Xuanie has not quite grasped the actual words to express comparatives yet. For e.g. when he wants the car to go faster, he says to the driver (Papa or Mama), “Biggie Fast” or a full screen on the computer as he watches some programs, “Biggie.”
This afternoon, just as I was taking him out for his “Nap-time stroll” so he will be rocked to sleep on the stroller, he said, “Xuanie 爱 Mama. Biggie 爱, 很多爱.” (Xuanie loves Mama, many love.)
I love you too, X., more than my own life and myself.
Bought Xuanie a toy cement mixer a few days ago. It’s become one of his favorites. Just yesterday, we witnessed a real cement mixer in action. So, Xuanie finally got to experience the “objectivization” of all the “abstract” procedures he heard from me about what a cement mixer does: Grind up stones, pour out the cement, and how the cement is used to pave side walks.
It was a very sweet moment. We were less than 2 meters from all the action. He was first held by me but when the process got too long, I placed him down to stand on his own. As I squated down nex to him, he placed his arm over my shoulder. A heavy and protective, albeit tiny, little arm. It’s a kodak moment for mama.
Xuanie has begun talking in more complete sentences and although it’s nothing impressive when seen in adults, it brings much thrill to me. It can be super cute some of the things toddlers say, and you really wonder what’s in their little minds.
Last night’s conversation:
M: Let me wipe your face, you sweat and it’s salty, so I gotta clean you.
X: Xuanie is salami.
Mom cleaned his face with a wet towel.
X: Xuanie stinky. Xuanie wants a shower.
Off he rushed to the bathroom.
Anyone who wants tips on staying slim should come and observe how Xuanie does it. Eversince he got back from Asia, he’s lost interest in food altogether (again).
The stress of making him eat is definitely one cause of the rapid graying of my hair. I would say 90% of his food intake was done through major distraction and he does not even realize I have popped food into his throat.
He is a natural hamster, stuffing food in his mouth cavity for up to 15 min at least for each spoonful. He chews but simply has difficulty swallowing. (Is this a medical condition?)
His newest tactic is to tell me he’s eaten: He eats “pretend cookies” and drinks “coffee” with his stuffed animals and other toys. When food is offered, he looks at me weird and tells me he’s already eaten. He seems to believe that he has really eaten.
Yet when sleep time comes, he would complain of hunger. But, nothing I offer will please him, he simply wants to be up to run about and whine about being hungry.
Some Hollywood anorexics (or Asian girls) might be his only match when it comes to abstinence from food.
Growing up Asian, I was never comfortable with openly expressing love. Perhaps it was my mother, or perhaps the Asian mentality, praise was not something donely commonly nor outwardly.
With Xuanie, I just can’t stop myself from kissing him and telling him I love him. Not wanting to follow in my mother’s mothering style, I do my best to praise Xuanie whenever appropriate.
And, I see Xuanie a different child than what I believe I was at his age.
He openly tells me he likes mama, and loves mama. When I get mad at him, he makes peace by asking if we are good friends, sometimes accompanied by a kiss. He always comes up to me to “sayang mama” if he sees that I got hurt. He has even started to say, “Mama hao bang (= good job)!”
Xuanie’s sensitivity extends to others too. When he watches Shrek I, he would say that Shrek is “ke lian” (pitiable/sad) when he was eating alone in his hut. At the grocery store, the lobsters that are stepped upon by those on top are also “ke lian.”
I’ve read much about the importance of praise and expressions of love for a child. I believe so now.
Xuanie knows numbers 1 to 10 now. But, on his own, he can only produce “1, 2, 3, 8, 9, 10.” To make him continue 1, 2, 3 with 4, 5, 6, 7, I have to prompt him and ask him, “what’s next?”
Wonder if other children also exhibit such primacy and recency effects.
