Oxymoron In The Tropics

When I was single and teaching in an all-boys school, I had my eyes opened really wide to the challenges of growing up nowadays.  I saw boys who stayed back in school because school (even if it was empty) was much better than home.  I found out about boys who came to school in a Toyota Prado and waited till the 4WD was down the street before they hopped onto another vehicle (bus or car) headed God-Knows-Where.  But after a while, everyone found out where.  I had one boy (clean-cut and such a well-behaved angel!) in my class who disappeared after a few months.  I found out later that he was helping coordinate the activities of a car theft syndicate.  The thing was.. I knew most of these boys' families or backgrounds and the majority were from normal middle-class families.   What happened to lead them down such thorny paths? The boy with the Prado had permissive parents... nothing was too good for their angel.  So he grew up with a self-cen...

My son's only six but he already grapples with homework every night. His teacher gives him two sentences every day to copy out five times; one in English and another in Chinese...or Malay and Chinese. Tonight he has to do 'The weather is fine." and also ' ~&\%$*@~' Sorry ah, I don't know how to read Chinese characters. Besides homework, he has also learned the skill of procrastination. Mummy, I'm thirsty. Homework cannot be done until he gets a drink. Mummy, it's hot. Mummy switches on the fan. Mummy, got cheese? Mummy looks at son and walks to the kitchen to find a slice of cheese. Mummy, I want the cheese cut in triangles. Mummy finds a knife and cuts cheese in triangles. Mummy, I want eraser. Mummy asks where his eraser went. He says already gone. This happens every night. With varying differences in his requests. Mummy is now an expert in perfect cheese triangles, optimum fan angles and keeping a supply of erasers and sharpeners.

Today I sent Dylan to school... they call it Nursery but this nursery comes complete with classrooms, bumper cars, playgrounds and toys galore!  He will get to play with friends, do arts and crafts, listen to stories, sing and climb stuff... I was worried that he might cling to me.. but no, not Dylan.  The minute he saw the colourful murals on the buildings, he dashed from the carpark right into the school area.  Went from mural to playground to another mural... and one of the murals was 3D.. cars popping out of the walls!  Good ol' Dylan didn't waste any time... and Mummy was left chasing after him.  And of course his minders' first question was "How old IS he?"  He only turns three end of June but he already looks a strapping five.  This is one boy who's not going to waste time crying after Mummy... too many new experiences to chase. Good for him.

I was sleeping fitfully, throat burning and head aching... when I felt someone hugging my legs. I opened my eyes... it was Dylan. He looked at me and smiled so sweetly, so trustingly.  I just knew he had an 'accident' and was waiting for me to make things all better.  And so at 2 am in the morning, I got up and bustled about while telling him to TELL me... don't just look at me and use his big expressive eyes.  Yes I will normally know what he wants (moms' telepathy?) but when I'm sick, telepathy not so effective. That made me wonder how such a 'little' creature can change my life so much.  My priorities are all listed out beginning with DYLAN.  Defere comes a close second ... and jostles for first place sometimes.  And I REALLY know for the first time how mothers can kill for their children or be killed.  Scary?  Not at all. So after Dylan's all comfortable and as sweet-smelling as his breath, he lies down on his pillow, tucks his little hand...