Museum Tots

Ying Ying went for her second session of museum tots class yesterday. She was the second youngest in the group of 10 (the youngest was 18mth). Unfortunately, the class turned out to be a repetition of the first session we attended 2 wks ago. I plan to write in to request for a make-up session on a different lesson cos I was told by the coordinator this session would be different. When I asked her about it, she said it was a last-minute change. Why would I wanna sign us up for the same class right?? I think it is only fair that we go for a makeup foc.

Other than having to sit through a repeated lesson, I didn't really enjoy yesterday's lesson because of...the shutter-happy parents. There was this annoying mom who kept taking photos of her kid throughout the lesson. I think she must have taken at least 20 shots in total. Worse still, she didn't bother/chose not to switch off the flash mode. Once or twice, she even flashed off right in front of Ying Ying who happened to sit at the side (her kid was sitting somewhere in the centre). Then other parents joined in - at one point during the lesson, there were as many as 4 parents (yes, I counted) clicking away, standing in front right next to the trainers. While I understand their desire to capture eventful moments of their precious ones, I think it's really inconsiderate cos they were distracting to the kids, perhaps even to the trainers too. I was just too shy to tell them off - I am never the confrontational kind of person. But I plan to write in to feedback to the coordinator!!

Interestingly, I observed almost all the parents at the class are working moms. You can just tell - they are usually more dressy because of work (think: makeup, heels, fashionable clothes, accessories). I would dress up more if I am working too. Not only that, you can tell from the way they interact with their kids. They tend to put in extra 'effort' when talking/playing with their kids, probably to make up for their absence. This is their so-called quality time. Yes, I do believe in quality time (like when husband reads newspapers while Ying Ying watches tv - that is definitely not quality time). But I believe quantity is just as important too. You don't expect a kid to be very close to you if you have very limited time to spare for him/her. Well, those people probably don't have many chances to take photos during the week so now die die must take, even during class.

Anyway, in the 2nd pic, Ying Ying is holding a simple puppet we constructed from a paper cup and straw during the class. She must be quite an 'expert' now having doing it twice. Actually, all she needed to do was to paste the stickers to decorate the cup - haha. Not exactly paste I would say, but just pressing down cos I helped remove the stickers for her. Simple eh?

After the class, we went to the museum cafe called wa for an exorbitant lunch before we explored the museum further. Pic 2 and 3 are taken at the cafe. We sat in the beanbag couch section and Ying Ying enjoyed slouching on it.

We visited the living gallery the last time round and so we explored the history gallery yesterday. I was quite impressed with the handy interactive handheld player set given to each visitor. To hear or read the narration, all you need to do is to press the numbers displayed on the floor or next to the displayed artefacts. Pretty cool eh? It's like having a curator with you throughout your visit. Ying Ying was very amused to hear noises coming out from the earpiece.

Later, feeling exhausted after running around the museum (see pic 1 and 4), Ying Ying finally dozed off and we had some time to familiarise ourselves with some events fr the past. But after that when I asked husband on which exhibit he enjoyed most, he claimed he couldn't remember a thing. After all the time we spent at the museum?!?! Men. -_-

By the time we left the museum, the carpark fee came up to... $10!!! Never ever park there (for long)!!!!! Go park at YMCA across the road instead. That is definitely one thing husband can remember I'm sure.

Update: (8 May 2007) The museum coordinator called me today to offer me a free make-up lesson next Sat even before I wrote in to request. How nice of her!!! :)