Groggy-eyed, I saw Jethro moving towards the blocks under the chair, Ethan keeping him away from his block-built 'fire engines' and Jethro ready to cry out. Such scenarios have been played back countless times everyday and sometimes I would tell Ethan off, sometimes I would just bring Jethro away, sometimes I would bring Jethro away before the inevitable outburst from Ethan. But this time, I couldn't be bothered.
Jianming was with Ethan, Ethan had asked him to build rockets for his 'astronauts' (which are more blocks), and they were on the verge of breaking up the fire engines for the blocks to build rockets. So in a stroke of genius, Jianming said, "You bring out the fire engine (from under the chair), and let's get Jethro to break it up." After further explaining, Ethan started to bring out the fire engine.
In a bossy brother way, he commanded Jethro to break it out and even proceeded to show him how when Jethro was just staring at him and Jianming to and fro. Then Jethro must have noticed the blocks in front of him and went to touch them - he wouldn't learn his lesson, would he? This time, there was no angry 'NO!' from Ethan as - are we not surprised - Jethro started taking the blocks apart. Instead, Ethan said in a pleased manner, "You are good at 'broking' up the fire engine, Jethro!" After that, Jethro was 'allowed' to play by the side with the stray blocks while the older guys continued with their construction work.
I must say even I was impressed by what Jianming did this time, considering that many of his creative attempts before had not all the time raised an eyebrow of sceptical me.
Friday, 22 May 2009
Saturday, 2 May 2009
The Contrary Ethan. The Curious Jethro
I shan't be bilingual this time - I am rather tired out this month. Why? The title of the blog explains. Now, a contrary Ethan is certainly very tiring indeed. Half the energy is spent in meaningless contradictions and vexations. Examples of his remarks when we said the opposite: 'I am not Chinese.' 'I am not nice.' 'I am not a busybody.' 'I don't want to be quick.' 'I don't want to be slow.' 'But all my friends and all my teachers are Chinese.'
But a curious Jethro should be fun. Perhaps sometimes. Usually, with his eagerness to touch everything within sight, he has also grown easily frustrated. He can't crawl yet, and can only slither for maybe half an inch on the floor. Things out of reach but not out of sight thus become objects of frustration to him, making him grovel and cry with his face on the floor and his hands to his mouth. Then, there are the toys Ethan would leave lying around on the floor. The minute he touches them, faster than lightning flies Ethan from one corner of the room to snatch them away. So the other half of the energy is spent chiding at Ethan and soothing Jethro.
Ethan went for his classmate, Robert's birthday party in early April, just at the start of the Easter holiday. As Jianming only took 2 photos which did not turn out well, I will sort of narrate it here. The party was at Clambers, an indoor play area within the swimming pool complex. Initially Ethan thought we were going to bring him to swim and refused to step into the building, so we had to explain many times. Then when he was within the play area, Robert's mother passed us a vest for him to wear so he could play within the enclosed area for free. Usually you would have to pay to play there. Ethan refused to wear it and refused to play. This lasted for quite sometime. Finally Jianming got him to play, but only after much, much persuasion. And he did not really play with other kids from his nursery. We felt rather bad. Robert did not invite everyone from the same nursery class and we were surprised Ethan was invited at all and now he's behaving this way. When Robert approached us shyly, Ethan did not even greet him. After an hour's play, (and the rest are narrated by Jianming because I left earlier) they had a game. After that, the children sat at a long table and were served burgers or chicken nuggets or fish fingers and fries. They had lemonade and ice cream. I understand that Ethan had two servings of ice creams. Then the birthday cake and home. It could have been a relaxing time for parents as there were three adults there to look after them and the parents need not hang around. Of course, not for Ethan. Anyway, this is typical Ethan.
Another thing, Jianming finally went to plant the daffodil in the courtyard. But it was too late for any flowers to bloom.
Some rare happy moments together:
The fate of the daffodil:
3 days in a row we went out because of the bright sunshine:
11/4: Easter play at Princes Street Gardens, forgot to bring camera
12/4: weather turned cool after we went out
13/4: nice outing to the playground before dinner
'Happy on my own':
Feeding baby brother:
After eating the raspberry and the blackberry:
Cartoon addict(s):
Scarecrow made by Jianming:
Another trip to the Meadows:
His first love and all-time favourite: firemen
Spring blossoms:
'Happy Birthday, Daddy!'
To the lake:
But a curious Jethro should be fun. Perhaps sometimes. Usually, with his eagerness to touch everything within sight, he has also grown easily frustrated. He can't crawl yet, and can only slither for maybe half an inch on the floor. Things out of reach but not out of sight thus become objects of frustration to him, making him grovel and cry with his face on the floor and his hands to his mouth. Then, there are the toys Ethan would leave lying around on the floor. The minute he touches them, faster than lightning flies Ethan from one corner of the room to snatch them away. So the other half of the energy is spent chiding at Ethan and soothing Jethro.
Ethan went for his classmate, Robert's birthday party in early April, just at the start of the Easter holiday. As Jianming only took 2 photos which did not turn out well, I will sort of narrate it here. The party was at Clambers, an indoor play area within the swimming pool complex. Initially Ethan thought we were going to bring him to swim and refused to step into the building, so we had to explain many times. Then when he was within the play area, Robert's mother passed us a vest for him to wear so he could play within the enclosed area for free. Usually you would have to pay to play there. Ethan refused to wear it and refused to play. This lasted for quite sometime. Finally Jianming got him to play, but only after much, much persuasion. And he did not really play with other kids from his nursery. We felt rather bad. Robert did not invite everyone from the same nursery class and we were surprised Ethan was invited at all and now he's behaving this way. When Robert approached us shyly, Ethan did not even greet him. After an hour's play, (and the rest are narrated by Jianming because I left earlier) they had a game. After that, the children sat at a long table and were served burgers or chicken nuggets or fish fingers and fries. They had lemonade and ice cream. I understand that Ethan had two servings of ice creams. Then the birthday cake and home. It could have been a relaxing time for parents as there were three adults there to look after them and the parents need not hang around. Of course, not for Ethan. Anyway, this is typical Ethan.
Another thing, Jianming finally went to plant the daffodil in the courtyard. But it was too late for any flowers to bloom.
Some rare happy moments together:
The fate of the daffodil:
3 days in a row we went out because of the bright sunshine:
11/4: Easter play at Princes Street Gardens, forgot to bring camera
12/4: weather turned cool after we went out
13/4: nice outing to the playground before dinner
'Happy on my own':
Feeding baby brother:
After eating the raspberry and the blackberry:
Cartoon addict(s):
Scarecrow made by Jianming:
Another trip to the Meadows:
His first love and all-time favourite: firemen
Spring blossoms:
'Happy Birthday, Daddy!'
To the lake:
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