Miss J had her first swimming lesson with a new class and instructor today.

I watched with pride and astonishment as she confidently kicked off and swam, even before her instructor had signalled her to go.

And though she didn't know anybody, she was chatting away with the other little girls as though she's known them for ages.

What a huge transformation from Term 1, when she wouldn't let go of my leg and cried every time swimming day came around.

After the class, I praised her for doing well and trying her best and she said, "It was nothing Mum. Absolutely nothing. I just copied what my teacher did."

I just copied what my teacher did.

Profundity - again - from the mouths of babes.

And such a timely reminder of what we're learning at TCI: to model ourselves on those who have succeeded.

Learning persverance

Beth had her first swim training session on Tue, in preparation for the HX Primary School Swim Carnival selection trials on 22 Feb.

She had plenty of tales to tell afterward. Of how she nearly drowned, but no one noticed her struggling. How the kids behind (mainly the boys) kept pushing and overtaking. And how she had never swum so hard and so long in her life.

All that didn't stop her going back again on Thu.

This time, despite having to take frequent breaks to get her breath, she kept going and was one of the last ones out (she said they were doing sprints). I even had to go to the poolside to remind her about getting ready for school.

There's a couple of kids like her, who are not very strong at swimming but who are nevertheless giving the selection trials a go.

To Beth and all of them, I say: Well done for having a go!

Jesus & The Preschooler

God has surely spoken into the life of my 3 yo.

When I'm not feeling my best, she assures me God will heal me - and promptly prays for me. "Jesus, mummy has a sore leg. Amen."

When she's afraid, she tells herself and me that God is still here.

Today, she opted for a short-sleeved top after her bath. When I asked if she was cold, she said God is keeping her warm.

When she's recovered from a meltdown, she credits God for making her "all better".

There is no doubt, no hesitation, no theological to-and-fro with a child.

God is still here. It's as simple as that. :)

Unless ye become like little children

During church camp @ Halls Gap in mid-April, we explored the theme of David and Goliath and what we should do with the "giants" in our lives.

Be they lack of self-esteem, the pain of the past, fear of certain things, these "giants" disrupt our lives, hold us back from being all that we can, and keep us paralyzed.

The kids explored the same theme in their program, and one of the interesting things they did was a pebble collage with the word PRAY made of black pebbles and a random pattern of grey/white pebbles around it. So they are reminded that Prayer is the answer when dealing with their own giants.

The kids also did an artistic interpretation of what their "giants" were.

Beth identified her "giants" in words and images: Grumpy. Fussy. Need to be organized.

I was astounded at her self-perception. And all this time I thought my many lectures (and private disappointments) about her mood extremes and her lack of self-discipline were like water on a duck's back. There for a moment - then they slide off and are lost. She's obviously done a bit of reflecting on her own, which I'm grateful for.

Jordanne's work was just as amazing.

She had coloured in what looked like a purple and black tornado right down the centre of her sheet.

When asked what her drawing meant, she said, "The monster in the dark."

"Is that what you're afraid of - the dark?"

"Yes, but I'm not afraid now. Because God is still here."

And she made that faith statement consistently throughout the camp to anyone who asked what her drawing meant.

Even now when the subject of Night and Sleeping and The Dark comes up, she says the same thing: God is still here. And she believes it with all her heart. I know because she no longer fears the dark like she sometimes used to. She simply acknowledges that it is dark, asserts that she is not afraid, and explains why: God is still here.

Children are the best demonstrations of why Jesus said we have to become like children to enter the kingdom of God.

How marvellous and REAL is our God, who talks to little children and helps them understand what adults sometimes fail to grasp.

Living With A Temperamental Child

Hubby just commented this week how much more "stable" and "easy to manage" Beth has been lately.

Lest this makes my firstborn sound as if she were an out-of-control brat, let me hasten to add that she just happens to be a highly sensitive child with a strong artistic streak. She lives a rich life in her mind. She loves books, she loves drawing, she loves making things. She just doesn't necessarily want to share it with other people, so she can sometimes appear unsociable.

When she's not in the mood for company, she refuses to say hello or look people in the eye.

For an Asian parent accustomed to showing respect to one's elders, this can be particularly mortifying. I feel as if I have to constantly defend and apologize for her erratic behavior.

But Beth has her good days when she responds well to encouragement, hugs, and space. On Sunday, she shone at our church Give It A Go community concert, when she sang a solo for our family item.

I am learning to accept that she is the way she is, to go along with those things she responds positively to, and not to blame her or my parenting skills for every seeming departure from behavioral norms.

Developing Initiative

Beth has surprised me this week.

Firstly, she has managed to get up on time for school without too much fuss, and even have breakfast before we leave the house. Normally, she gulps down a sandwich in the backseat while I lecture about the evils of lack of respect for teachers and time.

Secondly, she completed her homework, including Extension Maths and English, two days ahead of schedule. And with no nagging or suggestion from me. She plans to hand it in today. As a reward (she didn't know this in advance), she gets to watch Rollercoaster after school before she tackles music practice and Chinese.

Thirdly, she remembered to pack her library book + bag on Monday night. I forgot Tuesday was library day until I arrived to pick her up and saw the kids coming back to class from a different direction (the library!). I usually pack her bag for her and nag endlessly about why she hasn't put in her reader etc etc, and several times she has gone to school on a Tuesday sans library book + bag because Mummy forgot.

I love it when Beth is self-directed and shows initiative. She's growing up, my little girl. :)

Building Social Intelligence

Lately, I've begun to revise my opinion that Beth is an introvert who can only rarely be enticed out of her shell.

She has grown so much as a person after 1.5 years at school.

This year, she has struck up friendships with boys and girls she didn't know last year. She is even on Hi terms with several Grade Preps. Interestingly, she has connected with a wide variety of personalities. Her friends range from extroverts and athletic types to those who are even shyer and quieter than she is.

Tomorrow, she is going over to K's place for a play date.

I always thought K hung out exclusively with two other girls from the same class, but according to K's mom, K and Beth have recently become friends and K actually asked her mom if Beth could come to play. Wow.

Watching Beth march up excitedly to K with notepad and pen, all ready to write down K's address, K's mom turned to me and confided, "Look at them; they're only in Grade 1 and they're already organizing their social lives!"

I have to admit I struggle to accept that once kids start school, the floodgates to individuality are flung wide open and can never again be shut. It's just a matter of time before the little ones are off on their own exciting life journeys and we as parents can only stand by and watch. If asked or needed, we can offer our views and encouragement, but we can no longer rely on our views being treated with the same acceptance and respect as when they were little and dependent.

The Best Feeling

The parents' retreat in display homes is usually something lavish and self-indulgent and - very important - located far away from the kids' rooms.

In our house, the parents' retreat is where everyone sleeps. Despite our best efforts to entice Beth with visions of bunk bed with ladder and endless laughter-filled night times with her sister, she is not ready to move out of our bed.

Our queen-sized bed feels tiny when there are four bodies crowding in it every night. The parents invariably get pushed to the outer edges, resulting in sore necks next morning. Such is the strong will of the girls, even in slumber. Why didn't we foresee this and buy the biggest bed possible? How I miss our king-sized bed in Hougang.

Space constraints aside, there is something utterly cosy about being squashed up at night with two giggly girls.

J likes to sleep on her side facing me, with her arms around my neck. I love the surprise kisses and cuddles, watching her tuck her legs in under the blankie or hug her bear or sing a song.

Baa baa sheep-py
Hair air wool
Yes sir yes sir
Hee bags full

How she has grown!

Many nights as I lie in bed with hubby and the girls next to me, I think how blessed am I to be surrounded by those I love. I know there will come a day when the kids move out and a day when I have to sleep alone, but for now, I will savour every moment of the joy of being together.

Children Know...

A friend related this true story when we visited him last night.

Some 9 months ago, his 3 y.o. daughter went up to her mother and, pointing to the latter's tummy, announced, "You have a baby inside."

Mummy did a pregnancy test and sure enough, she was positive.

Baby is due in a few weeks.

Our friend checked with a few of his friends and they reported similar stories of the uncanny ability of their children to predict pregnancies before they were discovered.

I like to think children have a direct line to Jesus. :)

Letter from Santa

Some weeks ago, Beth - with a little help from Daddy - wrote a letter to Santa.

Then she waited ... and waited.

Still no sign of Santa.

Daddy was sure her letter had gotten lost enroute to Lapland.

Yesterday, the postie brought the best Christmas present of all - a reply from, erm, Canada.

Beth is dying to open the letter right now, but we keep telling her to save it for Christmas and her trip to Singapore.

Let's hope we can convince her of the importance of self-discipline.