Best June Holidays Ever
This June holiday is unique - instead of slapping a trip to fulfill our obligations as parents to show that "we had a holiday"... I impressed myself by working out a whole month's calendar with Megan by early May. We agreed to try new things together but she steers the ship on how everything evolves.
Ceramics
Learn a craft! We went for a 3 hour long bi-weekly basic coiling class. Megan was rejected by the workshop on day one because they don't take kids (booboo me) and she is way too short for their set up.
After some discussion, they were kind enough to set up a special program for the kid and every lesson starts with what Megan wants to do. The answer is always "let's make a guinea pig", much to the misery of all the adults who tempted her on more structure.
Very impressed with the pieces she made but the pottery teachers asked me to look beyond the physical product and that I should be more proud of Megan's patience and ability to filter out distractions during such long sessions. Not forgetting it is physically exhausting to stand throughout because the wheel is too tall.
After some discussion, they were kind enough to set up a special program for the kid and every lesson starts with what Megan wants to do. The answer is always "let's make a guinea pig", much to the misery of all the adults who tempted her on more structure.
Very impressed with the pieces she made but the pottery teachers asked me to look beyond the physical product and that I should be more proud of Megan's patience and ability to filter out distractions during such long sessions. Not forgetting it is physically exhausting to stand throughout because the wheel is too tall.
Parkour
Learn a sports! I introduced parkour to Megan because being an highly skilled, attractive, illusive, hard-to-catch international "criminal" has always been my childhood dream. The scene where I leap from heights, slide down handrails, negotiate obstacles and disappear into the streets of Hong Kong with panting cops on my tail, cursing and swearing for losing me again played itself out in my mind thousands of times.
But I was realistic with the reach of my thunder thighs so my daughter can take up this cool sport while I live my dreams vicariously through her. And OMG, parkour is so fun and exciting, and as a discipline, it has much more depth and strategic application than the public is aware of. Megan loves parkour. After every parkour lesson, she tells me " best day ever"...
Strange enough, I see a lot of similarities between ceramics and parkour. Both requires high level of self regulation, patience, humility, situational problem solving and honestly, you cant achieve anything until you try.
Strange enough, I see a lot of similarities between ceramics and parkour. Both requires high level of self regulation, patience, humility, situational problem solving and honestly, you cant achieve anything until you try.
Calligraphy
In little pockets of free time, we practiced our handwriting. Or rather, I rely on this as a form of moving mediation to calm myself from my long "to do list". Megan disappears after 10 mins to come back every now and then to kapo with my strokes.
Tree Top Adventure with Friends
The kids course no longer posed any challenge to Megan but unlike all her friends who can go on to a more advance course, Megan is way way way too short to advance...
The food we are feeding her did not pile her up vertically. Too short for ceramics, too short for tree top.... height features irritatingly bright for her this holiday.
The food we are feeding her did not pile her up vertically. Too short for ceramics, too short for tree top.... height features irritatingly bright for her this holiday.
Trampoline
Who would have thought that jumping can kill? Contrast between overly excited Morgan and laborious us cannot be higher. Eat my dust! Two adults cannot catch a bouncing kid. Joyce contributed her eye power to track Morgan and luckily no heart attack. Let's not go back there anytime soon.
Baking
Long before the holiday starts, neighbor kids were already asking "auntie yy, when are we baking cake pops and pizza tarts again?" This round, the nutella tartlet baking shifted to their place. Love it when the kids organize themselves to get work done.
Did a second round at home for Morgan. Amazing effective engagement activity getting his full attention and commitment for hours. We will do this again for him.
Did a second round at home for Morgan. Amazing effective engagement activity getting his full attention and commitment for hours. We will do this again for him.
Museums
Good exhibits are worth visiting. Now that Lx, Ally and me are no longer the museum-going-trio, I drag Mimi and Megan out when good stuff comes to town.
This round I gathered all the folks plus Morgan, the destroyer to the Art Science Museum. He is ready for interactive exhibits! Just prepare enough cash to pay for broken artifacts, or in this case, a few deflated inflatables....
Staycations
Kenneth planned two staycations - M Hotel, during the most important week for Spurs fans. We are there solely because there is a room. Nothing much to do in the city so we embark on our national hobby. Hokkaido Sushi - pleasant discovery. Clinton Street Baking and Co. - thumbs down.
Shang's highlight was Buds - which M&M like. Had my very first "co-sleeping with Morgan" experience... Boy has special talent for pushing, kicking and rolling... I don't think I slept at all.
This June holidays kick start a lot of activities that will continue into our daily lives. So thankful to be able to spend quality time growing with the kiddos... Next school holiday, here we come.
