A Kind Heart And Security Lesson

It is about time to teach Sana about security. It just so happened that my nephew (Lada) recently encountered something worth mentioning. He and grandparents (my parents) were walking on the street. Somehow they were separated. My nephew was frightened and started crying, trying to look for the grandparents but they were nowhere to avail. One lady saw this little guy (almost 6 at the time) crying and came up to him and asked what had happened. Thank God this was a nice lady (there are people on the streets in China acting nice to young children and then taking them for sale or to do some other terrible things) and she asked my nephew, "do you know where you live?" "Yes." "Do you know which bus takes you home from here?" "Yes." "Ok then, this is one yuan (the bus fare in the city). You can use this to take the bus home." "No, thank you. If people see me taking the bus alone, they will steal me. Will you please call my dad and tell him where I am now?" "Then do you know his phone number?" "Yes. It is xxxxxxxxxxx." So my very smart nephew saved himself and his grandparents, and basically the whole family.

I told this story to Sana. She cried when she heard that Lada was frightened and crying. I asked her why she was crying. She said, "Lada must be so scared at that time. If I was lost, I would be very scared too." She indeed has a very kind heart and can relate.

Then I asked her to tell me how Lada found his dad again. She said that Lada asked the nice lady to make a phone call. She also told me that it was possible because Lada remembered his dad's number. So we confirmed that Sana knows our phone numbers. We will be working on our address and identifying people who can help in the next few days/weeks, whatever it takes.

A Small Story by Sana

Grandma and I went for a walk. Then we took our rest sitting in a bus. Then the bus-driver said he would like to take a rest as well. So he drove the bus around the hill. We saw a playground with monkey bars and slides. So grandma and I went there and I played on the monkey bars. -The end.

Sana Talking

Sana was eating cookies at Salima's house. She kept eating so I had to stop her (too much sugar and butter are not healthy) at one point so I said, "Sana, you can have one more, ok?" She took one, ate it, saw an encouraging eye from Auntie Salima, then bargained with me, "mommy, you said one more. It could be one, could be more. I would like to have more, please." I looked at this five-year-old and couldn't believe what I had just heard and made it clear this time, "ok, then, you can have one now and this is the last one for today. You know eating too many cookies at one time is not healthy." She took that last cookie for the day and ate it happily.
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Our neighbor girl Cindy came for a visit and left her jacket behind when she left. Her grandma, who came to visit them from China and does not speak English, came to pick it up for her. I was upstairs taking a shower at the time so Sana and Cindy's grandma had to communicate in Chinese. Daddy just stood there watching them talking and Sana went to get the jacket for the grandma. After she left, daddy asked Sana, "Sana, why didn't you translate for me? You know, I felt left out in your conversation." For which Sana replied, "daddy, I can't translate for you. You have to learn Chinese by yourself. Maybe you can go to Chinatown to learn it. I learned Chinese by myself too, you know."
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Last night at dinner table, I was chatting with Sana about how yesterday went.
Me: Sana, you know I had some plans for today.
Me: I planned to change all the bedsheets, blankets, and comforters and finished the laundry.
Sana: Check.

Me: I also planned to make some chocolate chip cookies with you.
Sana: Check. We even let Cindy take some home.

Baby On The Way

Sana is very excited that a baby is coming, more so for a baby sister. Our neighbor had their second baby girl in October. That made Sana even more anxious. she spent a good five minutes watching that baby girl and uttered: "she is so cute." Ever since then, she has been questioning about the arrival date of our baby. "I have been waiting, EVERYDAY."

At the same time, she is a little worried about her own welfare. She is in the talk of having me and the baby sleeping in her bed. I guess the thought of her sleeping alone while the baby stays close to me might mean some unfairness.

We discussed how we should still put Sana's needs as priority after the baby arrives, hoping that will ease the potential tension and jealousy. Daddy totally agreed. He is the second oldest of seven so he knew what exactly a young child feels when the younger siblings arrive. His way then to deal with it was to fight, which is not what we want from Sana. So we will treat this a little differently than his parents did.

I think I should also talk to my parents about this as I myself, being the third in four, never felt any jealousy as far as I remember. So they must have done something amazing. Or we might be naturally accomodating? :)

Creation Anecdote

Sana couldn't remember the word "tears" when she was trying to describe what was on her face the other day (March 3, 2011) so she told me it was "my crying wet".

Sana's Sweetness

Tonight, as we were reading a story, one of the story page happened to have a picture of this little character of the book holding a dandelion. So Sana started the game of "I wish". We took turns to do that. There were a few rounds that I need to remember.

S: I wish I wish, Mommy can be sleeping beauty.
M: I wish I wish, Sana can be (she whispered in my ear right the moment hinting that in return of that sleeping beauty she gave me, I should give her the chance of being Cinderella) Cinderella.

That made her happy. Me too, I guess as that might mean that before she finds her prince, she will be taking care of the housework for me. To make it brighter than the real Cinderella's life, I will treat her better than Cinderella's stepmother "really" did in the tale.

S: I wish I wish, mommy can be princess Santa Claus.
S: I wish I wish, Sana can be ballerina.

Noting the game was getting too long and wanting to end it soon, I said:
I wish I wish, Sana will get up early tomorrow.
S: I wish I wish, I will get up not early tomorrow.

We finally finished the story and she went to bed and I went to brush my teeth. She called me to her bed and told me: mommy, I am so happy that you are in my life.

So sweet.

Applying the Formula

"Sana, you are the best thing in my life!" I told her.
"I am!" She happily confirmed it.

Last Friday, I decided to check if Sana really understood what I was talking about when I said that she was the best thing in my life. So I asked her, "Sana, you are the best thing in my life. What is the best thing in your life?" "Daddy and you, mommy."

"Then what is the best thing in daddy's life?"
"Mommy and me!"

Formula successfully applied, I would say. :D