The past two weeks have been rather interesting, with Ba Ngoai visiting from New Caledonia. We looked after Kulani (3 1/2 y.o.) and Taaroa (1 1/2 y.o.) who came over with their parents.
.JPG)
Because Mana and Lola are social butterflies, we had both kids staying over at our place for full days and/or nights. These episodes were really insightful, as I was given the opportunity to observe for a full 48 hours how kids behave, and how to interact (or not) with them. It was like fast forwarding our lives to one year and three years later to see what life with toddlers would be. Daddy had cowardly ran away to Australia for the week. Though I got mouth-watering chocolates from Australia for my first Mother's Day so he can do it again.
It certainly struck me as to how much work three kids are. I don't know how Brent & Karen do it with six of them.
When we got home the first evening, all three were sleeping in the cars. Then my first moment of panic struck when I found that all three were crying. Kulani wanted to see her little brother, Taaroa wanted to see my mum, and Nico wanted to see a boob. That was easy enough to deal with.
I couldn't believe how hard, yet how easy it is to keep a child entertained. Whoever created Dora and Limewire, I am so thankful for them. And for playdough. And pens and papers. And spare computer keyboards. And beanbags. And bubble solution and dalmatian puppies.
At the end of it all, I have taken out one valuable lesson: bribery, distraction, coercion, negotiation and white lies are all necessary parenting tools and techniques. And I am so glad for the parenting articles I've been reading and keeping aside in a folder.
Going to the zoo or the aquarium, or doing simple things all take a different meaning when seen from the fresh eyes of a toddler though, I guess as adults we don't really appreciate fun as much any more.
Nico is also slowly learning to sit. He's leaning over to reach toys, or to watch them fall on the floor. Lele from PAFT came to visit, and it looks as if he's not lagging behind. Although I'm slowly starting to adopt the point of view that it's not a race. Nico came out ahead of a million others in a previous race, so I guess he deserves a break now.
.jpg)
Bas got me a fancy Panasonic HDC-SD9 camcorder for my birthday. Like he said, we lived for ages without one, and all of a sudden everything is being filmed. Now if only I could figure out how to decrease the file size so I can put some of the footage on here.
