The Joyful Helper

My maid's been on home leave for the past 3 weeks. My parents have kindly stayed over the past 3 weeks, helping out in housework and cooking, but it's still not easy and I find that I've been more snappish with the boys, leading Christian to ask me "Mama, why are you angry?" everytime I scream at P, or lose patience with C over his non-compliance / childish tantrums..

Read another mummy's blog yesterday, on her 35th birthday reflections. She commented that she must be more wise when dealing with her children's 'wrongs' and remember that she, herself, is still far from the standard God asks of her as well. Was struck by that thought and resolved to be kinder to my young child...
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He surprised me when I reached home yesterday.

I was still taking my shoes off when he asked:
"Mama, you want to change? Is this for work? Is this a homedress?" "I leave the water for you!"

(Ran to the bathtub and checked the water level.. tried to lean into the bathtub and plug it so he can run water for me.. =7 )

I told him it's ok, i'll do it later and he sped to get a purple towel from the pile of laundry (he knows that's my favourite colour and gives me everything that is purple), pushed it to me and said "You can bathe now, mama! I give you a towel.."

Later, when I was folding his clothes, I asked him to return his clothes to the drawers.
Am so proud that, at the age of 2 yrs 9 months, my son has finally shown some utility *grin* and can help around the house instead of being dependent on us.
He managed to put all the clothes back in the correct places, and was so eager to help he raced back to me for more each time he was done. :)

Lastly, he surprised me during bedtime, when he suddenly asked, out of nowhere "Mama, can I put cream for you?" "I help you put cream ok? Come," he says.

I was surprised and acceded. He rubbed my belly with such enthusiasm I had to tell him to be gentle cos his little sister was in there. Not very flattering to hear him say "Your tummy is so big, i need to put a LOooot of cream" but I was certainly v.touched with the sincerity and effort he put into his little task. He happily smothered me with Vit E oil and rubbed his oily hands on my legs, elbows, shoulders, having fun naming the body parts in the process.
I thanked him and told him I was so happy. He smiled and said "I make you happy...".

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On a completely unrelated point, P came home just before bedtime and showed C his new watch.

P: Christian, do you want to see my watch? Mama bought it for me..
C (Ignores P and immediately looks at me wide-eyed): Where's my watch?
Me: You've got to wait till you learn to read the time ok?
*begins nagging abt how he must pay attention when he's being taught to read the clock hands*
C (Sidles over to my side, looks up woefully and asks): Do you like me? Do you love me, Mama?

Oh, such drama...