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Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Little Boy, the Older Brother

I've often thought that God might have mixed up the sequence of my kids. Even when Little Boy was three, he would smile contentedly to have The Daughter (7 years older) place her head in his undersized lap... and then he would proceed to stroke her hair for all the world like she were the younger sibling. And since The Daughter loved to be put to sleep, my Little Boy often took on the responsibility of tucking his older sister into bed when I was too busy to do so. When I dropped him at The Daughter's apartment, he took his own bag and then he carried HER books too.

The Daughter was (is?) an oversized toddler who loved (loves?) to be pampered. Little Boy was an undersized older brother who loved (loves) to pamper. I am wondering whether he learnt this from how he sees his father pamper me. If so, the woman who marries my son will be one lucky gal!!

The Daughter is thrilled to have Little Boy stay with her. It seems that both squeezed last night onto the same single bed and Little Boy took her to task for waking up at the unearthly hour of 9am in the morning. Little Boy was up at 6am and he cleaned the apartment before his sister woke up. Maybe I should insist that The Daughter move back home because she clearly isn't ready to manage her own life?

The Daughter arranged for him to sit in a lecture on South East Asia Studies. She assumed that he wouldn't wanna read up. It turned out that Little Boy wanted the notes to read up on all the lectures he is scheduled to attend. Tomorrow, he is attending a lecture on Native Peoples or something... I was told that he had fun hanging out with The Daughter's friends, and he wasn't pesky in any way.

How can a little brother not be pesky eh? I'm still observing things from afar with a mixture of amusement and bated breath. I wonder where all this will lead to. If you ask me it's a REALLY weird situation.

11 comments:

... some mermaids have legs... said...

Hi Petunia,

I've been reading your blog for about a year now, and I must say, your Little Boy's independence and maturity is very impressive indeed! Most unlike a lot of mollycoddled kids nowadays. :)

Cheers,
Christina

Petunia Lee said...

Hi Christina... I must confess that Little Boy has somewhat pulled the carpet out from under my feet. I'm still a bit confused as to how exactly to handle this situation. Still observing and keeping an open mind. I'm not saying NO as yet because I tend to want to respond positively to my kids' desires to assert their independence. But still... he's not yet 12. The Daughter needed a fair bit of pushing away but this one has just upped and gone off on his own!!

Blur Ting said...

I am amazed! One moment he is running around playing virus and another moment, he's attending uni lectures!

Celine said...

oh dear oh dear, I did laugh out loud at your last 2 posts about the (not so) Little Boy, and his wish to have his own life.

Such a bittersweet moment....

Medium Boy and Small Boy are taking up so much of my time and brain space now that I sincerely -wish- they will grow up fast... but when the moment comes, I will surely be crying. Roots and wings, wings and roots. How fast the children fly away... and the mama can only hope they will come back. Like a boomerang - launched and return to the place where they are launched.

Ah, I am rambling.

pummanuel said...

Hi Petunia

I attended your second seminar and that was when Little Boy first spoke to all the aunties. After the seminar, he led me to the restroom and we chatted. When I went home, I told my husband Little Boy would make a good son-in-law and we should consider moving near your place so that my 6 yo daughter can meet him. :)

Daniel said...

UTown is quite a nice place to live, with most necessities self-provided. And he won't be out of place, apparently there are quite a few kids belonging to the Profs and grad students living there. all the best to him! It does strike me as very weird with him being only 12 but it is certainly a positive learning experience! And there is no better time than after PSLE, surely :) Wish I had the opportunity to do that at his age!

Petunia Lee said...

Ting - He is such a strange child...

Petunia Lee said...

Celine - I dunno whether to laugh or to cry. This is the moment I have been waiting for. I have my life back... but somehow, my life now seems so empty. Better quickly fill it up with something!!

Petunia Lee said...

pummanuel - LOL... you sure think very far ahead!!

Petunia Lee said...

Daniel - That is good to know. I guess it is time to let him go... since he has already begun to pull away. It wouldn't do to keep tying him to my apron strings. I'm just SHOCKED that he has so deftly and quickly undone the apron strings to scoot off like that.

My Sinfonia said...

Little boy is full of surprises...