8 Yrs

Huaihao is 8.

I cant believe it. I just told him at a bedtime chat that he was 51cm when he was born and such a tiny baby at 2.4kg.

I told him that this time 8 years back, Mommy was a heft 80 kg carrying him, wondering what exactly he will be popping out as he is already past due date.

And I told him that Huaihao has grown to be a fine young boy and has to take care of himself well and to cherish himself .

What I didn’t tell him is that he’s grown to be a little man now, challenging me in a big and little ways. And many times of late. Huaihao is a fluent speaker and extremely quick witted at his age, always turning any argument in his favour in the shortest time, with his aggressive ways.

If you disagreed, he would pursue until you agreed.

He probably is teaching me.

He loves for me to listen to him. And I think this is what I like to. I like to express myself and to have someone listen to me. So i try my best to listen —wholeheartedly to Huaihao.

Huaihao knows how to wring you around, it felt as if he were twirling you round and round his little finger.

It takes a lot of composure and a lot of patience to be talking to Huaihao. If he catches you at a time of your low, he would be sucking every ounce of energy out of you.

But this very thing of him is what makes him a great teacher to me. To remind me to be mindful and to train my patience.

Other times when he is good, he is sweet as he can be, he cups my face in his tiny hands and plants kisses on my lips, locks his hands over my shoulders and rests his face against mine

One night on the bed:

#yehuaihao : Mommy, can you not buy me a cake? Just get me a quail cake.Me: haven’t heard of that.#yehuaihao : why? it’s nothing else but a cake made of quail eggs.

At Christmas, I was going out to work and he and Qinzhi made me a note:

They got their presents from the lovely folks who shower them with love each year.

And to this day, he works at transforming his Lego lots. Insisting on telling me about his creations.

On 31st Dec 2020, he went out with me to shop for steamboat ingredients and we had a such great time being together.

And i bought a box of organic mango oranges which he loves.

One weekend, we made an offering to Bhante and Sister—both nice kind wise souls.

The next day, we were out exercising and having brunch.

We stopped by a little snail as Qinzhi observed and got inspired: Huaihao says “slowly but surely” and Qinzhi’s takeaway seeing the little animal make its way was “Never giving up”

We walked all the way to Nicoll Highway and then exited to Millenia Walk, had brunch and then continued on to search for furniture and having a cup of bubble tea.

And before we knew it, the holidays are over.

Was on the bus back from Pasir Panjang and got a call from Home. It’s Huaihao alright. The very sound of his voice, bright and sparkly, healed me almost immediately. Like fuel. We chat a little on the phone and I find myself alive again. Thank you for calling me Huaihao.

Asked Huaihao what he would like for his birthday and he really wanted to have the Flying Noodles. So we will do that!

And he wanted an oreo cake

In the everday, we continued to write notes to each other.

One Saturday, the three of us headed out, on our march to gardens by the bay from East Coast, the whole 15km took us about 1.5hours. But first, a swing and a little play to soak up all the goodness the spring morning presents.

Then we ran, jogged, walked

Before long, we are already at Millenia Walk, having scrambled eggs, toast, hotdog and bacon

We bad a great time at the National Museum, going backwards in time, checking out what time it was like in grandpa’s teens, my teens …

Dear Huaihao wants to have rock melon cake. I sifted through so many cake websites to find something he might like. Amongst them, an oreo cake, a red velvet, a yuzu cake, but he finally set his eyes on a rock melon cake.

And he is happy.

When I see Huaihao happy, I am reminded to be happy. We are mirrors to each other and we are inspired and motivated by each other.

I seldom give Huaihao gifts, but on Huaihao’s birthday, I went to get Huaihao a watch.

Huaihao gave me a hug after reading and I will remember this smile on his face.

Then I brought Huaihao to get his cake before heading over to Auntie Linda’s for his Flying Noodles. And he had 2 servings! And Auntie Linda gave Huaihao an angpow.

We all sang Huaihao the Happy Birthday song and Huaihao was so happy!

I love love love love love the smile on Huaihao’s face

The next day happens to be Huaihao’s Lunar Birthday, and he was celebrated so much at nanny’s house with the folks who see him grow up ever since he was born.