Sunday, February 15, 2009 ;
2:50 PM
7 Feb
Sat
After lunch with Matt and N at McD's, we headed over to Y's house. Her son M was having his birthday celebration and invited ds1 and Matt and another Japanese classmate.
Y has become quite a close mom friend because we see each other almost everyday, and chat when we wait for the kids to come back on the school bus.
Being alone here makes us especially close to each other as we rely on each other for a lot of news and support.
Knowing that she is going back to Japan soon makes me sad to lose someone to chat with and commiserate with. Schools in Japan start in April so she must move back before that so M can start Grade 1 in time.
They decided they had enough of Tianjin because everytime they return to Japan for vacation, the kids would be totally healthy and running around, but once they return to Tianjin, all 3 kids will fall ill, one after another, without stopping, and they contracted bronchitis and asthma here.
The grandparents in Japan feel so sorry for them, they suggested Y and her kids move back, and Y's hubby will stay on in Tianjin.
Sometimes, for the health of the kids, there is no choice.
Everyone feels it keenly. My neighbour H just went back to Malaysia for the CNY. Upon returning, she said she could smell the dust in the air. And it is very depressing, the bleak grey skies.
Hope and pray my boys will be able to keep their lungs clear till we return to Spore.
ds2 and Y's dd2 are classmates in school too, so off they went to play happily together. Y said it's good that her daughter had a friend too, otherwise she may feel left out when M has friends over for his birthday.
The previous time, ds2 went under the bed with Y's dd2. Today it was ds1 and R's turn. R is another Japanese classmate.
At one point, all the kids were in the room playing.
Singing the birthday song for the birthday boy.
More playing after that. ds1 sitting in M's car, while Matt was pushing him, and R is looking on.
ds2 found M's encyclopaedia set and insisted on reading them to N! She's tickled that he specially chose her. And she was surprised he can read already. He was reading a page on Australia's marine life then. Actually I was not aware that he can read words like "Australia" and "ocean" too. Looks like this boy is teaching himself to read. Of course I am happy, because my job is easier, yet everyone thinks I must be a great mom to have taught him so well. hahaha.
The swing was so popular with the kids.
And us moms too! heehee.
It was lovely being able to sit and chat. Y says there will be another get-together before she leaves. I am looking forward to having some time together but then it will be a reminder that it is farewell time.
Teachers in the international school also say that it is hard because they have to say goodbye all the time. Some kids get so close to them every year, and I can imagine indeed, how difficult it is to keep saying "bye" to people you have just started to get so close to.
rainbows every day, do not worry for the morrow
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At one point, all the kids were in the room playing.
Singing the birthday song for the birthday boy.
More playing after that. ds1 sitting in M's car, while Matt was pushing him, and R is looking on.
The swing was so popular with the kids.
