Doing the ‘Mom’ Thing…

I picked up my son on Friday. The maid/nanny and his father tell me that he refused to even visit the school he should be attending come September, with them. He doesn’t want to go and I don’t blame him.

If my memory serves me correct, we don’t even think about school for our kids until they’re four or five-years-old in Canada and many will start as late as six. Preschool is something different, meant for the children to learn to socialize and possibly offer parents some off-time in a land where nannies are far less utilized than here.

Anyway, we’ve chosen an English speaking school that’s based on the ‘American’ system for him. And he’s agreed to come take a look at it today so long as I and the maid/nanny go with him. I don’t imagine the American system in America is much different from the Canadian one, including starting age. Maybe an American or two can help me out here.

I’ve spoken to the school a number of times concerning a number of things, the top of that list is my sons inability (or better put, will to speak English over Arabic). He understands, now, most of what you say when you talk to him in English, but he prefers to reply in Arabic. Anyway, during the course of those conversations I was told he’ll get his ‘books’ for the year at the end of August.

How many books does a three-year-old need? I can’t even make him sit long enough for me to read a book to him before he’s pointing at this pictures on the page and telling me what they are, what they look like or that he wants one of whatever fictitious toy he sees. Are they really considering teaching academics at this young age? I’m curious to know how other parents feel about this one, and if it’s a similar system in your perspective countries.

To me, 3 going on 4-years-old is too young to be given homework.

Anyway, in addition to that I want to say that I’ve found yet another change in the UAE I’m not happy about. Yesterday, my son and I went to buy him a goldfish. I needed a few things from the supermarket and his hair was looking a little shabby at the same time. Taking him to the salon has always been a nightmare because the boy acts like every slice of hair removed is in-fact an extension of his head that will cause severe pain and suffering should they be cut off. He agreed to get that done yesterday too, so I was left wondering only, which baby salon to take him too?

I hate driving all over the city to get errands done and since I promised him the goldfish the night before, I couldn’t skip that errand for the sake of sake of doing the rest. Suddenly I remembered where I’d seen a supermarket, baby salon and even goldfish stand person in the same place; Union Coop on Al Wasl road. I hadn’t been there for years, but yesterday it seemed like a blessing this place existed.

The first thing I noted was there was no more baby salon. They’ve closed it down. The second thing I noticed; no more fish. (This one would have been perfect because it ONLY sold fish as far as I can remember and I wouldn’t have to deal with him begging for cats or squirrels in addition).

We ended up buying the detergents and a few coloring books before heading off to Animal World on the beach road (not very pretty for all the hype, I must add); which only had goldfish that were suffering from that ‘white spot’ disease, fish die so rapidly from. So much for not driving all over the city. He never did get his hair cut. I ended up buying multiple smaller fish to make up for the one I promised him but we couldn’t get our hands on. I’m not even going to state how much they cost, but suffice it to say I was shocked.

I’ve had pets my whole life. I’ve bought fish all over this country. And I shouldn’t be shocked at the increasing prices even there. I will say spending approximately 800% more than you expected to pay for a few fish is a perfect example of just how much the cost in the UAE really is increasing.

Anyway, I’m doing the mom thing and since my baby should be starting school next month I’m spending even more time with him and paying more attention to making sure he’s having as much fun as possible during the last few free days he’s got in his life before he starts the 8am to 1pm, moving on to the 9am to 3pm and finally being thrust into the 9am to 5pm (or 8am to 8pm as many here actually do have it) we all know as life and responsibilities. For this reason, I’m not around here as much as I’d like to be. Forgive me for not keeping up with my favorite blogs for the next few weeks.