(This is written by Footywife)

We went to a Christmas party the other day and my little son brought along his most prized car collection, from the Walt Disney movie “Cars”.

He was playing with them when our friend’s teenage daughter, Geraldine, came along to chat with him.

“What is the name of this car?” Geraldine asked.

“Art-sen” my little son replied instantly.

“Art-sen?” Geraldine repeated.

“Hudson” I chipped in, helping my little son to pronounce the letter “h”.

“Oh, Hudson” said Geraldine. “How about this one?” she asked again.

“Pilmore” my little son replied, somewhat a bit more hesitant.

“Pilmore?” Geraldine asked, looking a little confused.

“Filmore” I chipped in again, helping my little son to pronounce the letter “f” this time.

“Oh, you mean Filmore. How come I don’t understand what you say” Geraldine commented.

Then she pointed to another car and asked the same question.

“I don’t know” came the reply from my little son.

Filmore (2nd from left) ; Hudson (2nd from right)

But I’m sure he knew because he knows all the cars’ names by heart. My interference probably made him feel lousy about his diction as Geraldine could understand me but couldn’t understand him. So he chose to feign ignorance than risk Geraldine not understanding his diction again.

Maybe next time I should shut my big mouth and let my little son carry on the conversation in his own way and see what comes out of it.

Does anyone know what that cute little BIG-EYE animal in the animation movies Madagascar and Madagascar : Escape 2 Africa, is called?

I stumbled onto this blog HOT THINGS DEAR today and was overjoyed to find an article describing the little animals.

So they are called Pygmy Tarsiers!

Now I can’t wait for my little son to wake up tomorrow to show off my new-found knowledge!

Its a sad day today.

I have just finished reading an email from my soccer friend JC. He told us his baby girl arrived into this world last Wednesday, but unfortunately, she passed away two days later on 10 Oct 08 due to complications at labor.  His wife P, is recovering and doing ok.

I don’t know what to say…it is quite heartbreaking.

My wife and I have been through a similar road (we had a miscarriage before we had our son Jadon), yet it is so difficult to find the right words to express our grieve, except maybe to say nothing and acknowledge the loss.

Frankly, I think the best thing I can do now is to solicit prayers for my friend and his family, and the Baby girl.

I believe your generous prayers will do much to help comfort them in such a difficult time.
Thank you friends.

(This is written by Footywife)

We celebrated our little son’s 3rd birthday last weekend.  He is a die-hard fan of the Walt Disney movie “Cars” so I got him Mack (the truck that carried Lightning McQueen, the protagonist in the movie).  Needless to say, that got my little son really happy and excited.

He hugged me and told me “Mama I love you because you bought me Mack”.

Which prompted me (and any parent I’m sure) to ask “Would you still love me if I didn’t buy you Mack?”.  “No” came the reply, without any hint of apology, simply as a matter of fact.

That got me really upset and I immediately launched into a lecture of how love ought not be tied to material things… how he should still love me even if I don’t buy him any toys… how love should be unconditional love…Well, that’s easier said than done.  I fumbled to find the right words, the right analogy to explain this as simply as I could.

In the end I got a blank look and a very disinterested 3-year old.  I simply gave up and told him I will talk to him again about this some other time. How do we explain unconditional love to a 3 year old?

(this is written by my wife)

My little son came down with a blocked nose and cough last night so I brought him to the doctor’s this morning.

While we were waiting at the clinic, we saw a lady wearing a pair of low cut jeans. When she sat down on a low stool with her back facing us, the back of her jeans went all the way down to reveal the “line” in between her buttocks.

My son stared in fascination. Knowing he was about to ask the unthinkable, I quickly distracted his attention. But alas, his attention came back to the lady with the half revealed buttock and asked, “WHAT’S THAT HOLE MAMA?”.

I was rendered speechless. I’m not sure how to start explaining the “hole” to him in a public place. Embarrassed (fortunately most of the people in the clinic were women), I brought him aside and told him not to ask. And thank God, he really stopped asking after that. I heaved a sigh of relief!

I am sure this is not the last time I get asked such an awkward question in public, given that my little son is in the “why this why that” age. So if you have any idea as to how to react in such situations, do drop me a note.