Blast From The Past - '80s pop

Don't Cry

I was rendered helpless tonight.

Elixir was on full tantrum mode the moment I got back from a hard day at work, and nothing seemed to soothe him. Bathed him - he cried. Gave him his milk - he pushed it away. Took him for a drive with Pak Wan at the wheel - looked like he was going to calm down for a bit, but he became antsy once we alighted from the car. Sang to him - he started to convulse, unfortunately, in further anger. Even cousins Elise and Eric, bless them, stayed around to make him feel better. Thought that once Papa came back from work, he would cool down a bit? Nope. Elixir even refused to go to him.

All the calm, soothing talk didn't seem to work, so I changed gears and tried being strict instead - left him there crying in the middle of the living room but I firmly invited him to join me in the bedroom. To no avail though, he kept crying, at one point even rolling on the floor. All the commotion obviously brought out Bibik, wanting to pick him up, but I didn't let her. And he kept on crying, even though periodically I'd call out to him to come to me.

Finally, Grandma came down to enquire what was happening and quickly went to the boy. Not soon after, TokTok peered down the stairs as well. Between the two, they managed to calm him down, and brought him out for a drive. He really showed me up tonight, my actions probably painted me negatively to my parents too.

I know my mom was upset with me that I left him crying. I wasn't too comfortable about it either, which made me even more upset. But I really didn't know what else to do. I still don't actually. In fact it's 4am now. I was awaken from sleep, coz Elixir woke up crying again. He's coming into 2 years old now. I should be able to exercise some discipline right? But he didn't bite - either he sensed that I was unsure of my actions, or he was just really really in a foul mood. So anyway, I'm still at a loss when he cries. And until he does, I'm looking out for suggestions on how best to deal.

And all this while, twin bro Elijaz sleeps peacefully in the bedroom...

The Big One (and it's not the Aerosmith album)

This was their first birthday invite to friends. Not sure whether there'll be one this year tho... or the next four years for that matter. Am still paying the bills now! Besides, they have tonnes of toys /prezzies not yet opened!!

P/S...artwork credit to be given to designer extraordinare, Auntie Sit.

Elijaz got bit at school!

Yesterday was quite a difficult day for me. It started in the morning till quite late, coz

1. I had to prepare the kids dinners to pack and bring to school. Long story this - will put up a new post concerning said subject.
2. Inundated by work and was antsy in the office - wasn't able to complete what I had planned out for the day
3. Had to ask my sister's help to pick up the boys, coz I had foreseen it was gonna be a late-nighter
4. Elijaz got bitten at day care!
5. Come 9.00pm, I went on a guilt trip for not being there for my sons when they came back from school - had just read an article about how to cope with a clingy toddler (read as Elixir). Future mental note, keep your promises to your toddler - I said I'd come and pick them up in the evening, and as it turned out, it was Zeus who had come to the rescue and till 9pm, still no sign on Mama!

So, I quickly drove home, and as suspected, Elixir was red-eyed, fighting sleep waiting for me to come home. Elijaz had gone off to sleep, probably trying to forget the nightmare he went through earlier that day!

The bite was quite servere, although the skin didn't break, there was an obvious oblong red mark on his right forearm! My sister swears that you could see the indentation of the teeth marks - you could send it to the CSI lab for identification!

Anyway, all is well. These kinds of accidents are bound to happen at day care. But I made it a point to let the childminders know that should my child be the one to inflict injury on others, I would want to know. Apologies to the parents should be made ...