Moving off

The other day, I saw Calder walking backwards. He was looking at the bus we just alighted from.  I understood that he wouldn't want to leave until he'd seen the bus do the usual thing - which was to move off. It's the same reason why he wouldn't want to get on an MRT train until the opposite train that had arrived earlier had made its exit. In this case, Calder walked backwards to keep the bus in view. Then I heard him say something unusual: "Don't worry." (And the bus finally moved off.)

Hi-5

On the way to bowling training, Calder was walking ahead of me as usual. When I caught up with him, I saw that an old lady had stopped in her tracks.

"Did he bump into you?" I asked her.

"Yes! And he didn't even look at me. He just went to press the lift button after that!" The old aunty complained in Hokkien.

"Calder, say sorry!"

"Sorry."

Aunty was still looking very indignant, so I explained, "I'm sorry; he has zi-bi-zheng (autism)."

To my relief, aunty understood immediately, "Oh sorry sorry, I didn't know" and she started giving him flying kisses.

What a cute aunty. "It's ok," I put my left arm around her.

She smiled and elaborated, "I'm 90+; I cannot fall down."

When we were about to part ways, she cheerfully put up her hand and wave goodbye to Calder.

To Calder, a raised hand is an invitation to a hi-5 which he would put all his might into, so I quickly stopped him before he could advance towards her to give her that formidable smack that no doubt would topple her.

And so we averted a tragedy that really seems a comedy (heart-warming one too) in retrospect. 😉

Mommy Day

Memorable conversation yesterday.

Hubby: What day is it today?
Calder: Sunday.
Hubby: Is it Mother's Day or Father's Day?
Calder: Father's Day... (silence means wrong - try again) Mother's Day.
Hubby: Yes, it's Mother's Day. Who is your mother?
Calder: God (?! )
Hubby: Where is your mother?
Calder: In China (?!)
Hubby: What is your mother's name?
Calder: Calder.
Me: "Mother" is the same as "Mommy". What is your Mommy's name?
Calder: Brenda!
Me: Where is your Mommy?
Calder: (points to me)
Hubby: So today is Mommy Day.
😅

Pick him up

On the train with Calder and a baby started fussing in his pram. What started as whinings became shrieks as both parents watched and then tried to distract him. And all the while I was repeating in my head, "pick him up, pick him up, pick him up..." because I didn't know how long Calder could take the baby's sharp crying. (Sounds of distress or anger agitates Calder.) Finally, the Dad reached to pick up his baby. And the baby instanteously stopped crying. And all was well again.