Speaking

From worrying about Siyuan's ability to speak, we're now amused by his ability to communicate and asset his demands. Just six months ago, his favorite words were upside down, no more and playground for 3-year old. His class teacher and principal had said the problems lie with him and not with school, though they couldn't suggest what we should do other than bring him to a clinic to check for autism and other problems. He was a withdrawn kid each time he attends school, and clamped up whenever he sees anybody associated there.

We suspected something was wrong with the school but becos the school didn't allow visits during classes, couldn't tell. But other parents were noticing similar issues. This was the same school that suggested single word books for him.

We spoke to other parents, teachers at other schools, brought him lots of books, and Lux brought him out to other playgroups. Slowly, things changed over the holiday season. And then he went back to school after CNY, and it was like back to square one. Clearly the problem was related to his school.

We pulled him out, and changed schools. Within two months, he was rattling in English and singing Chinese songs. Within one week, he knew and was happy to talk about his teachers, whereas at his old school, he didn't want to speak their names despite attending it for 18 months. Within a month, he had at least 6 friends in class that he could talk about. He had 2 in the old school after two years. It was ridiculous how bad his old school was for him -  ranging from trying to force him to use his right hand, chiding him for saying Good Morning loudly and happily, or forcing him to look at the teacher's eyes by gripping his shoulders and narrowing the distance to less than a feet.

Now, he's constantly rattling away (which can be irritating, I'm hungry Papa, I'm hungry Papa etc etc), can make little jokes, and assert himself. :)

Here's one example:
Me: Siyuan, we'll go and buy a coffee for Papa, do some shopping and then we'll go to the playground.
Siyuan: Noooo. We'll go Quarry Bay playground first, play, then buy coffee for Papa, then shopping. All right?

Walking Picture

Just a picture of Sihuai toddling!

Ocean Park and Panda

Bright sunny morning, blustery wind to blow away the smog. The first day in at least a month that we saw clear sky. We brought the kids to Ocean Park to see panda and other animals. The panda this time round was awake and Siyuan was able to see it eat bamboo, run, poo, excercise and clamber all over the rocks.

We bought a glowing panda key chain for Siyuan, and he insisted on sleeping with it. The next morning, he couldn't find it. Lux asked him if he had fed the panda last nite.
Shaking his head, Siyuan pipped:"Panda took taxi to Ocean Park to eat bamboo!"

:)

Sihuai Walking

Sihuai has started toddling, from one or two steps, she is now able to take 5 steps or more. Still crawls a lot. But just as often she would stand and look around. She likes to help Siti hang clothes, and will get pissed if she's deprived of the opportunity to at least mess around with a shirt or two.