Donkey’s years ago, I applied to be a relief teacher at a kindergarten after my “A” Levels exam. I was confronted with 20+ active kids which seems to have unlimited energies. They were like little birds flying around and chirping nonstop, thousands of them. I surrendered on the second day even though it was an easy job, the noise was simply deafening and their movements gave me headache. From that time onwards, I am very sure I don’t posses any affinity with young children, I think I am afraid of them. That was why I chose to deal with teenagers during my teaching years, that are so much more interesting to interact with.

So, having 5 children at home these 9 days was a big challenge to me. The older ones required lots of attention because they got bored easily and needs activities to fill them up. The 2 toddlers needed even more attention because they were always fighting!

As I mentioned earlier, 弟弟 was handling the new friends very well during the first few days. However, we noticed that he was back to his old “little monster form” these few days. He refused to go to bed and made a big fused each night crying. He got angry easily and tend to hit people when he was agitated. He was very protective of his books and toys and tried to snatch them back if the 小哥哥 and 小妹妹 took them. However, if Zeeyau or the other 大姐姐(8yrs old) took them, he was more willing to share. We thought he probably felt threaten by the presence of the 妹妹 who is just 1 month younger and frustrated with the 哥哥 because he always “kachiao” (teased) him.

Luckily my friend and I shared similar mindset towards raising and handling children and had been quite cool with all these squabbles and conflicts, else friends might become foes in the end.

Anyway, the family has returned home and the situation is back to normal, it is just 弟弟 and myself at home now. 弟弟 seems to have shift back to his big boy self. Got to guide this boy carefully and and purge that violent and aggressive aspect from him.