It is always such a joy to see the grandchildren, the two older ones doing ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels and the youngest, just a toddler aged two and a half years.
The older two are serious students who are so busy at school that there’s no chance to see them on weekdays and it’s only during the weekend that a quick visit is managed. Their schools are dead serious about competition and prime their students to excel with extra classes, etc. Even their school holidays are curtailed and my granddaughter had to attend classes during the so-called school vacation!
Fortunately there’s whatsapp so we whatsapp frequently to “talk”.
The youngest, Isaac is always thrilled to visit his older cousins. He gets the opportunity to go through the long tunnel that leads to Changi airport. His cousins stay not too far once we exit the tunnel.
Little things make little people happy and Isaac is no exception. Sitting in a car on a small merry-go-round in a shopping mall, on a mechanical animal that ferries him around the crowded mall brings smiles to his face.
Back home, his mechanical toys like the little red, remote controlled car, the yellow digger and the latest one, the helicopter, keep him occupied. The helicopter is controlled by his papa as it is too difficult for him at this stage and his room is small. The take-off and landing of the helicopter has him shrieking and laughing loudly as he gets very excited when the ‘copter lifts vertically.
On a more serious note, books keep him happy too and he helps to choose his own books from the children’s library which has an amazing variety. Everything is automated so that young children can borrow and return the books on their own under the supervision of their parents. I’m most impressed with Singapore’s use of technology and efficiency.
He is bi-lingual and knows which language to use when speaking to his two sets of grandparents. I’m truly amazed!!
