Chapter 2: Monday

We've had a relatively pleasant day today. The girls had a BAD night full of screaming yells from nightmares and unsettling moments. I was up half the night checking on them...and Letitia's coughing did not help. We did however start her on some "dissolved" granules which tasted like orange for her and hope that it will make some improvement. She now goes to bed with a bowl (for her spits and spews), great!

We sent Alex off to work peacefully, found "Hi 5" on cable tv (by the way, you guys in Aust must count your blessings for ABC, the kids programmes are real CRAP here!) to occupy the kids while I wash up etc. They later jumped straight into some "fun" work at home. Letitia has been craving to get some homework done and little M wants her 2-minutes worth as well. We inserted lots of reading, lots of cuddles, lots of music and dancing/music time before we had friends over (the Tambyahs from Bible Study in Wollongong) over to play and swim with us. It was very nice to have familiar people and Mathena was thrilled and happy to drag poor Benjamin (9yo). We had a late lunch and M went to bed very happily after saying "goodnight" to everyone...Letitia went down for a nap too and ended up sleeping longer than M as she has been exhausted (still).

I rang up just one school and found that "mission" schools are quite a pain to get in... they are the same in funding/sort as all gov. schools but they are popular as people think it's a bit better. We have 3 levels of ranks to move through before we can be considered in enrolments. As we "failed" in all of the level tests, there's fat chance that we can get in. Priority is given to: level 1 (it was given some complicated name which I cannot remember) we either have a sibling there or a parent teach/work there Level 2, have close relations to schools. volunteer or is known in church community, level 3, what's left of placement, fight with everyone else! Sigh! Will try again with another school tomorrow! I tried to ask them if there were anything "Christian" put into the day of the child's day but never got a direct answer. In fact, she kept using the "level etc...process, etc" which I later kept asking for translation. I was sure we conversed in English but most of the terms used were foreign to me!!!!

The good news is as we are not Singapore citizens, we are not legally bound to go through their system with regards to education. The private schooling is 4 times that of cost in Australia (even the poshy Grammar's prices) so that's not OUR option. The idea of home schooling seems more and more feasible and rewarding. I also found that the homeschooling community is fairly large in Singapore (same as Aust) and is mostly Christian families wanting to see better values instilled in the next generation. They meet once a week for social interaction as well as outdoor/interactive activity! Will see...

We've met up with an old childhood friend of my family, I have touched based, emailed/rang to chat to friends, homeschooling family, cousins, etc. Great to see/talk to these people again.

Hope to have another quiet day tomorrow, might spend some time taking them for a slow walk around the block .... to see things! The high rises are very good for cooping people up in the house. The two of them are now fighting to press the lift buttons, sheeesh!! The pools and playgrounds are well used by us and they girls loved them. I can just see myself in and out of water everyday this month (it's summer whole year long with shady and protected pool area) As life settles down, I am hoping that I can curb Mathena's behavior a bit better. She (and Letitia) seems to flare up so much easily nowadays and many little things seem amplified to life threatening situations (Eg. 'she took my pen!'). It's all in the perspective, I was told!

Thanks for your notes/prayers and emails. I DO get strengthen by them and it makes me feel pretty valued. I need to recharge my focus and heart back to GOD. I know I need it!