Big Boss Small Boss

Here is a directive earnestly issued by Peanut to me on Sunday,"Next time, don't press lift, don't open door." You see, he is now tall enough to press the button for the lift and he is also able to open the heavy car door of our Volvo. That elicited a comment from my maid that he is the small boss. My response? No, he is the BIG boss because he is the boss's boss!

Having been subjected to all these assertions of self-independence from Peanut for several months and from SP for a few months, I have utterly amazed myself in that I still find it all so amusing. It takes tons of humour (patience is a given) when it comes to bringing up kids - it's THE way to keep your sanity. Someone tells me that your child is what you deserve. Well, I think she is absolutely right. Poor husband has to cope with a bossy wife and 2 bossy sons. Wonder what's his secret to keeping his sanity...

SP is another character. He'll be turning one in a week's time but he's sure slow at speech. His linguistic vocab is limited to "bao bao" (as in carry me) and "kor kor" (strange kid, can't call mama but can call his brother). I remembered distinctly how contented and elated I was when Peanut called me 'mama' at 8 m.o. But ah, SP has no problem communicating his wants and needs. Even as a 2.5 months old infant, he used to push the milk bottle away if he didn't want his milk - which was often because he wanted to be breastfed. And when he started on solids at 5 m.o, he would turn his head and shoved the spoon away when he had enough. If we didn't get the message, he would start to yell. When he needs to reach for something he can't get, he'll pull my hand towards the object. Crying is of course his best weapon of defence against Peanut's bullying. SP, however, is superb at his motor skills, he is able to twist and turn buttons/switches, climb up every stool, sofa, cupboard or any small ledge he can land his foot on, pulls and pushes at the tabs in the books and pick up the tiniest scrap of dirt using his thumb and forefingers in a pincer grasp. In short, hands-full.