The reasons I've finally decided to take that big leap of faith are many.
Firstly, I can now afford it. Tent-making as a music teacher has been good (I won't lie; it has been very hard work though; juggling work and family is even tougher) and my pocket money covers not only my ministry needs but also some other monthly needs of the family. School included. Thank God.
Secondly, working takes me away from home so much (at least 5 hours a day) that I'd rather that she gets first-class care out of the home than at home - just so that my in-laws won't hate me for leaving her under their (no-doubt wonderful) care too much. Toddlers can be exhausting. Furthermore, I will be able to work at more fixed times of the day (whenever she is in school and day care) in order to spend quality time with her in the evenings. Now, my work slots are way too strange for my liking - since I scheduled them around the most convenient hours for my in-laws to babysit.
Thirdly, I want her to have a wider social circle and be a little more independent of her family. I can't decide if I want to have another baby or not in the near future. If I did, Sophie wouldn't feel too robbed of our attention - because she is kinda at the centre now. If I never do, good for her too, because she won't be as lonely as if she stays put at home all the time. Here I'm not saying that solitude isn't good - but even a fairly antisocial introvert like me can yearn for "playmates" who are nearer to my age at times. (Grandparents and parents can be a little too old and tired for boisterous games.) Also, even if I chose to home-school her in the future, socialisation is yet an important element. As a parent, I would like to get used to having my child meet (and interact with) other children in a variety of supervised settings which school, after-school activities and daycare avail. It is beyond me to arrange and supervise such "dates" for now (save a random few) because I am a very nervous kind of mother. (I'm not sure if this would be called "helicopter parenting" in modern parlance!) I worry about a 101 unnecessary "what ifs" which mostly have got to do with my child balking and melting down. Or being rejected, bullied, and traumatised. It's good to have other responsible adults (who specialise in facilitating play groups) to transition Sophie. Subsequently, I might worry less when Sophie gets a little more independent and used to the less pleasant parts of socialisation, i.e. the cliques, the meanies, the popular hierarchies, the toy (and attention) hoarders, and the potential violence.
Fourthly, I would like the comfort of knowing that she's in good hands when it comes to play-learning and language development. The routines of playschool and daycare ensure that time is well spent. While I am not too particular about how she spends her time at home (she mostly plays and teases everybody) I do not really approve of the amount of screen time she gets, especially when I am out for longer periods of time. There is naught screen time at school. This will bring the total screen time per day down to the most necessary minimum. (Having said that, I am an advocate of good TV programs for children.) Play-wise, there are way too many toys at home available at any given time. While she plays with one toy, another toy in sight quickly grabs her attention and she is off to check out the other toy (because she is THAT curious). Consequently, she is often distracted. The directed play at school will help her focus better and lengthen her attention span. Language-wise, I would like her to be exposed to pure Mandarin (the primary mode of communication during after-school care) as well as English. Speaking of English, somehow, my parents-in-law fell into the habit of speaking
Finally, it will actually save us money in the long run. As ironic as it sounds, I shall think of it as a sort of move towards being minimalist. Simplify life. For a very reasonable monthly fee (also thanks to my ministry involvement, I am 50% subsidised), they feed her well (this saves my MIL from preparing breakfast and lunch just for one person which can be costly and wasteful), toilet-train her (goodbye diapers, daytime ones at least) and provide a good napping environment in the afternoons (saves us lots on water and electricity) - as well as facilitate her learning. With a simpler life, we will be able to discover more time, energy, and money to pursue bigger goals as a family - and enjoy our holidays too.
Sophie starts in January. I hope it will work out well. We covet your prayers.
What else about November?
Ten of my students will be performing at a year-end concert organised by the music school's headquarters. We have been working very hard on it - and the first test of truth (haha) will be a preliminary trial-run concert on the 20th of November. I am glad that most of them are quite ready for it - they have even memorised their pieces - and so, I am looking forward to the trial-run. I am not sure if the same could be said about the actual concert date (11th December) though... because I have been appointed as the emcee for the event. *Groan*
Taiwan. I will be in Taiwan for the second "momcation" this year (I plan to keep momcations to twice a year, if you are wondering). Some months ago, a very close friend, J, mentioned that she would be going to Taiwan in November - and asked if I would like to accompany her - to which I agreed after a lot of thinking, planning (with regard to work and my family commitments), and budgeting. We will stay with another dear friend of ours and her family of 6. As our hosts have 4 children (including a baby), I guess we might be babysitting a little on my momcation (the irony) but well, well... I would also have the pleasure of returning the kids to their parents at the end of the day and doing a few nights of uninterrupted sleep. I think the trip will make me a better mother, not to mention absence makes the heart grow fonder. And so, I can't wait.
Thus concludes my updates for November.
Have a happy November, folks!
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