So Athan started day care this week.  We have signed him up for two days a week.  He did alright, we were told.

 First day was only a half day for him so that he could slowly ease into the full day program. Second day was slightly longer — he was picked up at 3pm.  On both days, he screamed and kicked real hard when I left him.  I felt really really really horrible and guilty.  I have been through such experience with Calvin before when he first started day care, but it did not help me at all when I have to face it the second time.  I probably felt even worse in a sense that I wished my child did not have to go through such *pain*. sigh.

Anyway.

I had to be firm with Athan and I made sure a carer took him and stayed with him before I left.  I always rang later to check on him and I was told on both days that Athan was fine after the crying and screaming. I felt better, but I know that it will take time for him to fully adjust to day care.  Next week might be more challenging in a sense that he could be crying and protesting at the gate of the centre  now that he knows where he is going.  That happened to Calvin …..We’ll see. They tend to go through cycles.

Robin is a lot more positive than me with regards to Athan going to day care.  He seems so relax and confident that the boy will be OK.  Truth be told, the centre that we have chosen is a good one.  The carers have been working there for many years and they are so relax about children crying and protesting etc etc.  That has made me somewhat more relieved. Robin fetched Athan on both days and he said that Athan was playing really well at the centre. I think that’s a good sign.

Athan has been more cranky and clingy these few days at home.  I immediately link it to the day care — that he is afraid that I am going to leave him. However, he also has a runny nose at the moment, and so it could also be the reason for his clingy behaviour.  In any case, I do have to be extra patient with him and have to keep on reassuring him that I’m there for him. It’s not easy.

As for Calvin, he is adjusting really well at kindy.  Thank God. He seems to enjoy going to school and when I asked him what he did at school, he said “play!”. I think that’s exactly what they did.  He has also made a few new friends and I think that has made going to school enjoyable for him as well.  They are learning about family these few weeks and we have been asked to give a copy of our recent family photo to the teacher.  I’ll wait and see what they are up to.

Calvin has been behaving quite well lately although I have to add that he can be very challenging to deal with.  He is a sensitive child and he does not like it when I talk to him in a very firm tone or when I scold him or raise my voice at him — especially when he thinks that he is not in the wrong.  He reacts very strongly to such situations and it can take a long time for him to settle.  He could be crying and screaming and stomping his feet or he could be throwing things.  I do have to watch myself on how I deal with him and the words that I use and of course, my tone.  He reacts better if I can reason with him calmly.  He wants to have a say as well …. *sigh*  And, I have to listen.  That really needs a lot of patience and careful listening because I need to be able to reason with him and point out what is wrong and unacceptable from the things he said to me.  I thought I should pause and  listen to my boy  because if I stop him right there, he might not want to open up to me anymore.   Not easy.  I know…. he is growing up …… real fast.

Athan is turning two next month.  Where did the time go?

He is a very delightful little fellow who loves to talk.  He talks non-stop about anything and everything he sees.  He *sings* when we sing to him and he copies all the actions too.  Very funny.  He loves to eat. He eats most food,  especially rice, pasta, noodles and soup.  He likes cheese and yogurt too.  He eats vegetables and loves carrot and broccoli.  He is not a fruit-eater though.  He does eat fruit, but he is very selective.  He only eats apple, pear, orange and banana.  It is very difficult to get him to try new fruit.

He is very easy going.  I can leave him to play by himself while I catch up on some housework.  He is happy to play by himself as long as he knows where I am.  He has taken to playing blocks, thanks to Calvin.  He likes to carry a backpack and pretend to go shopping.  He likes to push his toy bus on the floor and pretend to be the driver.  He knows how to amuse himself when he is on his own without his brother.

He is quick tempered and throws tantrums whenever does not get his way.  He is still very loud.  The good thing is he gets over his tantrums very quickly and easily– most of the time.  He can be rolling on the floor and the next minute he is up and smiling again.  The way to deal with him is to ignore him.  Of course there are times when his tantrums last longer and louder.  I usually give him a time-out in his cot. He screams and screams until I go in and get him.  Before I let him out of his cot, I will tell him to calm down and try to explain what he did wrong in the shortest possible way. I will get him to say “sorry” and not to repeat that behaviour again.  He will nod his head in return as if he has understood me.  This method seems to work so far on him.

He now shares a room with Calvin. The boys are very used to having each other at sleep time now.  They don’t usually go to sleep immediately after we have tucked them in bed and left the room.  They will have a chat and occasionally we can hear some laughter.  There are occasions when it takes up to an hour for them to settle.  We have caught them playing in the room numerous times.  They exchange blankets, make funny faces at each other, put the blanket over their heads and pretend to be monsters etc etc. Boys …. And then. When they hear our footsteps nearing their bedroom door, they quickly get back into their beds and pretend to be sleeping! Calvin could have gotten away with it, but Mr Athan gives everything away.  He will be laughing away and he even smile at us with his most innocent look.  He probably thinks it is a game. We could not stop laughing at them, especially me.

He is starting childcare very soon, as soon as next week.  I have to admit that I am reluctant to put him through childcare.  I wish I can take care of him full-time myself.  Unfortunately, the current situation at our home does not allow that.  Oh well, I’ve got to think positive.  It will be a new routine for this little boy as well as for our family.  I do pray that he can settle well into the centre and new routine.  I will have to deal with the separation anxieties and all the crying that comes with it.  It is going to be very difficult for me.  We’ll see how things go next week. Pray for me.

He still suffers from eczema. It flares up during hot days.  He gets dry and red patches around his elbows, back of his knees, behind his neck, around his ankles and around his wrists.  He doesn’t scratch much at the affected areas, thank God.  We try to moisturize him throughout the day.  It helps.

Not sure if swimming at the pool is another cause of his eczema, but this boy absolutely loves to be in water.  He thinks he is having a great big bath!  Last week was his third lesson of this term, and I have to say he behaved much better. He listened to instructions better and participated better.  Thank God. He has no problems putting his face in water and has no fear when asked to jump into the water.  I am more fearful than him! I am also very grateful to the instructor for being so patient and kind towards us when Athan was cranky during his first 2 lessons.  She is very good at making each lesson fun.  The children loves it.

The above picture shows a tired boy sucking his thumb and resting on his father’s shoulder.   That’s Athan. He likes to rest on Robin’s shoulder like that when he is tired or upset.  He is still quite attached to his father, I would say.  Robin can be very strict with Athan when the boy plays up, but he can be equally silly when he plays with Athan.  One of their favourite activities is going to the beach together, just the 2 of them.  It’s great to see Robin putting in time and effort to spend time with Athan. The boy needs it.

Thank God for blessing us with Athan.

These 2 monkeys have been fighting a lot lately.  I can hear one of them screaming or crying after every 1-5 minutes of playing together.  Some times I just leave them to sort themselves out, and they do.  But for most of the time, either the father or myself have to mediate.  Athan has learnt to screamed his lungs out when he does not get his way while Calvin just won’t budge.  *sigh* Oh well, they have to learn.

Today has been a somewhat more peaceful day at home.  The boys did fight, but not as much.  I sat with them during their play time this afternoon.  They behaved well.  I wanted to be there to correct the unacceptable behaviour on the spot and so I decided to put all things aside and spend the time with them.  Perhaps I need to be around them more …..