Will be MIA for a while

I will fly off tomorrow morning to Singapore to accompany Simon for his operation to remove a tumour at the parotid area. The surgery is scheduled on Thu, 9 Dec at 2pm. So appreciate your prayers for a smooth surgery under the good hands of Dr CT Chew at Mount Elizabeth. Then we will stay on for a week to remove the stitches and get the final report before flying home.

The kidlets will be at home under the care of grandma. Would love to bring them to Singapore, esp Jonathan, who may love to see the Dinosaurs show. But I would need to be with Simon on day of surgery as well as take care of him after that. So, they're not coming.

I started to put Jon at a day care last Sat. This would help grandma as she will have the morning to do her chores and cook the kidlets' porridge (Jill) and soup (Jon). But when he came home that on Sat, he actually said, "da si ni (beat you till you die)!" Then on Mon, he came back with scrapes on his hands. The child care has mostly boys, about 6 of them and they play quite roughly.

I asked Jon if he likes the school, and he replied, "No." If he likes the boys, "no". If he likes the teacher, and so on...you get the pic. Not even the big slides and many there could entice him to go there again! And he even asked for his nursery school teacher. So how?

After discussing with my mom-in-law, we decided she will try to bring him to the childcare centre tom (I will be at the airport by then) and see his reaction. If he really insists on not going, then she will not force him. She said he could have felt threatened by the boys there. If he goes, she will monitor his behavior and reaction. Why?

Coz over the last two days, his behaviour has changed drastically. He's become very aggressive, to the extent of pushing Jillian. Previously, when he doesn't want Jill or Mabel to touch his toys, he will just take the toys away, or even walk away. or even ask to be put in the play pen with the girls outside. This time, his actions are more aggressive. He even showed some kongfu stances! He's also become very loud, and kept shouting. Today, kakak even hit his hand coz he hit Jill on her head. It must have been quite hard otherwise kakak would not have laid a finger on Jon. Of course, kakak apologised profusely when I asked how come Jon was crying.

I am more used to seeing Jon in a nice environment where he plays (and behaves) nicely with other kids

Just last week, whenever he want something, he will use his sweetest voice, more manja than before, and ask me to give it to him. Now, he just shouted for the thing or demand for it. And I have seen this behaviour from the boys at the childcare....yes, from my three visits there.

I think grandma would rather put up with his naughty and previously-loud (super loud these two days) behaviour at home, than to put him to this new environment where he will learn from others.

I just pray that I will get my cheeky boy back. After saying a prayer and giving Jon his milk before he slept, I told Jon I love him by pointing at my nose then his nose. He said, "I love you." and also touched his nose before mine.

My little sweetie in the cry room at church

I will surely miss Jon and Jill when I am in Singapore. This will be the longest that I've been away from them.