Evidently, as the kids grow older the issues change from sleep/eat/toileting problems to school problems!
Madison
Fortunately she's crossed the hurdle of securing a spot in SCGS. So that's a huge relief to me and my bank account. Singapore schools are practically free to citizens so I'll start saving some cash once she leaves Pat's Schoolhouse.
Unfortunately we start school at an ungodly hour of 0720-0730h. Apparently she has to be in school by 0715-0720. And I've heard the traffic to school is legendary.
So transport choices are:
1. Self drive : face traffic, but travel in relative comfort of own vehicle
2. Car pool : as above, but less frequency, but with the issue of dealing with other parents. What is the protocol on sick days? Travel?
3. Public bus : cheap and good, but is it predictable? Someone has to take her there and come back. Apparently the ride is 30-40 minutes long! ( this is for a distance <3km br="">4. School bus: more cost, early start -- apparently pick up is anytime from 0600-0630h! But then she can go unaccompanied and the pressure to get her to school is off me.
5. Other : ?cycle to school Is that even worth considering? Probably not.
Annika
She will be in K1 next year at Pat's, and we've just been kindly advised that school fees are undergoing an upward revision. Of course. Next year's revision will bring half day (AM) fees to $1455 and full day ( till 530pm ) $1733 per month. When we started at Pat's, the half day fees were $850 per month. Thank goodness next year we have a bit of a reprieve because Madison is leaving and Liam doesn't join till 2016.
I looked around on the internet and found that most preschools in this vicinity are charging close to those fees. I presume it's the rental charges that's driving the price increase. I'm not keen on changing schools because Annika loves her friends and teachers, so I guess Chris will have to work harder!!
As for transport, I'm also not sure if I'll still take her or if she will take the bus to school?
Liam
The baby is signed up for Cherie Hearts at Whampoa for next year. I decided to forego Bibinogs for him, partly because of the logistics, partly because of cost ( it has gone up to ridiculous amounts too ) and partly because I feel it doesn't really seem to have made a really significant impact on their Mandarin ability. Berries has done much more. The price is under $600 per month for half day sessions, and I will probably get him to go 2-3 times a week initially. I think Cherie Hearts is probably good at playgroup level, but further on I'm not so convinced. We'll see how it goes.
Thankfully Cherie Hearts is within walking distance so one of the helpers can stroller him across.. (PHEW)
And I still have to figure out primary school for him at some stage...
Thursday, September 25, 2014
September thus far...
Month 3 of Chris being away
Chris came back at the start of the month for a week and it was a welcome relief to have another person responsible for the kids.
It was quite funny though, initially. I think we had kind of adjusted to being without him and when he came back it was a little bit weird, to be honest.
Liam has been sleeping with me the past 2 months ( and on the master bed too!) and he's definitely gotten used to it.
The first night when Chris came back Liam was gobsmacked when he came to the bed and found Chris there. I think it was a mutual shock. It was hilarious.
I think the girls were definitely relieved to have a parent not yelling at them all the time.
The rest of the week flew past. We met up with friends to have gigantic Sri Lankan crabs, drinks and dinner with other friends and the rest of the time was spent with the kids.
Madison had her confidence camp at school on the 19th. She was so excited and started packing 2 weeks earlier. She didn't have class during the day, and Pa took her to the opthalmologist for an eye check. ( which she passed, just took the better of 2 hours to do!) He dropped her off at 5pm at school, and spent the night there. The teacher was so kind to post pictures of them going to bed at midnight.
Annika is still the child that gives me grief.. Not a day goes by that she doesn't get in trouble. From the first thing in the morning-- taking forever to get ready, dawdling instead of eating breakfast, to bedtime not going to bed etc. She is a highly intelligent and driven child and is actually more aware than Madison. She has a memory of an elephant and can recall better than her sister. But yet she chooses to do things that she knows will make me angry!
As for the baby, well.. he's the baby. He finally got his first haircut yesterday ( 24/9/2014) at the hairdresser. I'd been trimming it periodically at home but it's getting way too shaggy. Too many people have commented that he's a 'beautiful girl'. Actually all 3 kids needed a trim. Liam is still not really talking yet, but he is really good at indicating what he wants ( my handbag most of the time !) and what he doesn't want ( shakes head vigorously-- most things). He's very good at walking now, which is amazing .. for a minute I thought he was going to be delayed walking.
Anthony is here for a 2 week holiday, and I'm so grateful that he's chosen to give up his time to be with the kids. It's such a relief to have another adult to help spend time with them!
Chris came back at the start of the month for a week and it was a welcome relief to have another person responsible for the kids.
It was quite funny though, initially. I think we had kind of adjusted to being without him and when he came back it was a little bit weird, to be honest.
Liam has been sleeping with me the past 2 months ( and on the master bed too!) and he's definitely gotten used to it.
The first night when Chris came back Liam was gobsmacked when he came to the bed and found Chris there. I think it was a mutual shock. It was hilarious.
I think the girls were definitely relieved to have a parent not yelling at them all the time.
The rest of the week flew past. We met up with friends to have gigantic Sri Lankan crabs, drinks and dinner with other friends and the rest of the time was spent with the kids.
Madison had her confidence camp at school on the 19th. She was so excited and started packing 2 weeks earlier. She didn't have class during the day, and Pa took her to the opthalmologist for an eye check. ( which she passed, just took the better of 2 hours to do!) He dropped her off at 5pm at school, and spent the night there. The teacher was so kind to post pictures of them going to bed at midnight.
Annika is still the child that gives me grief.. Not a day goes by that she doesn't get in trouble. From the first thing in the morning-- taking forever to get ready, dawdling instead of eating breakfast, to bedtime not going to bed etc. She is a highly intelligent and driven child and is actually more aware than Madison. She has a memory of an elephant and can recall better than her sister. But yet she chooses to do things that she knows will make me angry!
As for the baby, well.. he's the baby. He finally got his first haircut yesterday ( 24/9/2014) at the hairdresser. I'd been trimming it periodically at home but it's getting way too shaggy. Too many people have commented that he's a 'beautiful girl'. Actually all 3 kids needed a trim. Liam is still not really talking yet, but he is really good at indicating what he wants ( my handbag most of the time !) and what he doesn't want ( shakes head vigorously-- most things). He's very good at walking now, which is amazing .. for a minute I thought he was going to be delayed walking.
Anthony is here for a 2 week holiday, and I'm so grateful that he's chosen to give up his time to be with the kids. It's such a relief to have another adult to help spend time with them!
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