Cotton-Pickin’ Days

Singapore isn’t as crowded as some other places in Asia, like Hong Kong, but its population density at 16,392 persons per sq. mi. is definitely higher than the U.S. at 31 persons per sq. mi*. So you’d think that people here would be more mindful of personal space and try not to take up more than their share and not to invade others’. Not so.

Example #1

We were at IKEA last weekend and the place was absolutely heaving. It was even more crowded than usual because renovations are in progress. As we tried to make our way through the corridor that led from the entrance to the first display area, a fat-a** woman and her friends blocked the way with their cart while they stood chatting. There was only enough room for one person at a time to squeeze past them. Not being in the best of moods, when I got to them, I pushed their cart aside and said clearly and loudly, “EXCUSE ME!” Fat A**’s response?

“Beeech.”

Thank you. That’s the way I like it.

Example #2

Stephen, my mother-in-law, and I were hanging out at Singapore Changi Airport’s new Terminal 3 (which is gorgeous by the way). We were wandering around when I called out to Stephen to come over and check out the soft serve ice cream at one of the shops. As Stephen turned to look, a boy about 10 years old pushing an overloaded luggage trolley came along. As I was shouting “STOP! STOP!” and trying to pull Stephen out of the way, the dimwit kid ran into Stephen!

Instead of apologizing to us, his mother tried to blame us for not getting out of the way. HELLO!??!! We’re the victims and you’re blaming US?!

Who lets a 10-year-old push a trolley piled so high that he can’t see where he’s going? And what kind of moron kid can’t understand someone shouting “STOP!!”???

We were standing at the front of the shop and not in the middle of an open area blocking people. And it wasn’t as if Stephen was running around getting in people’s way as he is sometimes apt to do.

Fortunately, Stephen wasn’t hurt badly although he limped along for a little while. He was more scared than anything else.

And to think I’m driving in Singapore now. Somehow I suspect the drivers won’t be much better. Stay tuned for upcoming incidents of road rage.

*Actually, according to Wikipedia, Hong Kong has a population density of 16,470 persons per sq. mi which isn’t much higher than Singapore’s. And this list of countries by population density has Singapore higher than Hong Kong!

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My new corner office in Singapore on our enclosed balcony. It even comes with a sleeping baby and peeping tom (in the window behind my chair that looks on to the living room).

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#195 Unwanted touching and comments

a) Random woman pats my 6-week-old baby’s head while she’s sleeping on me in the sling.

b) Random man-woman (can’t tell which) walks by and pats my 5-year-old’s head while he’s having a major tantrum in the shopping mall.

c) Old-lady saleswoman asks if the sling is wrapped around my baby too tight.

“She’s fine,” I reply through gritted teeth with my heaviest American accent.

d) Saleswoman who’s obviously younger than me and probably has no kids comments on my baby’s thin hair (?!).

“She’s only 6 weeks old,” I reply.

“Oh. You didn’t shave her head at one month?*” she asks.

“No.”

End. Of. Story.

*Chinese custom.

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I’ll miss the weather in London. Seriously.

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Dolls in care homes for the elderly calm and soothe according to one doctor.

Ian James, a doctor at the Centre for the Health of the Elderly at Newcastle General Hospital said the use of dolls in care homes for the elderly can help reduce disruptive behaviour.

“There are a number of reasons for the powerful effect of the doll in reducing some of the challenging behaviour,” he told Reuters (in a story about “reborn babies”) by telephone.

“People are comforted and are so much calmer and quieter — you just have to be there to witness that.”

“It’s a familiar role from time when they were busy and happy,” his co-researcher Lorna Mackenzie said.

I’m scared of the future and old age. I don’t really want to know how life might be 30 years from now or 50 years from now if I’m lucky enough to still be here and healthy. Maybe it’s crazy and hectic and all too much insanity sometimes but it sure beats frailty and dementia.

Yes, we’re busy and we’re happy.

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It has come to pass that I can no longer go out sans make-up. Today a stranger on the bus commented on how tired I looked what with baby and grade schooler in tow. She meant well and probably got part of it right but really, it was all down to the make-up — foundation and blush — or lack thereof.

Hrmph.

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My sister sent me the following list of parenting books that people on her company mailing list recommended.

1. Baby 411 (after birth advice)
2. Baby Bargains (buying guide)
3. The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer by Harvey Karp [Watch the DVD; it's helpful to see the techniques demonstrated]
4. Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy [Hilarious]
5. Nursing Mother’s Companion [I read in cover to cover.]
6. Why Motor Skills Matter
7. The complete and authoritative guide caring for your baby and young child birth to age 5″ by the American Academy of Pediatrics
8. What’s Going on in There? : How the Brain and Mind Develop in the First Five Years of Life by Lise Eliot

To those, I add:

1. Dr. T Berry Brazelton’s Touchpoints Birth to Three
2. Dr. William Sears books
3. Some people also like Louise Bates Ames books (children at each developmental stage)
4. The Continuum Concept (attachment parenting theory)
5. Good Nights (family bed)
6. Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense (positive approach to feeding kids)
7. Super Baby Food (feeding kids from first food and more)
8. So That’s What They’re For (breastfeeding guide)

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This morning, Stephen was jumping on the bed as I was laying out my clothes for the day. After I was done brushing my teeth, I turned back and saw that the bedclothes were all jumbled up and my clothes were all over the place. I put everything back in order all the while grumbling about Stephen messing everything up.

I started getting dressed but couldn’t find my bra. I looked under the comforter again and had Stephen look under the pillows. I even checked under the bed and looked again in the drawers and bathroom. No bra.

“Where’s my bra?!” I demanded.

Stephen shrugged as I continued looking around for both the bra and my mind.

Then he asked, “What’s a bra anyway? Those maju* covers?”

*Maju is our family word for breasts, breastfeeding, and breast milk.

**I later found the bra behind the nightstand where it had flown during Stephen’s shenanigans.

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Inspired by Karen Cheng

And still a slinging mama. Here I am using my “home” sling which is a TaylorMade waffle weave stretch cotton sling.

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