Invitation overboard

Posted in Moments of Motherhood, Parenting by

 

I covered this topic a bit earlier in the year, but kindergarten changes everything …

Have you ever read or heard of the children’s storybook called “Moira’s Birthday” by Robert Munsch? While this isn’t a book review post, I’ll give you the gist of it because it’s relatable to this post: A young girl is getting ready to celebrate her birthday and wants to invite the entire school. (Grades K thru 5) Her parents tell her she can only invite five kids. She invites the whole school anyway and hilarity ensues.

And while this isn’t a “back in my day” post either I just have to add that, well, back in my day, I too was only allowed to invite a limited number of kids to my birthday parties; usually my closest friends who I played with on a daily basis. I’m sure there were some kids who felt left out (because I was soooooo cool) (not) but for the sake of my parent’s sanity it would be insanity if all 25-someodd kids in my class came to my house for my birthday.

Today, however, parents are expected to either hand out birthday invitations on the down-low like they’re handing out illicit drugs, or invite the entire class so no one’s feelings get hurt and then hope and pray that only a handful RSVP that they’re coming. The stress is real for me: it doesn’t feel right inviting an entire class of kindergarteners over for a party, but it also doesn’t feel right trying to pass out exclusive invites to only a select group of kids.

This age is hard. Isla is still “sorting” through her friends and there’s no clear indication who she’s closest with and who she doesn’t prefer to be around. I can understand the encouragement from teachers when parents are asked to invite every child to a birthday party, and I want to be fair to all the kids because I truly understand that it’s never fun to feel left out, but I also don’t believe it’s necessary to invite a bunch of kids who aren’t necessarily friends with my own, nor should those who may be bullying others be quasi rewarded for their actions.

I know I have a bit of time before I have to cross this bridge for myself, and perhaps by then I’ll figure out a method to get through this madness. For now, I certainly won’t question why Isla did or didn’t get invited to so-and-so’s party, as I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation for either. So far I haven’t been greeted by tears after school, so cheers to that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TGIF v.48

Posted in TGIF by

A high of the week was Norah actually enjoying swimming lessons on Tuesday! While she likes being in the water, she wasn’t interested in actually listening during her lessons. I’ve discovered that the less time we have to wait in the pool before lessons start, the less restless she gets during lessons and she’s more likely to participate.

A low of the week was finding out I got a less than stellar mark on a final exam. I’ll be honest and say that I wasn’t expecting to pass with flying colours, but it was a good reality check. Also, being allowed to do open book tests during a course but not being allowed to have one for the final is BRUTAL. Lesson learned? Always study as if you were going to do a closed book, regardless!

An internet find I loved was this guide by Reviews.com on how to choose the right office chair for you. I may not work in an office setting at the moment, but one day I hope to get back to work and I know from experience how the wrong chair can make a day drag on. Luckily, the fine folks at Reviews.com have put the top-selling office chairs to the test and have chosen the top 3 based on ergonomics and what was most comfortable. Definitely check out their guide if you’re ever in the market for a great chair.

The best money I spent was on a Red Flag Thursday deal on a SodaStream for Kyle and I. We’ve been wanting to get one for a while, so we figured to snag one while it was on sale. (Also, how did sale “days” like Black Friday get all these ridiculously-named bonus days? Cyber Monday? Small Business Tuesday? Pffffft.)

My favourite Isla and/or Norah moment was Norah just being, well. Norah:

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A song that has been stuck in my head is a little ditty called “Nowhere to be Found” by a (BC) local artist named Kazz. Fun fact: The dude singing backup is a friend of mine from ball, so definitely give it a listen!

My meals of the week were fried chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans, mild Italian sausages with carrots and pasta, pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes and baked zucchini, spaghetti, roast beef, and Actifry chicken wings.

My plans for the weekend are watching the Santa Clause parade Saturday morning, Christmas shopping Sunday, and relaxing on Sunday!

Have you started Christmas shopping?

Full disclosure: This post features promotional content but as always, all thoughts are my own. 

What I’m Reading: Rich People Problems

Posted in Book Review, Books, What I'm Reading by

From the bookjacket:
When Nicholas Young hears that his grandmother, Su Yi, is on her deathbed, he rushes to be by her bedside–but he’s not alone. It seems the entire Shang-Young clan has convened from all corners of the globe, ostensibly to care for their matriarch but truly to stake claim on the massive fortune that Su Yi controls. 

With each family member secretly fantasizing about getting the keys to Tyersall Park–a trophy estate on 64 prime acres in the heart of Singapore–the place becomes a hotbed of intrigue and Nicholas finds himself blocked from entering the premises. 

As relatives claw over heirlooms, Astrid Leong is at the center of her own storm, desperately in love with her old sweetheart Charlie Wu, but tormented by his ex-wife–a woman hell bent on destroying Astrid’s reputation and relationship. Meanwhile Kitty Pong, married to billionaire Jack Bing, finds a formidable opponent in his fashionista daughter, Colette.

My review: (Which may contain spoilers!)
I’m not going to lie – I was pretty stoked when I first heard that Rich People Problems was going the third instalment of the Crazy Rich Asians “series.” I read the first two books and really enjoyed them, so I was curious to see if the Rich People Problems would be just as over the top.

This book definitely did not disappoint when it came to the ludicrous spending and name-dropped that this fictional family is capable of, but at some points it almost seems to be a little too over-the-top. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from this whole series, it’s that money (an absurd amount of money) makes people unable to see clearly. Every action is driven by jealousy and the desire to one-up your competition.

But back to the book – regardless of self-absorbed nature of most of the characters, it was still just as enjoyable to read as Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend. While at times it was hard to keep track of all the different characters, (which I personally think assists in showing how huge Asian families actually are) I still found myself completely absorbed in the story and rapidly reading through each chapter wanting to find out what kind of insanity was going to happen next.

I also couldn’t help but notice how well Rich People Problems demonstrates how the death of a beloved family member – especially a matriarch – can both bring people together can tear them apart at the same time. Grief can do unbelievable things to a person and Kwan demonstrates this not only with the passing of Su Yi, but also in the collapse of marriage.

If you’ve read the other two books in the series, or even just the first one, I highly encourage you to press on and complete the trifecta with Rich People Problems. I felt that it brought a lot of closure to the main character’s storylines, and it was still a great read. Overall, I’m giving it 4.5 stars out of 5.