Monday, April 12, 2010

Amahs All Around

Not much to report today. Chase and Mads both had a visit with the pediatrician. Mads had her 15-month check-up, while Chase had her 4-year-old check-up. The doctor reported Chase is now in the 75th percentile for height and 50th percentile for weight. He said Mads, on the other hand, "has superior growth," with off the charts measurements for height (no wonder she can wear Chase's clothes).

While we were waiting to see the doctor, a Western woman came in, with a 1-month-old baby and an Amah. The woman flopped herself down into the couch. The Amah gently sat down, with the 1-month-old and proceeded to feed her with a bottle. The mom said to me, "being a mom so hard." And she wasn't kidding in the least. It was, however, a bit hard not to laugh as she was SO not doing anything, while her Amah was busy taking care of the baby. This lifestyle, I am finding, is everywhere. People on the streets look at me as if to say, "where is your Amah? Why isn't someone helping you?" In fact, as I went to cross the street, a Filipino woman said to me, "do you need help?" I said, "no thanks, just crossing the street."

After the appointment, both girls were ready for a bite to eat, so we popped into the closest Chinese restaurant. We ordered chicken with noodles, spring rolls (which came out beef and Karo root) and shrimp dumplings. Chase wolfed down the shrimp dumplings and Mads practically rolled in the noodles. I had to wipe the girls down by the end of it. But they had big smiles!!

From there, we hopped on the MTR (subway) and headed back to a Mandarin class I arranged for Chase. She loved it. She was SO happy to be "going to school." Poor girl misses school so much. I have also lined-up art class for her all next week (just 1 hour each class), but I know she will LOVE it.