So I borrowed a Thomas & friends DVD from the Palo Alto Library. We've watched it maybe three times max. Then I borrowed another Thomas & friends DVD the week after and we watched that maybe four times max.
Then we go to Toys R Us over the weekend and with Dan in the shopping cart, we casually whiz by the DVD section. Mind you, it's not even a huuuge dedicated Thomas & friends section, it's a DVD section with all kinds of DVDs, different cartoons, different kids characters. But somehow, Dan manages to spot the three column rack of Thomas & friends DVDs on display and actually physically hurls his entire body towards the rack with a jungle-like howl that goes something like, "HUUUWWWWWOOOAAAAA!!"
*DOPE*
What is it about Thomas & friends that makes little toddlers go mad? All the mothers I've talked to agree that their toddlers (1+ or 2+ years old) are pretty much obsessed with Thomas the tank engine. Why? Why? Why? What's the draw of a bright blue train with a face?
Well, I was not keen to encourage such obsession and wanted to not buy anything for Dan that day. But Husband, who was both tickled and impressed at our son's new found "passion", took both pity and delight and bought him a DVD, which came with a free wooden Thomas the tank engine! Later on, I lightened up too and found it funny watching Dan scamper round the house, a firm immovable grip around the little wooden toy. Here's a video of us "pretending" to take his toy away from him:
Don't worry, Dan eventually loosened his grip and even shared his toy with the lovely A., who dropped by for a visit. The train is one of his favourite toys for sure, but he's not too obsessive over it yet. But what is it about Thomas & friends, you think??
Is it my imagination or is Daniel a lot more interactive and showing a lot more understanding now? He's started to stack blocks and cups (finally!) and can respond to simple requests, e.g., "Daniel can you pick up the train and bring it to Mommy?" and "Daniel can you put the car in the box?" The most amazing thing is that he can distinguish between car, truck and bike. I think that's pretty cool stuff for a 14 month old!
That's what a lot of parents have told us. As if, when they're older, kids are "less enjoyable" and therefore, we have to "enjoy them when they're small". I used to not pay too much attention to such comments, thinking they were just the sort of niceties or small talk thangs that parents throw around to each other.
And then, I started observing the kids in our courtyard.
Meet Marco, Max, and Miriam - ages 8, 6 and 4. And in the other corner, Anna-Sophia and Sister of Unknown Name - ages 8 and 12. Put together, these five kids are a rowdy, rough, rude bunch of thugs. They push each other around, throw water at each other, swing bats at each other, and yell at each other. And then, there's the obligatory Loud Quarrel, which occurs pretty much every day. It could be about any number of things - the rules of a certain game, who cheated, who pushed who and how much it hurt - and Loud Quarrel usually ends with the kids shouting at each other, only to be saved by an appearance by The Parents who call their kids to come inside for dinner.
I know that not all kids are that rowdy. But it does give me food for thought. Enjoy them when they're small. Enjoy them when they still hold your finger when they walk around. Enjoy them when the word "Peekaboo" still draws a wide smile and giggle on their face every single time. Enjoy them when they still hug you tightly when they need to poop. Enjoy even the crying - the loud wailing which shows they needs you. Before long, they won't need you anymore.
Daniel's first girlfriend is our neighbour across the courtyard, R. It is hilarious to see his face absolutely light up & his arms waves frantically every time he sees R. He absolutely adores this precocious (and very talkative) 4 year old, who is also from Singapore, maybe because she is so animated and always trying to "disturb" him. Here he is attempting to woo her:
Don't go! Don't go! Waaah!
Sure, there are other women in Daniel's life. Like the younger, red-head A, and the sweet & demure J (sorry no pics of these beauties!) but I think R is the only one who gets the same frantic hysterically happy reaction from Daniel on a regular basis. Seems like he has a thang for older women... *cough*.
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