Kids...

On Saturday we went over to our friend's place in the morning to spend some time with their two kids aged 5 (a boy) and 3 (a girl) so they can get some time off for chores. When we got there, my friend was already out of the house at the hairdresser's (making the most of freedom!). Her husband opened the door for us, and showed us the craft material we'll be using to entertain the kids for the next hour. Then, he left the house to do his own thing.

The first 20 mins passed uneventfully. Gaz was with 5yo, making a windmill. I was with 3yo making a dolphine with lego's (she was more fascinated with rearranging the lego's in and out of the box). Gaz's windmill project fell apart, so 5yo came bounding to where we were quietly sitting and wanted to play with the lego's. Thankfully they were very well behaved kids, who don't throw tantrums or shout at each other.

But 3yo was still annoyed and politely asked her brother to leave. 5yo was undeterred and started fingering the lego pieces. Gaz and I looked at each other thinking, 'uh oh... this could get ugly'. 3yo was becoming more agitated by the second, and 5yo was feeding off the agitation by reminding his sister to share. Luckily, after some mediation from the both of us big kids, the small kids divided the lego's and played separately.

After a while, 5yo had entirely hogged the lego pieces to himself building a light saber so 3yo and I went to the lounge where she showed me a whole box of toy pieces comprising of toy dolls, prams, small toy houses, shops etc. She wanted to play with all the pieces but I just wanted her to play with one piece so if she got bored I have a whole box of backups!
me - Which piece do you want?
3yo- I want... the doll, and I want the telephone, the pram ... etc etc
me - you can only have one piece. Which one do you want?
3yo- I want the doll, the telephone and the pram.
me - OK, you can have one piece, or two piece, how many pieces do you want?
3yo - 2 pieces

She chose the doll and the pram. I felt quite proud of myself....

3yo had a good time playing with the doll and pram while 5yo had come to where we were by this time vigorously throwing a ball around the room wtih Gaz. 3yo joined in chasing the ball around. Then we ran up and down the stairs for fun. They both took turns going into their parents' room to hide from us. An hour passed... then 3yo asks me, "Where's Daddy?". Uh oh... I can just imagine the whole scene of the two kids crying hysterically asking for Daddy and Mummy over and over again. I replied, "He's gone shopping." Luckily, after one more question where Daddy was, she returned to playing with her doll.

15 mins later, Daddy arrived home. The kids were more than delighted to see their father. After lunch, Gaz and I went home, 4 hours after we arrived at the house. In the car, we discussed about the morning just passed. Entertaining kids is hard work!