Sunday Events

After breakfast, I called for a family meeting and gathered everyone at the dining table. I think it's an important routine to have since we hardly sit together and listen to each other. It was also very endearing to hear Alfee 'voice his concern' and listen to Sophie's enthusiastic contributions. We quickly established the purpose, time and rules of our meeting and went onto the immediate concerns. I didn't plan this so everything was sort of an impromptu attempt to get everyone to participate. 

It went on pretty well, I must say. I should have include a discussion of a virtue but I forgot all about that when we started. However, we did have a goal each when the meeting was adjourned. For Papa, he is given the title 'Emperor Anger Management', Sophie the 'Queen of Cooperation', Alfee the 'King of Self Control' and I have become 'Empress Happiness'. Of course what these titles mean was simply we need to work on those areas.

After an intense and meaningful session, we headed off to town for lunch. We didn't really have plans so we just had some free and easy time around Raffles Place. Recently, they installed some swings and seats at the little green square just outside the station. Papa always rushed to work and never got to sit and relax there. Today, we spent some time there, just sitting around.

Then Papa took the kids to UOB Building, just outside technically. We saw the sculpture of Salvador Dali and Papa asked me to explain to the kids. I didn't even try. They went running around it and touching whatever they could reach. When the novelty effect wore off, they ran to the huge open space and started playing catch. Finally, they found some lights and decorative structures and made up games to play around it.

They took turns (not really) standing inside the four metal pillars and the one outside would try to replace the one inside, by hook or crook. Alfee would basically use brute force and Sophie would run around Alfee, confusing and taunting him to go out.

It never fails to amaze me how children can come up with all sorts of play at all sorts of places. When we were done with watching them, we gathered both kids to the toilet at OUB Building. There was a mini art exhibition because they are holding their annual art competition. 

Sophie was mesmerised by one particular painting of an old sewing machine. She has apparently seen it during her trip to the Little India some months ago. I managed to take a shot before we were told off not to take pictures.

In the late afternoon, we went to the Botanic Gardens. We stopped by Food For Thoughts for some snacks or maybe for the playground. I always worry that Sophie can't socialise properly without going to a school environment, but my concern is reducing by the day. She made friends very quickly and she doesn't really care about nationality, race or gender. And she speaks to adults as well. When she is able to bypass her fears, she can be quite an impressive little girl.

I had a bad feeling about walking after we were done at the playground. I doubted that the kids had enough energy to even stroll. And true enough, we spent the rest of the time coaxing and dragging them back to the car after a bit of running around the field.