Apr
5
2016

It is getting better

My relationship with my in-laws might not be smooth in the beginning of my marriage due to the language barrier but it improved with the arrival of Ethan. It got better once Ethan started school and learn to speak Mandarin.

Nowadays, the boys love going back to my in-law’s coz there are snacks everywhere. 

My father in-law runs a sundry shop so he has an ever ready supply of ice-creams 24/7!
ice cream

The kids are so spoilt when they are back at my in-law’s. My FIL will offer them ice treats especially on these crazy hot days. 

eating icecream

Look at this Ayden, eat until like that. He doesn’t eat this messy when he is at home but gone crazy at my in-law’s! >_<

Last weekend was also the first time my boys ate this:

childhood biscuit

Remember this?

Iced gems

Aiyo Ayden so rude, eat straight out of the big tong! 

iced gems childhood biscuits

My childhood favourite biscuit – Iced Gems! 

I don’t eat this anymore these days hence the reason my boys have never eaten this but my FIL offered them these Iced Gems last Sunday and I let them have it. Guess what? I think due to different generations lah but the boys doesn’t fancy this as much as I loved it back then. Nowadays kids’ taste preference different dy kot.. 

chinese caligraphy

Ethan also took the opportunity to get my true blue Chinaman FIL to teach him Chinese calligraphy. My FIL said he has lost his calligraphy kungfu as he has not been writing it for ages but still, it was fun to start again and guide Ethan. 

grandparents

And… as usual this busybody has to check what is going on. 

learning chinese caligraphy for kids

Like magic my FIL dug this chinese calligraphy book out from his shop and gave it to Ethan. 

chinese calligraphy for primary children

Ethan’s turn in writing calligraphy. He has difficulty holding the brush correctly. He kept holding it like a pen but when I try to correct him, he’ll get upset. He listens to the KungKung though so I just let him be lah. He won’t listen to me because I don’t speak Chinese hence I am not supposed to know how to hold a chinese brush! -.-

On another note, I brought back my trusted breadmaker and baked the boys’ favourite – Chicken Floss Loaf bread for my in-laws. 

breadmaker chicken floss bread

It was such a hit that it dissapeared when I went up for a nap. LoL. Finally I am able to contribute something. I don’t cook when I am at my in-law’s coz my cooking is terrible and I don’t want to poison people. At least they love this bread so I know what I can contribute next time. Next year Chinese New Year, we shall all eat ROTI! Hahaha.

Okay lah, I better go sleep. Have not been updating the blog coz I am down with flu. Sigh.. This weather is horrible. It agitates me. Please rain.

About the Author: Merryn Tan

15 Comments + Add Comment

  • //

    Good that your relationship with your inlaws are getting better and better. :)

    Aiyo this Ethan, why say mommy don’t know the right way to hold a chinese brush just because mommy does not speak Mandarin. At least he listens to his grandpa.

    I remember eating those iced gems biscuits but I removed the sugar icing on top before eating them because the icing was too sweet for me even then.

    Please rest more. Hope that you get well soon. Take good care!

    • //

      Oh, so you started really early not liking sweet stuff. Very good. You must have very nice set of teeth :D

      • //

        The dentist says that I brush my teeth for too long and too many times until the enamel are eroded. :(

  • //

    Get well soon, Merryn.

    Nice to bring the kids back to your in-laws; let them have fun and eating. Haha. My kids used to disturb and eat whatever from my in-laws’ canteen in Kapit but as they grown up, they dont do that anymore. It is Jamie’s turn to explore and eat those sweets and junk food which I tried to prevent. Haha.

    Iced gems. My kids love them and they still do.

    • //

      Last time I always complain very HOT over there. Now got aircond in the room dy. Haha. I am the worst daughter-in-law in the whole wide world. Luckily my kids good a bit. LoL.

  • //

    Language barrier is small issue lah, as long as you give them grandchildren then they very syok liao. More so since Ethan can speak Mandarin. If you turn Ethan into banana then maybe they will be more mad at you >.<

    • //

      Sometimes kan, chicken and duck are better so we wont fight. I can buat bodoh when I don’t feel like talking. *devil mode*

  • //

    In a multi language society now language should not be a problem..my hubby does not speak my mother’s tongue, Hakka, and even Mandarin too..my side of the family communicate with him in BM and English campuran..haaa,,,Glad that he allows our kids to attend Chinese school..

    • //

      My FIL was reluctant to speak to me in BM when we first met. It’s in his Chinese blood that Chinese should know how to speak Chinese. Haha but after some time I guess he gave up. LoL!

  • //

    I know what you mean! My dear’s parents speak Cantonese and I really can’t speak Cantonese (although I can listen/understand maybe 60-70% of it) coz I come from a Mandarin and Hokkien background. I always felt like I was missing out on some jokes and at family dinners sometimes a sentence has to be said twice (one to the table in Cantonese and once to me in Mandarin) and I sometimes felt like it’s a bit of a barrier but in all honesty it’s all good – family is more important.

    I loved the ice gems as a kid too, but I’ll only eat the sugary top. Haha! I’ll leave the buttons on the bottom back in the bin and my dad will end up eating them when I was a little kid. I agree, kids tastes are A LOT more sophisticated now, can’t tempt them with simple sugars like these, they have more sophisticated treats like chocolate, marshmallows and other more textural and rich experiences.

    • //

      Actually after so many years being with my hubby, I can understand Hokkien a bit also but it is better not to learn it so I can remain silent. Haha. They wont want me to start talking. I have somewhat quite a laser mouth. Heh.

  • //

    Precious time spent with the grandparents. Do you speak Cantonese with your inlaws?

  • //

    I used to good in Chinese calligraphy and even participated in competition but now… writing with pen also not good dy, don’t mention about calligraphy >_<

  • //

    Amboi ethan naked again!!!! hahaha i hope he dont regret when he view back ur blog when he grow up…

    Ah nice to have ah kong who has sundry shop… hahaha i think it’s ur kids fav places to go!

  • //

    Wow.. lots of goodies and endless snacks in the sundry shop… the kids will pester you to go back more often… hahahaa…

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MeHome is where MY heart is.
I am a mother to two boys; Ethan and Ayden and a wife to Darling William. I'm a stay at home mum who blogs to break the monotony of life and to avoid feeling jaded. Would love to get to know all the Super Mommies and Daddies and Babies or Singles out there with the hope that we can learn more from each other. Most of all, I am a happy person, and I hope YOU are too.

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