Our boys’ new adventures

When you google “terrible 2” there is approximately 5.5 MM search results that come back to explain (and advise) what to do when your child enters 2 and become this rather erratic person.  It is as if you have never known him!  Our angel (before this week) Michael is about to be two (in 4 days to be exact) and we (well more Mama’s wishful thinking and praying!) thought he would go through the age of 2 with smooth sailing.  Not so EASY! 

When Michael returned to school this week after a well-rested holiday, it was reported that he bit his classmate… leaving a noticeable red mark.  Of course every one (the teachers, the little girl and her mom) was quite upset and I had to even ring her mom to apologize. (I still feel bad now!).  Interestingly that evening, after a stern talking by Ian, Michael seemed to understand his actions ( and the implications) and consequently was a happy-obedient little boy the next day at school.

However it only lasted one day!  The day after, he bit two girls in his class again!  Now I am honestly desperate with these questions in mind:

- What if the school expels him?! – this is entirely possible given what I read on the internet and given Michael’s got a german principal at his school!

- What is happening to our angel?!  Is he frustrated about (my pregnancy?!)?!

- Will this pass???

The google search on “how to stop a toddler’s biting” suggests that you bite them back… surely there is a more humane way before we resort to that?!  Also we have already set up a “time-out corner” and Michael knows that when he is in trouble, he must stand in the time-out corner …in fact, after being naughty, he says “stand in corner”… (we have to keep a straight face from not laughing!)

Both Ian and I are at a loss and the google search (plus a Shanghai mama’s advice) says that something must be bothering Michael…  The only thing we can think about (well I couldn’t quite think; it was rather suggested by Ian) is that maybe Michael missed hanging out with us – but that shouldn’t entitle him to bite children, right?  All that babyplus system training was supposed to make Michael a “perfect” child – well I guess they can only guarantee leading up to two years old!

Help is needed and any advice will be appreciated!

Other than that, we had a wonderful wonderful holiday (could do it for 2 years, rather than just 2 weeks) in Thailand.  Now counting down to the next holiday!  Baby is doing well and we got a 4D photo of the new bubba.

Love from Shanghai.

p.s.  We’ll write another time for Michael’s two-year-old birthday!  For one, he got loads of gifts!!!  Thank you everyone for your gifts and well wishes!!!

Life as a two-year old can be testing … between a new school and his busy parents, Michael has then been dragged to two plane trips in the last ten days.   Uncle Gary’s wedding in Hong Kong was wonderful – there were so many people to meet and it was always nice to see familiar faces like Gung gung, Poh poh and yes Winnie the Pooh (which was Gary’s and he brought it to his wedding!!!).  Michael kept saying “Gong Xi Ni!” (which means congratulations in Mandarin)  to Uncle Gary and his new Auntie Leona!  The new couple were beautiful and we were just so surprised that they look so alike in the photos! 

 The 4 day weekend was packed with seeing many kids (9 kids in total) and of course we got to have a bit of social life also (much needed for Stacey!).  Hong Kong was the same - pollution, crowed streets EVERYWHERE, fantastic shopping and our beloved friends and family.  It was Ian’s first time back to HK since we left there a year ago and we just couldn’t believe how the year had slipped by so quickly!

Then a week later, it was onto a holiday that Ian and Stacey much much needed – two weeks by the beach in Phuket, Thailand.  It was LONG to get here from Shanghai (total of 7 hours) and we were all exhausted when we got there, but the sound of the Andamen Sea was ever soothing and calming that we felt instantly more relaxed.  We are a few days into our holiday and Michael just loves it!  He finally got to enjoy a real beach (unlike the man-made one in our Shanghai apt complex!) and to him, it’s heaven on earth.  In Phuket, Michael’s daily schedule is: wake up, eat breakfast, hang out on the beach, have lunch, nap, then afternoon adventure, followed by the routine dinner & night time rituals.  Our little boy is very privileged and we are hoping that he grows up cherishing the fun time he had with us. 

We will keep blogging more now that I have more time and all the sites are uncensored…  Until next time, Enjoy our photos and much love from Phuket, Thailand.

Michael’s album – almost 2…

Michael’s Album – 23 Months young