Week 34 - White Flags

Week 34 - The "white flags" are washed and ready to be soiled once again.

Smooth Transition

I am amazed, surprised and astounded.

Sofia has been going to the "new" school for about a week. As expected, she needed time to adjust to the new environment and started off whining in the car every morning. When we reach the school, she would be bawling and clinging onto Ana like a koala. Then comes her favourite teacher who would have to carry her into the school.

The teachers had assured me that Sofia is generally okay after we leave and would play well with other kids. But as a parent, it is uncomfortable to my ears and heart to hear her saying "Don wan! Don wan!" every morning on the way to school. I needed direct assurance from Sofia to know that she is looking forward to school and enjoying herself.

Just yesterday, Sofia stopped whining on the way to school and was even fine when her favourite teacher did not greet her at the door!? I happily wondered what happened? Her principal, Yansley, did mention to me casually last Friday that they would be working on Sofia to get used to other teachers. But I did not expect it to happen so fast! I thought it was going to take weeks or months, or at least till Sofia is used to the new environment. I was amazed that Sofia managed to cross two major hurdles in just a short period of one week. Of course that made me a very happy mum who looks forward to sending her kid to school every morning! : )

Week 33 - Baby Clothes

Week 33 - Getting ready, washing of Sofia's baby clothes.

Accommodation Planning

Now that we know the new place would not be ready before I pop, we have been cracking our heads on accomodation arrangements in our current place when everyone is here next month. My mum would be coming over to help me with the confinement and baby. My in-laws would be here to take over the driving and helping out with the usual household stuff.

We would have altogether 6 adults, 1 toddler and 1 baby in this house which has 3+1 bedroom. Daddy and I have been playing around which configuration and arrangement would be the best and here is the conclusion:

Master bedroom - My mum, Me and baby
Sofia's bedroom - Daddy and Sofia
Guest room - My in-laws
Maid room - Ana

Daddy is a very light sleeper and Sofia sometimes "talk" while sleeping, thus he might possibly be disturbed at night. So we tried to switch around again but could not find a better arrangement. Of course, the option to sleep in the living hall is always open! Or the balcony with FeFe! Anyway, the above arrangement is more or less fixed.

The other challenge is the miserable fridge our landlord gave us. It can barely hold the stuff for us currently and we will have more than double the food for storage come May, how eh? The easy way out is to buy our new fridge and start using it first but again our current kitchen is unable to accommodate a second fridge. We cannot find a solution for this one yet, will continue to ponder over it.

Summer Academy

Sofia starts the new month at the new school, Summer Academy, today. Pat's has officially handed the two branches over to Children's House (TTDI) and Summer Academy (DU) respectively today.

Between the two, I have chosen Summer for a few reasons:

1. The young couple, Yansley and Julie, running the existing school in Subang, are passionate about children's education and the schools are run with a "personal touch", not so business-like or like a franchise.

2. School fees are much more reasonable.

3. A balanced and rounded curriculum with mix of English, Mandarin and Bahasa Melayu.

4. Most important of all, most of the current teachers would be joining Summber and I hope this will help Sofia to settle in well.

I snapped some photos of her in the new school polo shirt before we left this morning. The sun was shining as brightly as the one on her shirt. I know it is going to be tough for her to adjust to a new environment, hope she will settle in quickly and look forward to going to school everyday!