I remember how my mid-autumn was for me as a child.

When I grew up in the old HDB estate in Taman Jurong, staying on the ground floor proved to be a bonus as we were in the thick of the action of small-scale arsons, and the close-knitted community coming together to enjoy the festive mood.

Today, we decided to bring Minibean round the estate despite her sniffles, but the disappointing fact is, we were the only 3 people in the estate walking around with lanterns.

Yes, all 3 of us had lanterns with us.

Minibeanism #1:

Because, she thought it would be funny to coerce my mum and me to go walk around the neighbourhood with the flashing lanterns, which unfortunately play awful, noisy, techno-music which even to Minibean’s standard, was crap.

“Mummy, switch it off! It’s so loud and noisy and horrible, my ears hurt!” That was when we were in the house, and honestly, when I heard it when it was switched on, I got a shock of my life, and the look of despise was well-documented on my face, and obviously, it registered well with Minibean.

Once we were out of the house, and when the lift arrived, she insisted that we switched it on, and she instinctively hid hers (which didn’t have awful music) behind her back.

Reason being? There were neighbours in the lift, and she knew how embarrassing the noisy lanterns were and she wanted my mom and I to be embarrassed.

She kept laughing in the lift, and whenever we walked past ANY neighbours, she would shout at me to switch my ching-chong lantern on, just so it could be “embarrassing” (in HER words).

THAT EVIL WOMAN.

She is out to do it for her own entertainment.

She certainly learns from the best.

Minibeanism #2 – As we headed out, she pointed at my midriff, “MUMMY, WHY YOUR BELLY SHOWING? YOU FAT OR THE SHIRT GROW SMALLER?”

“WHAT BELLY? What fats? You know what this is called? It’s called ABS! Baby, ABS ok! You know what’s ABS or not?”

No, she said.

Muscles baby, it’s all muscle!

By the way, it is a babytee. And if she ever wears a top that shows her midriff, she will be reminded of what was said to me.

#mummyisindenial

Minibeanism #3 – While watching the distant fireworks and full moon, she said “Mummy, you know why the moon so bright? Cos Qi’e (penguin) stays there.”

I rolled my eyes and gave her the most disappointed stare, “WHAT Qi’e??!!!! CHANG’E!!!! Please don’t tell people you are my daughter okay?”

I can cry.

To think that I used to teach other people’s kids about Chang E and the story behind mid-autumn festival and she could get the name wrong.

My credentials are now in the drains, I tell ya!

#mydaughtercheenahnogood

Minibeanism #4 – While walking back, she fell. I rushed to the car to get my first aid box and played nurse. “Mummy is a sexy nurse.” Oh gosh, that sounds painfully wrong.

#tooyoungtoknowaboutroleplaying

Minibeanism #5 – My brave lass didn’t cry. Though she did whine and ask me to carry her. I went to pick up my first aid box from the car.

She didn’t flinch when I applied Dettol. I thought I felt a pinch in my heart, but she was still smiling when I put on the antiseptic.

She then said, “Ouch, it is so painful, Mummy! I think I cannot walk, I cannot go to school on Tuesday!” (since tomorrow is a school holiday for her)

I didn’t flinch and said nonchalantly, “Okay, since you are not going to school, you won’t be able to go for Wushu also on Tuesday night right?”

She kept quiet for a while.

“Okay mummy, not very painful, I can go to school on Tuesday. I think I can go Wushu also.”

Oh yes.

She got hooked after her first Wushu class.

To show how serious she is, she showed me her moves after her first class, in a bid to be my personal instructor.

My bones nearly broke, but still.

She then posed with not even a hint of smile, and REFUSED to smile for the cameras. Wow.

Fierce.

#mummyisnotstupidokay

Minibeanism #6 – This is one sweet one to end the day.

She took the first aid kit like a little suitcase and asked if it is what I bring with me on the trips with the students.

She then took one of her hair clips from her hair, and put it into the first aid kit.

“Mummy, I know you go overseas and miss me, so I put hair clip in here, so when you miss me you can see this and think of me.”

Awwww……….

#squeezeyououtnotwrong

This is a picture to show that she is not just a gungho tom-boy, but to show how versatile this precious girl is.

This is her on her graduation day concert, where she performed to “Rhythm of the Falling Rain” during a segment of “Noah’s Ark”. PRETTY RIGHT? -beams with pride-

Side story: I was in the lift when suddenly someone called out to me. It was one of her classmates’ mum.

I didn’t look out cos I didn’t think anyone would know me.

But I realise it was actually Vivienne, my closest ex-colleague when I was teaching in JWPS. She was actually someone I have been trying to contact for the past year, and I even tried to call up the school to leave my number cos I lost her contact for a few years.

I remember when she was pregnant with her number 2, I was talking to her on Chinese New Year 2006.

She gave birth and she joked, “Your turn next ah!”

So, I reminded her that I ALWAYS remembered that.

Cos one month after her daughter was borned, I was pregnant with Minibean, and they ended up as classmates and I only got to know yesterday.

I cannot believe the coincidence. Especially how I have been looking for her for so long. It was almost like, “Zhong Li Xun Ta Qian Bai Du“.

Minibean told me how her daughter is a very kind girl. And Vivienne told me how this girl has been bullying both her daughter and Minibean.

Who ah?! Tell me who?!

It was also really emotional to see her eldest son, whom I did the annoying thing of, “You know the last time I saw you, you were just a babyyyyyy?“.

In fact Vivienne was the very person I learnt how to be a mum from, cos I remember how patient she was with her son.

Okay.

I digress.

Minibean.

She is having a lil sniffles and bit of a fever, yet her enthusiasm for her dance and Wushu showed.

Right as we left ITE College West (where her graduation concert took place), she suddenly said forlornly, “Mummy, I miss performing on the stage already. When can I perform on the stage again?“

I asked what would she like to perform, and she said, “Ballet and Wushu. And my own rock concert. And football also.“

Do I sniff showbiz?

Anyone wanna invest in her career? I take cash but bank transfers will do too. Cheques are okay as long as they do not bounce.

***

This space has seen me through a decade.

I wish words can explain how much that means to me.