The Wisdom Of A Child

Recently, my wife asked my 5-years old daughter, Gracie, who she likes. Is it my brother-in-law or my sister-in-law? Now, Gracie don't see them often as they live in China. So she takes a while to warm up to them whenever she visits them in China. During one of the visits, my wife asked this question. Initially, Gracie declined to answer. Quite a diplomat, she is. When pressed for an answer, Gracie, replied that she likes her cousin.

This reminded me of an old Jewish proverb - when given a choice between two paths, choose the third.

The amazing wisdom of a child

Take a day off?

My 5-years old daughter, Gracie suggested that I take a day off to keep her company recently. I pointed out that she need to go to school. Her innocent reply? If I take the day off, she could be sick and be excused from class.
Hmmm...

I do treasure the time spent with my daughter. My employer is enlightened enough to grant 6 extra days of leave each year for parents with child who is less than 6 years old. All in, I get 34 days of leave each year. not counting the weekends and holidays. Somehow, that is never enough. Now that Gracie has started schooling, my leave plan revolve around the school holidays. And that is only 4 times a year. Now I start to appreciate the behaviour of colleagues who are parents when I was single.

That's Life

My wife pestered me to sign up for Parent Volunteer Program for priority registration to River Valley Primary School for Gracie. And she used her strategic weapons upfront in the opening blow including "why do you not care about your daughter!". I just didn't see it coming and was caught with pant down (Remember. Next time. To avoid being caught with pant down, lock the door when changing out of work clothes.)

Having lost the skirmish, I tried to sign up as volunteer with the school.

"Sorry, if you are registering for primary school in 2012, we stopped accepting parent volunteers on 18 Jan as we had too many! Try registering in June for 2013."

Oops! Well, that's life...

My wife's mood darkened. "See! I told you! I TOLD YOU! Our neighbours had already fulfilled the 40hours of work required.....I don't care......try the next better school...."

Sigh!~Time to don battle armour....

Wait! By stroke of luck, River Valley Primary School was formed by combining 4 old primary schools, one of which was Kim Seng West Primary School which I attended. I checked back with the school. And YES! I am considered an ex-student! And yes, I still have my old school report card. So I have priority over all the parent volunteers! HA!
Yippee! Hoo Whoo! Just like striking the lottery! I am now off the hook, no need to be a parent school volunteer!

Happily, I told my wife and peace prevail in the household for a day......

"Hey, mum, remember my school report card and some junk which I kept in an old metal box in your house?"
"Huh? Where got? All thrown away long ago!". Mother turned her attention back to the Taiwanese TV serial that she was watching. The refrain from the theme song resounded in the room.."wah men tee, wah men teeee (I asked the sky, why , why ,why..."

That's life.

Luckily, there was a happy ending. My Primary School Leaving Examination certificate was still around. PHEWS!