Home alone (with two)

Daddy’s gone overseas for reservist for three whole weeks. This means I’m pretty much home alone with my two little darlings for the next three weekends.

Cue Macaulay Culkin’s shaving cream slapped on face scene.

Haha, I jest. But only slightly.

Well I’m thankful that now I’m pretty much able to handle the kids by myself, on most days at least. They’ve reached a bit of a sweet spot, and have started to play together, or at least be doing their own thing in the same room. Some days, I wake up at 8am (instead of the usual 7am) to find both of them awake and playing by themselves outside.

No, wait…Who am I trying to kid?

Such pockets of bliss happen but there’s also the ugly side.

As he nears the age of two, or the age of un-reason, Javier’s temper tantrums have started to reach a peak. At the same time, Vera’s displaying a new emo-ness. It arises whenever her little bro snatches her things or destroys her possessions. Or when she’s eating something she finds “messy” or when there’s “too much food everywhere”.

Whatever it is, she’s been needing a whole lot more attention and affirmation. I’m aware that she’s four and she’s entering a new phase, but I haven’t quite got a good grasp of its full nature and how to help her cope better.

By and large, it is a challenging period. One that we’ve managed to scrape by with a few time-outs, a few hell-knows-no-fury-like-a-two-year-old confrontations, some timely distractions, and paddle whacks on the hand or behind. (Oh and let’s not forget that trusty pack of raisins I carry around in my purse to diffuse some of those meltdown moments.)

Thankfully, there’s the nearby park/playgrounds/library/malls. I’ve also recently tried letting them hang out at a nearby foodcourt, where there is an open space and I can park myself at the nearest table where I can see them full view, and…hear this, actually be able to READ A BOOK! (No doubt it’s distracted reading because I need to keep looking up and down, but reading no less.)

I’ve also prepared for the worst by asking for help. One Saturday morning is already filled with a swim date. And a kind couple who stay nearby have even offered refuge in their home.

If all else fails, there’s always ice-cream.

I’ve picked up a few play ideas from attending a Parenting with Confidence workshop (while sitting in and preparing myself to facilitate the workshop one day). Here are some that’s on my to-do list:

• Throw paper balls into a bin
• Hide & Seek Biscuits - Hide biscuits in foil and let the kids hunt for their snacks

Oh, I’m also going to make short clips of the kids having fun or saying something sweet to send to daddy over whatsapp. (Shh, don’t tell him!)

But apart from having to entertain the kids, I think I have a bigger challenge on my hands…It’s having to answer this question that I’m sure will be asked 2,829 times a day.