Week 214 motherhood – more magnetic tile play, art exhibition, PA Day frustrations and joys

Beautiful autumn days at a new playground

Week 214 of motherhood with 4 year old and 22 month old.

October 17 to 23, 2024:

The 4 year old really enjoys printing now. She can print her name fairly well with crayons or a pen. I asked DH to remove the pens from her writing utensils area because at this young age, she needs to learn how to hold a pencil/crayon properly and know how hard to press it to write. If she uses a pen, there’s no pressure needed to apply for the “print” to be made.
Lots of playtime this week with magnetic tiles. The 22 month old keeps asking me to build a “uk, uk”!” (House.) I remember when the firstborn was around this age and interested in magnetic tiles, she wanted me to build a box for her (“hap”). It’s interesting that the secondborn knows it as a house instead. Edit: She was actually 19 months old!
Every day, DH prepares their breakfast. It usually consists of fruit (apple or oranges or strawberries or grapes — whatever we have in the house), scrambled eggs, bread, milk, a slice of deli meat, and yogurt (if we have it). The kids will polish off whatever they want and then DH is usually the one to finish their leftovers. Sometimes, I do too — depending on what it is and if I want to eat it that day.
The firstborn had her second Mandarin class (technically their third class but we missed the second one due to going to the Kortright centre event instead). She expresses clearly that she enjoys Mandarin class more. I ask her why and she says it’s because it’s shorter than day school. Mandarin class is just under 2.5 hours whereas day school is 6.5 hours.
When picking up the older sister, the 22 month old loved playing in the play house that is in the fenced-in area of the school. It was such a nice day to be outdoors.
On this day, she changed her shoes to indoor shoes too! So this child can do it! She just has to *want* to. She didn’t eat her snacks though but she drew on the sheet that the teacher gave them and also coloured the dinosaur on the page green. She stayed within the lines very well — not that this matters but it’s an observation. She told us that they went outside for recess this time. She showed us the area behind the school where they went for recess.
When picking her up from class, we packed her a sandwich lunch and had her eat on the logs at the school park as we had an event to attend afterwards.
It was an art exhibition about the waste that humans make. We were the only family there with young kids but my kids behaved well. It was great that because it was the opening reception, they had free snacks and drinks for everybody (and the Markham mayor attended too — it was funny because last weekend, the event we attended had the Ontario Premier attend lol). They had cut-up fruit in cups and coffee. The child loved the fruit and loved drinking the single serve 2% dairy cups — always a hit with her.
The 4 year old was scared of the short animation clip (because the woman’s face was made of plasticine and looked scary). The 22 month old was asleep during the first part of the event as it was her nap time.
It was really nice that we were able to visit an adult art exhibition and the kids came and behaved well too. The 4 year old wasn’t afraid of the crowds of people either.
We treated the kids to a new playground in the afternoon (Bishops Cross Park) because it was a beautiful autumn weekend (and art exhibitions aren’t their thing). This particular playground had some music-making drums and chords to bang on. It was unique and very well-made. The oldest child is happiest in a playground. ^_^
In between car rides, the older child will snack on things all the time. The 22 month old is still too young to eat in the car while it is in motion, but one day she will start too.
Mom and I had a mother-daughter date at a lobster restaurant again. Very grateful for these indulgences and night-outs.
On the Monday, it was a PA Day so we took both kids to an EarlyON centre to play (the only day where the secondborn was feeling better and not exhibiting cold symptoms; we had been staying home the rest of the week because she seemed to be sick again). Unfortunately, we were late in getting out the door because grandma couldn’t find her cell phone and it didn’t make sense to attend the 9:30 to 12 p.m. one; by the time we arrived, the kids would only have had one hour to play. Thus, I found an EarlyON centre that was open for play from 11 to 1 p.m. It happened to be an EarlyON Markham site that we were been to a long time ago; actually one of the first ones we ever visited that had a Cantonese circle at the end. This was the place where we also used the school’s staff room where I breastfed the secondborn (back when I wasn’t comfortable openly nursing in public yet — since then, I can do it anywhere lol).
Anyway, we arrived there just after 11 a.m. Upon opening the classroom door to walk inside, the two facilitators came over to greet us and when they saw our situation said some very unwelcome and insensitive things. I asked where the check-in QR code was so I could check in, but another parent was using the laptop to check in at that time. I openly was trying to change the topic and it was clear; my body language showed I didn’t want to make any more small talk on this topic but one of the facilitators didn’t get the hint (she happened to be the same one who was at the JTK classroom and pushing me to leave my child and telling me how she has ten years of experience and this is how they often get kids experienced to separation). I even said out loud, “I don’t know why people keep asking me this question.” She seems to be Spanish and English is her second language and didn’t seem to grasp what I was trying to say. I couldn’t believe it. I’m writing vaguely here for a reason. I will outline the exact situation that happened in a future blog post.
During this exchange, the 4 year old must have sensed the discomfort and told me she wanted to leave. This is like what happened at the JTK classroom — once again at a Markham school and once again with the same facilitator. Perhaps she recognized that facilitator too. I reassured her that I was going to be with her the entire time and that grandma and her sister were with us together too. We weren’t going to stay long and were just going to play.
She clung on to me and was tense. It was exactly like how she behaved back in March and April when we were getting over the JTK trauma.
Grandma and the 22 month old played in the classroom just fine while I decided to go to the restroom. The 4 year old came with me and used the toilet too. Having her leave the classroom with me and me talking to her helped diffuse the situation a bit.
Once back in the classroom though, the 4 year old sat on my lap and watched her sister play with some baby/toddler toys and didn’t want to move or play with anything. It was only when we suggested to the 22 month old to play at the kitchen play area (because she loves those kinds of toys) that the 4 year old came along too. I told her she could hug her sister and she did and did a fun silly twirl-around; this was when she felt more comfortable and at ease.
She asked me if there was paper for her to draw and I led her to the arts and crafts section where she chose a piece of orange construction paper and sat down with me to do some crafts. There were two girls (probably SK or grade 1) doing crafts too. I bet they were there because of PA Day too. The 4 year old watched them colour and make crafts. It was good modelling for her. They spoke English to each other too. I bet the 4 year old was listening to them talk too.
One of the two facilitators had to leave early and another lady came in in place of her. She came around and saw us and asked, “It’s PA Day, right?” and gestured to my child (basically asking if we were here because the child’s PA Day as she had no school). I said yes. I found it such an odd question to ask out of the blue and without any introduction or greeting…
The 4 year old stuck some eyeball stickers on to her paper and drew some things and glued some things that she cut out to her paper too. She didn’t feel comfortable using the Q-tip with the white glue, so I helped her. I know that had we been at the other EarlyON site that we always go to, she wouldn’t have been like this. She would have done everything herself. It’s too bad that circumstances that day led us to this unfamiliar EarlyON site. It’s fine though and she needs to learn and adapt to new situations. We are with her anyway so she will learn that what happened at the JTK incident in March was a standalone unintended incident.
Anyway, the 22 month old was hungry and ate snacks at the snack table. The 4 year old joined her too. It’s so nice to be able to attend EarlyON again with two kids. I do miss the days when we used to do it often and took it for granted. Now I miss my 4 year old and realize that my time with her before and after class is so limited. It’s only from 3 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (5.5 hours) that I see her daily now. And I have been sleeping in more in the mornings, so I don’t even see her at breakfast sometimes. Time is fleeting, indeed.
I was pleasantly surprised that when it was time for circle time, the 4 year old wanted to put away her snacks and join the circle. I thought that she might have wanted to stay behind and watch from her table instead. Instead, she hurried up to wash her hands, put her lunch bag away, and then sat on the carpet with the other kids to read a book and then listen to the circle songs.
The 22 month old “requested” for the rolly-polly song and the facilitator did song it for her. She watched in rapt attention. Grandma found it funny that she requested the song but didn’t do the hand actions along with it. Well, all I know is that a child is still learning even though they might not be actively repeating the actions. Watching is learning, 100%, too. It’s how kids learn.
Anyway, when it came time to leaving, we left and made sure to bring the creation home that the 4 year old made (she stuck a pinecone on to her orange paper too). When we were putting on our shoes, the same facilitator who asked me that odd question asked me/my child, “What’s your name again?” (as if she even asked for their name prior) and then asked the other one for her name too. I found it unnecessary to ask at that point because we were leaving already (and it’s not like we were going to return in the near future ever again).
Then she asked me, “Are these your kids?” And I was like, “Uh, yes.” She said, “Yeah, they look like you.” 🙄🙄😐😕 Okay… so what’s the point of asking that question? Why does it matter if the kids are mine or not? What if I adopted them or what if I’m the guardian for them? The fact that I brought them to an EarlyON means I have to be questioned about whether these are my kids are not? I don’t get it. This is actually the very first time I am asked that question at an EarlyON. It’s strange and unnecessary.
I told DH about this at home later on and he found it rude and unnecessary too. He also said it was nosy.
Ugh, what’s wrong with the staff at EarlyON Markham? Why are they so bad at social etiquette and saying the worst things?!
After this, the 22 month old predictably fell asleep in the car seat on our way to a Vietnamese restaurant for lunch. It was nice to eat uninterrupted. The 22 month old woke up halfway-ish during lunch so it was more hands-on by then.
While we were browsing the menu, the 4 year old used the pencil on the table to draw on the back of the order sheet. She drew lines and triangles and shapes. I asked for another order sheet which the server gladly provided.
The 4 year old cut up her pho noodles with her scissors and unpeeled and cut her shrimp and meats by herself and ate so well with the provided kid bowl and utensils. It’s becoming nice to eat out with her, more and more.
After lunch, we took both kids to the nearby supermarket. Grandma thought we would need a shopping cart but it was better for the kids to run around and walk instead of being cooped up in a cart. They enjoyed holding hands walking through the supermarket. The older one liked to hold the little one and swing her around. She liked to pull the shopping basket too.
The next day, we picked up the 4 year old early from school (2:15 p.m.) because we had a doctor’s appointment for her. It’s too bad that their new clinic doesn’t allow bookings ahead of time which made me miss out on making her appointment for the PA Day. It would have avoided us from taking her out from school early but alas, it happens.
It was the first time we did this and it was an easy process. I had made the request on the school platform in advance about her absence. Then DH went to the office and they buzzed the teacher and she brought out the child. It was super easy. The staff were thankful that we used the school platform to inform them ahead of time too (I also wrote it in her communication folder that we were going to pick her up early so the teacher knew too).
We all had to wear medical masks at the clinic — I guess because it is flu season now so they want everyone to be cautious. Both kids wore their masks willingly.
Both kids got their height and weight measured. The nurse told me the numbers but I didn’t commit it to memory lol. Oops.
Both kids got a shot (the third and final dose of the Twinrix vaccine) and the 4 year old got two shots (for her 4 year old milestone). They didn’t flinch and they didn’t cry. Yay! When the ped asked if the 4 year old wanted stickers, she shook her head no. But she must have had a look on her face because the doctor ended up asking again and said she would give them to me. (The kids later stuck them to the stools at home again lol.)
Surprisingly, the pediatrician didn’t ask about 4 year old milestones at all. She did take her blood pressure because we weren’t able to do it the last time and the 4 year old cooperated. I told her in advance that the doctor was going to place a cuff on her arm that would inflate, much like how DH has it done at the Shoppers sometimes.
I finally had some time to clear out some miscellaneous toys from their play area and I think this helped because they like to play with the magnetic tiles and wooden blocks more now. The other stuff was cluttering up their space.
The 4 year old’s bangs were getting long and I finally trimmed them (the last cut was in August). I was glad that I cut them shorter two months ago so that we were able to last this long before we had to cut them. She says she wants to grow out her hair and tie them up (like her friend in school)… the imitation stage begins…
This week, the child’s class attended a Njacko Backo performance at school during an assembly (we saw him at the Kortright centre event both years — he would lead the drumming activity). I was glad that I looked at the school newsletter ahead of time and put it in the calendar so that I could tell the child about it before she went to school that day — so that she could prepare mentally for it.
She said it drums were loud and that some of the students went to play on the drums too but that she didn’t do it.
I’m not sure why they skipped a library visit this past week. Was it because the teacher was away on their library day and the substitute teacher couldn’t take them to the library?
The child told me they watch TV when the substitute teacher is there but she doesn’t look at the screen (because at home, I always tell her that even though the TV is on [because grandma is watching it], doesn’t mean that we have to watch and that I personally don’t even watch TV).
The new teacher also doesn’t have a “good-bye” song that they sing at the end of the day nor do they do yoga on Wednesdays. That’s too bad… 😦
The 4 year old tells me which child is away at school because they’re sick. She knows all of her 12 classmates basically but she says she doesn’t remember their names.
Speaking of sickness, she has requested for the Sambucol syrup nearly every day this week (twice a day) because she feels “off “. I think it helps because she hasn’t had a full-blown cold just yet (knock on wood).
When the 4 year old comes home from school, I really enjoy sitting next to her while she eats her after-school “snack” (lunch) quietly and passionately. She is quiet and eats well. Then she’ll tell me about her day in little bursts here and there.
When the 22 month old sees a woman on the TV screen or magazine, she will say, “Mama” as in it looks like me because it’s a woman and I’m a woman. Then she will say “chi” as in “similar” — it looks like me lol and I’ll agree lol.
She also has taken a liking to the Costco magazine, page 23, which shows a skunk and some spiders. She will say “zee zu” (spiders) and I’ll find that page for her. She is exact and will repeatedly say the same thing until you understand what she means.
Another example is she had a plastic bag that she wanted me to tie up and she would untie it herself. She would say to me, “bonng” (“tie up”).