had to trick him into the bathroom by asking him to wash his hands (which he likes)

- changing into his nursery t-shirt" "I don't want school (sic) t-shirt....and we're not even taking about a full set of uniform! So, in the end I would let him wear a couple of white t-shirts (as plain as possible to resemble his school t)

- the car route. Jon knows the way to his nursery, which is make a turn right upon exiting our home. Take the next left and the second right (yes, it's less than 400m away). He would even warn Simon, "No school, ah! Bye, bye, school!" When we reach the last turn and Jon saw that his daddy isn't going to go straight, we would be greeted by screams and tears...real tears streaking down his face complete with red veins popping out on his fair face. Wow...very intense drama, OK?

- and getting down from the car when we reach his nursery. Getting into the car was not a problem, coz Jon likes car rides. He kept telling us, "No school ah?", "We go che mian ah (go eat noodles ah)?" And after Simon was away the weekend fishing, Jon changed the statement to, "We go fishing ah?"

Thankfully, when his teacher came to the car to get him, he would meekly follow her, although there were a couple of times he cried and had a face full of tears and would be feebly carried off by her.

We deduced the following:
- Jon loves being at home to play with his toys and cousin (no, mei mei is still too young to play with him)
- He doesn't want to separate from us (his parents)
- He is rebellious (according to grandma)

I don't think it's the last reason. We will keep pressing on sticking to our daily routine, and to bring him to school regardless of his tantrums. Coz if we give in and turn the car back after reaching the nursery, Jon will know he can bring about his desired outcome with those huge tears. Come on, it wasn't easy getting him ready and into the car. Do you think I would give up just that few metres away from that nursery door?

And this has gotten me thinking....what will happen when Jon gets a whole month break in Dec? I am so sending him to childcare, otherwise he will never go to pre-kinder in Jan!!!

Let's end this post with more photos of how we spent Malaysia Day last Thu, putting up lanterns at the patio.

Jon who's never seen without his tool box, telling me he wanted to "cut, cut, cut" i.e. he wanted to cut the fishing lines to tie the lanterns

Pretty pleased with the end result

Jon insisted on taking a photo of us with my camera

and having ice cream in the hot afternoon. Jillian had a long morning nap, and disturbed Jon when he was taking his afternoon nap. So we brought Jon out so Jill can have her afternoon nap in peace.

Jon taking just the wafer roll. He doesn't like ice cream by the scoop...too cold. Guess we will stick to his mini cones

Jon can be a darling when he's not freaking out about school...or when he hits the girls...or throws things. Another post for another day...or night, actually, when the kids are asleep and I get into my own time. And if I manage to wake up after accompanying Jon to bed.