A Starts Kindergarten

A started kindergarten last Friday. Why was at the end of the week? Simply because we had been indecisive as to where to put her. We'd been thinking of CEC R.e.a.l Kid, Beaconhouse, smart reader pre-schools, etc, etc. But in the end, we settled with a government kindergarten, which's only few walking distance from our house.
What happened to the 'kiasu' inclination in me? Yes, Hubby said I'm a bit kiasu. But then, is it wrong if you want the best for your kids? Nevermind if the best could turn out to be just "average best". To me, what is important is that the intention is noble! :). The rest, I would learn and be informed along the looking-out process.
We only registered her until the last minute. Lucky, the teacher didn't have the heart to turn her away. Probably because she's so cute eh ... :). Well, the teacher said there were only 4 girls in the class, and it'd be nicer to have more girls, that's why she got the place.
Why didn't I sent her to the other kindergarten we'd been eyeing since she was 2 years old? I suppose, because of the first impression I got when I first talked to its representative. 'Don't forget to bring the RM1300 deposit when you come to register. We still have the place and the class will start in the third week,' the representative answered me with a very business-like tone. Nothing wrong about it of course. But being so petty and trivial as I have always been, I started thinking 'out of the box'. Well, you see, I was talking about sending a 4 years old kid to a kindergarten here ... not to a beauty course. I know well of the reality of education these days. But how I wish she didn't make it sound so plain obvious that money is above anything else.
So, in the end, there A was on her first day in a 25-kids-a-class government kindergarten, enjoying 'her freedom'. Hubby, who had sent her earlier, waited outside the class to make sure she'd feel comfortable. Well, you see, kids like to cry and look for Mother or Father on their first day in school. But not my kid. So, Hubby left for work, feeling 'abandoned and forgotten'! (I suppose, the way he related me the story). And we paid RM91 for two sets of school uniform, one set of sports attire, insurance and name tag, among others. The monthly payment is only RM20. Books and stationery are free. Wow, I really feel like I've got a very good bargain.
How about the pre-school quality then? Well, I'm not really worried, because I know, most of the burden has always been on me, not the teacher. I've been teaching, or rather showing, her ABC, words, numbers, simple maths, on top of various pre-school videos, modules (told you, I'm bit kiasu kan!) bla, bla, bla, since she was a baby. Going to kindergarten is just for 'formality' and to make her getting use to 'some socialising ethics'. And A has been to a childcare centre since she was 2 months old ... I'm pretty sure she've learnt some 'socialising ethics' already.

My mission, next, is to find a good 'guru mengaji'. Mother said I should start enrolling her in mengaji class, or at least getting her familiarise with Quranic verses. I'll look around. If it's so hard to find I probably have to teach her myself. We'll see...

Welcome 2008

I'm in second day of 2008. Wow, time passed by very fast eh ... especially when we're in mid-30s, no?. When I was younger, new resolutions seemed like a must come new years. Friends, close or not would ask, apa azam baru? My azam would always be to be a better person. How much 'better'? I myself coudn't answer that. Why, because I never really actually had new resolutions. Most of the times, I couldn't complete any resolutions in one year. There were even some which I had to discard altogether as they were unrealistic, or, rather, I was too lazy to
work towards them.

So, apa azam baru this year?
Lemme think .... ermmm ... there're many actually. As I get older, it seems I want more in life. Most of all, I want to be debt-free. Is it possible to be debt-free in this age when many things are purchased via loans? Big question ... a bit unrealistic maybe. But still, it would be nice if we can live debt-free. Debts can really be a big burden.
I also want to be a very good example to my kids. A 'perfect' somebody. Possible, no? hahaha ... I'm not even a quarter of that, how could I be then? Nevermind .... I'll try.

Probably, the only azam which is realistic is to give a little brother/sister to my kids. I'm not very young anymore. Maybe this year's just the right time. We'll see...

For the record, A turned 4 on Dec 6, and on Dec 21, Bro M's gone for 18 years. I still miss him ... Semoga Allah mencucuri rahmat ke atas rohnya.