The one about parenting

Yesterday, Jo and I brought Kate for a babies & children movie event, organised by a mummy whose shop I patronised before. It was a private screening of "Shrek forever after" & for parents who have children and have not been to a movie for a long time because of fear that the babies or toddlers will act up and cry. Before the movie screening, there was a magic show for the kids and also balloon sculpting and boy, Kate had a blast there! She brought back a balloon flower wristlet, 2 helium balloons and a marshmallow lollipop. She ran around for hours and bugged the balloon guy for more balloons. She fell asleep during the first half of the movie and then woke up to watch the other half quietly in my lap. I was initially a little hesitant to bring her for the event, since she's too young to understand or remember but I'm glad I did. She most definately enjoyed herself. Pictures will be uploaded once I get them from Jo...


The previous evening, we brought Kate to her cousin Seth's first birthday party too, at East Coast. Kate spent 4 hours running about and playing and she had a tremendous time there. It was fun to see her play with her cousin Shean and watch her interact with the other adults there. Kate's still a little shy, but she's getting better at socialising now. Heh.


As a parent, I get to bring her to the playground or some place else and just play "kid" for the day. I love the part where I get to do the kiddish stuff with her, or re-visit childhood memories with a simpler mindset.


Today on the papers, I read some articles about spoilt children and whether today's parents are slaves to their children. I do hope that Kate will grow up well. Even now I find her behaviour a little spoilt. She loves to scream when excited or angry... And I hate screaming children. I mean, in excitement, its still acceptable. Kids being kids cannot contain their excitement so for that, I will just remind her gently. But I really cannot accept her screaming in anger, though it's also another emotion. I just feel that negative behaviour should not be tolerated. Or encouraged, which is worse! I firmly believe that a child should be disclipined from young. Loving and doting on the child is only natural, but it shouldn't mean indulging them! If the child's parents says "No.", it means "No." And everyone around should sing the same song, so that the kid learns. If anyone should disagree with certain parenting methods, its fine to discuss it later without the kid, but never before the kid. But anyway, I have learnt not to judge too quickly, or say never ever. Judging too quickly; I used to look at screaming kids and think what kind of parenting they had. But Kate screams too, and I stop her all the time. Haha. Saying never ever; I promised myself never ever to give my baby a pacifier, but in the end I did, and I can't bear to take it away from her at night. Its like her security blanket. So yea... haha.


You know, I can't stand it when Kate steals a look at me everytime she does something which she knows is a no-no. I find it so darn cute and sometimes even have to bite down on my lip so I will not smile.


I also read on Yahoo! news that a toddler was hit by a bus... His parents must be worried sick now. I hope everything will be fine for them. Dad said that the parents should be jailed for negligence. I retorted that we are always too quick to judge. Toddlers run way too fast! I would know - I nearly lost Kate a few times while shopping. And not because I was too busy shopping; I always am so distracted by her, I usually give up and entertain her instead. She always run away so quickly and sometimes she manages to give me the slip. Mom then said it was dad's way of telling me to be careful with Kate, which I knew, of course. My daddykins like to say things in his strange harsh way. (I'm not too sure how to explain this in words)


But I'm grateful for my parents, really! They taught me alot about parenting, not just when I became a mother. But I remember how they used to parent me when younger. They were so strict I ran away a few times. And eventually they changed their parenting style because of me. I always knew that it was really hard on them. And I always felt so loved by them because of that. So as a fairly new parent, I know that I'm still learning and always will be...it will be a never-ending process.