Does emotional baggage sounds familiar to you? You see, we shower daily to keep ourselves clean. However, our mind doesn’t get a chance to be ‘cleansed’. That leads to accumulation of our frustrations and dissatisfaction.

The expert suggested some ways that we could clean our mind and return it to a “clean, fresh & blank” state.

1. going away for a holiday – when we’re in a foreign country, our mind will think differently.
2. listening to music
3. meditation/breathing techniques/yoga
4. playing with young kids
5. chatting with family/friends

Apart from practicing the pointers listed, the expert also mentioned that it is important for us to make our feelings known. ie. when we feel frustrated, we should vent it out (professionally) instead of keeping it to ourselves. Otherwise, it will only invite more bullies.

It makes so much sense. I’m gonna put this into practice

Actually, I didn’t plan to bring YT along but her school was closed for holidays (from 8th Apr) as the teachers were off to Taiwan for their annual retreat. So boh bian, have to bring her along. I told her the night before that she gotta wake up very very early to go ‘bai bai’. Since she was mentally prepared, she didn’t make a fuss when I woke her up at 3am. In fact, I just had to call her a few times before she rubbed her eyes, sat up and said, “Good morning MAMA” in a super duper cheerful manner! I should have video-ed that down lor!! Haha!

Anyways, I was supposed to drive and fetch my aunties and cousin but due to some last minutes changes, I didn’t drive and I swear I’m SO THANKFUL for that!!! Cos the cemetry was in a pitch of TOTAL DARKNESS! And the entire ceremony took more than half a day with a few trips up and down. Super stressful and tiring manz…

Back to the accumation, when we arrived at grandma’s tomb, the soil covering the top of the coffin had already been dug out. After a short praying session, this indian man (but he speaks hokkien), with a few helpers around told all of us to back face him. He started to use an electric drill to open up the coffin. This YT was so curious when she heard the drilling sound and kept asking me what is the uncle doing, why we cannot see, etc. Luckily my uncle used the torchlight to shine into the dark infront of us to distract her. Shortly after, we were told to turn around. He started to pick out grandma’s bones and even some hair!! So incredible right?! Its been 30years and her hair hasn’t disintegrated totally! As Ah Na pick the bones out, he explained to us which part it belongs to. The most eye-opening one was the leg bones cos the socks were still hanging on it!!! Oh, and also grandma’s jade bangle and her gold teeth!!

I really salute Ah Na and his men cos they did everything WITHOUT GLOVES!!!!!!!!! My cousin was asking how much they charge and my aunt said $1.2K. To me, its not expensive cos its not a job that anyone would take up.

After the accumation was completed, we adjourned to grandpa, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother’s tomb to offer our respects for Qing Ming. As it was dark and we had to cross through uneven paths/grass patches, I was carrying YT most of the time. My hands ached for days after that……

While praying my grandpa, YT was curious when she saw a packet of Bak Kua there.

YT: Mama, why got ‘bah kua’?”
ME:  Because my ah gong loves it. Its his favourite!
YT: Then how he eat it?
ME: Hmm, he’s in heaven now. So he can see all of us here and he can eat the bah kua in heaven.
YT: But HOW HE EAT?
ME: In heaven lor… (at that point, we were also munching the ‘prayed’ bah kua. So I guess that made her even more confused.. hahaha)

Then, when we adjourned to my great-grandma’s tomb, she saw my auntie laying the oranges out.

YT: Mama,姑婆put orange because zor-zor loves to eat orange?
ME: (burst into laughter) There’ll always be a type of fruit when we ’bai bai’. 

Before we proceeded to Mandai, we had to collect the ashes and YT saw it. I explained to her that those were from the bones (which she saw too) that were burnt (cremated). The jade bangle and gold teeth went into the urn too. At Mandai, we were at the same block where the ex-President Wee Kim Wee’s ashes are. So we went to pay our respect too and I casually told YT he was our President.

As usual, she chatted with my sis when we came home.

YT: 姨姨, why you never go and ‘bai bai’ today?
姨姨: Because I have alot of work to do.
YT: But you can tell your boss you need to ‘bai bai’ mah. Just awhile only.
姨姨: Ya but I’m very busy.
YT: You can still tell your boss. Your boss won’t scold you one.
姨姨: *Speechless*

Apparently, YT also told her about the jade bangle incident. She told 姨姨 that next time, she won’t wear anything so that she won’t waste money!  *FAINT*
And she told 姨姨 she saw PRESIDENT SR NATHAN! *Double FAINT*
(she meant ex-President Wee but President SR Nathan is the president in her mind – thanks to ros’ memory train!)

PS: If you’re still trying to imagine how the bones look like, go and order a bowl of Bak Kut Teh with prime ribs. Hahahahah… cos we went to a nearby coffeeshop for breakfast while waiting for the cremation to complete and the prime ribs looked damn familiar to us. So much so that most of the ribs were left untouched. LOL!

Apparently, they were served notice on 15 November and was given 6 months to move. The landlord is going to turn the current podium area into a ‘mini Vivocity’ in order to ‘match’ the upcoming MapleCity buidling that’s going to be completed this year. James (MMI’s boss) tried to ask for an extension but was turned down flat. He started his frantic search for a new location as near to the current one as possible.

The school will be moving to Telok Blangah Mall some time in April. Thank goodness its still within the vicinity! In fact, that was the neighbourhood where I grew up and attended kindergarten (till P3)! The new location is smaller than the existing unit but its the best out of the available options. James shared that his first choice was at Lock Road but his application was rejected as the government has plans to develop that area for Arts & Creativity.

This morning, after I sent YT to school, I decided to go to Telok Blangah Mall to recce the actual unit. It was previously a coffeeshop and (major) renovations will commence after CNY. Took some pics to capture the “before and after” effect of YT’s new school.

On the whole, I’m feeling OK with the move (boh bian lor!). But from the outside, the unit looks really small. However, James did assure that the classroom size will be maintained where possible (the reduction in space will be reflected in a smaller kitchen for the cook, smaller office for him and lesser common walkways). The only ‘sad’ thing is that the outdoor activities will be changed. Currently, they get to have the regular outdoor playground time (for YT, its twice a week). They have a Little Tikes slide within the school compound. But over at the new location, there’s only a grass field with NOTHING. I surveyed the grass field and do feel alittle worried if they really decide to conduct outdoor activities there cos its not fenced up and surrounding are car park lots with vehicles moving around. It can be dangerous especially for the younger classes. But I trust that the school will take all the safety issues into concern when they plan. Oh, there’ll be clay art incorporated into their art curriculum. That’s something I believe YT will enjoy alot!

Guess how long the battle went? Almost 35mins!!!!!!!!! It got to a point where I even went shut my room door (but I could still ‘hear’ what she was doing). She just simply went into hysterics and cried, “Mama, will you be my best friend?! I thought you said you want to be my best friend?!”

When I heard that, I felt my heart ache. She must have felt so sad and that’s why she said that. After hearing her repeat that a few times, I decided to open the door (to check if she’s ok) and reminded her that I won’t go to her unless she stop crying. She tried to ask me to go to her FIRST but I was firm. After awhile, she finally calmed down and I walked to her to give her a big hug.

Argh!! Are kids all the same??

YT:  妈妈，我请问你及时结婚？
Me: 我忘记了。你干吗问这个问题？
YT: 我要知道。请问你及时结婚？Is it January?
Me: No.
YT: 我知道是 January。 January 7 right? (looking smurkingly confident)
Me: 我说不是了！
YT: Then is it December?
Me: 我不记得了。好像是啦！

At the back of my mind, I thought she was asking about my wedding date with her father but apparently she’s not!

YT: Its in December! Yay! 我可以穿pretty dress 和你去结婚了! 妈妈，你会跟谁结婚？
Me: 那你要我跟谁结婚？
YT: 阿公？
Me: 乱讲话！
YT: Haha！舅舅?
Me: Don’t talk nonsense ah!
YT: 我知道了！你的boyfriend lor！
Me: 我哪里有boyfriend？
YT: 有！我知道你有boyfriend!
Me: Aiya, 你不要在乱讲话了。谁说我要结婚？我不要结婚了。
YT: 为什么不要结婚？你要结婚的。真的！你要相信我………. (mind you her tone was so serious!)

At this juncture, I couldn’t tahan and burst into laughter! Cos I guess she must have learnt all these from watching TV! And this cheeky monkey joined in the laughter…

OMG…. somebody help me please!!! And in case you’re wondering… I DO NOT hv a boyfriend.

She’ll hug this bear when she goes to sleep every night. And during our recent Genting trip, she brought the bear along too! When we returned home, we thought her bear went missing but it turned out that she dropped it in Uncle Chong’s car. But I thought its dirty and needs a scrub before she can hug it again.

Yutong: Mama, have you washed my bear bear? I really really miss hugging it. (erm, this is the 3rd time she’s asked cos I keep forgetting to wash :p)
Me: So sorry, I’ve been very busy. I’ll wash it tomorrow ok?
Yutong: (started sobbing) Ok…

About 15mins later, she was still awake and asked for water. Then after lying down, she weeped again!

Yutong: (Still weeping) Mama, I’m really very sad that I can’t hug my bear. I miss it so much.
Me: Ok, don’t be sad already. I promise to wash it tomorrow and you’ll be able to hug it tomorrow night ok? Close your eyes and sleep now.

After a few strokes on her hair, she finally went to dreamland… *phew!*
Wah, this is the first time she got sooooo attached to a soft toy! She’s got quite a few bears with her since young but this is the only bear she carries around with her.

So, presenting to you YT’s first love…….

Awww… how sweet isn’t it? What a better pre-shower motivation other than if you’re in Ritz Carlton hotel, awaiting to jump into the luxurious bathtub :p

Brought YT to office for a fundraising event last night and she had fun from the games booths (golf, shooting, longkang fishing, balloon sculpting and body painting) while we did our small part to help the less fortunate

YT: Mama look! Its a bride’s car!
Me: Ya, its a bridal car..
YT: Where is the white people?
Me: Did you mean the bride?
YT: (laughed at herself) Yes.. heehee..
Me: The wedding is tomorrow. She’s not here.
YT: Is she at home?
Me: Should be.