A Mommy Blogger

During the spring break  I took the kids to see their pediatrician for a well-check-up.  While there, I decided that the three of us go ahead and take our H1N1 vaccination as well.  Last fall, when we went for our annual flu shots, I chose not to get the H1N1 shots.  I was concerned about the safety of the shots.  Since we are planning on spending the summer in Malaysia, and I’d heard news that some people are still dying from H1N1  there,  I thought it best that we were vaccinated against the disease!

My husband had his H1N1 shot the same time he received his regular flu shot last fall.  He seemed fine after the shot, and I have not heard any adverse side effects from those who had taken the shots.  That sort of eased my fears concerning the safety of the H1N1 vaccination.

At the height of the H1N1 scare last year, the kids and I traveled to Malaysia .. in a plane where half the passengers had face masks on, and had to go through airports where everybody had to go through thermal scans!  That did not bother us at all!

Now, the scare has abated but I am concerned?  Go figure! 

Summer’s almost here and the same discussion comes up like clock work.

When are you going to take the kids for swim lessons?

Me, take the kids for swim lessons?  I can’t swim so that leaves me out as the swim teacher!

The other problem is, every summer the kids and I are usually some where in the tropics and swim lessons are the last thing we want to do.  But, I do need to check out the swim lessons offered by the local swimming pool.  They regularly offer swim lessons for kids.

While I am at it,  I should check out swim lessons for adults too! 

Related Story: – Swimming Lessons for Infants

I am ashamed to admit that last night was the first Back to School Night that we attended even though Denice and Duncan have been at their current school since they were 2 years old.

I am glad we went though, because their desks would have looked woefully neglected if we had failed to show up! On each desk was a folder with a progress report and some of their work in it.

The program for the evening. There are only five kids in their class. There were six earlier, and I do not know why the other little girl who had been attending the same school for as long as Denice and Duncan is no longer attending the school.

Denice’s desk and a sheet reflecting how she felt about being in school.

Parents and siblings of the school kids.

Duncan’s desk is right next to the teacher’s (the lady in green is one of his teachers).  He has difficulty focusing and following instructions and placing his desk next to the teacher’s has made a whole lot of difference.  According to the teacher that is!

Denice proudly showing her desk.

A view of the classroom. Small and cozy.

Both Denice and Duncan like being in kindergarten and I think both are adjusting well to the new routine. They have homework twice a week, and so far have coped quite well with it.

Early next month, they will be going on their first field trip, and if they need a parent to go along with them, I might consider going.

I do not know how to swim, and Doug, for the past two summers have wanted me to enroll the kids for swim lessons. We spent much of this summer in Malaysia but there was no swimming classes available at the time we were in Malaysia.

We bought a pair of water wings each for the kids, and Duncan took to the pool like a duck to a pond. The first time I took them to the pool, they frolicked in the kiddie pool. Duncan floated on his back and dog paddled.

As for Denice, it took her a while before she even dared to get into the pool. As her confidence grew, she walked the length and breadth of the kiddie pool. Then she started flapping her hands in the water, and after a while she bent her knees a little as she walked in the pool. Later on she bent her knees even further and allowed herself to be under the water up to her shoulders. It is a good start for a child who is fearful of most things.

It is just too bad that I did not bring them to the pool any more after that.

There was a pool at the hotel we stayed at while in Sibu. It drizzled a bit that afternoon so Daddy and the kids did not stay all that long at the pool. There was no kiddie pool, but that did not bother Duncan at all. It was Daddy who was concerned about Duncan paddling to the deep end of the pool.

As for Denice, she had a suit with built-in floats on, plus the water wings on her arms. Yet she was too afraid to get into the water! She did however get onto Daddy’s back, but she screamed when Daddy went under water and she was partially covered in the water.

There’s still time for them to enroll in swim lessons, and there is a public pool right here in our little town. Naturally, I do not want for my kids not to be able to swim!

Here are the cards, and a couple of hearts that the kids brought home from school today. Auntie Kathy, the kids’ tutor, have helped them with something too. But I won’t get to see them till Mother’s Day. It’s a surprise, say the kids!

Showing off their craft work.

What the inside of the card says.

The cards and the hearts again.